The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test: Reign, “The Price” – Season 3, Episode 4

On Reign, “The Price,” Catherine worked on securing votes to become regent; Narcisse and Lola went off on their honeymoon; Elizabeth met with a Spanish suitor; Bash found Delphine; and Francis and Mary used a little bit of trickery to gain the upper hand on the English.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

“The Price” did not pass the Bechdel, Russo or race test.

Charles tells Bash to step aside and that Delphine will heal Francis.

“The Price” did not pass the Bechdel test, and the episode did not pass this test because while there were a couple of occasions where named women talked to each other, men were always mentioned. “The Price” also failed to pass the Russo and race test, and the episode did not pass these diversity tests because there were no LGBTI characters in the episode and because there was only one non-White individual (Don Carlos) in “The Price.”

*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.