BOT Cast

Heyy and welcome to 'diaryofanoverthinker' . This weekend I'm making up for all the Saturdays I ghosted you, so you're getting two blog posts, one today and one tomorrow. We'll finally be talking about Off Campus, but before that I need todays post to fully crash out over The Boys of Tommen adaptation because... I have thoughts, especially since the cast has just been released.

Before I start I just want to say I mean no hate towards the cast I'm sure they're all amazing people and amazing actors this is just my opinions based on book accuracy and other issues.

Patrick Feely

Okay, we're starting with this because... why don't we have a Feely?

Like, I mean, we got Ronan but not Patrick? Guys, Ronan is nowhere near as important of a character as Feely is. Feely is literally one of the core 10 , so how has he not been casted?Like guys people love Patrick and he doesn't even have a book yet that's how important he is.

Not to mention, John Hewson (the actor playing Gibsie)brother is literally Patrick Feely. He has the look, the vibe, everything. So why are we not using him?

At this point, I'm choosing to believe they just haven't announced Feely yet because they're waiting until they've found someone absolutely perfect. But guys... I don't know.

All I know is that we need a Feely. He's such an amazing character, and considering he still doesn't even have his own book, the adaptation is one of the only chances we'll get to see more of him. Please don't fumble this.

Gibsie

So... uhh... guys, what's happening here?

Likeeee, Gibsie is one of the MOST important characters in the series, and I'm sorry... that's just not my Gibs.(I mean I'm never unseeing Ricky as Gibs)

Ignoring the fact that he isn't blonde (seriously, what does this adaptation have against blondes? 😭), he just doesn't give Gibsie to me.

Now, I know the casting photos aren't doing anyone any favours, and it's completely possible that once we actually see him in the adaptation, he'll absolutely nail Gibs' personality and I really hope he does because Gibsie is one of my favourite characters. But based on the casting announcement alone... I'm just not seeing it.

And can we also talk about the age? He doesn't really fit the profile of a 17-year-old. Okay, sure, TV shows almost never cast actual teenagers, so I get it... but guys... Gibs is supposed to be seventeen. I just can't picture it yet.

I'm really hoping he proves me wrong because I'd love to eat my words once the show comes out. But right now? I'm struggling to see the vision.

Lizzie Young

Okay... yes, I'm going to have to talk about the controversial casting.

Before I start, I just want to make something clear. I don't think it's fair to assume that every person who has concerns about this casting is being racist. Of course, racism exists online,and sure some people may be racist about this,but I also think there are fans who are simply worried because Lizzie is such an important character, and they want her to feel true to the version they've imagined while reading the books.

I think it's important to separate genuine, respectful discussions about whether a casting choice fits a character from comments that are actually rooted in racism. Lumping every criticism into the same category doesn't leave much room for honest conversation, and I don't think that's helpful either.

Now, with that being said...

Personally, as long as her character and everything she represents is portrayed well, I'm happy. I honestly think Indy Lewis is going to do an amazing job, and I also don't think Chloe Walsh would allow Lizzie's character to be mishandled or portrayed in a way that doesn't do her justice.

So even if the casting isn't 100% book-accurate in terms of appearance, I'd be okay accepting that, as long as the actress captures everything else that makes Lizzie who she is. Her personality, her struggles, her relationships, and the emotional depth of her character are so much more important to me than whether she looks exactly how I pictured her while reading.

However, there is one aspect of Lizzie's appearance that I'm genuinely concerned about because it's directly tied to her emotional depth, her hair.

In the books, Lizzie's hair changes from a very light blonde, almost white, as a child to a much darker, dirty blonde as a teenager. This isn't just a random physical change; it's described as a physical reaction to the trauma she's endured.

To me, that's such an important piece of symbolism. It's a small detail, but it speaks volumes about the lasting impact of her experiences without having to say a word. It's one of those subtle touches that adds so much depth to her character.

So, while I'm completely okay with adaptations making changes, I really hope they find another way to represent that symbolism if they're not keeping the hair change. I think it's a significant part of portraying Lizzie's emotional journey, and I'd hate to see such a meaningful detail get lost.

While I stand by what I said about Indy Lewis potentially portraying Lizzie amazingly, I do think one concern raised in a TikTok I saw is worth talking about.

Lizzie Young is one of the most divisive characters in the fandom. She's also one of the most misunderstood. In the first few books especially, a lot of readers genuinely hate her before they fully understand her story(and some people still hate on her after). The problem is that, while Lizzie is a fictional character, Indy Lewis is a real person.

The TikTok has a very good point, the concern wasn't that a woman of colour shouldn't play Lizzie, it was that audiences who already hold harmful stereotypes could project those stereotypes onto Indy herself or use the character to reinforce existing biases.

Personally, I think that's a valid concern. Actors shouldn't be judged as the characters they play, but unfortunately, we see it happen all the time. I just hope viewers are able to separate Lizzie from Indy and remember that they're not the same person.

If Indy delivers the emotional complexity that Lizzie deserves, then I think she'll do an incredible job. My hope is simply that she receives the support and respect every actor deserves, rather than becoming the target of the same hate directed at a fictional character.

Hugh Biggs

Okay, this is a cast I am GENUINELY excited about.

Hugh Biggs is another character I really wanted to see portrayed well because, despite being such an important character, he also tends to get a lot of unnecessary hate from parts of the fandom. His role in both Lizzie's and Gibsie's stories is so significant that getting him right was really important to me.

Personally, I think they absolutely nailed this casting. Okay, sure, he's not blonde either... shocking, I know... but guys, he is Hugh.

There's a scene from one of the actor's previous roles where he's talking about unconditional love (I'll link it below), and the emotional depth he brings to that performance is exactly why I'm so excited. Hugh is such a compassionate, emotionally intelligent character, and after seeing that scene, I genuinely think this actor has what it takes to portray him with the warmth and vulnerability he deserves.

This is one of those castings where I looked at it and immediately thought, "Yep... I can see the vision."

Because, like I said earlier, for me this adaptation isn't really about whether every actor looks exactly like their book counterpart (except for a few characters where those physical traits are important to the story). It's about whether they can portray the emotional depth of these characters.

At the end of the day, Boys of Tommen isn't a romance series. It's a story about trauma, healing, friendship, and the silent battles people fight every single day. One of its biggest messages is that everyone is carrying something, and no matter how close you are to someone, you may never truly know what they're going through.

If the cast can capture that raw emotion and make us feel what these characters feel, then they've done their job. That's always going to matter more to me than whether someone has the right hair colour or eye colour.(unless it's Shan because I really need my midnight blue eyes guys)

Katie and Claire

I genuinely have nothing to say here because... that is my Katie, and that is my Claire (once they give Claire her curls, of course).

These two are such overlooked characters in the fandom, but they're so important in their own way. They bring so much heart to the friend group, and I was really hoping the adaptation would do them justice.

Honestly, I think they absolutely nailed both castings. I can already picture them as Katie and Claire, and I genuinely can't wait to see them bring these characters to life. This is another casting where I looked at the announcement and immediately thought, "Yep, that's them."

Joey and Aoife

So, I have to admit... I was definitely sceptical about Joey's casting at first. Not to mention, I was fully rooting for Thomas Malloy because, in my head, he was literally made for the role.

However... I take it all back.

Those official casting photos did not do James any justice. The photos fans managed to find afterwards completely changed my opinion because... guys, he is so Joey-coded. The more I saw of him, the more I could picture him as Joey Lynch. Honestly, he is our Joey, and I've made peace with the fact that he's not blonde.

Joey is another character who means so much to me, and I genuinely cannot wait to see him brought to life in this adaptation. In my opinion, Joey, Lizzie, and Gibsie are the three characters that absolutely have to be portrayed exceptionally well because their stories carry so much emotional weight.

Guys... my babies deserved so much better than everything they went through.

As for Aoife... I actually think she fits the vibe of our girl really well. She has the confidence, the attitude, and the energy that I always imagined Aoife having, so I'm genuinely excited to see what she does with the role.Because like Aoife is a baddie guys

That being said... can we please stop making Aoife skinny?

The books mention multiple times that Aoife is curvy, and that's not just some random physical detail readers made up it was intentionally written into her character. For a lot of fans, that's an important part of seeing themselves represented, so I completely understand why people are disappointed that this aspect doesn't seem to have been carried over.

Again, this goes back to what I've been saying throughout this post. Most appearance changes don't really bother me, but there are a few details that actually matter because they contribute to a character's identity and representation. Aoife being curvy is one of those details, and I do think it's fair for readers to feel a little let down by that.

Another thing I'm really hoping the adaptation gets right is Aoife's struggles.

Yes, I absolutely want them to portray her as the confident, unapologetic baddie she is, but I also hope they don't let that overshadow everything she's dealing with beneath the surface.

Aoife had a lot going on in the books, and I feel like people sometimes forget that because she's so funny and self-assured. But that's exactly why it's so important to portray her emotional journey properly. Her confidence is only one part of who she is.

Aoife is a deeply layered character, and I really hope the adaptation gives equal attention to both her strength and her struggles the same way they'd do for a character like Lizzie . That's what makes her such an incredible character in the first place.

Johnny and Shan

And, last but definitely not least... the two who started it all.

Honestly, I love this casting. I think they did an amazing job, especially considering how impossible Johnny and Shannon's height difference was always going to be to recreate. The only real issue I have is Shannon's eyes because they were such a defining feature in the book but that's honestly something that can be fixed with contacts.

More than anything, though, I need Shannon and Johnny to be portrayed properly.

I really hope the adaptation doesn't reduce their story to "shy girl falls for the popular guy," because it's so much more than that. Their relationship is built on understanding, patience, healing, and unconditional love. It's one of the most emotionally complex relationships in the series, and I'd hate to see it watered down into a cliché romance.

And I swear, if people start calling Shannon a "pick me" while praising Bella as some kind of icon, I might actually lose it. 😭 Shannon deserves so much more credit than she gets, and I really hope the adaptation helps people understand her instead of judging her.

The same goes for Johnny. I really hope they give enough attention to his struggles because they're already so overlooked in the books. People tend to focus on Shannons problems(which are important)and how Johnny helps while forgetting that he was carrying so much himself. His story deserves just as much care and nuance as Shannon's.

At the end of the day, if this adaptation can capture the emotional weight of Johnny and Shannon's journey—the love, the trauma, the healing, and the hope—then I genuinely think it has the potential to become something really special.

Overall

Overall, guys, I honestly don't think the cast is that bad, and I genuinely think they're going to do an amazing job. I'm also super glad they did not Americanise the cast and kept them Irish because I think thats super important. The more I've sat with the announcements, the more excited I've become to see these actors bring these characters to life...and slightly scared.

That being said... I will forever mourn our iconic fancast.

I've grown so attached to them over the years, not just because they looked the part, but because they loved the series just as much as we did. They embraced being the fancast, interacted with the fandom, read the books, and somehow became a part of the Boys of Tommen community themselves.

I know it's going to take me a while to stop seeing the fancast whenever I picture these characters, and I'm definitely going to miss seeing them in edits. But I really hope we never forget them because they genuinely helped keep this fandom alive while we waited for an adaptation.

Now, it's time to give this new cast the same chance. I have a feeling they're going to surprise a lot of us, and I truly hope they do these incredible characters the justice they deserve.

Wellll, that's all for today!

If you made it through this entire post (which I know was incredibly long 😭), thank you so much for sticking around and reading my every thought on this cast. Whether you agree with me, disagree with me, or are somewhere in the middle, I hope you enjoyed hearing my opinions.

I'd absolutely love to know what you think, so feel free to leave a comment and tell me your favourite casting, your least favourite, or just your overall thoughts on the adaptation. I genuinely love hearing other people's perspectives.

Until next time...
Byeee<333