Alright. It Is Time. Buckle Up.

Alright. It is time. Buckle up.

Why you should be watching Dead Boy Detectives: the targeted-specifically-at my-readers edition.

Meet the leads, our two ghost boys:

Edwin Payne: Fussy, repressed intellectual type from the Edwardian era. Exceedingly gay for his partner and best friend. Tortured in hell for seventy years on a technicality because he was ritually sacrificed as a prank gone wrong. Endearingly awful at people and dealing with emotions or his own wants.

Charles Rowland: Impulsive, people-pleasing wildcard from the 80s. Heart eyes 24/7 at his best friend but has zero self-awareness. Badly abused by his asshole of a father. Beaten to death because he saved a kid from bullies. Endearingly awful at sorting his own emotions or talking about his problems.

Some highlights:

/slaps hood you can fit so much trauma in these two

Both leads get sobbing breakdowns that happen on screen. The actors are incredible at crying

Both leads get much-needed hugs

The absolute devotion between the two of them. The shared history that lives in their dialogue and how they work together like people who have been each other's Most Important Person for literal decades

I mean, I'm talking in-canon Orpheus and Eurydice reference level of devotion here

The protective way Charles puts himself physically between Edwin and damn near every threat in the show

They're just fun together. Their interactions and banter and how they work as a team is a delight

Their shared plot arc literally involves them learning to talk to each other and communicate more so that they can be there for one another about their respective issues

The symbolism. God. They are metaphorically and literally one another's light in the darkness

But what about stuff that isn't the main duo? Just wait, there's more:

This show is unabashedly, unapologetically queer. It's there in the text and the subtext. The whole show lives and breathes it

So many good, complex, well-written female characters. The Bechdel test gets blown straight out of the water in episode one and they never look back. Headstrong amnesiac psychic learning to be a better person! Quirky meta commentary matchmaker! Cynical lesbian butcher! Delightfully sadistic witch! They are all amazing.

[audience voice] But I'm here for the hurt/comfort. How can I whump ghosts? Worry not, my friends. Canon has you covered. Not only are there ways, there are ways that happen on-screen. The hurt/comfort and rescue are also on-screen. Yes, it is amazing

Absolute chaos, really cool supernatural cases and creatures, a surprising amount of humor, charming writing, and a cast that absolutely nails it on the acting and chemistry

There is an extremely suggestive trickster type who is also the king of cats. He's a cat in human form. He hits on Edwin nonstop. Charles gets blisteringly jealous

All of the leads have well-thought-through, fully developed, emotional character arcs. They're all messy and flawed and sometimes lash out in their pain, but at turns can be incredibly supportive and kind and loyal

A character who is a crow who is also a boy, who is tortured by his witch/creator and also is crushing hard on one of the leads

There are so many incredible details in the setting, costume choices, prop decisions, etc. that you only catch after you know what it's laying the groundwork for. The level of care that went into this show is phenomenal

It's only eight episodes. The time investment barrier to entry could not possibly be lower

Anyway, tl;dr, if any of this sounds appealing to you, you should give this show a watch.

Dead Boy Detectives is well worth your time. It's easily my favorite show in years.

Might have a little fun this week once emails are sent to these corporate fucks and make some concrete progress on the fanfic I was working on before Netflix and Warner Bros. decided to kill the vibe.

Fighting for the show can't be all work! We should allow ourselves to be really gay about it... smoosh Charles and Edwin's faces together, as a little treat!

I'm just going to say that whatever streaming platform takes on Dead Boy Detectives will have not only my utmost gratitude but also my money. I don't care what else they have they will have my subscription.

Because I haven't been this obsessed with any show or anything else really since I was a teenager. I'm talking actively-joining-online-communities-and-talking-in-voice-chat-despite-social-anxiety-obsessed. I'm talking posting-publicly-for-the-first-time-obsessed. I-made-a-bloody-twitter-account-just-for-this-obsessed.

I am so ready to spend all my adult money on what I love now that I am not 13 anymore and actually have money to spend.

I have started another DBD rewatch and yet again realise how much Charles helps Edwin ti manage the surrounding world and humans.

- calming deep breaths

- "less scolding me, more reminding me"

- "bedside manner"

And many others - they have become almost codewords now for them, but Cahrles clearly had the self-reflection and the tools / habits to recognise things that were not ok, have an honest conversation with Edwin about this and get to a point where they both work to become better and also are forgiving enough of each other’s faults. And really, it feels like Charles was doing most of the work to update and help Edwin navigate the modern world.

Charles Rowland, you truly are the kindest person out there

Dead Boy Detectives Writers' Room Quotes Part 1

Inspired by Zack Ogle's tweet

Part 2 | Part 3 (coming soon!)