The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test: The Originals, “A Streetcar Named Desire” – Season 3, Episode 14

Aya went about unlinking the sire lines on The Originals, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and she commenced her plan by physically incapacitating both Klaus and Elijah via magic.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

“A Streetcar Named Desire” did not pass the Bechdel, Russo or race test.

The-Originals-season-3-episode-14-A-Streetcar-Named-Desire-Stefan-Salvatore-Klaus-Mikaelson-Paul-Wesley-Joseph-Morgan
Klaus sends Stefan off after receiving his aid.

“A Streetcar Named Desire” did not pass the Bechdel test, and the episode did not pass this test because while there were a couple of named women in the episode, women (named or unnamed) never talked to each other. “A Streetcar Named Desire” also failed to pass the Russo and race test.

“A Streetcar Named Desire” did not pass the Russo test because there were no LGBTI characters in the episode. “A Streetcar Named Desire” did not pass the race test because while there were some instances where the very few non-White individuals that were in the episode talked to each other, White people were always referenced.

*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.