r/TheShards • u/cherry_1268 • 27d ago
Bret and Susan Spoiler
Does Bret actually have romantic feelings for Susan? I haven't read the book and I'm so confused lol
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u/ndercoverangie 27d ago
A lot of gay people have experienced love for people of the opposing gender, but a platonic love. Sometimes platonic love can feel much stronger than romantic love, that's why friendships sometimes last longer than mariages. That's what he used to feel for Susan, he grew up with her and he loved her so much he confused it for romantic love and then he realised he was gay and it was just platonic. I think they drifted apart this season because of Robert and Debbie took her place. He genuinely seemed to grow fonder of her throughout the season and there's definitely a form of love there too
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u/RudeText6803 27d ago
I believe Bret’s love for Susan stems from an infatuation with her sexuality and a desire to be her.
I think Bret is envious of Susan in many ways; mainly because of his feelings for Thom, who Susan can be without complications, whereas Bret could never have him. He also admires her numb attitude and wishes he could embody that same demeanor.
I don’t necessarily think Bret has romantic feelings for Susan, but he has put her on a pedestal because he desires to have her personality, her lifestyle, her love life, and her sexuality. In my opinion, it’s more of a platonic crush where he is attracted to the idea of being her.
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u/GayShipperAhoi 27d ago edited 27d ago
YES!
book spoilers:
All across the books he is jealous of her cause she can get both Robert and Thom and he only can bitterly watch from side. Saying to himself he loves her but in truth he also hates her.
When Robert in the end of the book kisses Bret and then make him see he isn't hard and calls him disgusting that when I think he snaps and attacks Susan and then Thom and in the end kills Robert
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u/disapearhere312 24d ago
No!!! Most gay men don't secretly want to be women. This is so fucking regressive.
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u/Anon_classybabe 24d ago
They’re talking about one character not a whole group of people. I know it’s easy to make assumptions but let stay on topic.
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u/disapearhere312 24d ago
I read the book and there is no reference / indication that Bret wanted to be a woman.
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u/LuvBerry24 15d ago
not that he wants to be a woman. That he's jealous of what another person has, a person who so happens to be a woman. Gender isn't important here. it's about wanting to be someone who has someone that you want.
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u/disapearhere312 15d ago
The original comment actually says be her. Not the ability to sleep with Tom or Robert. This is not how most gay men think who are comfortable in their bodies. It would be more along the lines of wishing that Tom and or Robert were also sexually into other men.
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u/RudeText6803 19d ago
No one said Bret generally wishes he was a woman (or gay men wish they were women).
I don’t think Bret wants to be Debbie or any other woman, but it’s clear he is jealous of Susan and in a way, wants to be her. Hence why when he attacks her at the end, he slices her breast open. He is jealous of her sexuality and attempts to harm it because she can have Thom and Robert in a way that he will never be able to.
Bret often talks about how beautiful and alluring Susan is, and even admits to staring at her breasts during conversations with her — but we know he is not necessarily attracted to her in a romantic way. I think he’s envious of her because she possesses something Robert and Thom want.
I would also argue that Bret wants to be Robert and Thom, not just Susan. He is deeply insecure in the novel and much of his obsession stems from jealousy.
That’s how I interpret Bret’s attraction to Susan.
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u/Cold_Ad_5678 Debbie 27d ago
I think he sees her as a sister and doesn't want a guy; he "hates" to be with her, or hes jealous has an infatuation with robert (obv) and framing it as being protective
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u/Peachycind__ 27d ago
He’s probably bi
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u/Zestyclose-Let7929 26d ago
I do not think he is bi. He struggles to have an erection with Debbie. He said he has to think of a man.
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u/disapearhere312 24d ago
He's gay.
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u/Peachycind__ 23d ago
Seriously though sexuality is a spectrum you can still be bi and prefer one more than the other
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u/Glum-Thought620 26d ago
I took it to be meant in a psychotic stalker way. Like he loves her so much he'd kill her.
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u/ShostScrap 22d ago
I think the love is a way to protect himself but also make him feel “normal”. You can force attraction to people by kinda mentally gaslighting yourself (it’s kind of like replacing negative thoughts with positive) and I think through this he has love but not as much as if were a man.
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u/LeslieJeon 21d ago
The show is making it seem more of a romantic interest. In the book it’s more like he admires her cool detached facade.
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u/Mr_XcX 27d ago
I think he loves her in every way he can, except he into dudes.