Pride Month has begun, so I’m here to share some of my favorite queer characters from (live action) television.
1. Tara Maclay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)Although it’s easy to dismiss Tara as “only” a love interest for Willow (who is also a great character!), there’s a lot to love and admire about her in her own right: she’s brave and wise and compassionate, and her story beautifully demonstrates the show’s enduring theme of found family. I am one of many, many fans who wish that she’d survived the series, and I was thrilled to recognize both the deliberate use of her name and a cameo appearance by Amber Benson in the recent horror movie
I Saw The TV Glow. Tara was also the focus of
a tie-in prequel that was published a couple of years ago, although I haven’t read it.
2. Jack Harkness (Doctor Who/Torchwood)I was delighted by Jack from the very first time that I saw him in “The Empty Child.”
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andrastewhite once pointed out, in a LiveJournal/Dreamwidth post that I can no longer find, that although charming rogues with hearts of gold have never been a rarity in science fiction, Jack stood out as a
Doctor Who companion in particular because of his previous experience traveling the universe, and, of course, his uninhibited sexuality. I
adored his relationships with the Doctor and Rose. And although the writing on
Torchwood was often extremely uneven and sometimes seemed to be coasting on the memorable elements of other shows, Jack’s protective love for his team was always a joy to watch, and the devotion between him and Ianto was a noteworthy step forward for sci-fi action media (even if, like Willow and Tara’s story, it ended tragically).
3. Miranda Callendar (Jekyll)Steven Moffat has (and deserves) a dubious track record when it comes to writing female characters, but I think he did a decent job with the ladies of
Jekyll. Miranda – a private detective who becomes entangled in the drama between the modern-day Jekyll and Hyde – is smart and stubborn and resourceful and funny, and her bond with her wife and business partner, Min, is clear in every scene. I would watch an entire show about the two of them as supernatural investigators.
4. Eric Effiong (Sex Education)Eric is one of the most lovable characters in a varied and engaging cast. He could have been nothing more than a fabulous accessory to his (sometimes insufferable) straight white best friend’s storyline, but increasingly layered writing and Ncuti Gatwa’s remarkable performance allow him to transcend that stereotype magnificently. I like that Eric is mostly secure in his identity and aesthetic when the story starts, but – like any teenager – he’s on a journey to figure out who he wants and what kind of person he wants to be, and his sexuality and religion and family and friendships all play significant and interconnected parts in that journey.
5. Theodora Crain (The Haunting of Hill House)I have yet to read Shirley Jackson’s original novel, but when I watched Mike Flanagan’s screen adaptation (which I understand is very different from the source material), I remarked to a couple of my friends, “of course the damaged psychic lady is my favorite.” I love Theo’s snark, the contrast between her accomplished professional identity and her messy personal issues, her determination to help children who have been harmed, and the way that she both fears and yearns for intimacy. I was so happy for her at the end of the series.
Honorable mentions: Nomi Marks and Amanita Caplan (Sense8), Anissa Pierce (Black Lightning), Sara Lance (Legends of Tomorrow)I haven't finished watching any of those shows yet but I love these characters based on what I've seen!
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