Bo-Nui went on her very first date with Soo-Ho on Lucky Romance, episode 4, and what a date it was. Bo-Nui and Soo-Ho went to a hotel, Bo-Nui injured herself and Soo-Ho failed (spectacularly) to save Bo-Nui from a “pervert.” So just another day in a Korean drama universe.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

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

The entire cast of episode 4 was Asian and because none of the characters ever mentioned White people the episode easily passed the race test as every conversation involved only non-White individuals who talked to each other without mentioning White people.

As to the Bechdel test, there were a couple of named women in episode and while there was a time or two where some of these named women talked to each other, the episode did not pass the Bechdel test, and the episode did not pass this test because whenever named women talked to each other, men were mentioned.

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

*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.