Anyway, not specifically Willow/Tara related today; but it's an interesting little conversation. Some of you might note that a couple of weeks ago (or it could have been last week, sometimes I feel like I'm stuck in this time continuum and it's all actually just one very long day...) that I mentioned Zoe Tate, who surely qualified as [b:8d1d1563ca] Crazy Lesbian of the Week[/b:8d1d1563ca]. In the subtextual (or not so) messages that TV gives us, she joins the ever-growing TV lesbians who are doomed to death, madness, sadness and grief.
And I spotted another one last night. A long running hospital drama, [b:8d1d1563ca] Holby City[/b:8d1d1563ca], has had a lesbian character in it almost from the start. Last night her ex (who is a recovering junkie, no less, heh) came to her on the very day she had a consultancy interview and told her that she had an incurable tumor; therefore she had a year to live. She was off to Cairo to travel and see the sights before that year ran out. Tash (the doctor) was naturally very upset and questioned her whole relationship ethic. Basically she doesn't have one. She's stony faced most of the time and doesn't seem to hop in and out of bed with anyone unlike most of the other cast members, heh heh. Well...she's a lesbian ain't she?
Anyhoo, the upshot of the story was the dilemma. Does Tash go round the world with the woman she loves and share the final year of her life? Or does she take the consultancy postion and go on to a bright and shining career as a surgeon?
Watching this with my parents was a treat. Um, I think. I guessed that Tash would go off with the love of her life. My dad guessed not.
I was right.
And then my parents and I proceeded to have a whole conversation about the Crazy Lesbian of the Week (as my mother has so disappointingly adopted, sigh; for a homophobe she sure likes the naming and shaming game...). And this then led onto a discussion of gay characters on American television vs British television. I was able to mention Willow and Tara in a roundabout manner, and explain something of the lesbian cliche to them I suppose. Suffice to say, my parents are now clued in to looking at how lesbian characters (and I guess gay characters in general) are treated on television.
I felt kind of proud.
Okay, so now I've rambled painfully on...I suppose my thought for the day would be, where are the other lesbian characters? Talking with my parents, I couldn't really remember that many, and yet I know they've been there. Does anyone have any suggestions? Lesbian characters on TV? I'm not sure.
Sigh. Anyway, have a great mid-week everyone. I know I will. Interview tomorrow; football on Friday. And Wimbledon next week. It's the start of a perfect summer.
Uh, not.
