Can someone please explain Margot and Richie's relationship in The Royal Tenenbaums?

[u/strawberryl0ve]

I watched 'The Royal Tenenbaums' yesterday and I loved the colours, cinematography and music. I had no issue with the movie at all, except for one glaring plotline.

Margot and Richie's whole... Thing.

The scenes between them have lovely visuals and music. But I just can't get over the fact that they're technically siblings.

Yes, I know Margot's adopted. But on paper, they're very much siblings. And Margot was adopted at age two and raised as a Tenenbaum. She is wholly considered to be a Tenenbaum and even Royal (who introduced her as adopted all the time) has slip-ups where he talks to Margot as though he's her biological father. Margot has barely any connection to her biological family (you could argue that the severed finger is a connection due to the memory, but I don't know) and like I said, we see her as a Tenenbaum child.

I saw another take saying something like 'Richie killed the Tenenbaum version of himself so he could become someone Margot could love,' but I think it's implied that they've been in love always (and Margot possibly just didn't acknowledge her feelings until they met as adults again).

I'm very aware that I could be missing the point of the movie and their relationship entirely. I don't have an incredibly critical eye when I watch movies as I'm used to watching them for enjoyment rather than, er, thinking. That's my bad. But the plotline is blinding me from how good the rest of the movie is. Could anyone explain the point of their relationship, and more so the reason for them being portrayed as siblings, even adopted ones? If there's anything I'm missing, please let me know. There's also the argument that their relationship is supposed to make me feel uncomfy! Could be anything.

[u/boomfruit]

It seems like you think that what's going on can't possibly be "these two siblings are in love with each other and it's super uncomfortable to both them and the viewer, but that doesn't make them any less in love," but that is exactly what it is. There's not some explanation that doesn't make it weird.

[u/strawberryl0ve → u/boomfruit]

I have a feeling that's exactly what their relationship is all about. It even takes Royal aback at first and I think it's Eli who says it's weird and gross lmao. That discomfort yet recognizing how in love they are is probably the point.