The big budgeted Netflix bio drama Transatlantic is one of the top most searched titled on IMDB, and everyone is curious about the steamy gay romance that Transatlantic brings to the small screen. Turns out, like many gay romances in period movies and television shows, this one is also not without controversy. But first, what is Transatlantic about? It is created by Anna Winger, who was inspired by a fictionalized account of real events as told through the 2019 novel The Flight Portfolio.
What Is Transatlantic About?
The facts: During World War II a journalist named Varian Fry (played in Transatlantic by Cory Michael Smith) risked his life to save over 2000 Europeans from World War II by ferrying them across the ocean in a cruise ship. He was aided by a wealthy heiress (Gillian Jacobs in Transatlantic). Their organization was called the Emergency Rescue Committee (ERC).
Fry had the impossible task of choosing who to save and who to leave behind, and was guided by the drive to save important figures in the arts and sciences. Winger, the show's creator, had a personal stake in bringing the story to life because her parents actually knew some of the people Fry saved.
Gay Character Controversy In Transatlantic
All of this brings us to the buzzy gay storyline in Transatlantic. Often times historical figures' sexuality can only be inferred, as often they were not allowed to be openly queer during their lifetimes, sadly. This is the case for Varian Fry, as we have mixed accounts of his sexuality. The 2019 novel on which Winger based the series depicts Fry as being gay, but other historical accounts of the Emergency Rescue Committee do not. Fry's son does think that his father was gay, but does not like how his dad's sexuality is expressed in Transatlantic:
My father was indeed a closeted homosexual. I figured this out as a young man, after my father had died, from many clues, most of which have never been available to researchers. (But the novel on which Transatlantic is based would - which is what prompted this reaction) aid the cause of Holocaust denialists.
Yikes on bikes. Varian Fry was married to a woman during the events depicted in Transatlantic, but struck up a romance with another ERC member, which we will get to shortly.
Who Plays Varian Fry in Transatlantic?
Cory Michael Smith has the challenging task of bringing the gay version of Varian Fry to life on the small screen. If the name sounds familiar to you, that's because he played The Riddler in the popular DC Comics series Gotham. Cory also came out as gay in 2018. We love to see gay characters playing gay roles, and can't think of a better fit for Transatlantic.
Gay Scenes In Transatlantic
Fry's sexuality in Transatlantic is expressed through his romance with Thomas Lovegrove (Amit Rahav). He's a stunning man with piercing blue eyes and a rock hard body. These two beautiful men make out four times throughout the show's seven episodes, and in the hottest scene they strip down shirtless for some gay lovemaking. We might never know for certain if Varian Fry was gay or not, but having another compelling gay character in a big Netflix show isn't something we're going to complain about. Welcome to the AtMANtic Ocean. Come on in, the water's fine.
