Day one Discussion Question: Which characters(s) do you think could be/turn poly and why?
So, I talked about Tina and Gene in a different post, but why I see Louise as open to poly will require a post of its own to include video and gifs. I need to break down that time that Louise wrote an erotic friend fiction, and Tina wrote a nearly identical EFF the very next season because that's how we know it really was Louise's first EFF. And it was poly af with her as a hinge/pivot between the twins.
I actually have a short fic with Tina breaking down Louise's story for Day 2, but Tina's EFF and the parallels aren't mentioned in the fic. Even without the parallels, Louise's fantasy has very shippy poly-undertones. I'm going to try to focus on different aspects of significance here... because there's a lot I can say about this Louise story.
Let's start with the fantasies intercut into one video:
Wowza! Those parallels jump right out there and smack you upside the face.
The fantasies happen in back to back seasons. First, Louise describes hers in season 11 episode 8, and then Tina writes her Grease EFF in season 12 episodes 21 & 22.
Both stories begin as an expression of how new cool items are going to make Tina and Louise feel admired and special around their peers. Tina bought herself a t-shirt with a cool new horse graphic. Louise is plotting to get her hands on a pair of pilot's wings and make the most of them. She wants to "take those babies and soar."
It's rather funny that in retrospect "those babies" could technically mean either the wings or the twins, as she has on more than one occasion called them babies as a pet name.
Their fantasies begin exactly the same way. Tina and Louise throw open the doors to the school, attracting the attention of everyone around them. They are each wearing their cool new item, exuding confidence (despite Tina accidentally stepping in her own gum), and being watched with admiration by everyone they pass.
Interestingly, in Grease, Sandy's transformation isn't revealed at the school but at the fair. Tina has moved the location of her scene to match Louise's! It works because they are both having that same cool Sandy moment. The show is just making it even more obvious that these are the same fantasy.
Everyone in the hallway stops and stares at them in awe, and Louise, in particular, plays that to the hilt. Between this gif and the next, you can see Ms. LaBonz, Chloe, Rudy, Tammy, Jocelyn, and Zeke all awed by her.
Rudy is at Chloe's locker, doing a bit of Chloe clinging. We know Rudy has a crush on Chloe, but this fantasy isn't about him. His function in the fantasy is to establish how cool Louise is and to create a parallel between Chloe and Louise both being approached by boys. Unable to handle how cool Louise is, he immediately faints dead away at the sight of Louise's new wings. He never even sees Louise fly off with the twins to react to the coolest part of her fantasy or the potential romantic implications.
Chloe gets to see the entire scene but also without any special focus on her reaction because this isn't about Chloe either. Louise always wants to outdo Chloe after Chloe's history of making Louise feel bad, but this fantasy is about empowering Louise rather than punishing Chloe. It's about Louise visualizing herself as the coolest and what makes her feel good about herself. Towards this end... sure, Chloe has one admirer, but Louise has TWO.
Tina and Louise both ignore everyone as they strut towards their targets, the Pesto brothers. In both cases, the Pestos initiate the conversation.
Jimmy Junior (aka Janny Jr.) calls out Tina's name (Tandy) in surprise and admiration. Then, after Tina's horse pun flirting, he breaks into the opening of You're the One That I Want. Doesn't matter if it's the horse shirt or the confidence it gives her. He's got chills, and they're multiplying. 😂🥰
Meanwhile, Andy and Ollie approach Louise hand in hand. They are the only characters with the confidence to do so, and–like his big brother did in Tina's story–Andy initiates the conversation. Clearly, these pilot's wings have made Louise well-traveled and knowledgeable. In an overly innocent voice, he begs Louise, "Tell us about the world."
Louise doesn't break into song because singing is not what she does. She still makes an obvious musical reference, however, when she offers to show them the world instead. Even without the full line being quoted, it screams, "I can show you the world... shining, shimmering, splendid." A feeling that's only multiplied when she imagines them riding her like a magic carpet shortly after. 😂
It took decades and these two fantasies for me to realize that Disney's Aladdin and Grease share a fundamental core about self-confidence, social class as a romantic obstacle, and change to facilitate a relationship... with a side of flying transportation. 😂
Tina and Jimmy Jr. fly off talking about Grease meta and making out. Louise takes the more direct route–sprouting wings, herself. She takes Andy and Ollie's hands, and while holding hands with them, she flies away with them for untold adventures together. They switch to sitting on her back, and Louise is smiling smugly as she makes good on her promise.
This fantasy is so incredibly different from Louise's other stories. It's not an action film. It's not Mad Max, Predator, Game of Thrones, or any of her standard fare. It's drawn from two musicals with strong romcom elements, and the climax echoes the romantic setpiece scenes from them.
With her preference for action, it would be more expected to see her tell a story inspired by Hermes, Icarus, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The Rocketeer, some kind of superhero/disaster movie fusion...
Her ego could have been fed by a scenario where people fought over the chance to be around her, but she was ultimately too cool for anyone. Instead, Louise created a wholesome fantasy with two boys in the role of her romantic partner. So it seems that this is potentially about more than just ego. It directly parallels one of Tina's romantic EFFs, adding to the feeling that this isn't really a platonic story.
There's just no way I can watch this scene without seeing Louise as open to a poly relationship and perhaps subconsciously already romantically attracted to the twins.
