Rachael Eyre's Blog - Posts Tagged "queer"
Why the WLW Romance in Vigil Matters
Thanks to last night’s Vigil, I witnessed something extraordinary. Its lead, Amy Silva, danced with her subordinate, Kirsten Longacre, moving in for a kiss. Startled, the younger detective said, “I thought you weren’t interested in women.” The response? “I like you.” This misunderstanding cleared up, they shared one of the sweetest embraces I’ve seen on television.
Why is this so groundbreaking?
Speaking as a lesbian in my mid thirties, I’ve watched a lot of pink TV. To say most of it was lipservice was an understatement. Good grief, one show - about the gloomy mésalliances of Glaswegian sapphics - was even *called* Lip Service.
The medium doesn’t know what to do with us. Either we’re the subject of dramas specifically about (though not necessarily *for*) us, in which case it’s strap ons and scissoring ahoy, or we’re an absent minded subplot in a soap or indie show. We’re always the bridesmaid, never the bride: best friends, siblings or children, never the main protagonist. Since that would make it a Gay Show, and capsize the ratings forever.
More often than not we’re an object lesson, teaching Middle England that LGBT People Are Just Like You! Unless it’s cull season, of course. Then we’re sitting ducks, ready to get blown up, run over or buried alive on our wedding days. Since we can’t be shown living happily or even miserably ever after like our hetero counterparts.
Vigil is a milestone because it’s a mainstream programme in the coveted 9pm spot, made by the same folks who created Line of Duty. It isn’t ‘about’ lesbians, it’s a murder mystery. Yes, Suranne Jones has previous form playing Regency rake Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack, but which actress hasn’t a gay notch to her belt? It’s the one way to guarantee meaty roles once you enter your thirties.
It didn’t have to be gay. Amy could have just as easily fallen for a male colleague and have him working on the case back on land. But in their wisdom, the BBC has made a wlw love story the heart of their show. The use of flashbacks has given them a unique opportunity to explore Amy and Kirsten’s relationship. They clearly regret their breakup and want to get back together. I only hope one or both of them don’t fall victim to the Plot Reaper.
Of course there have been grumbles from the usual quarters, mithering it’s too “woke,” it’s “virtue signalling,” “has nothing to do with anything.” They were noticeably quiet during the earlier episodes, which dealt with the death of Amy’s (male) partner and the loss of her stepdaughter. Bizarrely, many viewers confused the kid with Kirsten, seemingly oblivious to lesbian subtext, or that there’s only a nine year age difference between our leads. There were even suggestions that it was the same person, but she’d hooked up with her stepmother when she was an adult. And they call *us* perverted.
I freely admit: I only tuned in because the publicity referred to a ‘past relationship’ between our leads. I thought it’d be mentioned in passing at best, because that’s what I’ve come to expect. It doesn’t matter we have the right to marry and adopt, and ostensibly equal rights; we’re still only extras or Very Special Episodes in the year 2021.
Until now.
They’ve given us an age gap wlw romance - a classic ice queen meets kooky girl. A woman who can be kissed by another woman and doesn’t react as though a slug has been slingshotted into her mouth - and indeed, likes it. No tedious angst about being gay, no soul searching. Just two people who obviously still love each other. Two flawed, relatable women, rather than the questioning teens or designer dolls we’re used to seeing. Queer characters who feel like actual people.
And it’s about time.
Why is this so groundbreaking?
Speaking as a lesbian in my mid thirties, I’ve watched a lot of pink TV. To say most of it was lipservice was an understatement. Good grief, one show - about the gloomy mésalliances of Glaswegian sapphics - was even *called* Lip Service.
The medium doesn’t know what to do with us. Either we’re the subject of dramas specifically about (though not necessarily *for*) us, in which case it’s strap ons and scissoring ahoy, or we’re an absent minded subplot in a soap or indie show. We’re always the bridesmaid, never the bride: best friends, siblings or children, never the main protagonist. Since that would make it a Gay Show, and capsize the ratings forever.
More often than not we’re an object lesson, teaching Middle England that LGBT People Are Just Like You! Unless it’s cull season, of course. Then we’re sitting ducks, ready to get blown up, run over or buried alive on our wedding days. Since we can’t be shown living happily or even miserably ever after like our hetero counterparts.
Vigil is a milestone because it’s a mainstream programme in the coveted 9pm spot, made by the same folks who created Line of Duty. It isn’t ‘about’ lesbians, it’s a murder mystery. Yes, Suranne Jones has previous form playing Regency rake Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack, but which actress hasn’t a gay notch to her belt? It’s the one way to guarantee meaty roles once you enter your thirties.
It didn’t have to be gay. Amy could have just as easily fallen for a male colleague and have him working on the case back on land. But in their wisdom, the BBC has made a wlw love story the heart of their show. The use of flashbacks has given them a unique opportunity to explore Amy and Kirsten’s relationship. They clearly regret their breakup and want to get back together. I only hope one or both of them don’t fall victim to the Plot Reaper.
Of course there have been grumbles from the usual quarters, mithering it’s too “woke,” it’s “virtue signalling,” “has nothing to do with anything.” They were noticeably quiet during the earlier episodes, which dealt with the death of Amy’s (male) partner and the loss of her stepdaughter. Bizarrely, many viewers confused the kid with Kirsten, seemingly oblivious to lesbian subtext, or that there’s only a nine year age difference between our leads. There were even suggestions that it was the same person, but she’d hooked up with her stepmother when she was an adult. And they call *us* perverted.
I freely admit: I only tuned in because the publicity referred to a ‘past relationship’ between our leads. I thought it’d be mentioned in passing at best, because that’s what I’ve come to expect. It doesn’t matter we have the right to marry and adopt, and ostensibly equal rights; we’re still only extras or Very Special Episodes in the year 2021.
Until now.
They’ve given us an age gap wlw romance - a classic ice queen meets kooky girl. A woman who can be kissed by another woman and doesn’t react as though a slug has been slingshotted into her mouth - and indeed, likes it. No tedious angst about being gay, no soul searching. Just two people who obviously still love each other. Two flawed, relatable women, rather than the questioning teens or designer dolls we’re used to seeing. Queer characters who feel like actual people.
And it’s about time.
