The Middleman

[muccamukk]

So I was talking to valtyr about how awesome The Middleman is, and how it can really come down to this picture:



Series creator Javier Grillo-Marxuach said at one point (in the commentary on episode 11 "The Clotharian Contamination Protocol" I think) that he was a big fan of Bechdal's Law, and especially didn't want to have his female characters fighting over a man. So when he made a comic, then a show, he made the main character a women, then made her best friend a woman and her co-worker a "female" robot.

We never see Wendy, the series lead, fight with her best friend Lacey for a man's a attentions. In fact, when they argue, it's usually because one of them has tried to out best friend the other, and it's caused boundary issues or confusion. Mostly, they support each other, defend each other, and are best friends like real women are.

Ida, the company robot -- whose appearance generator has been stuck on "Angry School Marm 2.0" for some time -- tends to accuse Wendy of being an incompetent stoner every time she sees her. However, the only person Ida treats well is her boss, and Ida and Wendy have been willing to lay down their lives for each other.

This is a show that points and laughs at shows that don't respect women.

Comments

[mllesays]

I still haven't finished watching this show, but I love what I've seen so much. I love it for the reasons you've pointed out and a million more as well.

[nenya_kanadka]

I love love love love that Wendy and Lacey don't fight over guys! It strikes me that I don't think *I*'ve ever fought over someone or even crushed hard on the same person as a close friend. Fictional women do all the time, but it seems like a much rarer instance in the real world.

(I mean, yeah, we all love Pink or Captain Jack or whoever. But it's nice to see Wendy not crushing on her boss while Lacey is. Hell, it's nice to see Wendy not crushing on her boss, period.)

Also, femslash possibilities, but really just the friendship is awesome.

[lilacsigil]

I adore the Wendy and Lacey friendship - and how normal it is in this show for two women to be supportive friends. They certainly argue, about many things, but they have trust in each other and they communicate and work things out. It's sad that this is so rare, but Middleman is an absolute gem.

Leverage - in the Parker/Sophie and Tara/Sophie relationships - is another one that has good female friendship and also mentoring.

[giglet]

amen! I want to see so much more of this!