Firstly I have to point out that I have limited knowledge of Archie Comics or Riverdale - as far as I'm aware, we don't even get that programme here (the UK.)
BUT, I do know that in the comics, Jughead is aroace, and touch-averse. It's canon.
(Fangirling notes: Canon = official.)
In the TV show? This canon is erased.
This is yet another example of comic book adaptations ignoring LGBTQ+ representation. And I for one am getting pretty damned tired of it.
(CW's Arrowverse (DC) shows aren't doing too badly in this respect - it's strange that Riverdale is also a CW show.)
Aroace people exist and deserve equality and representation.
Hover to play gif. (Semi-fast-moving image)
For more on this, I highly recommend reading AceLauren's AroAceJugheadOrBust update posts, which go through the whole thing, and the reasons why people are upset.
I was unable to find any fics with a touch-averse aroace Jughead, but did find one where Jughead only does platonic touching (i.e. friendship hugs.)
I'm still on the lookout for a touch-averse Jughead fic and hope to bring you one in the future. If you know of any please let me know!
Oh, and a quick warning: this fic contains suicidal thoughts and references to abuse.
This week's fic is:
Four Times Archie and Jughead Comforted Each Other + One Time They Didn't Need To by WhatTheWentz
Enjoy! And if you liked this post please comment and share!
Check out some related reading here:
I watch the show but I reallly wish they had left Jughead aro-ace. The relationship he is in right now is just weird and seems so forced. I guess they assumed that if they made him straight it would appeal more to viewers, as the actor who plays him, Cole Sprouse is seen as a heartthrob, but to be honest I think they lost a lot of viewers when they revealed that he would be straight.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like such a disregard of aroace people - one of the few canon aroace characters is straight-washed in the adap; what message does that send? The message that LGBTQ+ people aren't welcome, aren't valid, aren't real. *sighs*
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