My Weekend Crush

The world feels pretty terrible right now. So instead let’s zoom off to another planet. I love a good coming-of-age story and I really love a good 90s-based coming of age story. So instead of our current geopolitical hellscape, how about we enter into the summer of one 10-year-old girl (who, based on the Autostraddle review, might be a burgeoning queer). From the trailer this intimate, quiet story is exactly what we need to combat the loud, obnoxious everything of each increasingly unhinged headline. Plus, I’ve always liked Julianne Nicholson and Sophie Okonedo and am pleased to see them working together. Honestly, it reminds me a bit of a maternal version of “Aftersun,” where nothing and everything happens – which is exactly what it feels like growing up. Happy weekend, all.

The Soft Butch Detective

I started “Mare of Easttown” a little late, binging most of the season and then watching the last two episodes in real time. I really don’t have a great excuse for why I didn’t start promptly, other than that it’s been a long 15 months and I’m not perfect – OK. I’M NOT PERFECT. Kidding! (I obviously am perfect.) Kidding, but for real this time. Anyway. Back to Mare and her Easttown. Honestly the show was custom-made for me. A veteran lady detective who is Very Good at her job. A twisty-turny case. A lot of weird accents. A significant queer female character (that, bonus points & spoilers … does not die!) All that plus Kate Winslet. Come on, I have no idea why I waited. And it is also the second consecutive Certifiable Soft Butch™ role of Kate’s career (after “Ammonite,” the lesbian rocks/spoilers…sitting on Kate Winslet’s face movie). Besides all the Wawa subs, the best thing about the series was the space it gave its lead female performers to just act the shit out of everything. Kate, Jean Smart, Julianne Nicholson and Angourie Rice brought despair, grit, frailty and humanity to their roles. They were a pleasure to watch, even if Easttown does not entirely seem like a pleasure to live in.

Plus, it gives us another opportunity to see that other Kate, Kate McKinnon, do what she does best. I really, really enjoyed “Mare of Easttown,” and if I’m being perfectly honest with myself I would totally also watch “Murder Durder.”

Happiness is a warm gun

Consider this My Vacation Crush (trademark pending…) What is it about a woman who walks softly and carries a big gun? Let’s face it, lesbians love a woman with a badge and handcuffs. They’re smart. They’re tough. And they’re usually wearing sensible shoes. Plus, when they’re TV cops, they can’t give you a speeding ticket.

Me and a gun

Well hello. Meet Det. Megan Wheeler. She’s the newest cop in the “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” universe. I’m telling you, it’s all working for me. The badge. The gun. The hair. The freckles. Yum. Playing Wheeler is Julianne Nicholson, taking over for Annabella Sciorra as Chris Noth's partner on CI. Already, the show has teased us with the is-she, isn’t-she a dyke dynamics. A butch female mechanic (bandana, tattoos, tank top, the whole nine) gives her the old up-and-down. And then later in the episode the mechanic continues to probe and casually mentions her own girlfriend. Instead of shutting her down, Wheeler flirts back. A little. She hasn't taken the whole bait yet, but I say let’s keep fishing.