“Woot-woot!” Dev shouts at the television. Charlie responds by burying his face in ten throw pillows. Here, in the privacy of their own home, he blushes. Dev constantly marvels at the fact that Charlie somehow survived two months of filming and the last six months of unrelenting media attention.
“After last season aired, we saw an overwhelming outpouring of support, particularly from members of our Fairy-Tale Family who were so honored to see themselves represented in the love story on our show,” Mark is saying. “And no one was more moved by what she saw than our very own Daphne Reynolds. Take a look.”
The show cuts to a package on Daphne’s journey last season, which is primarily footage of Charlie and Daphne making out. Dev’s totally fine watching it. It doesn’t bother him at all. But on the off chance that it does bother him, Charlie reaches out and takes his hand. To remind him how this story ends.
There are other moments, too. Moments of Megan harassing Daphne back at the castle, moments of Angie and Daphne sneaking away together to escape the drama, moments of Daphne struggling to process in front of the cameras during her confessionals.
The package jump-cuts to the interview they did with Daphne on the live finale after Dev and Charlie’s reunion. She sits on the couch in a knockout of a silver strapless dress and reflects on her experiences with Mark Davenport.
“The truth is, I was never in love with Charlie. I was trying to force myself to have feelings, because I thought if I could fall in love with him, it would solve what I thought was a major problem in my life.”
“And what problem is that?” Mark Davenport asks leadingly.
Daphne sighs, and there is the faintest hint of tears in the corners of her blue eyes. “I grew up in a deeply religious family. That’s not to say my family isn’t tolerant and supportive—” The show inlays a small box in the corner of the television screen, showing Daphne’s adorable Southern family cheering her on from a greenroom. “It’s just, since I was a little girl, playing with Barbies and watching Disney movies, I always thought my future had to be me walking down the aisle toward my prince. I pursued that future, and I dated men, and I never let myself question why none of those relationships ever felt right.”
Daphne sighs again, and the audience hangs on her every word. “Then I came on this show, and I met so many people who come from different backgrounds, and have had different life experiences, and I started to suspect maybe there was a different kind of love story, too. Something I hadn’t let myself consider. When Charlie tried to come out in Macon, it all sort of… clicked. The truth I’d been hiding from myself. I’m a lesbian.”
A very raucous group of butch women in the front row scream in wild approval, and Daphne smiles shyly. “I came out to my family, and I feel like such a weight has been lifted off me. I don’t think I ever would have gotten to this point without my journey on the show.”
“Honestly, who even cast last season?” Dev asks from their couch. “Was the network trying to make it a queer party?”
“I do not remember it feeling like a queer party when we were filming it,” Charlie says, and Dev prepares himself to be outraged. “Except for you, love. You are always a one-man queer party.”
“Damn right I am.”
The show cuts back to the castle, to Mark Davenport standing by the east gate in a prepackage. “Fairy-Tale Family, without any further ado, allow me to introduce to you our new star: Daphne Reynolds!”
Daphne comes riding onto set atop a white horse, her posture perfect in the saddle. She’s wearing tan riding pants, black boots, and a billowing white shirt like a real-life goddamn prince. Daphne takes off her helmet and shakes out her long blond hair.
Charlie squeezes his hand tighter. “Do you wish you’d been there?”
Does he wish he were part of the first （intentionally） gay season of Ever After? Of course, he does. Part of him will always love Ever After. Love the magic, the energy, the way romance plays out in front of the cameras. He loves a perfect make-out session against a brick wall. He loves the drama, the heartbreak, the tears, the music, the first kisses.