Joe Locke’s “Teen” Will Do Wonders for Queer Representation in ‘Agatha All Along’

‘Agatha All Along’ release is upon us, and with the first two episodes already out, it seems that audiences are pleased while critics, not so much. The show continues from ‘WandaVision’ as part of a trilogy with the MCU’s upcoming ‘Vision’ project. It follows Agatha Harkness as she escapes imprisonment and seeks to reclaim her powers by traversing the Witches’ Road.

Joe Locke’s character, Teen, is expected to play a crucial role in this quest and may also have a significant connection to the Scarlet Witch.

There’s also the fact that Teen is openly gay in the show, one scene even showcasing his boyfriend. Locke’s role is notable for LGBTQ+ representation in the MCU. As an openly LGBT+ actor, he joins other queer characters portrayed by openly queer actors, such as Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie and Brianna Hildebrand’s Negasonic Teenage Warhead.

While the MCU includes several queer characters, many of the actors portraying them have not publicly identified as queer.

Some have criticized the show already for “queer-baiting” and for portraying Locke’s character as a “feminine” gay, implying that there’s something wrong with this notion. But in all honesty, Locke’s portrayal added much-needed diversity to the MCU, showcasing different expressions of queerness and challenging outdated stereotypes.

All queer characters we’ve seen in the MCU so far weren’t all that much “in your face” about it as Locke’s character is. Teen’s flamboyant style and witty dialogue contribute to his role as a positive representation, feminine gays deserve to be superheroes too, but judging by everything Teen will earn his place.

The show also incorporates campy and queer-friendly elements, aligning with the broader story of inclusivity within Marvel and Disney, something that was criticized in the last few years and cited as one of the reasons why the franchise is falling.

You can make an argument that despite Disney (and by extension MCU) trying to “put one of each” in the show, their attempts so far have been half-assed and disingenuous. Until Teen appeared. Teen’s presence in the show certainly reflects a broader trend towards more authentic and varied queer representation in MCU.

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