Holiday Romance
Remember ‘Happiest Season’? Riley & Abby Should Have Been Endgame
December is here, which can only mean one thing: “There’ll be parties for hosting / Marshmallows for toasting / And caroling out in the snow / There’ll be scary ghost stories / And tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago.”
And now, there’s one particular gay ol’ story that has to be revisited every year since its release: Happiest Season. With immediate classic status bestowed upon the Clea DuVall feature, it’s time to reflect on the flick. Instead of the words of Andy Williams, Swooon is going to head into the world of the 2020 film, not to sing its praises, which it deserves, but rather to tell everyone who wants to listen what a massive mistake the film made.
Okay, I’ll come right out and say it — Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Riley (Aubrey Plaza) belonged together.
No, I’m not saying they should’ve gotten hitched and ditched Harper (Mackenzie Davis) along the way immediately, but they should’ve explored the tension between them at least once.
Abby tagged along with her girlfriend, Harper, to visit her family’s house for Christmas. Before they even got there, Harper dropped the bomb that no one in her family knew that she was, in fact, a lesbian. Abby, who had been out for years, was uncomfortable with hiding the truth but did it to please Harper. Alas, it all went downhill from there.
Or did it? Abby stumbled into Riley, her self-assured and undeniably sexy twin flame, in town.
In a segment of heartbreaking scenes in succession, Abby had to fend for herself when she was thrown to the wolves (aka Harper’s family) and constantly fought for help from her significant other. Notable moments included Abby being referred to as “an orphan” because her parents died when she was 19, getting held back by mall security for “stealing something,” and being neglected by Harper in favor of her old friends to uphold the status quo.
There was only one silver lining throughout all this drama: Riley. Like a magical gift, Riley helped Abby neutralize her fears, and find some joy in the holiday season. With eyes that twinkled, smiles that shimmered, and palpable tension, there was clearly more going on between the two. Never truly having an awkward moment between them, Riley was Abby’s lifeline in a lonely world where she didn’t feel like she belonged.
Do you know who also felt like an outsider in that universe? Riley. Yes, that’s right, the budding friends didn’t realize initially that they had more in common than just their attraction to Harper. But, over time, the connection to Harper was almost lost in translation. Abby and Riley’s instant connection and attraction to each other overshadowed Harper in every way.
Whether it was intentional from the script or not, the chemistry between Abby and Riley was so obvious that it was almost infuriating to see Abby end up with Harper. Harper wasn’t the villain — I know some of you are thinking that she is, but the pressure of being perfect is a heavy burden to carry — but she was an obstacle in the Abby and Riley endgame.
Harper wasn’t ready to be out yet, and it was horrifying that she was outed so publicly by her own sister! From the get-go, Harper and Abby were in two very different places in their lives, and it was almost like Abby was coaching Harper to fully accept herself.
But as John (Dan Levy) so wonderfully explained, “Everybody’s [coming out] story is different. There’s your version and my version, and everything in between. But the one thing all of those stories have in common is that moment right before you say those words. When your heart is racing and you don’t know what’s coming next. That moment’s really terrifying! And once you say those words, you can’t un-say them. A chapter has ended, and a new one’s begun. You have to be ready for that. You can’t do it for anyone else. Just because Harper isn’t ready doesn’t mean she never will be, and it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you.”
Unlike Harper, Riley was right there in the driver’s seat with Abby, fully accepting and open about who she was and what she wanted. And let’s get real: Harper was very selfish at times during that five-day period. Sometimes you get so wrapped up in your own problems that you are unable to think of anyone else’s perils. But it was the chemistry that slowly faded away throughout their struggles that solidified that Abby and Harper weren’t meant to be — and likely wouldn’t last.
Abby and Riley should have gotten a shot. Just one soft kiss. Just one tight embrace. Just one moment of longing.
What a great and refreshing twist that would have been. Harper could have taken the time to fully embrace her identity, while Abby found the connection she always wanted.
But, alas, we missed out on that, and had to accept the original couple’s happy ending.
What do you think? Do you agree that Abby and Riley should’ve been endgame? Let us know in the comments down below.
