The HBO Max original The Sex Lives of College Girls is back for its third season, but something’s missing. Someone’s missing. And that would be the main character, Ms. Leighton Murray, played by none other than Reneé Rapp. The show began in 2021 following our four main characters Whitney Chase (Alyah Chanelle Scott), Bela Malholtra (Armit Kaur), Kimberly Finkle (Pauline Chalamet), then of course Leighton.
Season one was all about these four girls being placed as roommates and trying to navigate their new surroundings as college freshmen. Whitney being the jock, Bela the comedian, Leighton as the rich girl, and Kimberly as our heavily sheltered girl. Specifically Leighton Murray, her character development was truly groundbreaking to watch. Her entire arc is her coming to terms with her sexuality and being okay with being a lesbian. Now, if you’re not a fan of Reneé Rapp it takes a thirty second Google search to see that she is very out and very proud to be a lesbian. But, she wasn’t always, which is why she’s the perfect fit for this role.
In the beginning of the show we are introduced to this New York prep-school picture perfect sorority girl. Quickly we see that this is all an act, she is not as tough as she tries to come off. She is terrified of herself- to be herself. And it feels so real and I would be lying if I said I haven’t shed a few tears while watching this show because I understand. As the show goes on we watch Leighton go through relationships and become really comfortable with who she is and who she loves.
The first two episodes of season three Leighton is still a character, but in the first episode we find out why she’s leaving. Her girlfriend is moving to Boston, and she has to go for one reason or another. Now, I found this storyline utterly hilarious because Rapp has a song called “I Hate Boston” so the writers of this show are very silly for that one.
I am a huge fan of Rapps music as it is, but I am also young and queer. These days I am very proud of who I am, but I was not always this way. I came out when I was quite young and truly I was young and terrified. However, I was-am -a theater kid so I became a fan of Rapps when she was on Broadway in “Mean Girls” playing Regina George. And I’ve been lucky enough to watch her grow into the person that she is today. She is truly such a huge inspiration to me and so many other young queer kids. She is so real and very open about her struggles with her sexuality and eating disorder. t’s really admirable to know that you are not alone. To know that someone in the media has these struggles, it makes them a bit more down to earth and you feel a little less alone.
It’s not really a secret that Leightons storyline was finished because Rapps dream is to pursue music. She started on Broadway so she could finesse that into making music. She currently has an e.p and an album out. I have every single plan to attend her (unannounced) next tour. As a fan of her music I am so excited to see what she does for her second album. As a fan of the show, I’m really sad to see her character go. When episode two of season three came out my TikTok for you page was flooded with videos of Leighton Murray to the song “You’re Gonna Go Far” by Noah Kahan and I sobbed.
Reneé Rapp is gonna go far, it’s not hard to see.
