Nigel Represents Alex's Unrepressed Self (Queerness and Sadism) in Like Minds
Just watched Like Minds for the first time. Going into it, I really did think that Alex/Nigel were like a couple or like murder husbands, and were going to kiss or whatever. That not happening makes the theme of Nigel representing what Alex wants to be even more clear to me. Alex is scared to be what Nigel is, but also needs him to balance out his own impulses that he represses.
Because Alex might be bi and repressed, but Nigel was straight gay, and way more open to affection than Alex was, in his own twisted way... Nigel kills himself, causing it all to implode, and showing how Alex's repressed feelings (not just with his sexuality, but also his violent tendencies) are how the plot moves. I know that sexuality is not a big theme in this, but the tension and queer undertones are hardly undertones with Alex and Nigel.
I dont want to make it seem like repressing queerness is the same as repressing evilness or literally being homicidal. But it does expand on that theme of Alex needing Nigel, even if he doesn't want to admit it at first. Plus, with Alex being totally complicit, and Nigel being a true part of his identity, it makes sense that he could represent not only the homicidal side of Alex, but the non-repressed queer side.
4/5 stars for this on my first watch, but likely more like a 4.5 on a rewatch
(literally the hidden devil on his shoulder (not in a literal sense, but to show his own hidden desires that he might demonize))
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