Remember way back in Season One when Zack (Not the actor Zachary Quinto) was Claire's friend? The one who was supposed to reveal he was gay, and through that, he related to Claire because he was ostracized for it and felt alone like Claire with her ability? Then remember how, like many other people, he was unexpectedly dropped into the realm of Forgotten Characters? Yeah...

Well now it seems like Gretchen's suddenly reviving that role, being the homosexual character who relates to Claire with her "difference". Has anyone else noticed the odd connection, or is it just me? It sounded like a great idea back in Season One and now I'm wondering if their trying to redo it with Gretchen? I hope so; it's a great way to stop Claire with her whole "I'm so alone, no one loves me 'cause I different, blah, blah, I'm so pubescent!" Let's hope Gretchen doesn't die too soon.

Zack wasn't dropped unexpectedly. He lived in Texas. Once she left Texas, there was no purpose served by bringing him along for the ride.

Not to mention the actor got a role in another show, so they couldn't have brought him even if they had wanted to.

And it's not even remotely the same relationship.

1: Gretchen is openly a lesbian. Zack was never revealed, in canon, to be gay. (Nothing in canon states he was gay. Everything we know about the character having been supposed to be gay comes from interviews and BTS sources.)
2: Zack was a friend. There was never indication it was going to go beyond that. It's pretty obvious that at least Gretchen wants more.

Zack was intended to do more; his agent pulled him out for fear it'd ruin his career. But I guess you're right about leaving Texas. He's not her Ando. And yeah, I watched him on the Sarah Connor Chronicles, which sucked, 'cause his roles in both shows ended too soonly.

Okay, so maybe their not entirely the same, but I was just making the connection between the two - that they're homosexuality is linked to Claire's ability. Correct me and make me feel dumb (Don't worry, it happens too often), but I just wanted to point out the link between the two.

They may be re-using certain plot elements that they never got to use with Zach's story, for the reasons mentioned above - but as far as we can tell, in canon, Zach was an outcast, and he may have been a dork or something, and he attracted hate from many cliques - but that is common of many a high school kid, and does not make them gay.

No, I don't mean 'cause he was an outcast that he automatically must be gay (Please, they're the coolest people around!); he was said to be revealed as gay, but since his storyline ending abruptly, it never got there. So technically he isn't gay, but he was meant to be.

Season 1 implied that he was gay.

But never said it. It was never stated that he was gay. (And, if you have any experience with high schoolers, claiming someone's gay is still a classic insult.)

Very little in Season 1 implied it, but viewers read too much into it because of writer comments. The actor never had any intention to play the character as gay, and the story was not cut short. The Zach part of the story was over, period.

The cheerleaders at Union Wells High School, at the very least, strongly implied it, but it was never explicitly stated (I'm taking everyone else's word for it). Later he says something along the following lines: "I'm happy with who I am."

Exactly - but again I can think of countless styles, types and cliques that revel in being different and are proud of their view of the world, and wouldn't change for anything, and who are hounded and abused by the mainstream world in the same way those girls act. There is nothing substantial to even assume that he was gay.

Ok. He wasn't gay.

I agree with the gist of your comment, but have to disagree here. From comments from the writers, as well as the actor, it's obvious Zack was originally intended to be gay and that the actor fully intended to play him that way.

But then he got the part on The Sarah Connor Chronicles. His agent was terrified that he wouldn't be able to play a convincingly BA tough guy after playing an openly gay teen. (To be honest, he didn't play a convincingly BA tough guy anyway...but that wasn't the actor's fault. The writing sucked. lol)

If I remember correctly, the actor never intended on playing him as a gay character, and was concerned about future roles before Terminator was under way.

The writers intended a lot of other things, even filmed things that we ignore as canon, ie Kaito's ability.

The writers say things in BTE, like that cryokinesis came from Mr. Walker, which we know to bee impossible.

Therefore, there is absolutely no evidence, in any form that matters, that says Zach was gay.

He practically admitted that he was gay. Come on.

I know people that could practically word for word say what Zach said, about being different and accepting that, and being happy with who he is, and 100% not mean being gay or anything close.

He said that stuff in response to Jackie's "gay boy" comment. He was doubtless gay.

Again, do you realize how common "gay" is as an insult, especially in teenage circles involving outcasts? I've honestly heard it MORE often as an insult to straight kids that take it as an insult, then to those that are actually gay.

Back on the topic, even assuming Zack as being homosexual, I think there is some major difference between the two. For one thing, Gretchen has a thing for Claire! Also, they've met recently, and in circomstances that involved someone's death (Annie). Finally, Gretchen's friendship with Claire, even without considering her love for her, seems to go further than just ''sharing her immortal secret''. I mean, they hang out, attend a sorority together (who end up being related to specials, but that wasn't their idea of this at first), etc. While with Zack it was almost always related to Claire's ability! Oh, and Claire thought Gretchen betrayed her once. Which was false, but she never accused Zack of that!

On the other hand, there is also similarities that are worth noticing! The biggest one is the strong friendship that bonds the two girl, which is as strong as the friendship she had with Zack. There is also the fact that we know Gretchen will always be a loyal and honest friend to Claire (who would do anything to volontarly hurt the one you love? (except if he/she's into it! Joke)): Zack was also a very loyal friend.

The homosexuality similarity? I wouldn't say that. I mean, it was never confirmed with Zack and even if it were, let's assume it was confirmed once, well it played out strongly differently in the two cases, since Gretchen's sexual orientation has a direct influence on Claire, while Zack's one didn't.

When?

When he rehashed the "gay boy" topic from earlier in the day and said in response, "I'm happy with who I am."

Again, do you realize how common "gay" is as an insult, especially in teenage circles involving outcasts? I've honestly heard it MORE often as an insult to straight kids that take it as an insult, then to those that are actually gay.

basically, I'm happy with who i am. I don't need to conform to what everyone else thinks is cool and be down with all of their cliques to be happy. Let them say what they want about me. F off.

That doesn't have anything to do with being gay.

It has to do with not being the cool popular kid, and instead being a little more unique, having interests outside of the norm, not having the most friends or the most talent.

Zach was a really cool kid who was an outcast for some reason. He got all his misfit friends, the goths etc to vote for Claire for Homecoming queen.

He was verbally accosted by the snooty cheerleader about being gay, as in "I heard you got an erection in the boy's locker room". Something like that. She wasn't calling him gay in a way that implied something other than homosexual. He ignored her comment with nothing more than a sneer of dislike for her. This proves nothing by itself.
However later on when Claire (I think) asked him about how he felt about the grief he was being given, he responded that he didn't care what they thought of him, he was comfortable with who he is.

His response tells me that he and Claire both know that he is either homo or bisexual, and they are both comfortable with it. He is a really cool person. Not ashamed of who he is, confident. Not effeminate. He would likely be the more masculine partner in a gay male couple, based on the ones I have met.

This is how the writing comes across.

Exactly. This was obviously not a high school cliché.

That's how the writing comes across?

Do you have any idea how many completely straight people have the same reaction? Quite a few.

Ok "He didn't care what they thought of him, he was comfortable with who he is." He said this because he was clearly a social outcast and not one of those "popular" or normal people. You guys are seriously biased here with that kind of impression that "anybody who doesn't fit in should just go into the gay catagory". You don't just assume one is homosexual because he choose to be different than anybody else. Yet that's exactly what people have been doing in high school, calling any un popular guys gay with a disgust in their tones. When they grow up they probably realised that it was not cool to do that and they should respect gay people more, BUT they never realised maybe it was wrong to think that poor un popular folk "gay" in the first place. Seriously people are so close minded. There are tons of ways in life and I can live virtually like a gay in every way but still not have any sexual interest in guys.
I am saying this because I was exactly one of those unpopular social outcast in high school and have been considered "gay" all the time. But I never buy that crap for one sec, like Zack said, I am happy with who I am and I know myself better than you guys. I am not gay and I think you guys are wrong to assume Zack was gay for that matter.

Synch,
You don't think the writers were implying that Zach is truly gay?

Nope, she is actually watchable. And who doesn't like young "experimenting" coeds. I know I do.