 |
| Is it hot in here or is he just melting metal with his mind? |
The Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced Joey in last fall's Season 3 premiere. We didn't really find out that Joey is gay until a few episodes later, when a former boyfriend came up in dialogue. And when we did find out, I was really excited that it was revealed (as it should be) as simply a trait of a three-dimensional character with realistic flaws and authentic motivations. A non-exploitive gay hero in a mainstream franchise, yay!
Up through the mid-season haitus, Joey played minor but key roles in the narrative as one of the many new Inhumans that were transformed by the release of Terrigen into the world's oceans at the end of Season 2. The evolution of Joey's initial ambivalence regarding his new powers into growing acceptance was a nicely done story line, with an overt parallel drawn to the process of coming out and the freedom and power of self-actualization. In the mid-season finale, Joey surprised even himself by risking his own life to save Daisy, and a hero was born. I was really excited see his further growth when the season resumed last night.
Unfortunately, last night's mid-season premiere put a damper on those hopes when Joey was given an Apple watch with a S.H.I.E.L.D. screen background and sent home to have dinner with his mother. Or something. It's a plan cooked up by Daisy and Director Mack to give Joey and the other Inhuman Secret Warriors some generous telecommuting benefits and allow them to carry on their former lives while still being on call as S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives.
The upshot is that I expect large gaps in Joey's onscreen time while he's away eating his mother's home cooking. I hope I'm wrong, but we might not see the MCU's single gay character again until closer to the Season 3 climax. Free Joey!
