Noelle Connell Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test, K-drama, TV

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test: Remember – Season 1, Episode 3

In the third episode of Remember, Dong-Ho drew up a contract stating that he would take on Jae-Hyuk’s case if Jin-Woo promised to use his gift (i.e., his photographic memory) for him (Dong-Ho) and only him. Jin-Woo agreed to Dong-Ho’s stipulations and so Dong-Ho began defending Jin-Woo’s father and Jin-Woo began working for Dong-Ho.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

Episode 3 passed the race test but did not pass the Bechdel or Russo test.

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In-A talks to Jin-Woo and inquires about his father’s memory.

Episode 3 passed the race test, and the episode passed this test because the entire cast was Asian and none of the characters ever mentioned White people. The episode did not pass the Bechdel or Russo test, however, and the episode did not pass these tests because while there were a couple of named women in the episode, they never spoke to each other and because there were no LGBTI characters in episode 3.

*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.