Hannibal’s latest episode, “…And the Woman Clothed in Sun,” was a snooze fest. In the episode, Will and Bedelia reunited; Reba and Francis had sex; Hannibal tracked down Will’s home address; and Will ran into the Tooth Fairy.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

“…And the Woman Clothed in Sun” did not pass any of the diversity tests. The episode did not pass these tests because even though there were several named women in the episode, they never talked to each other; because there were no LGBTI characters in the episode; and because the two non-White characters in “…And the Woman Clothed in Sun” never spoke to each other.

*The Bechdel test entails three requirements:
1. It has to have at least two (named) women in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something besides a man

**The Vito Russo test entails three requirements:
1. The show contains a character that is identifiably lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and/or transgender
2. The character must not be solely or predominately defined by her sexual orientation, gender identity and/or as being intersex
3.The character must be tied into the plot in such a way that her removal would have a significant effect

***The race or people of color (POC) test has three requirements:
1. It has two people of color in it
2. Who talk to each other
3. About something other than a White person

****Just because a show passes the Bechdel, Russo and race test does not mean that it is not sexist, heterosexist, racist and/or cissexist, etc. The Bechdel, Russo and race test is only a bare minimum qualifier for the representation of LGBTI individuals, women and people of color in television. The failure to pass these tests also does not identify whether the central character was a woman, a person of color or a LGBTQI individual and it does not dictate the quality of the show.