'Legacies' Season 2: Is the show queerbaiting viewers with minor hints about Hope and Josie ship?
When 'Legacies' debuted in 2018, the show promised to be much more diverse than its parent shows of 'The Vampire Diaries' and 'The Originals'. For one, there were many more central characters of color. For another, Josie Saltzman — Alaric's daughter — was shown to be queer.
Josie had a testy relationship in the first season with Penelope, who left the show midway. Josie and Penelope's relationship was one of the show's central relationships, and though there were issues, it was still something.
We also learned in Season 1 that Josie used to have a crush on Hope Mikaelson — who has since been said to be bisexual — when she confessed to being the reason for Hope's room being accidentally set on fire. Instead of admonishing her, Hope smiles it off — sparking hopes for countless "Hosie" shippers.
Fast forward to Season 2, which began with Hope being forgotten after she had sacrificed herself to defeat Malivore. In the first episode of the season, we see Josie forming a bond with Landon Kirby — Hope's boyfriend from the first season — and going on to date him.
The "Jandon" ship was quite controversial — many fans were upset that two characters that were formerly interested in Hope were finding love with each other. Some complained that Josie and Landon lacked chemistry, though the pairing did have its fans.
Hope does come back and in a later episode, the monster was one that attacked those who hid secrets. One of the secrets Hope revealed was that she too had a crush on Josie when they were younger — causing Josie's twin, Lizzie to exclaim that it would never happen.
Fans debated online as to what the outcome of the love triangle should be. Some wanted Hope to get back with Landon, but many were of the opinion that Landon should be the one dropped, with Josie and Hope starting a relationship. Of course, there are those fans that want Josie's girlfriend from the first season, Penelope, to come back.
While 'Legacies' held hopes of being more diverse in its first season, in the second season, with respect to queer characters and relationships, the show has been disappointing. Hope and Josie have been relegated to friendship again, killing many "Hosie" hopes.
There was also the introduction of a new character, Maya, in the second season. Maya and Ethan are the children of the new Sheriff. Before the season began, the characters were both teased to be "interested" in Hope.
While we got a few moments between Maya and Hope, nothing else has transpired that suggests Maya and Hope could be a thing. With Hope in a steady relationship again with Landon currently, the chances of Maya's "interest" in Hope becoming anything more are slim.
It does seem like the producers of 'Legacies' are trying to introduce queer relationships, but none of the proposed ones are playing out. Which brings us to the concept of "queerbaiting", a marketing technique in which creators hint at same-sex romance but don't actually depict it.
There are various examples of this across TV shows: Castiel and Dean Winchester in 'Supernatural', and Kara Danvers and Lena Luthor in 'Supergirl' to name a few. In movies, quite famously, there is Finn and Poe in the 'Star Wars' universe.
The 'Legacies' writers have been hinting at the development of something more between Hope and Josie as so have the actors who play the roles. Danielle Rose Russell and Kaylee Bryant took to social media to talk about it.
It is, however, high time that the writers of the show deliver on those promises. Sure, Hope and Landon have a good thing going on, but we would like to see Josie moving beyond the Landon-Hope triangle and have a strong relationship of her own.
'Legacies' airs on The CW on Thursday nights at 9/8c.