Netflix horror shows feature 2 LGBTQ characters

With the coming Halloween, we’re glad to see that two of Netflix’s horror shows feature an LGBTQ character each: Theodora Crain of “The Haunting of Hill House” and Susie Putnam of the “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.”

Theodora or Theo, played by Kate Siegel, is the lesbian middle child who– together with her family– is haunted by the past in the Netflix original show.

Meanwhile, in another Netflix original, the nonbinary Susie Putnam– played by 17-year old Lachlan Watson– is one of the best friends of the titular character, Sabrina Spellman (played by Kiernan Shipka).

Here’s a brief take on the two characters without any spoilers:

Netflix horror shows: The Haunting of Hill House

“The Haunting of Hill House” is loosely based on the story of famed horror writer Shirley Jackson, with the Netflix horror series focusing on the Crain family.

In the series, Theo– like all Crain siblings– is troubled by the disappearance of their mother and the abandonment of their father after a stay at Hill House when they were children.

While the first episode immediately shows Theo as an adult romancing a woman in the club, her sexuality is considered a part of her identity and she is a fully-fleshed out character.

Kate Gardner of the website The Mary Sue noted that: “Theo’s grief and trauma are not centered around her sexuality, as most queer stories are, but rather around her family and her own experience outside of her dating life.”

While Theo does try to kiss a man in a later episode, Gardner explained that “it’s not out of any sexual or romantic desire, but rather her attempting to feel something after touching her sister Nell’s body and only feeling nothing.”

Check out the trailer of “The Haunting of Hill House” here:

Netflix horror shows: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Another Netflix horror series, the “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” takes off from America’s favorite comic strip, Archie Andrews and the town of Riverdale but shows a darker take on Sabrina’s life.

While Susie’s character is not an original character in the Archie series, Watson has brought their being as a nonbinary to the table in terms of creating the character’s genderqueer identity.

Watson added that the show doesn’t intentionally use any labels to identify the character because “Susie’s still figuring out who Susie is.”

“I think even considering having any sort of genderqueer character onscreen is still a big thing, it’s still a big choice,” Watson said.

For more about the “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” see the trailer below:

Both shows are currently available on Netflix.