Redheaded_Bitch (
One_Tree_Hill)
As we predicted last month, new recurring character Anna (Daniella Alonso) on the WB teen drama One Tree Hill was revealed to be attracted to girls in last night's episode, "The Heart Brings You Back," when she kissed her surprised friend Peyton (Hilarie Burton), then admitted to her almost-boyfriend Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) that she "likes girl."
But surprisingly, she also said she "likes guys, too," which makes her one of the few bisexual characters ever to grace primetime network TV--and the first real recurring bisexual woman of color on TV (not counting Lindsay Price's bisexual-in-name-only Jane on the short-lived NBC sitcom Coupling in 2003).
Lesbian characters of color are rare on network TV, where conventionally attractive white women are overwhelmingly the norm, and there have only been two Latina lesbian characters on television: ER's Sandy Lopez (Lisa Vidal) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Kennedy (Iyari Limon). Meanwhile, bisexual characters of any color have historically been almost impossible to find on network or cable television, although this has been changing in the last few years with the introduction of lesbian characters on shows like All My Children, The L Word, The O.C. and now, One Tree Hill.
Anna's storyline in last night's episode picks up shortly after her disastrous performance at a formal dance. Anna arrives at Peyton's house to apologize for treating her poorly at the dance, and sitting next to Peyton on her bed, Anna reveals that Lucas broke up with her. "Do you think there's something wrong with me?" she asks Peyton, who reassures her "I think there's something wrong with Lucas. 'Cause you are great." When she gives Anna a hug, Anna turns it into a kiss, but Peyton breaks away in surprise and stammers, "Uh, Anna, that's not really my thing." As Peyton tries to tell Anna it's still okay, Anna runs from the room.
Later, Peyton arrives at Anna's house, but Anna won't look her in the eye, trying to blow her off by saying, "I don't know what came over me, I wasn't really thinking straight." Peyton won't be dismissed, and says, "Anna, it's cool, okay? Now a lot of stuff makes sense. Like how you treated me at the formal. How you blew me off after the whole locker thing." Anna's not taking the bait, pleading "Can we please just forget the whole thing?!" but Peyton insists "Absolutely not! Anna, don't be afraid to be who you are." Anna's not ready to hear that, and when Peyton asks if they're still friends, Anna replies "I don't know if I can do that."
Later, Anna arrives at outdoor basketball court at night, where Lucas is shooting some baskets. He stops to talk to her:
ANNA: I kind of owe you the biggest apology in the world, Lucas. I've been blaming a lot of stuff on you that's not your fault. The last place we lived? The old girl's school I went to? There were these rumors that got started, and my family found out, and I made a big deal out of it all, and we moved. Felix was pissed at me because of that. But Lucas, those rumors weren't just rumors. They were true.
LUCAS: What were the rumors?
ANNA: That I like girls. (pause) You're the first person I've ever said those words to out loud.
LUCAS: Okay.
ANNA: I mean, I'm into guys too, so it's kind of confusing. I guess I put all my hopes on you, which wasn't fair. I thought since you liked me, and I liked you, maybe that would make it go away. But then you broke things off, and there I was, right back where I started. I'm not proud of it, but that's why I was mad at you. (pause) I guess I was really mad at myself.
LUCAS (half-smiling): Well, this is a new one.
ANNA: I'm not ready for people to know, especially Felix.
LUCAS: I won't say anything.
ANNA: Thanks.
At the end of the episode, we see Lucas and Anna standing outside their high school, forlornly watching all of the couples stroll by. Lucas offers Anna his arm, asking if she wants to "feel left out together," and she smiles, takes his arm, and they start walking.
Now in its second season, One Tree Hill is now a solid ratings winner for the WB, attracting an audience comprised of more teenage girls than any other primetime network show. Its this large fan base among teenage girls that makes Anna's coming-out particularly noteworthy, since at least some of the girls in the audience are likely to watch Anna's struggle with a glimmer of recognition.
So far, the writers have portrayed Anna's struggle with her attraction to girls fairly realistically, if rather predictably. Her pain and confusion over not fitting in, her fear that her bisexuality means there's something "wrong" with her, and her attempts to repress her sexuality through a variety of diversionary tactics like getting drunk and throwing herself at a cute boy are all familiar to many bisexual and lesbian viewers.
Anna's journey also gives straight viewers a window into the difficulties faced by girls whose sexuality doesn't fit the norm, and Peyton and Lucas's reaction to Anna's news is exactly the kind of reaction you hope for as a lesbian or bisexual teen who just wants to be accepted.
But the final verdict on One Tree Hill's bisexual storyline depends on what the series does with it from here. If it follows the path of most shows who introduce recurring gay or bisexual characters, Anna will quickly fade away now that her After School Special moment is over. Even if she continues to be a part of the series, it's unlikely she'll actually explore her bisexuality, since because none of the other regular or recurring characters are lesbian or bi, the only way for Anna to do so is for the show to introduce another recurring character--and frankly, this show already has too many characters to keep track of already.
The writers could continue to milk her coming-out storyline, since Anna has yet to come out to the rest of her friends or her brother, Felix (Michael Copon). This would be educational but boring, unless the writers explored the subtle but important differences between the way people react to bisexual girls/women versus lesbians.
Or Anna could decide she's really a lesbian, as some women do after initially thinking they're bisexual. This would also be less interesting than keeping Anna bisexual and actually exploring that, but it would be safer for the series, since taking bisexuality seriously is still taboo on network television, where bisexuality is almost always used as a punch line or a synonym for "promiscuous."
But while Anna may not ultimately be the Great Bisexual Hope on network TV--anymore than The O.C.'s Alex will be--simply introducing a bisexual woman of color and taking her seriously is still a welcome step forward in the evolution of network TV.
Kammy_Liberton (
One_Tree_Hill)
