Hi guys, do you know any shows with relevant lesbian or bisexual characters that are either really good, or just older than 10 years… (The show, not the characters) Alternately, just some shows which are a little more LGBT focused than the “Standart”?
6 feet under has one of the main characters who is living a gay marital life.
The way you phrased that means Friends counts.
Carol, Ross’ lesbian ex-wife, is surprisingly important to the show. Her divorcing him because she realizes she’s a lesbian is the first actual plot point established in the show about 2 minutes into the pilot, and her name is spoken before any of the six main characters’ names, and even before Rachel appears on screen. Sets up years of plot lines about Ross’ character, being divorced, the emotional fallout, raising a child in a broken home, and it sets up Ross and Rachel as a whole thing.
Relevant lesbian character in a show that is really good or older than 10 years. Carol from Friends.
Xena the Warrior Princess (1995-2001)
IIRC Saturday Night Live did a pretty funny sketch to wink and nod about it.
Skins UK attempted to deal with every topic they could get their hands on, including lesbianism (and homophobia iirc), with the drama turned up to 11.
I don’t know how it holds up today, but back then as a dramatic teen myself I loved it.
If you are interested in learning about queer representation on TV there’s a great YouTube channel from Matt Baume who talks about the history of it. He also wrote a book about it: Hi Honey I’m Homo
If you haven’t looking into it there was a surprisingly a lot of good representation in the 70s. This all dropped off in the 80s because of Reagan.
This all dropped off in the 80s because of Reagan.
This can be said about so many things…
The Legend of Korra.
I wouldn’t call it ‘LGBT focused,’ but it paved the way for LGBTQ in all of western animation. It’s not too anime in spite of its style, and the lead character is bi. And awesome, and hilarious:
It’s a bit much to call the longing gaze at the end of the last episode of season 4 evidence that Korra is bi. The comics confirm it, but the show itself doesn’t. And wow, legend of Korra is over 10 years old? I must be old
It’s a bit much to call the longing gaze at the end of the last episode of season 4 evidence that Korra is bi.
Yeah. The showrunners had to push hard just to get that though; its kinda a piece of history (alongside Steven Universe) that allowed stuff like Hazbin, Harley Quinn or She-Ra to even exist.
And at least there was some chemistry.
And wow, legend of Korra is over 10 years old? I must be old
Yeah…
Buffy the Vampire Slayer… eventually. Can’t really think of any other good shows that old with lasting positive representation.
Ive watched the show 3 times already, and I’m planning on watching it a fourth time soon! I’m glad there’s other enjoyers out there.
Been rewatching it lately with my trans teen daughter. She’s been loving it. Showed it to my wife about 5 years ago as well as she’s never seen it.
The Wire. Don’t want to spoil it by saying which one, but a key character turns out to be a lesbian.
I hate the notion that The Wire counts as an old show! 😁
Who cares about spoilers, it’s Idris Elba’s character.
He is aware of the effect he has on women.
I’m Idris Elba, actor, director, producer, dj, lesbian
Isn’t it made clear from nearly the beginning that this certain person is openly lesbian?
Overall, I really like how the show deals with it’s LGBT characters. It’s just matter of fact. Even the one little reveal of a certain secondary character is just there and gone, just a little detail on them not necessarily a defining part of their persona within the confines of the story.
Is it as early as that? I could have sworn it was at least 3 or 4 episodes in. Been a while since I watched it though… [tingles with anticipation] 😁
FWIW, Cheryl appears in episode 1. I haven’t watched the first season in a couple years so can’t remember if it’s made explicit or left to the audience to fill in the blanks.
Yeah, you’re quite right, not sure why I thought it was later on.
Oh God, I can’t believe I forgot this one.
Thank you!
's all in the game, yo.
Sailor Moon, but not in the American or German versions. I think in America they were cousins and all the romance cut out and in Germany one was turned into a guy.
Babylon 5 has two women start a relationship… sort of.
They set up a frienship that was supposed to turn into a romantic relationship, but one of them left the show, cutting that subplot short. They still try to work it in, as the last couple episodes before the character exit heavily imply they are romantically/sexually involved, but nothing is explicitly confirmed until the next season when the remaining character briefly opens up about having loved the now absent character.
It’s not much, but it’s still pretty big for the early to mid 90s.
I kinda wonder where that was planned to go if Andrea Thompson hadn’t quit the show. All of the rogue telepath/underground railroad/badass black eyes stuff/…Byron, I guess? stuff was supposed to be Talia, who’s powers had been enhanced by that boyfriend guy of hers, Ironheart or whatever his name was. “See you in a million years.” Except they had to replace her with Lyta, who had spent her time away being touched by Vorlons.
So Lyta got most of Talia’s part…except she and Ivanova weren’t involved, Ivanova moved onto another doomed relationship with Marcus. What were they going to do with Talia and Susan if Andrea Thompson hadn’t quit the show?
Was the recording of her personality from before she and Susan had gotten together, meaning Susan’s feelings were now unrequited?
And it’s even more complicated by the fact that Talia was already the replacement for Lyta. And that the revelation about her being a sleeper was never meant to happen unless she left. Oddly enough, that exit was actually recycling the plan for Takashima had she made it past the pilot, only she got replaced… by Susan.
Plus there’s Garibaldi. His interest in Talia mirrors Zach’s interest in Lyta. Garibaldi’s interest is never resolved because of Talia’s exit. That they tried to reestablish that idea with Zach and Lyta implies there was a plan. Given where things go with Garibaldi and telepaths (including Lyta) that might have been very interesting.
Instead, Zach’s interest gets folded into the Byron plot. But Byron is also a late addition caused by the whole cancelation and uncancelation around season 5. If they hadn’t lost multiple cast members and rushed key plotlines to fit them into season 4, things would have probably been very different.
It’s an interesting study in TV show design, isn’t it?
Xena
Once Upon A Time has a pretty well-done lesbian relationship in the seventh season. Season five had a lesbian romance episode, but the characters involved were then never mentioned again. Season seven did a better job, with the lesbian characters being recurring characters throughout the season
Unfortunately most lesbian/bisexual women in older TV shows weren’t about representation, but more geared towards either the male fantasy, or to make jokes off of/out of them.
Well, wasn’t old lesbian lady/aunt kind of a thing way back?
Yeah, and gym teachers, but it was always just a side character with no depth.
Grey’s Anatomy.
If u don’t mind anime suggestions, Madoka Magica is a great pick. The mcs are all lesbian/bi asf (I don’t think it’s confirmed, but if u watch it you’ll understand…) and they all have a lot of depth to them, especially homura :)
