Reddie
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Richie Tozier/Eddie Kaspbrak |
| Alternative name(s): | Reddie, Kaspzier, Tozbrak, Trashetti |
| Gender category: | M/M |
| Fandom: | IT |
| Canonical?: | semi-canon |
| Prevalence: | popular |
| Archives: | |
| Other: | Eddie Kaspbrak & Richie Tozier (platonic) |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Reddie is the portmanteau name of the ship between Richie Tozier and Eddie Kaspbrak, two of the protagonists from the horror novel IT by Stephen King. They appear in all adaptations of the novel.
Canon
Richie and Eddie have been friends since kindergarten and met through their friend, Bill Denbrough. Richie often teases Eddie and calls him "Eds" or "Eddie Spaghetti" to get a reaction from him. They are all part of the "Losers Club" and fight with their friends to defeat Pennywise the clown.
Subtext
Many fans have argued that Richie and/or Eddie are subtextually implied to be gay or bisexual and have feelings for each other in canon. There is much analysis of the book in this regard. Based on the book and before the 2019 film, most interpreted Eddie as gay and Richie as bisexual, with Eddie in particular as having issues and fears regarding his own sexuality.
Some meta on this subtext:
- Some things in the book that may point to Eddie being gay, Archived version by Megan Angeline, 13 October 2017.
- Eddie Kaspbrak is fucking gay folks, Archived version by DennisChristpher & Leyla, 14 March 2018.
- Proof of Richie's Bisexuality, Archived version by Emily, 20 February 2018.
- In your opinion, what was the biggest giveaway of Eddie’s sexuality?, Archived version by Emily, 29 July 2018.
- Textual Reddie & Queer!Eddie: A Masterpost, Archived version by Aaliya, 2 May 2019.
- Masterlist of Reddie Analyses, Archived version by ReddieAnalysis, 22 March 2018.
This is basically canon according the Mr. King himself. They aren’t dating or anything but as you can clearly piece together there was more to their story than just reeeeallly good friend with nooooo subtext or underlining sexuality issues. Anyone who read the book could spot it. No boys would call another boy cute in the 80’s nor would a man kiss another man’s cheek during the aids and “frick the gays” era.[1]
2017 & 2019 Films
In IT Chapter 1, Richie and Eddie's relationship was generally represented as it had been in the book, though much of what fans considered the strongest in-book subtext was left out.
In advance of IT Chapter 2 in 2019, rumors that the relationship would be explicitly romance grew. Upon the release of the film, it was confirmed that Richie Tozier is gay, repressed his sexuality due to fear as a child, and comes to terms with being gay as an adult during Chapter 2.
Many also interpreted him as having had feelings for Eddie since childhood. Speculation increased even further after an image of Richie carving "R + _" on the Kissing Bridge (said to be know for "sucking face and carving names") was leaked. Fans argued that it would not make sense for Richie to carve the initial of any of the other Losers since his closest relationship in the movie was with Eddie. It was later confirmed that what Richie was carving was, in fact, "R + E". This is taken as confirmation that Richie has feelings for Eddie, but not that the feelings were reciprocated.
Richie seems to be the member of the Losers Club the most affected by Eddie's death. At the end of the film Richie re-carves the letters, seemingly to reestablish the connection they had.
Fandom
In addition to the film, fans were very interested in the actors' comments about how they chose to depict the characters and their relationship. In anticipation of IT Chapter 2, there was much speculation in the fandom over whether or not Richie and Eddie's feelings for each other would be made explicit in the new movie, especially after it was revealed that Richie was gay. This news was immediately celebrated by fans.
While Richie was explicitly gay in IT Chapter 2, it was not confirmed that Eddie is not straight or felt the same way about Richie. However there is much fan analysis of Eddie that reads him as gay or bi and reciprocating Richie's feelings.
Prior to the 2019 film, fans commonly interpreted Eddie as gay and Richie as bisexual. After Richie was revealed to be gay in the 2019 film, it was considered more appropriate the depict Richie as gay in fanworks.
Since its first appearance on the Fandometrics charts on the Week Ending September 18th, 2017, Archived version, the first week Reddie fell off the charts completely was the Week Ending March 12th, 2018, Archived version. It did not reappear on the charts until the Week Ending August 5th, 2019, Archived version. In the Fandometrics "2018’s Top Ships" Reddie was listed as #29. 2018’s Top Ships, Archived version
During the week following the release of IT Chapter 2, Reddie was the most popular pairing on Tumblr [2] Reddie was #4 in Fandometrics "2019’s Top 100 Ships."2019’s Top 100 Ships, Archived version
Common Tropes
Don't Call Me Eds
Conceivably as a defense mechanism against his own feelings, Eddie Kaspbrak canonically asks Richie Tozier repeatedly not to call him by the nickname 'Eds.' Richie, of course, ignores this inciting exasperation in his friend. However, internally Eddie admits that the name held a special meaning for him.
This was taken and used by fandom mainly in fanfiction but also in fanart to show the way these two characters chose to flirt, or hide their feelings for one another.
R+E
R+E is a representation of Sweetie Graffiti within the IT fandom by and for the Reddie ship.
It is by far the most prominent example of this trope due in large part to its canon nature. In the 2019 film, Richie Tozier carved his and Eddie Kaspbrak's initials into the wood of the kissing bridge.
Many headcanon that Eddie is present for the completion/addition of the 'E' after the defeat of Pennywise, for added closure and confirmation that Richie's romantic feelings were not only acknowledged, but reciprocated.
To the lower left, it is also notable that there is an 'R' carved within a heart. Some speculate that this was Eddie, having a similar idea to Richie, also declaring his love silently but publicly for his best friend. This secondary marking may very possibly be unrelated. However, much of the subtext originally thought to be fanon surrounding the 2017 film turned out to be intentional, upon the release of the 2019 film. So speculation may be more along the lines of an educated guess.
Their synonymous is Love Doodles & Umbrella of Togetherness and Kilroy Was Here is the non-romantic variation.
Fanworks
| Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples. |
Fanfiction
8tracks
all my broken heartbeats, Archived version by RichieBitchie, original fanart, Archived version by CrazyTom666
be proud, Archived version by Theivy, original fanart, Archived version by MxgicDave
Zines
Links & Resources
- Reddie, Archived version on the Shipping Wiki
References
- ^ comment by Vengetti[Dead link], July 2019
- ^ fandom. Fandometrics Ships: Week Ending September 9th, 2019, Archived version. 09 September 2019.
| IT | |
| Master Lists | Challenges • Characters • Fanfiction • Ships & Ship Names • Zines |
| Crossover Ships | Will Byers/Richie Tozier • Bill Denbrough/Mike Wheeler • Eddie Kaspbrak/Mike Wheeler • Will Byers & Eddie Kaspbrak • Freddy Freeman & Eddie Kaspbrak • Richie Tozier & Mike Wheeler |
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