“Kate [Siegel] was very excited about approaching Theodora in a way that hadn’t really been done in any of the previous adaptations. In the novel, it’s absolutely hinted at that she’s a lesbian. In the Robert Wise film in 1963, it’s further hinted. They circle it much more overtly in the 1999 version when Catherine Zeta-Jones played the part. But we wanted to just kind of come out the gate and just establish the character right away with a scene that basically hinged on her sexuality and just eliminated the conversation about it. This relationship, actually, with Trish, who’s played by the wonderful Levy Tran, we really wanted… As Kate put it in the beginning, she wanted Theo to kind of behave like a frat boy. And one of the surprises of the show would be that [Theo and Trish] actually end up married at the end. And that this really was the most meaningful relationship of Theo’s life. Only she would have no idea that that would be the case as it began, which is often the way it goes. Early on, when we cast both [Theo and Trish], we talked about how this was a relationship they both wanted very much to draw out in a season-long arc that would end in marriage. And that kind of representation was important to Kate.” 

Mike Flanagan discussing Theo’s sexuality and her relationship with Trish during commentary for “Steven Sees a Ghost”.