The Tragic Potential of Queer Zombies

The Last of Us (in Ellie, Bill, Joel, and Riley) has foregrounded their LGBTQ+ characters - in this video essay let's look at TLOU, In The Flesh, and the tragic potential of the queer zombie genre.
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[@morganleanderblake678]

"I was never afraid until you showed up." This is... Super big. When you've been in the wrong relationships with the wrong presentation or thinking you're straight, suddenly *really* understanding what it is to have someone you desperately want to keep alive, safe, happy...

[@monkeybanana9136]

This video made me cry, why must I be born in the fighting position? Why can’t they just listen and understand.

[@grAnita-]

I'm pretty sure Bill ment something else

[@morganleanderblake678]

@@grAnita- rofl I didn't say anything about what Bill meant, that's silly, why would I care what he meant. I'm watching a show.

[@grAnita-]

@@morganleanderblake678 you quoted a line that he said to Frank

[@daimhinaubrey3194]

TRULY

[@newtpollution]

I will never get over the cancellation of In The Flesh. It was SUCH a tender, compelling show and I weep forever that we never got to see where it was going.

[@0912sooli]

So true! If it came out today it would be so more valuable and progressive!

[@steampunk-llama]

It’s so underrated fr

[@quit-rt4vz]

@@0912sooli maybe in 2019 but now it would probably be terrible

[@conlon4332]

@@quit-rt4vz What, why?

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I’m LIVING for the title of this video: It should be a new media term. Unbury the gays 🔥

[@metracxx]

is 'unbury' a word in english? it is in german, but now i'm confused

[@KarinVoll]

​@@metracxx it is english. The prefix UN can be added to many words to signify either a denial or a removal of a state. Unbury then means the removal of the buried state.

[@cordeliaistheone]

I've heard it since I first watched In the Flesh, it's so good.

[@stalfithrildi5366]

I'm so disinterred in this tbh

[@R_SENAL]

Bill & Frank's story is one of the most moving things I've seen on TV in many years. The ending they had, just the thought of "what if my wife asked me to help her go, if she were terminally ill?" Then the strength that Bill shows, to not only do it, but go with Frank, is just too much, I can feel the emotions well up just thinking about it now, it was such a deeply moving set of scenes, just wholly displaying what it means to love someone. I'm so glad they showed a post apocalyptic world where there was still hope and joy to be had in each other.

[@WynneL]

It was so inspiring and unique and emotionally moving; I just loved everything about it. They were the sweetest and most charming post-apocalyptic couple ever. I only wish that ep had been like, at least twice as long.

[@jennyfab312]

Hearing about the episode, especially played by Nick Offerman, is the reason I gave the show a chance. The episode is a film within a series. It is beautiful and perfect. We have watched it 4 times. Twice within the entire series and twice on its own.

[@jennyfab312]

And just reading your comment, I'm crying

[@adityashankarnarayanan]

"Assimilation is ultimately a thankless task: it's about other people's comfort over your own needs". I absolutely love this quote!

[@trinaq]

I like that the LGBTQA Plus characters are receiving more focus in horror or survival stories. In the "Fear Street" Trilogy, gay couple Deena and Sam are undoubtedly the primary focus, and end up surviving the entire franchise.

[@quirkyblackenby]

Those are some of my favorite horror movies. I was shocked we got canon gay chracters

[@chacharealclanky3580]

Those movies are 11/10

[@leahbaron1]

​@@ville__ pretty sure it's just an observation

[@willowwilloughby1194]

Fear Street was soooo good, I need more queer-centered slashers/thrillers like that

[@WynneL]

The Fear Street movies were so damn awesome.

[@lulubella333]

FINALLY SOMEONE TALKS ABOUT IN THE FLESH!!! I was starting to think it was a fever dream

[@germanchocolatechip]

Same! I loved loved it but after many years I began to think I misremembered binge watching it for a week 😅

[@jacobklein5543]

Same! Especially since I live in the US and only managed to find it by chance on a site for pirated TV, which meant I could never find it again after the website shut down. It was so good, but talking about it made me feel like a conspiracy theorist because literally no one I talked to had ever even heard of it and there was almost no discourse about it online. So criminally underrated

[@omolisa3783]

Omg "In the Flesh" in the thumbnail?? I feel like no one ever talks about that show even though it was so so interesting & had so much potential & should have never been canceled! Now I'm extra-excited to start watching this video!!

[@romaneoudomvilay2596]

OMG same !!

[@BooksStuffbooks]

I literally gasped out loud when I saw the thumbnail, because In the Flesh is one of my all time favorite series

[@StillNotGinger11]

Same reaction, I loved this show so much. It was so well written and thought out.

[@AryaFlowernyTurner]

i was thinking the same TT_TT

[@bizziegrace]

In the flesh lovers unite!!

[@TheLittleFangirl]

IN THE FLESH!!!!! LET'S GOOOO. Probably my favorite TV parents, Kieren's parents are so complex and well written

[@neilbiggs1353]

His sister too - her PTSD in season 2 was another fascinating character study. I've never had a show made me so pained at seeing a hammer kicked to someone. You can see that written in a script, it'd be a tiny line, but what it makes for the audience on screen, that act of love and self sacrifice... What a show, I wish Dominic Mitchell had more work out there

[@HeyRowanEllis]

Jem's story didn't fit into the queer focus of this video essay, but I LOVE how they dealt with her PTSD in the show, from her total denial of Kieran's return to her flashbacks in school etc - so fucking good!

[@neilbiggs1353]

@@HeyRowanEllis With the exception of Maxine who felt a bit of a caricature, I loved the way so many of the characters were handled. I got the feeling for example that Rick's mother knew or at least guessed something about him and Ren, but didn't know how to support him, and it's all in half spoken sentences... The villains are more monstrous because they were recognisable... What a show! But probably too old to get the finish it deserved without a reboot and I just don't like reboots as I hate trying to explain which version of a story I'm talking about (but that's very much a me problem!)

[@carolinemercer9779]

I want more In the Flesh so badly 😢

[@delightfulpisces1958]

That is such the lovely thing about The Last of Us ep.3. Up until recently I couldn't imagine myself growing old in a queer way, it's just something that never came to me in my countless hours of imagining. But now I've started to picture it, after the episode, there's at least an idea to look forward to, just because I saw two old gays, something you don't see everyday.

[@elieli2893]

Yeah. We definitely need more old queer people in shows and media, and not the "this person never had a fulfilling life so they're a bitter nightmare" type. It matters to see someone who shares a sexuality/gender identity with you portrayed in different seasons of their life. I'd personally love to see an old nonbinary or aroace person in some show or movie, portrayed as living happily. Or even just a happily single old person, with no tragedies, bitterness, spouse death or anything weird about them! I feel like all portrayals of even just older single people, are those of either 1. Some nun/monk/religious fanatic 2. An angry, unhappy, disappointed person who missed all opportunities in life or 3. A person who is in some way 'odd' or suffering from some form of mental illness (doomsday preppers, all form of actual mental illness, even the caricature of a cat lady). It's so tiring, when you're constantly consuming messaging that tells you, "You couldn't *possibly* be happy and have a good life without a relationship, come on! You're going to turn bitter and become a scary/weird hermit!" I think even your everyday straight person would benefit immensely from not having the pressure of having to find a partner no matter what, on them. That Last of Us episode was beautiful, my friend showed it to me even though I don't watch the show itself, and I cried three times. I felt it was super important, that they were an older gay couple, and even that neither one of them was feminine in their presentation. They looked like your everyday guys, and that's what the majority of queer people are. Normal everyday people.

[@scpjij]

check out the show "grace and frankie"!

[@phroobin]

In The Flesh still utterly fucking breaks me. It was such a tender, gorgeous show and I'm so sad it didn't get continued.

[@kjlysaght644]

THANK YOU for covering In the Flesh!! It's such a vastly underrated show in my opinion, and it's actually where I got my name from. I'm trans, but didn't realize it when I first watched the show back in 2013-2014. I just heavily related to Kieren and thought, "Oh, if I ever had a son I'd name him that." Cut to a few years later and Kieren is now my legal name.

[@kthxbi]

I know people love season 2 of In The Flesh, but season 1 emotionally wrecked me with its rumination on the whole concept of what would happen in a family and a community if someone who did what Kieran did came back. it was brutally honest in a way very very few shows had ever dared to be at the time

[@notaninfodump5929]

I think both seasons do two separate things very well. Ones the integration of the self back into the community, and one is to show that the community needs to see the person for the individual. In season 1, you see people coming back after a tragedy and trying to rekindle their ability to function in the town (to varying degrees), and season 2 focuses on the wider community's ability to accept those different from you and what they're willing to do to get some sense of normalcy.

[@c4cezar_magz]

I remember watching the last of us episode three with my dad. It had me bawling. It's rare that media makes me truly cry, especially that hard, but even when it does it's because something sad happens. I didn't start crying when they died though. I started crying as their love grew. I don't think I've ever cried because media had made me so happy. It was so beautiful and so lovely. And as realizations kept coming on as there was no marriage equality at the time, and they'd have survived the aids epidemic, and just how normally forbidden that love would've been, I'd cry harder. After the episode ended my dad turned to me to see my face drenched with tears. I said "there's no way you didn't cry right?" And to my surprise, he did. My dad who'd years ago called my bisexuality a phase cried at that. I think the beauty of that episode was that it was a beautiful love story, and it'd still be beautiful even if it wasn't gay, but the beauty was strengthened by that queerness. It wasn't just representation, it felt like normalization. The queerness was portrayed so naturally and that's what was so amazing to me.

[@mandipandi303]

I watched the live stream, but here's a comment for the algorithm: I'm definitely going to check out In the Flesh after watching this. I think a piece of zombie media that would've been greatly improved by queer representation is Warm Bodies, as love is the whole point of that film. Episode 3 of The Last of Us made me cry so hard that I was worried my neighbors would come check on me. I'm not exaggerating. As a queer person with a degenerative neuromuscular disease, that episode hit me HARD!!!!!! People don't talk enough about how significant it is that Bill not only turns his back on Frank to play piano, but he immediately admits, "There's no girl," to a stranger. Frank could've been a raging homophobe who would've wanted to harm him for being gay. There were several real-world examples of that happening to people at that time. Bush was trying to ban gay marriage then, too, so this had to be intentional timing on the show's part. The fact that Frank cries when they first kiss, and Bill is so hesitant at first but reciprocates the kiss quickly despite how paranoid he is, shows just how lonely and starved for love both men have been. Frank may have gotten some gaydar vibes from Bill (the chargers, plating, and the way he poured the wine all read very queer to me, on top of all the body language and acting choices by Nick Offerman). Bill likely would've ignored any intuition like that he had, being as paranoid as he is. The show runners said Frank already knew about his MS/ALS, so he always knew he was going to deteriorate physically and need a lot of help. He definitely would've told Bill, and Bill was prepared to not only continue to protect them but to take care of Frank's physical needs. The man who doesn't care about appearances takes care of the flowers because he knows they're important to his partner, and he cares about Frank's emotional health as much as his physical one. Bill doing that is unfathomable on day 1. Bill and Frank getting married set at current day (as gay marriage staying legal in the US is on unsure footing) is so poignant. I definitely would've done the same as Bill and Frank at the end. If Nick Offerman doesn't win an Emmy for his performance, I'm going to be so upset. Thank you, Megan Mullally, for telling your husband to take this role. The world is better for it.

[@hakunamatatatish8784]

I literally paused this video, watched the whole of In the Flesh and came back to watch it, I'd love to see it revived - either as a 10 years later or a remake. I sense it was cancelled since it ended on a half cliffhanger half tying up loose ends. I cried, I laughed - such a good watch ❤

[@hakunamatatatish8784]

Also on a separate note, I'm not usually one for bringing stage tropes or stage acting onto the screen, but I didn't mind it in this series. I think that's just me liking British series stylised similar to it.

[@eduardoo31]

Just hearing you talk about the confrontation between kieran and his father made me cry. I miss this show so much, it was one my favorites back in the day

[@Torballss]

Please let this set off the In The Flesh fandom renaissance I have been craving since it was brutally cancelled

[@morganlv13]

I'm so happy finally seeing someone talk about in the flesh ! It has been my favorite show since i was 14 (i'm turning 22 soon) and it's so frustrating that no one talks about it

[@TheCountOrlok]

This video really made me want to rewatch In the Flesh. The cancellation after all that happened during season 2 is still such a disappointment...

[@Gattsu_the_struggler]

The amount of effort that goes into these videos really doesn’t get enough attention. Writing a 47 minute essay alone would take so much effort. Let alone editing the essay, recording and video editing

[@neivilde.1242]

i have been waiting for this video ever since you teased it, and it did not disappoint. i am currently in an English class about the zombie genre, so this is literal perfect timing, cuz i was thinking of writing my final paper on in the flesh

[@HeyRowanEllis]

okay but that's the coolest class i've ever heard of???

[@ResaChiic]

YES IN THE FLESH. I think we're all still waiting for season 3 to happen and the writer of the show has said he's got a script for some of it. i hope if it gets more attention, it'll come back. anyways, stepping out of movies/shows, if you decide to hop into books, anime, and audio dramas, there's some hidden gems amongst queer zombies stories. in particular, i recommend Human Error, We're Alive, and Zombie Hide Sex (a BL manga, which trust me is better than it sounds, esp if you like In the Flesh since it focuses on the "healing the zombies" science and surprisingly does feature badass gay scientists & gay zombies as main characters!). i think there might be a few BL visual novels as well but i've only seen their covers/titles and havent actually looked in to confirm if they're actually about zombies

[@corvigae]

I'm in a class right now called "The Anthropology of the Undead" where we examine both the cultural origins of zombies and also how they're used in pop culture and media as cultural commentary, and this video fits *perfectly* in with the discussions we have in that class, so I think I'll be forwarding it to my professor!

[@winterfire1097]

Have you guys talked about the adaptation of The Walking Dead? I rewatched and then finished it and found it more interesting now that I'm older as I had to mentally wrestle with the fact that Rick Grimes isn't the Hero, he's more so just a bit better than Negan was. I mean he struck first at his outpost murdering 50+ men mainly in their sleep as a preemptive strike against the Saviors. Also TWD has a conversation I think even Law and Order SVU hasn't and it was in season 3 when Maggie is almost SA'd by the Govenor and how Glenn (her husband) gets mad that he couldn't stop it and makes it about him for a moment before apologizing to her and understanding he was being selfish. 👏🏻

[@alisonpenn1124]

You just reading the bits from In the Flesh is making me cry. Such a powerful show.

[@steampunk-llama]

@@ville__ You don’t speak for everyone’s experiences. If someone said they cried over a show, then why would they lie about that?

[@fearlessjones]

I have never felt so seen than when I watched In The Flesh for the first time. Having struggled with depression, watching Kieren was heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting. The added political and LGBTQ themes make it all the more relevant to today. Just as a note, the creator Dominic Mitchell has a Patreon for a 3rd season script he’s writing!

[@high-keylokistan5309]

Saw In the Flesh in the thumbnail and immediately had to watch! I love Kieren and Simon so much but no one ever talks about this show❤❤❤

[@virtualprimatologist]

Gonna come back to this once I've finished TLOU but popping in a comment for the algo and also to say the cancelation of In the Flesh truly broke my heart. Poor Kieran my baby boy

[@sopsop97]

i remember binging in the flesh without knowing it had been cancelled. i was heartbroken, it's such a good show!

[@AmalieSteffensen]

the absolute ECSTASY i felt upon realising that this video was not only about That New Zombie Show but in fact also about my favourite show of all time is hard to capture in words

[@123Nightcloud]

Omg saw my boy Kieren in the thumbnail and screamed - my baby boy!! Such an amazing show - absolutely heartbroken it was cancelled, even years later haha. But I'll now have to go rewatch the show for the 18th time now you've reminded me of it🥰

[@purpleway1713]

It's still breaks my heart every other time I think of In the Flesh, and knowing the poll they did, asking us which show between Dominion and In the flesh should have a new season (ITF won like... no match) and they still decided to go for Dominion to not even finish this new season it got.... it's infuriating.... plus the creator still fighting to have a proper ending to this day... gosh, please let us have it

[@lullhabit6292]

OH MY GOD, I forgot In the flesh this show made me cry so hard goddamn

[@saferoomz]

oh my godd thank you so much for bringing attention to in the flesh . im obsessed with queer liberation is second season and kieran accepting himself and its all just so beautiful and makes me so emotional

[@alicepayne9726]

Ahhh I love In the Flesh!! If you didn’t already know, Dominic Mitchell is going to be realising a script and podcast for the season 3 that should’ve been! x

[@lgabymoran]

I cannot for the life of me find the title or author, but there was a one-shot in a Boys Love manga anthology about two boys in the zombie apocalypse, with a death pact. What made it stand out was the fact that the death pact was, yes, a way for them to say "without you, this world will be insufferable and I will choose to not go on alone", but also a way for them to welcome death. The infected would use the last remaining dregs of sanity to follow through with his promise, and the survivor would gladly welcome the certainty of death from the one person who could make it a relief. It was sad, but as you said, in extreme circumstances, I appreciate the decisiveness that queer characters are able to exercise, because the reality of our world is not so black and white.

[@AmberWilkins-ft6ti]

I especially love how the open window as an image of peace is turned on its head when marlene arrives to meet baby ellie and her mother. The window downstairs is open but its open only because its broken. Complete reversal there imo. Good shit.

[@centreoftheselights]

A few years before In The Flesh came out, I remember reading a book series with very similar themes and ideas - it was called Generation Dead and it also used the "queer teen zombies" idea, including some characters being able to "pass" as living.

[@ez3748]

in the flesh was my favourite show of all time for so long and i stopped telling people it was my fave tv show bc i was scared to rewatch it and find it wasn't as amazing as i remember but you've reminded me to get back to it!! i still have the dvds somewhere! 😊❤

[@germanchocolatechip]

Omg someone acknowledging that In the Flesh existed! I never loked zombie shows but I loved that show.

[@ais3983]

I watched the Bill and Frank episode of TLOU with a couple of other queer friends, a few newly out and others who have been a vocal part of the community for a while, and by the end of the episode we all found something to be crying about. Something about finally finding love after the end of the world was so incredibly bittersweet and I personally believe their relationship was some of the best mainstream queer representation we’ve had in a very long time.

[@ChloeTheJean]

I burst into tears several times in the last of us section of this video. It's hard to put in words how these characters affect us but you did a great job

[@LeafyK]

I did too. Technically, I cried while reading comments, but that's due to Rowan's poignant tone-setting

[@alphamale7388]

I remember being around 10 years old in the 90s in a poor Latin American neighborhood and seeing adults and neighbors running around the building we lived in, in a very agitated state when I asked my mom what was happening she told me they discovered the neighbor living upstairs had AIDS...I later learn how that illness propagates but I will never forget how ignorance plus fear turn people not only violent but also unrecognizable...

[@McSkullmun]

After this I’m going to watch in the flesh :) Thank you for introducing it to me

[@123Nightcloud]

Omg I hope you enjoy it; it's truly amazing 🥺💚

[@PapaphobiaPictures]

What'd you think of it? I love the series and was gutted when it was cancelled

[@rollercoastergirly]

Another good example of queer zombie media is the comic “shoot around.” It’s about a girl’s basketball team that sees the zombie apocalypse happen during practice

[@bobertpaulbufano4569]

The In the Flesh writer has a gofundme to do a season three -- maybe check it out??

[@notaninfodump5929]

(Minor spoilers for episode 1) I just watched In The Flesh because of you, and god, it really is good. Each episode is an hour, there's 9 episodes total and the pacing is phenomenal, the first episode had me hooked when Jem "He can't kill himself twice!" in the middle of the first episode, my jaw dropped. And even the non-main characters are actually given time and effort, each person you can see why they make their choices they made. My heart broke watching this show, but it also rebuilt something in me.

[@emirikyuu7308]

IM ACTUALLY SCREAMING RN SEEING A BIG YTUBER LIKE U TALK ABOUT IN THE FLESH AND BRINGING NEW PEOPLE INTO THE SHOW OMG its my favourite tv show in the world and i was so shocked when i saw the thumbnail!

[@MayaMad33]

In the flesh is one of my most rewatched show ever. I know the original run did have very good views but this show is one I want revived so bad.

[@bef9612]

I literally screamed when I heard the instrumental "Just Like Heaven" in the background on the carousel scene.

[@kissboldizsar9872]

Watched "In the Flesh" after this, and I am so obsessed, thank you!

[@seanthebluesheep]

Unrelated to the video's content, but as a less than regular viewer (even though they're almost always great) I just needed to say that your hair looks incredible. Soft yet bouncy, and a really wonderful amount of curl. I'll watch the 47 minutes and 17 seconds now.

[@seanthebluesheep]

Update: it is a good video.

[@nathanong]

I'm new to your content, just wanted to say that you're knocking it out of the park. Really, well done. Very thorough and thoughtful analysis. I definitely want to check out In The Flesh now

[@jam-the-hologram]

The spoiler warning on this video finally convinced me to finish watching In The Flesh. Thank you so much its brilliant!!! The video itself is also really good!

[@GreenQueenX3]

In the flesh is also one of my favourite shows, but I swear no one watched it when it came out, least in my friend group 😅 I thought it was such a beautiful story, and refreshing as a zombie media fan and as a queer teen. Wasn't what I expected, but what we needed 🧟‍♂️

[@PChuu22]

I first saw In the Flesh when I was deep in the hormonal hell of a miscarriage. I think that's part of why I loved it so much...my emotional state latched on to a series that was extremely emotional. The fact that it also dealt with two of my passions (zombies and stories about LGBTQIA+ folx) has given it place of honor in my heart. I love that you talked so passionately and intelligently about it. Thank you for this video!

[@ems786]

Time to watch In The Flesh! A movie I watched in 2017 called The Cured must have been inspired by that series, loved the themes of what happens after. The depth that a series could explore these concepts sounds incredible, thanks for sharing!

[@christyshultz6443]

I think it's a great idea but it sucks that the show was canceled. I would have like to seen more of the storyline. If this was made in America however one of the main couple there would be female and it would be ridiculous😢 it's sad so very little queer representation. Even the shows that are made by people cw don't always last that long if they're queer themed. We do have Roswell New Mexico 2019 excellent show made it Four Seasons even got a queer wedding. I feel like we should have got at least one more season but maybe we'll get that on Netflix who knows.

[@tigersinlondon2152]

thank you for this video!! i've resigned myself to not being able to watch TLOU despite it sounding REALLY good (crippling fear of zombies that im only part way into exposure-therapying myself out of), so it was great to hear this analysis of the queer storylines from the show

[@jbills3000]

OMG! Rowan, I have been waiting for your commentary on this since the end of episode 3 of The Last Of Us!!! Thank you! ❤🙋🏾‍♀

[@heppyzx5877]

Omg I remember watching the first series of in the flesh when it first aired on bbc 3 I forgot all about that show it was incredible! I deffo need to give it a rewatch

[@plantskid]

HOLY SHIT IN THE FLESH!!!!!!! I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!! LITERALLY GOT MY BA BY WRITING ABOUT IT!!! I'M TELLING DOM MITCHELL ABOUT THIS VIDEO HE'LL LOVE IT!!!! also generally another absolutely Banger video! well-researched, well-articulated and if you ever wanna talk more about queer zombies i'm gonna get my MA writing about it again (hopefully, consultation is in april) so i have a Lot of stuff to share lmao

[@plantskid]

FOR EVERYONE SAD ABOUT IN THE FLESH'S CANCELLATION, SHOWRUNNER DOMINIC MITCHELL IS PUBLISHING A SCRIPT FOR HOW HE WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE DONE SEASON 3 REALLY SOON!!

[@kaleksykt]

oh i absolutely love your hair color im using it as a reference for my hair stylist ❤

[@kristhebard]

I loved Bill and Frank because, for them, the end of the world meant freedom. Without all the baggage of society, for once in their lives they could be themselves.

[@archivist17]

Excellent analysis, thank you!

[@persgodiva]

is that "IN THE FLESH" AND EMMETT SCANLAN IN YOUR THUMBNAIL LEMME JUST *hitting like aggressively*

[@Radhaun]

James Somerton also brought up a good point that "I like you older, older means we're still here" probably had a double meaning as to both men as old enough to have lived through the AIDs crisis and he probably lost a lot of friends pretty early in their lives.

[@AmanCreatesArt]

Fantastic video! Hadn’t heard much about In the Flesh before. Now I definitely want to check it out! 😃

[@nettieb7604]

FINALLY SOMEONE IS TALKING ABOUT IN THE FLESH I WAS SO CROSS WHEN THEY CANCELLED IT

[@julesc9279]

Omg I totally forgot about it but I loved In the Flesh!! I watched it as part of a gender studies class about pop culture and it was so well done. Going to have to rewatch it again!

[@woodyscorner8536]

Actually graves found with cages on them weren’t there out of fear of the undead, it was because grave robbing was frequent at the time for various reasons

[@solowolf1]

I was waiting for you to do a video on TLOU, loved that frickin show, as well as the game. It was so awesome to see that not only did they keep the queer representation of the game but also expanded upon it! I was honestly surprised and it made me really happy

[@Illogical.]

I made all zombies and skeletons with leather armor have that armor be a random colour in Minecraft (bedrock edition). Now I'll occasionally find very colorful zombies and skeleton when exploring.

[@tesso200497]

I will never forget sobbing so much during TLOU ep3 that I had to sit up from lying on the couch because I started choking 😭

[@Mambo1061]

I’m not finished with the video (excellent so far) but I have to say I am mesmerized by your hair absolutely banger styling this video 👌👌😌

[@HeyRowanEllis]

omg thank you!

[@arielleighcicero4578]

Loved this video! In the Flesh was an early canon queer fixation of mine. Gay zombies ftw

[@nightspires]

"resurrect your gays" is a trope i can get behind

[@karenbaldwin2867]

Here use my shovel you dig and I’ll read from the forbidden book.

[@viivi4196]

while I was watching this video I literally had to pause it a few times while you talked about bill and frank cause I just kept crying thinking about them

[@HotDogTimeMachine385]

Great video on such an interesting subject!

[@caiasmith1341]

Omg, i love in the flesh so much, can't wait to hear your thoughts on it

[@kennyrunde6130]

One of the best yt titles I’ve seen

[@HunnyBug]

I saw In The Flesh and clicked immediately. I am simple 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@jonathanshaw224]

Hahah I literally paused this video, watched In the Flesh, and came back while sobbing from the end of season 2. Excellent

[@hollykm]

This was GREAT WORk but I also need you to know that we need a hair tutorial STAT because she is looking VOLUMINOUS!!!

[@jezabellestriker5551]

As someone who’s aroace, I don’t get most relationships, but I loved Bill and Frank. They took that show from 4 starts to 5 stars. Their episode is my favorite episode, but it’s also the episode that keeps me from recommending the show to people. The people around me are mostly older southern people, and you just never know with them. I can’t just say, “Hey! You might really like The Last of Us. Unless you’re homophobic. You might not like it if you’re homophobic.” It tears me up because I love this show and I want to shove it down people’s throats. Watch Bill and Frank, watch Ellie and Riley, and cry with me. Look. This is love. Not love at first sight. Not a bully romance. Not two friends that end up together because. Not a relationship so toxic it drives people away for miles. Just love. Two people who love each other and don’t make me question why for a second. I can’t even explain to people why understanding their love means so much to me because no one knows about me. I have to go around masquerading as a straight woman who doesn’t waste time on men and hates kids because how do you begin to explain to a bunch of southern, Christian women you’re not straight and have no desire for marriage or kids? God! It’s so frustrating! I just want to be me and share the shit I love. Sorry for the rant. I needed to get that out of my system.

[@jolinewitsen3925]

Just going to drop a little recommendation here... Zombabe by I.S. Belle tackles a lot of these same themes, though it isn't exactly an apocalypse story as far as I'm aware. I haven't read it yet because I'm super squeemish about zombie stories and horror but I've heard great things about this book (and you know, I love supporting queer creators)

[@cheesydoritos_]

When you said although it might seem counter-intuitive in the world of the last of us they’re able to thrive really hits a note with me and why I like the older Mad Max movies and universe so much, the lack of society and societal norms let’s people consistently show them true selves in it and it’s stuff like that that really speaks to me nowadays with how queer people are being treated in society.

[@trillian7590]

I need to reread Zombies Vs Unicorns.... I know for a fact there was a queer zombie love story in there but it's been so many years I can't for the life of me remember the themes or details

[@liharin2975]

I loved your video. Wish the second show’s creator would watch it as a reminder that his creation is relevant and thought-provoking despite not getting the ending he planned to film

[@TheAngryMarshmallow]

I wish I had something more thoughtful to say but your hair is very much ROWAN FINAL EVOLUTION ❤

[@sweets4life230]

Ive not watched the video due to spoilers but I did read a book about queer zombies and it was really interesting. I cant remember for the life of me what it was called but it was set in the apocalypse in this lake community and followed the protagonists blooming queer love with another character amongst other classic zombie fiction malarkey until it subverts it half way through. I should honestly go see if I can locate it cos it was really interesting.

[@FurrySupportMain]

In the flesh sounds very interesting 😮maybe I’ll try watching it

[@bandana_girl6507]

I hadn't actually considered Dipsea before because I'm ace, but damn the beginning of that ad read is compelling

[@tealduckduckgoose]

I love in the flesh, I'm so glad to see someone talk about it. Great video Rowan!

[@drunkenkurage4123]

So happy to see other people who loved In the Flesh. Its such an underrated show, and was quite a nice take on the zombie genre.

[@Lighting_Desk]

I adored in the flesh. It broke me. Really needed another series.

[@anangrylittlesliceofpie1413]

thank you for talking about in the flesh 🖤

[@greendaybmt]

Sobbing all over again recounting this episode!

[@Mariajustmary]

Great video as usual!

[@Chattyaddy09]

i never see anyone talk about in the flesh! i miss it so much!! :((