Discussing connoted viability in a series that is praised for LGBTQ+ representation
Raine Whispers from voice actor Avi Roque's Twitter (@ok_roque)
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The Owl House is an animated series about a quirky but socially-isolated human girl (Luz Noceda, voiced by Sarah-Nicole Robles) who accidentally ends up in the Demon Realm, a fantasy land populated by witches and demons, and ruled by the mysterious Emperor Belos. The show follows Luz as she embraces her dream of living in a fantasy land and being looked after by the rebellious Eda “The Owl Lady” Clawthorne (Wendie Malick) and the confident and adorable King (Alex Hirsch) in the titular Owl House. The show, and its creator Dana Terrace, has been praised for its representation of LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent identities.
One such representation is the non-binary character Raine Whispers (voiced by Avi Roque, and Blu del Barrio (the latter voices the young version in flashbacks)). They are the first non-binary character portrayed in a Disney product. Raine features in a supporting role in nine episodes from their introduction in the episode “Eda’s Requiem” (S2:E7) to the most recent episode “For the Future” (S3:E2). In the show, they are the head witch of the bard coven, overlooked by the antagonist Emperor Belos, and are part of rebel groups against the emperor’s plans. They are also the ex of one of the main characters, Eda Clawthorne. Portrayed as an independent, cunning, and determined person, Raine is a complex and interesting character who is not defined by their identity. But is this lack of definition a positive or a negative for the wider representation?