Today I read a post on The Official Tumblr of The Carrie Diaries Writers in which the writers reveal their insight into the importance of writing the story for the character Walt Reynolds, one of Carrie’s best guy friends, played by Brendan Dooling, and his journey to finding his identity on the show. The theme of finding yourself in the city is an overarching one throughout the entire first season, and Walt’s individual journey follows that same path as he struggles with his relationships.
When the show begins, first, he experiences his first sexual relationship with his girlfriend of two years Maggie, and then he finds out that she had been cheating on him so he breaks up with her and starts dating the mean girl on the show Donna LaDonna. His relationship with Donna is interesting to watch because they share a special relationship in which they have a lot in common and become great friends, he even feels comfortable sharing some secrets with her, but then when it comes down to actually sealing the deal and hooking up, he can’t seem to perform and his lack of sexual attraction towards her isn’t personal. Donna questions his sexuality, and for the first time, Walt must question it as well. Together they discover that they are better as just friends.
Walt trying to force relationships with both of these women eventually comes to a halt when he goes and visits Carrie in the city. Carrie takes him to a party with her and introduces him to her co-worker Bennett, a fashionable, attractive young writer for Interview who also happens to be gay. Bennett challenges Walt to relax and try to accept himself for who he is, urging him to not be afraid of what others might think. Eventually, Walt’s interest in Bennett makes him realize the true reason why his relationships with women didn’t work in the past and he ultimately has to begin to face his fear that he might be different. In Episode #11, Walt finally admits to Carrie that he might have feelings for Bennett, a.k.a. he’s gay. Carrie is very understanding and considerate, telling him that no matter what he is, he shouldn’t be afraid to be himself and that he is a wonderful person no matter what.
Walt’s journey is very important in this day and age when homosexuality is still an issue in society in some areas of the world where young people still have to face the struggle of accepting their identity and finding acceptance from their families and peers. The writers do a good job at focusing on Walt’s journey from an outsider’s perspective, and portraying Walt’s coming out as something that isn’t going to happen all at one, but rather, unfold slowly as the season progresses and Walt’s character gets more comfortable with admitting the truth to himself before he can admit it to everyone else.
MyTVBlog: The Carrie Diaries 
Walt’s journey is very important in this day and age when homosexuality is still an issue in society in some areas of the world where young people still have to face the struggle of accepting their identity and finding acceptance from their families and peers.
We all love to see characters struggle, not because we are mean people, but because we all struggle and want to relate to characters in that way. It’s great that you noticed that they were just living in fear, in the fear of being different. I think that the fear of being different is something that everyone struggles with and therefore, makes the show/characters very relatable, even though we are all fearful of something different.
it seems like this is a case of dramatic irony? with the initial unsuccessful heterosexual encounter it seems it would be obvious where the plot is going, at least to the viewer. this story line, while important in establishing the normalcy of homosexuality, seems extremely cliché. i feel like i’ve seen the exact same, better of as friends with gay ex boyfriend who meets confident gay man who helps him explore his feelings story line a million times. i haven’t seen the show so it could be less cliché than it sounds, but it seems like a lazy approach.