Ever since Jane Schoenbrun’s trans masterpiece I Saw the TV Glow came out, queer fans have been itching to relive the terrifying tales we were raised on in “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” The 90s anthology series has a special place in the hearts of gay 90s kids everywhere, and Schoenbrun’s film pays loving tribute to the series that kept us awake with its lo-fi scenes of wig-snatching terror.

And now that’s officially October, there’s truly never been a better time to revisit the series, which is conveniently streaming on Prime. Trust me, the show holds up, and watching it as an adult is not only a nostalgic exercise, but an instructive one. As kids, we cowered in terror as the Midnight Society unfurled their stories of evil wishes granted, haunted houses come to life, and dolls trapped in a nightmare maze of their own making. As adults, we can see exactly how the well-crafted horror series managed to get under even the thickest of skins.

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But there’s something else to appreciate as an adult. The kids of the Midnight Society all come with their own baggage, and while you never learn too much about them (they go to separate schools and live in different towns during the day) they always bring a touch of louche intrigue to the proceedings. How did the Midnight Society begin, and how long did it last? Who first came up with the idea of bringing a bag of sand to throw in the fire? Where did they find their stories in a pre-Internet age? And what’s with all the anti-reading propaganda?

Even apart from all that, there’s one unsolved mystery that remains at the center of the series that turned every young gay and trans kid into a horror nerd. Namely: what happened to all those child actors, and how many of those iconic Canadian kids grew up to be gay?

We know that Rachel Blanchard (Kristen) had a recurring role in the iconic British comedy Peep Show, as well as starring as Cher Horowitz in the forgotten Clueless TV series. JoAnna Garcia (Sam) would show up in roles on Family Guy, Gossip Girl, and Reba, as well as hosting the controversial Queer Love: The Ultimatum.

But perhaps the best news of all is that Ross Hull, who played Gary, the sometime leader of the pack, grew up to be a hot gay man who routinely posts pictures of himself shirtless with his dogs Jasper and Leo. Jasper is a Pomsky (cross between a Pomeranian and a Husky) and Leo is an Eskiemute (an American Eskimo Dog crossed with an Alaskan Malamute and Border Collie!)

If that news doesn’t make your day, I’m sorry to tell you this but you’re beyond hope.

Now that’s what I call doing Canada proud!

Ross and his partner can be seen on Instagram having incredible adventures with their two extremely fluffy dogs, and it’s delightful to behold.

And yes, if you’re wondering, the dogs do indeed have their own IG account.

Filming a show that defined a generation’s fears and nightmares? Iconic. Growing up to be a stone cold stud with a hot husband and two adorable dogs? Priceless.

It’s called winning life, and gay people have perfected the art.

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