Disney Pixar’sInside Out 2brought a variety of new elements into Riley’s life and even included a subtle crush subplot. TheInside Outsequel followed Riley through her tumultuous struggle after starting puberty, exploring the chaotic new emotions and obstacles that often come with growing pains.Inside Out 2dives into the complexities of Riley’s emotional landscapeas she navigates adolescence, and does so beautifully.Inside Out 2was a huge success at the box office, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time just one month after its June release, cementing its place as a standout sequel.
SinceInside Out 2stands on the trials and tribulations of being a teenager, it’s no surprise that the movie touches upon those relatable and often embarrassing teenage crushes. While Riley is navigating her teenage years, the presence of a subtle crush storyline adds another layer of authenticity and relatability to her arc. However, the usual nuanced approach thatInside Outtakes to its storytelling has raised speculation regarding the real object of Riley’s affection.
When Riley’s emotions get sent to theVault Of Secrets inInside Out 2, a locked collection of all the suppressed thoughts Riley doesn’t want anyone to see, Riley’s first-generation emotions meet Lance Slashblade. Lance Slashbade is a playable character in aMortal Kombat-like fighting game, and Riley Anderson’s very secret crush. Riley hides her crush on Lance out of embarrassment because of his incredibly weak special move, where he curls into a ball and slowly rolls toward his opponent, dealing zero damage.
Riley’s crush on Lance, however, doesn’t play a significant role in her emotional journey throughout the story. Lance’s presence as Riley’s secret crush is used as an emblem of the more fleeting and retroactively embarrassing obsessions teenagers cycle through as they discover themselves. While Lance still manages to win the heart of Disgust (a surprising feat given her overcritical nature) he doesn’t have an incredibly significant hold over Riley, and much less so on her actions throughout the movie. So it’s certainly safe to say that Riley’s affection for Lance is relatively unsubstantial.
Is Val Also One Of Riley’s Crushes In Inside Out 2?
It’s also worth examining Riley’s relationship with one of her new friends. Valentina “Val” Ortiz is the captain of the Fire Hawks, the hockey team at Riley’s future high school, and the first person thatRiley’s new emotions inInside Out 2speak to. Although Riley admires Val’s talent, the way she acts around Val, such as her overt nervousness, need to impress, and holding Val on a pedestal all subtly mimic behavior that a character with a crush might have.
Yet, while the relationship between the two may resonate with some people as romantic, the movie never explicitly confirms any feelings between them. However, it’s important to note thatDisney’s recent controversyalleges thatInside Out 2was critiqued and drastically edited to remove potential LGBTQ themes. This creates the possibility that the characters' behaviors toward each other could have been expanded upon. Regardless, the relationship between Val and Riley has never been confirmed as anything beyond platonic, so it is entirely up to the viewer’s interpretation.
Riley’s Crush Is Not Important To Inside Out 2’s Main Story
In any case, there’s a better reason why Lance is only briefly on screen and her possible crush on Val isn’t explored further; ultimately, Riley’s story inInside Out 2isn’t about her love life. The romantic elements may have succeeded at adding small layers of authenticity and detail to the protagonist, but they are used more as comedic relief than as a driving force in the narrative.
Inside Out 2simply isn’t a movie about romantic love. The story focuses on Riley’s emotional journey as she learns how to navigate new emotions and retain her sense of self in testing times throughInside Out 2’sending. Evidently crushes do appear in the movie, but they are undoubtedly second to the film’s themes of self-acceptance and friendship. While some viewers were disappointed at the missed opportunity to explore an LGBTQ romance, keeping the focal point on friendships drives the narrative further and serves more purpose by exploring the conflict of maintaining friendships at an age where actions begin to have lasting consequences inInside Out 2.
