#discussionsdepictions
one annoying knock on effect of queerbaiting is how it kind of kills actually good serialized queer storytelling because audiences will either a) assume deliberate relationship and character progression is irrelevant and ignorable until a really obvious beat then claim it “came out of nowhere” or b) go on the offensive and assume malicious intent. like if your audience won’t give the benefit of the doubt then you can’t have long term slow burn romances, gradual identity discovery arcs, or even standard breakup narratives because those could all look like “baiting” before the resolution episode comes out in three month’s time or something.
