Everyday Heterosexism on Eerie, Indiana's slash potential

[froodle]

Israeli actor Omri Katz played J.R.'s son on Dallas (seen here hugging his gay-vague nanny, played by Christopher Atkins), and a scientist's son zapped into a world of sentient dinosaurs in Adventures in Dinosaur City. But he's probably most famous for the gay-vague classic Eerie Indiana (1991-92).

It lasted for only 17 episodes (plus an eight-episode spin-off starring Daniel Clark), but it is still remembered and discussed by fans. One of the first of the teen-paranormal series of the 1990s, it drew on Twin Peaks (1990-1991) to depict a small town with an overarching mystery to be solved, with minor mysteries along the way.

Marshall Teller (Omri) moves with his parents to a small town in Indiana where weird things happen. Tupperware containers keep you alive forever. Time stops. ATMs aren't what they seem. There's a tornado every year on the same date.

A world full of bizarre events, where everyone has a secret agenda and nothing is what it seems? That's the life of every kid, of course, but it also reflects the journey of gay boys as they try to negotiate the mine-field of adult heterosexism, the constant "What girl do you like?" and "You'll meet a girl someday."

Marshall pairs up with local kid Simon Holmes (11-year old Justin Shenkarow) to investigate. They are often assisted by mysterious grayhaired boy, who has no name and no memory of his past, but calls himself Dash X (16-year old Jason Marsden, right). But more often he has a hidden agenda of his own.

There were few girl-crazy plotlines -- neither Simon nor Dash X so much as glances at a girl -- but there's lots of captures and daring rescues. However, Marshall remains just a close friend with Simon, while he is quite obviously attracted to the infuriating, mysterious, powerful yet somehow vulnerable Dash X. If they had more time, the two might have fallen in love. Unfortunately, the series ended before they could unravel the mystery or develop the homoromance, leaving viewers with more questions than answers

After the excellent "things are not what they seem" Pleasantville (1993), the Halloween comedy Hocus Pocus (1993), and a tv movie, Omri Katz moved to Israel, where he appeared occasionally in short films (which sometimes feature nudity), including the gay-themed Journey into Night (2002). He now works as a hairdresser in Los Angeles.

Justin Shenkarow remains an actor and producer with credits in Home Improvement, Picket Fences, W.I.T.C.H., and Aliens in America.

Comments

[deifire]

Yeah, I remember when I first found all the Bill/Dipper fic and was just...huh. Never before have I so completely failed to guess the juggernaut ship in a given fandom.

[froodle]

And it's HUGE, like it just vastly outstrips any other kind of fic for Gravity Falls and... but he doesn't generally have a body... and he's a triangle... what... bipper... what...

I also wouldn't have recognised him based on the fanart, because he's always anime!Draco with a tophat.

I've not seen the latest Star Wars movie, but I know Kylo Ren and that ginger guy are like a super popular pairing (thanks Tumblr) and evey time they come up Mike's like THAT GUY IS BARELY IN THE FILM WHAT!!

I think there should be a rule that intros to any media are written by people who haven't seen the media and have just seen the fandom. Because it would be hilarious an not resemble reality at all.

[deifire]

Between discovering the fic and catching up to whatever the current episode was, I kept expecting there would be an episode where we would we finally get to meet human!Bill...nope.

It's kind of glorious the way fandom has created a romantic lead out of a shout-y floating triangle.

And, yes, I totally think that should be a rule! The Force Awakens would be a lot of Kylo and Hux having sex all over Starkiller Base. When Kylo isn't busy tweeting about how much he hates his dad. Meanwhile, a polyamorous triad consisting of a ex-stormtrooper, an X-wing pilot, and a Jedi who is sometimes prone to using the Force inappropriately...

I wonder what Eerie looks like as seen through the fandom. Probably like something that has a lot more Dash in it. And a bigger special effects budget. And is occasionally shown only on HBO.

[froodle]

It's kind of glorious the way fandom has created a romantic lead out of a shout-y floating triangle.

Right there, that is the internet in one sentence.

Also omfg you just reminded me of the emo kylo ren twitter. Like I said, I haven't even seen the film but I was having dnner wih my bro a while back and he was reading them and I was in stitches.

Oh, fandom!Eerie overview totally has Dash as the main character. Also, lots of angst. Like, way more and more obvious angst. Also cursing. Also Devon/MElanie/Mars threesomes.

[deifire]

There are not enough Devon/Melanie/Mars threesomes.

I feel this especially since reading that script.

[froodle]

The writers totally shipped them. I will never not believe this.