Orphan Genius

The #OrphanBlackEchoes title sequence is here.

Check out the official opening, sung by the brilliant @@julienrbaker. pic.twitter.com/M6cI1dJYH6

— Orphan Black: Echoes (@OrphanBlack) March 30, 2024

How gay will the new “Orphan Black: Echoes” series be? Well, Julien Baker of boygenius performs the theme song so…pretty gay. Also gay? Keeley Hawes (of “Tipping the Velvet” eternal adoration despite Kitty being terribly problematic) plays grown-up Kira who is married to a woman. Evelyne Brochu returns as Dr. Delphine Cormier (who per character descriptions appears married Cosima though it’s 30 years in the future so I’m not sure what anyone’s relationship status is at this point…) And of course there is Krysten Ritter as Lucy, who may or may not also be gay, but played at the very least somewhat open to the idea in “Jessica Jones.” Like I was saying, seems pretty gay to me. And they’re debuting this thing in June? Happy Clone Pride, y’all.

Echoes of Clones Past

So, I don’t know a lot about the new Orphan Black spin-off series “Orphan Black Echoes.” But what I do know is that Krysten Ritter plays the probable new head of Clone Club and Keeley Hawes plays her what appears to be her handler. I also know it is set in the future (2052) and there’s one of those classic sci-fi nightmare waking up in a tub of goo scenes. And it’s in the same universe as the original “Orphan Black.” Now, I’ve enjoyed Krysten since I recapped “Jessica Jones” which doesn’t that seem like a lifetime ago? And Keeley, well, she will always be Kitty Butler extending that rose to me. Oh, “Tipping the Velvet.” *sighs in Gen. X lesbian* I do not know how many clones there will be. I don’t even know if there will be clones. But I know I’m curious to see how Krysten will compare to the inimitable Tatiana Maslany. I’m also curious to see if any of the new characters will be gay. But then, I’m always curious about that, in TV and real life. So, ya watching? And, seriously, does anyone know what’s going on? I guess business as usual in the Orphan Black universe.

Back in Black

Well, here’s something nice for a change. Krysten Ritter has been cast in a sequel series for “Orphan Black.” As impossible as it seems to replicate the brilliance of Tatiana Maslany (and Tatiana Maslany and Tatiana Maslany and Tatiana Maslany and Tatiana Maslany and…well, you get it), Krysten is a great choice to try. If you’ve seen her in “Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23” or “Jessica Jones” or really anything she’s been in you know she has a singular style that brings edge and strength and intellect to her roles. So, you know, at least it should be interesting.

No word on whether we’ll have queer clones again in this one. But given the show’s past track record on LGBTQ+ characters and relationships, there are at least some reasons to be optimistic we’ll get some sort of Science Girlfriends again. Oh Cophine, Cophine.

The new series, titled “Orphan Black: Echoes,” is set in the same world as the original series in a “new future.” According to The Hollywood Reporter it, “explores the scientific manipulation of human existence, revolves around a group of women as they weave their way into each other’s lives and embark on a thrilling journey, unraveling the mystery of their identity and uncovering a wrenching story of love and betrayal.”

Krysten’s character is called Lucy and has an “unimaginable origin story, who is trying to find her place in the world.” So, uh, she’s a clone and or some other kind of test tube creation and we’re about to get our freaky science on again. Just make it gay too and I will be rejoining the Clone Club posthaste.

Keeping Up With the Joneses

Jessica is back, baby. After a two-year break (fine, she popped up in “The Defenders,” but I’m increasingly uninterested in ensemble casts with one token female and a ton of boring dudes), “Jessica Jones” is finally returning for her second season. While I probably won’t be recapping like I did the first season, I will most definitely be watching. Sadly there’s no glimpse Jeri Hogarth (a.k.a. Carrie-Anne Moss a.k.a. Trinity) in the teaser. But she should be back for the second season. Let’s hope she gets her life/moral compass in order. Though, who are we kidding, I’d still be into her character if she remained a morally ambiguous power lesbian all the same. Especially if they keep using Heart as a soundtrack to the season. Bring it in 2018, ladies.

Hero Complex

So today I’ve posted my final “Jessica Jones” recap of the season. As I’ve said before, I will never stop wishing Trish and Jessica were a real romantic couple. But I am immensely happy they’re at least a real couple of best friends. The bond they’ve depicted in this first series is truly special. It’s also sadly still a relatively rare sight on television. These are two women who – romance or no romance – are clearly soul mates. And that matters. So thanks for following along with the all my “Jessica Jones” recaps on AfterEllen. On to season 2.

The Friendzone

Inspired by the ultimately respectful comments conversation (I know, it’s almost an oxymoron) on my “Jessica Jones” recap today, here is a little love for BFFs Jessica and Trish. They are one of my favorite friendships on TV today, period. Fierce, loyal, tender, unbreakable. While I’ll never apologize for hoping and pushing for more queer female couples and representation on television and in entertainment, I also clearly celebrate what these two ladies have.

p.s. Spoilery stuff in the video, so if you haven’t watched the whole series probably don’t watch until the end.

SGALGG: Golden Globes Edition

Don’t Krysten Ritter and Rachael Taylor look like they’re on a date night here? And date nights don’t get much more glamorous than the Golden Globes. The show itself was kinda meh. LGBT shows/films were largely shut out. Luckily we can always count on Straight Gals Acting Like Gay Gals to liven things up. Like our gals, Trishica Jones (new recap up at AfterEllen today, by the way). Thanks ladies, you sure helped save the night.

Gina Rodriguez & Sophia Bush

Gina is not America. America is not Salma. Neither are Charo. Now let’s all hug.

Angela Bassett & Taraji P. Henson

Hands, Angela, hands.

Eva Longoria & Katy Perry

She bit a girl’s head, and she liked it.

Joanne Froggatt & Natalie Dormer

Game of Abbeys. Downton Thrones. I could go on but I’ll stop before you start throwing dragon eggs at me.

Laverne Cox & Taylor Schilling

Not even gonna lie, I would ship Sophia and Piper. But, really, we all know Sophia could do better.

Niecy Nash, Regina King & Viola Davis

So much awesome packed into one photo I just want to sit back and admire the view.

Amy Schumer, Kim Caramele & Brie Larson

I actually don’t think anything all that lesbian is happening here, unless you count the obvious sex invites implied by their open mouths. Kidding, sort of.

America Ferrera, Amy Schumer, Eva Longoria & JLaw

Ditto from above, but this time the tongues are the obvious sex invites. Kidding, again, mostly.

Rooney Mara & Cate Blanchett

Yep, even on the red carpet. Even with Rooney’s back turned. Chemistry.

Judith Light, Jill Soloway & Emily Robinson

This show’s glorious queerness, pretty much summed up in one photo.

The cast of “Transparent”

OK, make that two photos.

BONUS: Morgan Freeman & Helen Mirren

Granted, this isn’t two ladies so it doesn’t actually count as a SGALGG photo. But Morgan’s necklace is lesbian enough for the both of them.

Orphan Jones

Just a friendly neighborhood reminder that I’m currently recapping “Jessica Jones” over at AfterEllen. Fresh and ready recaps go up on Mondays (every now and then Tuesdays, if it has been one of those weekends). You can find this week’s recap here. Also, this is a friendly neighborhood reminder that Orphan Crack continues to be some of the most clever mashups around. Oh, and Tatiana Maslany wuz robbed by the Golden Globes. But then, you knew that already.

Keeping Up With The Jones

Just a quick reminder, kittens. I am recapping the new Netflix series “Jessica Jones” over at AfterEllen weekly. The newest recap, for episode 102, will be up today. If you haven’t already, please check out last week’s recap of the premiere episode here. And on the off chance you haven’t checked out the series yet – or if you have and just can’t get enough – here are the show’s very stylized noir opening credits. They’re pretty much perfect, down to the slinky score which builds to an unraveled crescendo and then crash back down simply.

My Weekend Crush

Imagine a TV show centered on a female heroine that spares us the spandex. Imagine a TV show centered on a female heroine that effortlessly passes the Bechdel Test. Imagine a TV show centered on a female heroine that hinges almost entirely on the concept of consent. Now just go to Netflix and watch it, because that show is “Jessica Jones.”

Having seen the first half of the season of the new Marvel ex-superhero series I can confirm that it is very good, fairly gay and absolutely terrifying. The terror comes not in the standard issue things-that-go-bump-in-the-night and/or bad-people-who-want-to-watch-the-world-burn kind of way we are used to seeing in movies and television. Global apocalypse is not what Jessica Jones is fighting.

Instead this is a much more personal. The terror is intimate in the way terror often isn’t, and also rather specific and universal for women as a whole. This is the horror of a man, a very bad man, who wants to consume us whole. A man who wants to, and effortlessly can, control us against our will. A stalker to the Nth degree. We’re talking too-close-for-comfort nightmare fuel at its finest.

The whole series drops on Netflix today and you’d better bet I can’t watch to watch the rest of the show. Sure, so far it needs more Carrie-Anne Moss. But what I’ve seen is more than enough to convince me that this is the stuff not only of nightmares, but dream TV. Happy weekend, all.

p.s. I will be recapping the series for AfterEllen, so look for fresh reviews each week starting Monday.

Jonesing

Exciting news, gay ladies and friends/loved ones/casual acquaintances hoping for more of gay ladies, I’ll be recapping the new Netflix series “Jessica Jones” for AfterEllen this season. I’ve already gone into detail about why the upcoming series based on the Marvel comics should be pretty exciting news to queer ladies, as well as just ladies in general. (i.e. Trinity plays a lesbian, et al). So I’m very much looking forward to the series and hoping for much lesbianing (and bisexualing and sexually fluidity-ing, etc.) The show lands Nov. 20 on Netflix for your binging pleasure, and my recaps will run weekly on AE. So, cracks knuckles, let’s tackle this whole new fandom thing together.

My Weekend Crush

So the first full “Jessica Jones” trailer is finally out and *low whistle* it looks intense. Descriptors like “dark” and “gritty” and “terrifying” are usually only deployed when talking about show’s starring men doing men things. Or superheroes doing men things (think Batman or Daredevil). But now, Netflix is offering us a woman at the center of all those adjectives. Needless to say, I’m in. I was in when I first heard about the concept. I was really in when I heard it would feature Carrie-Anne Moss playing a lesbian characters. And now that I’ve seen this dark, gritty, terrifying vision I’m ready. November 20, let’s Netflix and send chills down our spines. Happy weekend, all.

p.s. Only small complaint? The trailer needs more Carrie-Anne Moss and her haircut, duh.