Noelle Connell Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test, TV

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test: Reign, “The Hound and the Hare” – Season 3, Episode 7

Reign -- "The Hound and the Hare" -- Image Number: RE307a_0135.jpg -- Pictured (L-R): Torrance Coombs as Bash, Alexandra Ordolis as Delphine and Celina Sinden as Greer -- Photo: Sven Frenzel/The CW -- © 2015 The CW Network, LLC. All rights reserved
On Reign, “The Hound and the Hare,” Mary courted Don Carlos; Catherine made a deal with Narcisse and told him that if he made her regent then she would make him councilor; and Bash and Greer laid a trap for the heart snatcher (i.e., their local serial killer).

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

“The Hound and the Hare” passed the Bechdel test but did not pass the Russo or race test.

“The Hound and the Hare” passed the Bechdel test, and the episode passed this test because even though named women seldom spoke to each other (and they almost always mentioned men when they did so), there was a single instance where named women talked to each other without mentioning men (e.g., Mary asked Catherine about her boots). The episode did not, however, pass either the Russo or race test, and the episode did not pass these tests because there were no LGBTI characters in the episode and because there was only one non-White individual in “The Hound and the Hare” (Don Carlos).

*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.