Dr. Maddkap, Werepsychologistdrmaddkap@meow.social
Mar 29, 2026, 8:47 PMI’m rewatching old Star Trek episodes to see which ones pass the B’kdel Test:
(1) Two named Klingons
(2) Talking to each other
(3) About something other than honor
Replies
Mar 29, 2026, 10:53 PM@drmaddkap I've been listening to the audiobook of "The Expanse." It's absolutely rotten with misogyny and fails the Bechdel test so thoroughly, I'm astonished that it was made into a TV series - much less twice! Whoever gave it the green light hates women and never matured past the fifth grade. It's shocking that even in a past as remote as 2012-2017, this book series was published. No surprise at all that it won a Hugo, an award that should warn off any intelligent person.
- Mar 30, 2026, 1:21 AM
@Axomamma @drmaddkap well, _this_ feminist finds that to be a particularly hot take, but thank you for that.
The women in The Expanse are fully realized, fearless, and three dimensional, and some—notably Bobbie the Martian Marine and Naomi, who winds up leading the entire resistance movement—are among the most memorable women in fiction.
Yeah, they pass the Bechdel test, but that’s almost beside the point, given the thematic critiques of racism & sexism.
🙄
- Mar 30, 2026, 1:26 AM
@megmuttonhead Are you kidding? The whole thing with Naomi? Where Holden will simply not leave her alone? Doesn't get that she's not interested and tries to relentlessly get her to change her mind simply by whining in her direction? And let's talk about Miller's "love interest" - Julie Mao, "the poor little rich girl" - who is consistently referred to in the most disrespectful and demeaning way. If those are "fully realized, fearless and three dimensional women" ... jesusfuckingchrist.
- Mar 30, 2026, 1:27 AM
@megmuttonhead How does it even remotely pass the Bechdel test? Because they're talked about endlessly by men who just want to fuck them both?
Yeah, I'm sorry, that is utter bullshit.
- Mar 30, 2026, 1:28 AM
@megmuttonhead "thematic critiques of racism & sexism"
You have to be kidding. It's not a "critique," it's a guidebook to how to be an absolute creep.
Jens Bannmann ⁂tynstar@nerdculture.deMay 11, 2026, 4:13 PM@Axomamma @megmuttonhead
Oh, wow! I have not read the books, but I watched the series twice. There, the James/Naomi relationship did not feel at all like you're describing. And I _think_ I would have noticed if Julie was often or even consistently portrayed / referred to in a mysogynistic way.My conclusion: either the TV series is different to the books in those regards, or I have overlooked/forgotten those things. I'm curious which one it is.
Mar 30, 2026, 2:09 AM@drmaddkap @adarsh please present a report for the class
Cursed SiliconCursedSilicon@restless.systemsMar 30, 2026, 4:47 AM@drmaddkap Is this just an excuse to re-watch all of Star Trek?
(Asking for a friend)