MovieChat Forums > The Bletchley Circle (2012) Discussion > Lesbian hint?

Lesbian hint?

posted 11 years ago by Flickfan-3
11 replies | jump to latest

Watched S! and now S2--the first two episodes--

did anyone else get the suggestion that there was maybe something underlying the relationship between Susan and Millie--
their conversation in S2E1 when they discuss how they had plans for after the war, for traveling Europe together that never came to fruition, and then the final goodbye in E2 when Susan and Millie has the more intimate farewell with the special hug...
there was something more to that than the way Susan took leave of the other 3---

I know that women often didn't even know how to feel about any lesbian thoughts/emotions because it was supposed to be forbidden and "evil"--
and Susan's relationship with Timothy seems to tepid, locked-down and not just because of her background with Bletchley code works or even the new stuff...
the scene in the car on their return home was about as much emotion as she has showed him at any time---
and can't help but think it was her way not just of getting out from under the detective stuff but the relationship (although unexplored) with Millie---
she could leave all that baggage behind if she went overseas with Timothy---

am I alone in seeing/thinking this???

"...That's the beauty of argument, Joey. If you argue correctly, you're never wrong..."

[–] swing_gal2 11 years ago

I actually had the very same thought. It seemed subtle, but intentional.

[–] bpollen 9 years ago

I didn't see it. Women form strong, affectionate attachments toward their friends. Much more so than men. Because women are friends does not mean that they are subconsciously wanting to be lesbian. It's just close friendship. Nothing more.

If it were more, it would have been more obvious. I hug friends goodbye. That's normal for women. It was so emotional because they knew they might never see each other again, that their lives were taking different paths, and they'd never have another friend like the other one.

[–] richard.fuller1 11 years ago

I rewatched it and felt there was some insinuation there as well, perhaps Millie loved Susan but Susan didn't feel the same way.

But it really seemed like something was wanting to be hinted.

[–] Flickfan-3 11 years ago

I got the idea that her relationship with Timothy almost began out of pity after he was injured so severely--
maybe she had the intention to break it off with him after the war because of her friendship with Millie and starting to want something different than a conventional marriage/relationship--once she found out that she was so intelligent and was capable of more than what she maybe though prior to working at Bletchley---
but when Timothy was hurt, she spent lot of time with him--probably felt guilty (Susan has overactive conscience about other people's expectations) about wanting to break it off and what that might do to him...so she caved...
I think as long as she avoid thinking about what might have been, she could go through the motions of playing "happy family" with Tim--and she did love her children--
but once she reconnected with Millie and found out she was still capable of rigorous thinking, she was hard-pressed to pretend to be happy...
Too bad she couldn't have gone to work for Scotland Yard as a detective--she would have been aces...

Susan was SO SMART--almost a savant in some ways--definitely not something Timothy was aware of--
I got the idea that he wouldn't have minded really if she had just been honest with him--although the idea of home schooling her kids as the best use of her IQ seems rather limiting and conventional...

Maybe the fact that she was leaving the series allowed the writers to go a little farther down the path since they knew they wouldn't have to deal with anything more than just a wistful good-bye...

"...That's the beauty of argument, Joey. If you argue correctly, you're never wrong..."

[–] richard.fuller1 11 years ago

The actress playing Susan was brilliant and definitely conveyed the character's intellect and suppressing it, but I didn't sense anything that she was romantically attracted to Millie.

When she told Tim about what she did during the war, again she came across as tho it mattered to her what he knew, and when she was told one of the girls was injured but she didn't know which one, there was no hint of 'it might be Jean'.

I think if there had been any inkling that Susan was supposed to be affectionate toward Millie, again the performer would have brought it forth.

[–] lamont-hard 10 years ago

How she did not seem affectionate to her husband is just how she was. It does not mean she is a lesbian or is not happy with her family. You know there is a big difference from going from male to female sex verses female to female. Some women are just not into it, even if they have feelings for another woman. They were affectionate friends, isn't that enough. If either liked other women it would have been hinted before that goodby scene. It is very hard for some people to keep secrets from there spouses and it took a toll on them with the lack of affection.

[–] Rvrgm 9 years ago

It is possible for members of the same sex to feel a bond closer than sexual attraction … I know today's culture insists this can only be homosexuality… but it is possible just to have a connection that is completely different from that.

[–] lantzn 9 years ago

Exactly, there is much written about in the comradery of men during the wars of WWII and earlier that people today would think they were homosexuals. Men felt affection for other men and showed it. Nowadays if people acted as they did then, there would be all kinds of accusations.

[–] kaskait 11 years ago

I always thought Millie was...but not Susan.

There was probably a plan to explore it further but now that the series is cancelled, we'll never know.

[–] mme3924-1 10 years ago

It seemed very clear to me that they had deeper feelings for one another than friendship. Susan says she thinks of her often, "usually without regret" or something similar. And the hug goodbye was meaningful.

I agree they may not have acted on their feelings because of the times.....or because Susan loved both Millie and the man she married.

I find Susan's character annoying in that she's always backing away or being frightened off, afraid what they are doing will destroy her husband's career, or her children, or both. Or of just being caught. I realize the writers introduced this in the one character who has a family in order to create conflict but the one-note characterization has grown tiresome by Season 2, when, once again, Susan is dragged into something she really wants to do but is afraid of doing. Personally, I'm glad she's swanning off to India, or wherever her husband is being posted, and if she returns to the "team", I hope she will have given up her reluctance to take part.

[–] lamont-hard 9 years ago

Family first, of course will put her husband and kids ahead of all else. It's what i liked in her.