The Owl House has been a great step forward for LGBTQ+ representation in kidsâ media, building on the work of shows like Adventure Time and Steven Universe. So itâs no surprise one of the showâs writers, Molly Ostertag, is a major advocate for the depiction of same-sex relationships in media. Whatâs a little more surprising is her Twitter account, @hobbitgay, which is dedicated to posting Lord of the Rings fan art as well as the writer/cartoonistâs observations on all things Tolkien.
In August, Ostertag tweeted directly from her account to Amazon, imploring the company to let her make an animated show centered around Hobbit children in The Shire. Letâs indulge in a bit of speculation and explore the reasons why such a show would be an excellent idea.
For one, The Hobbit originated as a childrenâs novel. Both it and The Lord of the Rings have gained popularity amongst readers of all ages, but the series' roots lie in its ability to spark creativity in the hearts of kids. An animated series aimed at younger viewers would be a return to form as well as an exploration of an area the franchise has yet to touch on with its various adaptations. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies directed by Peter Jackson are overwhelmingly "for adults," and while they contain comedic elements, they are far from the light-hearted hijinks that seem to fill the countryside of The Shire.
Itâs also worth noting that an upbeat animated series would serve as an excellent companion for Amazonâs upcoming Lord of the Rings show, which is sure to be a sprawling epic in the vein of Game of Thrones. A work that explores the lighter side of the Tolkien canon would act as a counterpoint to a darker live-action series, capturing a different audience without stepping on the toes of its counterpart.
An animated show on Amazon Prime would also be in an excellent position to further the representation Ostertag helped bring to the screen in The Owl House. One of the concerns when pitching such ideas is the censorship of network television in countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia, where officials crack down on same-sex relationships. However, shows that portray lesbian relationships, like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, have remained on Netflix in such countries, which is good news for Ostertag. The writerâs most popular Lord of the Rings fanfiction depicts a relationship between Frodo and Sam, so itâs likely if she creates a Hobbits show, it would include the same representation she brings to both her professional and personal work.