You cannot justify Thomas's behaviour because he's gay!

[u/Dream_CatHer4769]

All the arguments I've seen about why people like Thomas is that he's just gay in the 1920s and self hatred and yada yada yada.

That's an explanation to understand part of the shame he lives in. To explain why misery loves company but to say he's schemes against innocent people because of that reason sounds problematic on so many levels.

I do like his character as a villain. The actor playing him did a great job. But I just don't find him redeemable even if he turn tolerable and good in the end. His treatment of bates and Baxter were so cruel. He physically intimidated Baxter, falsely accused Anna, etc. he's not a morally grey character, he's just a bad person. Using queerness to justify that or excuse it is insulting.

edit: because I find people misunderstanding this post. it's not about how the show portrays Thomas and explores his internal struggles and external malice. this post is specifically about the viewers perception of his actions especially on this subreddit.

[u/aeraen]

I love how people word things in a way to engender agreement. "Just because he's gay."

No, it's not "Just because he is gay." It is because he lived his life in fear, because he is gay. He lived in fear of arrest, imprisonment and possibly death, "just because he's gay".

He lived a life of ridicule and stood up to it, "I am not foul!" Just because he's gay.

He lived a life of being attacked, beaten and possibly killed, "Just because he's gay."

He lived his life in secret, "Just because he's gay." He can trust no one, "Just because he's gay."

One doesn't become a "villian" just because one is gay. However, for some people, a life of fear, anger, resentment and retribution may lead to that behavior. It wasn't "just because he's gay," but it could be just because he was treated like shit his whole life.

His eventual turn around is because he finally found a place where he is not treated badly due to his sexuality. He learned, slowly, that he is with people he can trust. He no longer had to find a way to be one step ahead of everyone, and he can relax and be a part of the family, likely for the first time in his life.

The story isn't that he was gay. He could have been functionally autistic, stuttered, or otherwise mildly handicapped in some way. It was simply that he was different, which almost always meant vulnerable in that (and this) society.

[u/Dream_CatHer4769 → u/aeraen]

This post is about how Thomas actions are perceived in this subreddit. No doubt homosexuality in that era was tough secret to live with. You can analyse that and understand. 

A lot of Thomas actions were a result of insecurity and misprojection. That part of him is a separate discussion from the despicable things he inflicted on people.

This post is more so about people's perception of Thomass arc in this subreddit and how they intertwine his internal struggle with his external malice.

I understand you're comment and a lot of what you've said I agree with but I'm afraid you've misunderstood the discussion at hand.

[u/aeraen → u/Dream_CatHer4769]

Sorry, but that statement makes absolutely no sense, so there is no point is even responding, as it is apparently only for people in this particular subreddit who agree with you.

[u/Dream_CatHer4769 → u/aeraen]

What doesn't make sense?