TV

Bending Reality: “Undone” Is a Testament to Hollywood’s Cripping up Problem

Alma, an animated character on Undone, is a woman with brown hair who is staring forward intently
by Sara Novic
November 15, 2019 at 4:01pm
Disabled stories need disabled writers, consultants, directors and producers, too.
Characters from the animated show Steven Universe from left to right: Amethyst, Garnet, Steven, and Pearl.

The "Steven Universe" Movie Reminds Us That Change is the Only Path to Growth

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
November 13, 2019 at 1:18pm
There are few cartoons—few series as a whole—as impactful as Steven Universe. Read more »
D'Arcy Carden, a white woman, as Good Janet and Bad Janet in The Good Place

What the Styling of Good Janet on “The Good Place” Shows about Sexist Character Design

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
November 8, 2019 at 1:58pm
With Good Janet versus Bad Janet, The Good Place uses fashion to signify goodness. Read more »
Kirsten Dunst, a white woman with blond hair that's curled at the end, poses in a turquoise mermaid swimsuit in front of a turquoise shell

On Becoming a Fraud in Central Florida

by Hannah Steinkopf-Frank
November 6, 2019 at 8:00am
The show offers a sharp critique of the broader capitalist system that harms us all. Read more »
BoJack Horseman, an animated horse, stands at a bathroom sink and looks at himself in the mirror. He wears a sweater and a concerned look.

In the End, BoJack Heals—but at Whose Expense?

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
November 4, 2019 at 2:31pm
Season 6’s second half twists into the show’s usual darkness when we transition to the perspectives of the women BoJack has harmed. Read more »
Luke and Laura, a white couple on General Hospital, pose for the camera during their wedding

On Soap Operas, Rape Is Still Treated as a Crime of Lust and Passion

by Amanda Hiber
November 4, 2019 at 8:23am
Soap writers are far from blameless when it comes to perpetuating rape myths. Read more »
Kelli Giddish, a white woman police detective on Law & Order: SVU, sits besides a white teenager in a hospital room

Overstating Ohio: How “Law & Order: SVU” Increased Stigma about Abortion Bans

by Mallory McMaster
October 29, 2019 at 3:28pm
Evangeline’s story is more common than SVU would have us believe. Read more »
Princess Carolyn a pink cat stands and looks into the camera. She is in an art gallery.

The Case for a Black Princess Carolyn

by Mary Retta
October 25, 2019 at 9:00am
For Princess Carolyn, the case for her identity as a Black woman offers a more nuanced lens through which to view her character. Read more »
Jenny Slate as Missy, left, Maya Rudolph as Connie, the female Hormone Monster, and Jessi Klein as Jessi in Big Mouth.

The Teen Girls of “Big Mouth” Are Its Saving Grace

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
October 22, 2019 at 11:01am
While Big Mouth is a show about teens of all genders, it shines best when it delves into the worlds and inner workings of its teen girl characters.  Read more »
A woman of color in a sky blue blazer, pantsuit, and bunny slippers sits with her legs up on a desk.

“A Little Late with Lilly Singh” Has a Code-switching Problem

by Sezin Koehler
October 21, 2019 at 12:50pm
Lilly Singh is trailblazing as a South Asian woman on late night TV while also dismantling that good work by continuing to perform a Blackness that isn’t hers. Read more »
A preteen girl with light skin and black hair stands in front of a classroom with her teacher. She has on glasses and is gesturing with her hands.

“Big Mouth” Endlessly Explores Sexuality, but Still Stumbles on Queerness

by Rachel Charlene Lewis
October 8, 2019 at 9:18am
It’s not that I’m surprised a television show failed to accurately represent bisexuality and pansexuality. It’s that I’m surprised Big Mouth was one of those shows. Read more »

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Best of Bitch

Tina Belcher's Sexual Revolution

​​​​​​​Tina Belcher, an animated teenaged girl. She wears glasses and has black hair with bangs.
by Gabrielle Moss
May 6, 2014 at 11:57am
Tina Belcher breaks all the rules of network sitcoms. That's why she's wonderful.  Read more »

What I Learned About Gender and Power from Sailor Moon

by Soleil Ho
May 31, 2013 at 1:43pm
My life began in 1995 — the year I turned eight and became a divorced kid.    Read more »

Eat, Pray, Spend: Priv-lit and the new, enlightened American dream

by Joshunda Sanders
Summer 2010 • Action
Priv-lit and the new, enlightened American dream. Read more »

Films and TV Portray Abortion as More Dangerous Than It Is

by Erica Thomas
February 19, 2014 at 3:47pm
Films and television shows tend to present a skewed portrayal of abortion—when fictional movies and TV shows include a plotline about abortion... Read more »