BBC Sherlock Bechdel Test

badassbadwolf:

Aaannnddd the results are in! Someone suggested I make one of these for Sherlock. The percentages don’t really work as well, seeing as there are only 6 episodes.

There is something called the Bechdel Test. It’s a scale you run movies through to see how well they represent female characters.

The test is as follows: 1. It must have at least two named female characters. 2. They must speak to each other. 3. They must converse about something other than a man. Anything with a score lower than 3 fails.

I’ve run all of the episodes of BBC Sherlock through this test and here are my results:


Steven Moffat - Study in Pink - 1
Stephen Thompson - Blind Banker - 1
Mark Gattiss - Great Game - 1
Steven Moffat - Scandal in Belgravia - 3 
Mark Gattiss - Hounds of Baskerville - 1
Stephen Thompson - Reichenbach - 1

50% of Steven Moffat’s episodes failed.

100% of Stephen Thompson’s episodes failed.

100% of Mark Gatiss’ episodes failed.

83% of episodes failed total.

Ouch. The only passing episode was Scandal in Belgravia, for a scene in which Irene and her assistant(?) Kate talk about what she should wear. They are talking about what she should wear to meet Sherlock, but since he isn’t mentioned, I gave it to them. Also, Mrs. Hudson and Molly might have talked at 221B later, but I already gave this a 3, so I didn’t look.

Sherlock failed badly. They had a number of female characters, but they’re never in the same room as each other. Hopefully next season we’ll get some Mary Morstan and things might change.

I also made one of these for Doctor Who, which you can find here.

I wish I could say that I’m surprised, but I’m not. 

134 Notes/ Hide

  1. furry-furrets reblogged this from dsmss
  2. dsmss reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  3. vcrizzle reblogged this from theoncomingwolf and added:
    Unfortunately not surprised.
  4. rockgarden reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  5. eliusv reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  6. oak23 reblogged this from calibornsbottombitch
  7. rosielaldone reblogged this from calibornsbottombitch
  8. agentrookie reblogged this from calibornsbottombitch
  9. calibornsbottombitch reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  10. midnightbluebelle reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  11. socialjusticefandomblogger reblogged this from stfu-moffat and added:
    I”m stupid surprised that even one episode passed. Especially that it was A Scandal in Belgravia.
  12. innocence-ends reblogged this from theoncomingwolf and added:
    HOnestly can’t say I’m that surprised considering…
  13. tommcready said: yeah but since you know sherlock is actually about the two male characters i can see how it failed the test since well not many but them get a chance to speak. i’d say donovan does pretty well though
  14. captainsway reblogged this from permetstuer and added:
    Female characters Sherlock used from canon: 2 Female characters that are original to Sherlock: Roughly 15 Female...
  15. permetstuer reblogged this from stfu-moffat and added:
    … But it also means that 50% of Steven Moffat’s episode passed the test. And he’s the only one. Also, I don’t think you...
  16. sorrydearie reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  17. bijou-kitten reblogged this from stfu-moffat and added:
    Oh wow that is… bad.
  18. samuelasaverb reblogged this from returnofthemacspaunday
  19. greatscottdoc reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  20. actuallycrowley reblogged this from themostfeminist and added:
    Even if the series so far only has six episodes, those episodes are all nearly movie length. More than enough time to...
  21. themostfeminist reblogged this from wheresyourpippinnowbitch
  22. rennerrsson reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  23. scyf reblogged this from cryptaniac and added:
    sigh and sadface
  24. bisexualpotato reblogged this from agentbering
  25. thelastbiscuittin reblogged this from gunpowderandspark
  26. randomwhisky reblogged this from fuchsimeon and added:
    Same here. I’m not at all surprised.
  27. armchairelvis reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  28. eveamedeus reblogged this from midnightonthefiringline
  29. thursdaysoldier reblogged this from wolfbad
  30. wolfbad reblogged this from stfu-moffat
  31. snugglesfordean reblogged this from jcatgrl
  32. tseecka reblogged this from midnightonthefiringline and added:
    Not that it really helps because it’s still all in Scandal, but Scandal has more than just that one scene. Mrs. Hudson...