Yeon-Joo died on W – Two Worlds, episode 14, but she didn’t stay dead for long. What happened? Well, Chul discovered that Chul-Ho had a copy of the original drawing tablet, and despite any and all obstacles in his path, Chul took the tablet from him and placed it into Sung-Moo’s hands who then brought Yeon-Joo back to life.

The Bechdel, Russo, and Race Test

Episode 14 passed the race test but it did not pass the Bechdel or Russo test.

Episode 14 passed the race test, and the episode passed this diversity test because there were many instances where non-White individuals talked to each other without mentioning anyone White as the entire cast was Asian and none of the characters ever mentioned White individuals. However, while episode 14 managed to pass the race test (and easily so), it did not pass other diversity tests like the Bechdel or Russo.

There were a few named women in episode 14 and there was an instance where two of these named women talked to each other. So why didn’t the episode pass the Bechdel test? Because the one time that named women talked to each other, they mentioned a man (e.g., Soo-Sun and Soo-Young talked about Yeon-Joo and they also mentioned a man in passing).

As to the Russo test, episode 14 did not pass this diversity test because 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.