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The first time I watched Carol (the Todd Haynes directed, Cate Blanchett starring lesbian period piece), I was happy and surprised at the movie’s ending: I didn’t expect Carol and Therese to end up together. Sure, they want to be together, but they’re both women and this type of thing is just not supposed to happen. Until it does. Carol ends with Therese deciding to accept Carol’s newest invitation, making it clear that even after the film fades to black these two women will still be together.

I recently rewatched Carol for the third time and while the happy ending is still as happy, I realized that the main source of conflict for Carol and Therese—the main thing keeping them apart—isn't just them being lesbians.

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