The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test: Uncontrollably Fond – Season 1, Episode 15

On the newest episode of Uncontrollably Fond, episode 15, Eul returned Eun-Soo’s blood money and Joon-Young and Ji-Tae, respectively, made progress in their machinations.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

Episode 15 passed the race test but it did not pass the Bechdel or Russo test.

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Eul imagines that Joon-Young joins her in the elevator instead of going to Jung-Eun.

The entire cast of episode 15 and none of the characters ever mentioned White individuals. As such, there were many instances where non-White individuals talked to each other without mentioning anyone White so the episode easily passed the race test. Episode 15 did not, however, pass the Bechdel or Russo test.

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Eul imagines sharing a playful night with Joon-Young.

There were a couple of named women in episode 15 and there were instances where some of these women talked to each other, but the episode, nonetheless, failed to pass the Bechdel test. Why? Because every time two or more named women talked to each other, they mentioned men.

As to why episode 15 did not pass the Russo test, there were no LGBTI characters in the episode.

*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.