The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test: iZombie, “Abra Cadaver” – Season 2, Episode 7

On iZombie, “Abra Cadaver,” Clive and Liv investigated the murder of a magician, and Liv made the unlikely decision to team up with Blaine in order to stop the serial murders of zombies.

 The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

 “Abra Cadaver” did not pass the Bechdel, Russo or race test.

izombie-s02e07
Liv and Blaine go on a stakeout.

“Abra Cadaver” did not pass the Bechdel test, and the episode did not pass the Bechdel test because while there were one or two instances where named women talked to each other, men were always mentioned.  “Abra Cadaver” also failed to pass the Russo and race test, and the episode did not pass these tests because there were no LGBTI characters in the episode and because in the 2-3 instances where non-White individuals talked to each other, White people were always mentioned.

*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.