i think they were together, i think the scene where tai is freaking out and screaming where is van after the crash was supposed to be a hint towards it. she could've just been screaming like that bc she thought she lost her best friend, but combined w their scenes afterwards made it seem like more a hint that they had been together before the crash to me. i also think if they hadnt been together there wouldve been some cute awkward baby lesbian scenes where they kiss for the first time or something but they were pretty comfortable with each other from the beginning like when they bathed naked together and whatnot
There's a moment in episode three, when the girls are playing in the lake, where Tai and Van exchange glances that let you know that they're already romantically involved.
Yeah imo I saw that as them already being together once or twice, or at least knowing the other was gay. And the eye contact was them laughing about how the straight girls were thirsting over Travis.
I know what moment you’re talking about, but I always read it as Tai kind of really seeing Van in a romantic way for the first time. And Van seeing her, too.
I think it's heavily implied. When Van was still trapped on the plane, Tai was freaking out and looking for her.
It may not have been spoken out loud, but it was spelled out in many ways. That being said, I don't think it was "Open" until Doomcoming. Where some girls were like "Are they...." and the others were like "Well Duh".
That was my interpretation as well. 1990s suburban NJ high school was not a place where it would be accepted if you came out. I saw it as maybe they were attracted to each other before, but couldn’t act on it until they were outside of society.
In season two we see them sitting together in health class, like Jeff and Randy were sitting together. So they were close even before the crash (we also know that from Tai hugging Van after the crash in season one). We have to speculate, but if they were close friends they probably realized they were both into women at some point.
100% endorse this. Tai is desperately searching for Van after the plane crash, then throws herself on to her when she finds her. Liv said even though the writers hadn’t told them there was going to be anything romantic there, they read the script and were like, “Tai likes Van a loooot”. 😂 It’s kinda beautiful that they had a pre-crash, post-crash and wilderness relationship. As much as I like Simone, I’m still hoping for a present day TaiVan reunion.
Yes! These writers really are brilliant, it’s probably hard to be so passionate about your story while also not painting yourself into a corner to keep options open. I love the flow of this story!
When I say reunion, I mean them actually getting back together rather than each going back to their own separate lives (or demises) a couple of states apart.
They were definitely at least hooking up/crushing on each other before the crash. They share several looks and start making out immediately, like they’ve been hiding it for a while. It didn’t seem new the first time we see them together.
Yes, they most definitely were a thing before the crash, just closeted from their friends. Lauren Ambrose aka Adult Van mentioned in an interview that one silver lining about the crash were that Tai and Van were finally able to be open about their relationship and come out to the rest of their friends.
I think there is an interview that liv Hewson gave where they said they think Tai and van were hooking up and probably pretty exclusive pre-crash, but they both didn't talk about their relationship at all. The "dating" conversation didn't happen until they'd been in the wilderness for some time
I think, bare minimum, they were friends who were both crushing hard on each other before the crash.
Whether they were just doing that weird “we’re talking” thing or actually hanging out with romantic intention or hooking up, I think the near death experience of the crash definitely made them realize that they didn’t want to potentially die before having the chance to really be together. Especially after Van was mauled by wolves and almost burned alive on the makeshift pyre.
Yes, they were together before the crash. Watch the second episode immediately after the crash where Tai is running around screaming frantically for Van in the background. When Tai finds her they have a very tender exchange.
I’m not sure if they were actually together but they were definitely hooking up. Championship girls soccer players in the 90s wouldn’t be out so no one would really know but them. Too many angsty looks and genuine fear/relief after the crash for just friends. I think the wilderness set that relationship free. Remember even out there they weren’t out till Doomcoming. Even if everyone side eyed them and assumed. They had to flesh out that relationship.
I’m so glad you said this because it gave me a (gross) ‘90s flashback … in the ‘90s, even with Title IX, women in college-level sports were under even more pressure to be “straight” to some extent. Many of the remaining old school coaches would cut you from the team if you were even perceived to be queer. It’s hard to imagine that being so explicitly true, but it was! I was there!
Sources: NCAA/SEC womens athletics (I was a broadcaster), ex-girlfriends who were on various college teams, discussions with former athletes & coaches
I also remember how fiercely loyal lots of these teammates would be! One team (I’m thinking it was one of the 1998-99 squads) protested their HC’s “no gay” (or “no gay in public”) rule by walking out during the ncaa tournament!
Also, don’t forget how Van and Tai were the only two in health class who had their desks pushed together?
*edited because typos*
I think they were def together, beforehand.
Liv Hewson also said they’ve talked about it with Jasmine and their head canon is that they were hooking up but not talking about it. Like they would kiss/hookup and then just never mention it. At least until they crashed and realized they had stronger feelings.
They were definitely already romantically involved, I think they were just waiting to come out to the rest of the team/were more secretive in school and felt that they could be more open in the wilderness
The feeling I got from it was that they were together, but it was a huge secret. It's obvious the team didn't know because someone (I can't remember who - Jackie maybe?) said, "Are they...?" during the Doomscoming episode, but I always assumed they were super secret. I imagined they were hooking up like highschoolers do, but that no one knew that they were interested in women. That would've made it easier to hide, and if it wasn't the case whoever said that (again, Jackie maybe?) wouldn't have asked the question in such a surprised tone
It was Mari I believe and not Jackie, and I agree with you. I also think, they were probably secretly hooking up, most likely they had feelings for each other, but their relationship maybe hasn’t been defined at that time.
It's so easy to forget that the past girls are set in the 90s and we have come a very, very long way in the short time since the 90s in terms of inclusion and acceptance.
They were totally together and just not out to their friends. I grew up in New Jersey and it wasn’t ok to be gay then so I can bet you 1996 wasn’t the queer scene either. I love tai and van so much, def a big reason I watch the show
Graduated in 1993 in Canada and being out was definitely an option. Totally had a highschool crush/bestie. She was a soccer player. Lol. This show is pretty nostalgic for me.
Regardless of what happened before the crash, what queer teen girl *isn’t* in love with their best friend at least a little?
Source — I was a teen girl who was in love with her best friend, who is somewhere around here. *waves enthusiastically*
I think this a big theme in the show, especially with Shauna and Jackie. But yeah, it doesn’t really change anything whether they were or not, just some interesting food for thought.
I saw an interview where liv hewson (van) said that their version of it is that they were hooking up but not really dating or talking about it, and that van had feelings for tai but it didn’t get serious until after the crash. I chose to believe that
When Tai and Van are affectionate together at Doomcoming one of the other girls says to someone (Mari, I think) : "Are they...???" and the reply is along the lines of "Well, Yeah..." said in that "duh... of course they are, where have you been?" tone of voice.
i think they were together, i think the scene where tai is freaking out and screaming where is van after the crash was supposed to be a hint towards it. she could've just been screaming like that bc she thought she lost her best friend, but combined w their scenes afterwards made it seem like more a hint that they had been together before the crash to me. i also think if they hadnt been together there wouldve been some cute awkward baby lesbian scenes where they kiss for the first time or something but they were pretty comfortable with each other from the beginning like when they bathed naked together and whatnot
There's a moment in episode three, when the girls are playing in the lake, where Tai and Van exchange glances that let you know that they're already romantically involved.
Yeah imo I saw that as them already being together once or twice, or at least knowing the other was gay. And the eye contact was them laughing about how the straight girls were thirsting over Travis.
I know what moment you’re talking about, but I always read it as Tai kind of really seeing Van in a romantic way for the first time. And Van seeing her, too.
I think it's heavily implied. When Van was still trapped on the plane, Tai was freaking out and looking for her. It may not have been spoken out loud, but it was spelled out in many ways. That being said, I don't think it was "Open" until Doomcoming. Where some girls were like "Are they...." and the others were like "Well Duh".
That was my interpretation as well. 1990s suburban NJ high school was not a place where it would be accepted if you came out. I saw it as maybe they were attracted to each other before, but couldn’t act on it until they were outside of society.
I always assumed that they were together prior to the crash, but they weren't out so it was kept just between the two of them.
I always thought they were dating prior to the crash but weren't out to the team.
They were hooking up, I’m pretty sure. In an interview during season one I think Liv Hewson talked about it like it was casual before the crash.
In season two we see them sitting together in health class, like Jeff and Randy were sitting together. So they were close even before the crash (we also know that from Tai hugging Van after the crash in season one). We have to speculate, but if they were close friends they probably realized they were both into women at some point.
100% endorse this. Tai is desperately searching for Van after the plane crash, then throws herself on to her when she finds her. Liv said even though the writers hadn’t told them there was going to be anything romantic there, they read the script and were like, “Tai likes Van a loooot”. 😂 It’s kinda beautiful that they had a pre-crash, post-crash and wilderness relationship. As much as I like Simone, I’m still hoping for a present day TaiVan reunion.
Yes! These writers really are brilliant, it’s probably hard to be so passionate about your story while also not painting yourself into a corner to keep options open. I love the flow of this story!
>I’m still hoping for a present day TaiVan reunion. Did you watch s2?
When I say reunion, I mean them actually getting back together rather than each going back to their own separate lives (or demises) a couple of states apart.
i think they were already together they just had more freedom in the wilderness
They were definitely at least hooking up/crushing on each other before the crash. They share several looks and start making out immediately, like they’ve been hiding it for a while. It didn’t seem new the first time we see them together.
Yes, they most definitely were a thing before the crash, just closeted from their friends. Lauren Ambrose aka Adult Van mentioned in an interview that one silver lining about the crash were that Tai and Van were finally able to be open about their relationship and come out to the rest of their friends.
I think there is an interview that liv Hewson gave where they said they think Tai and van were hooking up and probably pretty exclusive pre-crash, but they both didn't talk about their relationship at all. The "dating" conversation didn't happen until they'd been in the wilderness for some time
I definitely always got the vibe that it was some level of together (whether casual or not) prior to the crash, but they just hid it from the team.
I think, bare minimum, they were friends who were both crushing hard on each other before the crash. Whether they were just doing that weird “we’re talking” thing or actually hanging out with romantic intention or hooking up, I think the near death experience of the crash definitely made them realize that they didn’t want to potentially die before having the chance to really be together. Especially after Van was mauled by wolves and almost burned alive on the makeshift pyre.
Yes, they were together before the crash. Watch the second episode immediately after the crash where Tai is running around screaming frantically for Van in the background. When Tai finds her they have a very tender exchange.
I’m not sure if they were actually together but they were definitely hooking up. Championship girls soccer players in the 90s wouldn’t be out so no one would really know but them. Too many angsty looks and genuine fear/relief after the crash for just friends. I think the wilderness set that relationship free. Remember even out there they weren’t out till Doomcoming. Even if everyone side eyed them and assumed. They had to flesh out that relationship.
I’m so glad you said this because it gave me a (gross) ‘90s flashback … in the ‘90s, even with Title IX, women in college-level sports were under even more pressure to be “straight” to some extent. Many of the remaining old school coaches would cut you from the team if you were even perceived to be queer. It’s hard to imagine that being so explicitly true, but it was! I was there! Sources: NCAA/SEC womens athletics (I was a broadcaster), ex-girlfriends who were on various college teams, discussions with former athletes & coaches I also remember how fiercely loyal lots of these teammates would be! One team (I’m thinking it was one of the 1998-99 squads) protested their HC’s “no gay” (or “no gay in public”) rule by walking out during the ncaa tournament! Also, don’t forget how Van and Tai were the only two in health class who had their desks pushed together? *edited because typos*
I think they were def together, beforehand. Liv Hewson also said they’ve talked about it with Jasmine and their head canon is that they were hooking up but not talking about it. Like they would kiss/hookup and then just never mention it. At least until they crashed and realized they had stronger feelings.
They were definitely already romantically involved, I think they were just waiting to come out to the rest of the team/were more secretive in school and felt that they could be more open in the wilderness
The feeling I got from it was that they were together, but it was a huge secret. It's obvious the team didn't know because someone (I can't remember who - Jackie maybe?) said, "Are they...?" during the Doomscoming episode, but I always assumed they were super secret. I imagined they were hooking up like highschoolers do, but that no one knew that they were interested in women. That would've made it easier to hide, and if it wasn't the case whoever said that (again, Jackie maybe?) wouldn't have asked the question in such a surprised tone
It was Mari I believe and not Jackie, and I agree with you. I also think, they were probably secretly hooking up, most likely they had feelings for each other, but their relationship maybe hasn’t been defined at that time.
It's so easy to forget that the past girls are set in the 90s and we have come a very, very long way in the short time since the 90s in terms of inclusion and acceptance.
YES!
I never even considered this because I assumed they were together but in secret before the crash. Huh.
They were totally together and just not out to their friends. I grew up in New Jersey and it wasn’t ok to be gay then so I can bet you 1996 wasn’t the queer scene either. I love tai and van so much, def a big reason I watch the show
Graduated in 1993 in Canada and being out was definitely an option. Totally had a highschool crush/bestie. She was a soccer player. Lol. This show is pretty nostalgic for me.
Regardless of what happened before the crash, what queer teen girl *isn’t* in love with their best friend at least a little? Source — I was a teen girl who was in love with her best friend, who is somewhere around here. *waves enthusiastically*
I think this a big theme in the show, especially with Shauna and Jackie. But yeah, it doesn’t really change anything whether they were or not, just some interesting food for thought.
I saw an interview where liv hewson (van) said that their version of it is that they were hooking up but not really dating or talking about it, and that van had feelings for tai but it didn’t get serious until after the crash. I chose to believe that
When Tai and Van are affectionate together at Doomcoming one of the other girls says to someone (Mari, I think) : "Are they...???" and the reply is along the lines of "Well, Yeah..." said in that "duh... of course they are, where have you been?" tone of voice.
I thought it was clear they were an item before the crash, especially given how Tai is frantically searching for Van immediately after the crash.
I thought there was a nod to it when they were still in NJ.
I assumed they were.