When Fandoms Collide. And What Do We Think of the Term "Lover"?

[switchbladeeyes]

Last night, wawamouse, trillingstar, and I were discussing what we thought of the term "lover" because of this scene from Heated Rivalry when Ilya met Shane's parents after Shane's dad accidentally discovered they were Together (and poor Shane is a nervous wreck):



I think of it as a dated term. Mostly because I have never heard anyone in my entire life refer to their romantic partner as their lover. (Though I have heard it used as a descriptor by third parties. IDK how to explain it. Like, Oh, she ran away with her lover.)

Anyhoo, this morning, I woke up and was like, LOL, that would have been funny on Grantchester when Leonard (also a bundle of nerves) was set to meet Daniel's parents. Therefore:



The actual scene from Grantchester is also pretty funny:



And then, of course, I was like, that would be funny adapted to Heated Rivalry. So here we are:



MAYBE I'M UNHINGED BUT I CRACK MYSELF UP!!!

Comments

[merricatb]

TIL the characters in Grantchester are canonically gay. I haven't watched it yet but it's always so nice to see canon queer ships.

On the topic of "lover" as a term, I do not have strong opinions on it but my friend who reads fanfiction all day every day absolutely HATES when authors use that word so it's always in the back of my mind as a major pet peeve.

[switchbladeeyes]

TIL the characters in Grantchester are canonically gay.

Yeah, it's a major running subplot. The show is set in the 1950s and homosexuality is not socially acceptable to the society at large, not acceptable to the Anglican Church (relevant since one of the queer characters is--later, was--an Anglican priest), and also a crime. So, that environment creates a lot of problems for them. (But they endure! Because it would suck show-wise if they didn't).

On the topic of "lover" as a term, I do not have strong opinions on it but my friend who reads fanfiction all day every day absolutely HATES when authors use that word so it's always in the back of my mind as a major pet peeve.

I don't hate it, but context matters and it would certainly feel out of place to me in a lot of more modern contexts.

[merricatb]

Yeah, it's a major running subplot. The show is set in the 1950s and homosexuality is not socially acceptable to the society at large, not acceptable to the Anglican Church (relevant since one of the queer characters is--later, was--an Anglican priest), and also a crime. So, that environment creates a lot of problems for them. (But they endure! Because it would suck show-wise if they didn't).
That makes sense.

I don't hate it, but context matters and it would certainly feel out of place to me in a lot of more modern contexts.
Right, unless it's being used sarcastically.

[pattrose]

ROFLMAO. I've gone through it twice and am still laughing.

[switchbladeeyes]

Glad I could make you laugh! 😄

[thefruitbat]

snickers Hehe, you really have some great meme making skills. :D

I also think the term "lover" sounds a bit dated and yes, is mostly used by third parties, at least around here. It can also have a slightly mocking connotation sometimes. But it can also help distinguish the kind of relationship two people are having, since in German, "friend" (Freund" can mean platonic friend or boyfriend (fester Freund ~ steady boyfriend). The distinction is often made by saying "my partner" which clears up any confusion.

[switchbladeeyes]

I think of "partner" as a more modern term than "lover" (and very modern when used in hetero unmarried relationships). "Lover" strikes me as mid century-ish and earlier.

But as the 80s and 90s playlists I was listening to yesterday reminded me:

Billie Jean is not my lover.

You're my lover, not my rival.

If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends.

So idk lol.