Ben Hanscom is a very good example of how to write a boy/man that’s in love with one of his female friends without making the character a Nice Guy™️. His friendship and support and Beverly comes from a genuine place, and does not rely on her returning his romantic feelings. He puts no pressure on her to feel the same way, and goes out of his way to avoid making her feel uncomfortable. In this TED Talk I will—
i just. i really love ben hanscom…….like. a lot. i love that despite his own fears about the state of the losers club after their big fight he still looked evil in the eye and said “no, you’re wrong, i do have real friends, i have people who love me” i love that he was ready to throw himself into the fray for all of them as soon as he met them i love that he was excited to let them into his room and show them all of his research on the town but drew the line at them finding out he was a NKOTB stan i love that he was the first one to ask about stanley at the reunion i FUCKING love ben hanscom
↳“I’m scared almost insane by whatever else I may remember before tonight’s over, but how scared I am doesn’t matter, because it’s going to come anyway.”
Ben: is being buried alive in sand/dirt, alone, but only thinking about how he wants to help Beverly and finally openly tell her how he feels even if it’s his dying words so he calls up to her “Beverly, I love you—” and starts reciting the poem he wrote for her 27 years ago.
