The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test: Twenty Again – Season 1, Episode 8

No-Ra discovered why Hyun-Suk was so mad at her in episode 8 of Twenty Again, and when she learned the exact reason why, she thanked him for all of the nice things that he had done for her and the two were able to reconcile.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

Episode 8 passed the Bechdel and race test but did not pass the Russo test.

No-Ra receives roses from Hyun-Suk.

Episode 8 passed the Bechdel test because there was one instance where named women talked to each other without mentioning men (e.g., a named female student thanked No-Ra for bandaging her ankle). The episode also passed the race test, and the episode easily passed this test because the entire cast was Asian and non-White people were never mentioned by any of the characters so every conversation that occurred in episode 8 passed the race test. However, while episode 8 passed both the Bechdel and race test, it did not pass the Russo test, and it did not pass the Russo test because there were no LGBTI characters in episode 8.

*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.