In the fourth episode of Cheese in the Trap, Seol and Jung started dating each other, but Seol felt a bit unsure about and uncomfortable around Jung. She realized how completely different the two are and she only grew even more unsure and uncomfortable about Jung when she learned from In-Ho that Jung had somehow injured In-Ho’s hand.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

Episode 4 did not pass the Russo test but it did pass the Bechdel and race test.

Episode 4 did not pass the Russo test, and the episode did not pass this test because there were no LGBTI characters in episode 4.

As to the Bechdel test, episode 4 did pass this test, and the episode passed this test because of the couple of times that named women talked to each other in episode 4, there was one instance where men weren’t mentioned (e.g., Seol and Bo-Ra apologized to each other). Episode 4 also passed the race test, and the episode passed this test (and easily so) because the entire cast was Asian and White people were never mentioned by any of the characters.

*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.