On this chapter of The Queerest Things I Watched Last Week, Burden of Truth season two started airing in the US; election night’s filled with queer drama on The Bold Type, and I write a feisty part 3 of my 10-part love letter to Tanya Saracho.
- Burden of Truth – Season 2 Episode 1 “Salesman, Cheats and Liars” [Catch-up]
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Burden of Truth season two started airing in the US, and I was wondering how they were going to handle the small town story now that Joanna has moved to a big city. So far, they are showing the two stories in tandem, including Luna and Molly back in Millwood.
I guess it’s Summer break after Luna’s first year of college. Molly got an apartment with her settlement money, and Luna is staying with her. Now that the evil corporate environmental poisoning plot is behind them, what are they going to do now?
Luna gets the news statutory rape charges have been dropped against her biological father because of a technicality regarding her mom’s birth certificate. Luna leaves an angry voicemail for Susanna who comes to Millwood to talk to her.
Will Susanna and Luna’s father being evil be the thing that brings Susanna back to Millword and tie everything together?
Molly thinks going out should help them get over it, but Luna doesn’t look convinced.
They go out to the club and Molly is dancing and having a good time, but Luna leaves without saying a word and wanders home.
To be brutally honest, this show is not The Good Fight. I don’t think it can stand on its own as a “case of the week” legal drama. We’re going to need another corporate Big Bad to keep things interesting.
- Gentleman Jack – Season 1 Episode 7 “Why’ve You Brought That?” [Live]
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Our favorite 1800s Shane, Anne Lister, is off to London to see her longtime sidepiece, Mariana to get over Ann rejecting her. It’s not going well; Mariana can tell Anne is still sad over it.
When we watched this my wife yelled, “Pick a lane!”
It’s true, Mariana can’t be mad Anne asked another girl to marry her when she is married to someone else. That fact is not stopping her from being jealous though.
1800s Shane is not going to wait around for you, Mariana.
They spend the rest of the visit fighting while various ladies send notes all requesting time with Anne.
Mariana can’t stop being antagonistic and Anne has enough so she leaves for Paris early. Meanwhile, in Scotland, Ann’s sister discovers Ann cut up her hand. Also, she and her husband have not brought Ann to a doctor for her anxiety but have been trying to marry her off to her brother-in-law’s broke-ass cousin.
This break up isn’t going well for either of them. We’ll see what happens tonight.
- The Bold Type – Season 3 Episode 9 “Final Push” [Live]
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Last we saw Kat she was off on a walk with Adena to process their breakup.
Adena apologizes and tells Kat if she could do it again she wouldn’t have ran away from their relationship. This is intense news, but Kat starts getting texts about the imminent election and has to go.
The day before the election, Kat is catching Jane and Sutton up on her Adena situation.
I love “open-sure.”
The reality of winning the election and leaving Scarlet hits Kat when Jacklyn and Patrick talk to her about helping them find her replacement. Kat is walking around that night freaking out and ends up in front of someone’s door. Who will it be, Tia or Adena?
Adena ftw!
Kat unloads all of her fears and anxieties on Adena who is able to successfully talk her down. No shenanigans happen, but before leaving, Kat invites her to the election party.
It’s the big night and Tia and Kat are watching election results roll in at the party and start talking about post-election life.
I love a perfectly timed TV entrance.
The big moment is here. Kat, Jane and Sutton are hand-in-hand for the big announcement and…
I feel bad for Kat, but to be honest, I didn’t want her to win. It would splinter the show too much.
Hmmm, what is Tia and Kat’s future now the campaign is over? Also, who will Kat ultimately choose? I can’t wait to find out.
- Vida – Season 2 Episode 3 “Episode 9” [Streaming]
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Dear, Tanya Saracho.
This episode was my second favorite episode of the season (I'm sure you already know what my favorite was). It organically covered so many aspects of queer culture, it was truly a work of queer art.
I loved the episode starting strong with an Emma/Cruz sex scene so explicit I can't make a GIF of it. I complain queer sex scenes are always tame in comparison to the straight ones. You haven't let that happen on your show, and I appreciate it.
I also appreciate how in the scene every time Cruz needs to switch it up, she does it with confidence. Just because something's not working, it shouldn't shred your ego. It's a good sex example to show.
I thought Cruz tentatively asking Emma to go to her friend's wedding with her was pretty cute, and I was happily surprised when Emma said yes.
Emma trying to be a good girlfriend is very entertaining. This scene between her and Lyn was so good.
Lyn's face was like a human heart eyes emoji and represented all of us who are shipping Emma and Cruz.
I'm sure you already knew queer fandom is intense, and we can be really dogmatic about our ships. Here Lyn represents Team Emma and Cruz, but Emma is explicitly saying, "Don't love this so much for me." It can be hard for us to shift gears ship-wise, but I think you laid the groundwork so well for better ships to come.
If Joan was an actual major I would have chosen it in college. I was thrilled when I learned Roberta Colindrez was joining the cast. This beautifully shot wedding was the perfect time to get our first glimpse of Nico decked out in best man drag.
Now I want to talk about this scene from the wedding reception.
First, Cruz made me cringe so hard. Emma is like a feral cat, you can't just pull her into your lap. Agreeing to even go to the wedding was a major step, don't push it!
Next, the conversation...I loved this so much. These are the words our community needs to hear. I absolutely hate policing within the queer community. There is nothing to be gained by trying to control how other people identify their sexual orientation, and in fact doing that is just another form of oppression.
Also, If you want to limit yourself to only date people who are the gender orientation you are attracted to and whose sexual orientation is an identity you approve of, that is your choice, but you may be missing out on great relationships for no good reason.
I believe the diversity of the queer sexual and gender orientation spectrum is a beautiful thing. One person's orientation does NOTHING to harm others, and I can not wrap my head around why people get so vicious towards people who are different from them. (BTW I identify as a lesbian.)
From what I can tell by seeing my 12 year old daughter and her friends, the future is fluid and fabulous. Stick to your nonsensical prejudices and prepare to be left behind while the rest of us enjoy a diverse and beautiful life full of love.
Whew, that was a rant. Tanya, thank you so much for that scene. And on behalf of the lesbian nation I apologize for anyone who gives you shit for it.
Back to Emma and Cruz. I was horrified when Cruz said this to a whole table of people.
That was so inappropriate and swiftly put an end to me being a member of Team Emma & Cruz. I 100% supported Emma leaving her and not looking back. I also, supported her running into Nico outside.
Nico is such a good addition to the cast. She is like a voice of reason who anchors the rest of the characters while they are off on their very emotionally intense storylines. She is logical and rational. and I love that.
Thank you, Tanya, for one of the most wonderfully queer episodes of television ever.
Love,
Tracy
PS. Emma yelling, "Stop saying baby queer!" is my new sexuality.
This week Pose, Queen Sugar, AND Jessica Jones are back! Also, I have been watching the new Tales of the City and have a lot of strong feelings about it. Not all of them are good, I’ll write about it next week.
