As everyone knows, there’s nothing that queer women, especially queer women in relationships, love more than being seen as the highly coveted “gal pals.” Two girls walking down the street, holding hands? Aw, cute, best friends. Two girls kissing? Wow, they’re really best friends. Two girls getting married? Omg… now that’s what I call #friendshipgoals. Queer women have to fight so hard to be seen as a legitimate couple that many of us have simply claimed the term “gal pal” to refer to our non-platonic relationships with the lady in our life. In honor of this, as well as “galentine’s day,” my favorite holiday to celebrate Gal Pals worldwide, I thought it might be nice to honor some of my favorite (non-platonic) Gal Pals! So, in a month that’s so dedicated to falling in love and being in love, here are some of the couples who made me believe in it again. Snuggle up, either with a boo or without one, and get ready to fall in love with these endearing, beautiful couples all over again.
Chase and Jo – Easy (Season 1, Episode 2- “Vegan Cinderella” and Season 2, Episode 7 “Lady Cha Cha”)
Kiersey Clemons as Chase and Jacqueline Toboni as Jo.
Image courtesy: Netflix
Netflix’s original show Easy is a treasure trove within itself. The show, which is the brainchild of director Joe Swanberg, follows a succession of young adults, navigating love, sex and relationships all in the suburban cityscape of Chicago. We first met Chase and Jo in Season One in the episode “Vegan Cinderella,” where the two meet at a concert, and we get to see a further glimpse into their life when they return in season two with “Lady Cha Cha.”
Image courtesy: Netflix
Both episodes are beautifully done and deeply intriguing, with a riveting plot and lots of conflict and resolution packed into the episode’s 30-minute runtime, but “Lady Cha Cha” falls into the category of one of my favorite things I’ve ever seen. Not only is the episode well done and riveting and hot, but it also perfectly touches on what it means to be a feminist, and how the lines of a “good feminist” and “bad feminist” are being blurred more and more in today’s society. This is a good episode for everyone to watch, and, another thing I love about it: we get another happy ending! “Lady Cha Cha” may or may not have made me cry over winter break, simply because of how it ended and how stinkin’ cute Chase and Jo are.
Billie Jean and Marilyn- Battle of the Sexes (2017)
Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) in Battle of the Sexes.
Photo Courtesy: FOX Searchlight pictures
I’ll admit—I didn’t have high expectations going into this movie. Queer representation in mainstream media (especially queer representation in historical mainstream media) is rarely happy, and if anything, it’s a limited side plot that’s forgotten about by the end of the film. Battle of the Sexes didn’t play that game. The queer relationships in the movie were authentic, beautiful, feel-good, and had a happy ending.
Photo Courtesy: FOX Searchlight pictures
I won’t go too much into detail because I want to keep this list spoiler-free, but Battle of the Sexes was an amazing story with an amazing ending, and a beautiful queer romance along the way. I watched it with one of my friends on a plane ride, and we were both honestly so shook by how authentic it was. It’s not often you see a lesbian storyline that isn’t hypersexualized, or demonized, and this one just felt… real. It was amazing. (And if you were going to point fingers and say that one of the reasons I love this movie so much is because we get to see Emma Stone as a queer woman, then well… you’re not wrong. It’s pretty amazing.)
Lorraine and Delphine, Atomic Blonde (2017)
Charlize Theron’s Lorraine and Sofia Boutella’s Delphine. Image courtesy: 87Eleven
I’m sorry, but… I LOOOOOOOVED Atomic Blonde. The 2017 action flick, directed by David Leitch (who also helmed John Wick… think of this film in a similar vein, but with less puppies, more lesbians), fulfilled literally everything I wanted in a summer blockbuster—gauzy neon 80s aesthetic, tensions based in historical roots, visually enticing fight scenes to music… and QUEER GIRLS! Beautiful, queer girls with chemistry and a storyline, who aren’t existing for the pleasure of men… Honestly, that’s what did it in for me. It could be argued that Sofia Boutella’s character, Delphine, was in the film as more of a sidekick/object than anything, but still… the moments between Lorraine and Delphine were electric.
Sofia Boutella… ruin my life, pls.
Image courtesy: 87Eleven
And although the movie doesn’t have a happy ending (SPOILER ALERT: the “Bury Your Gays” trope definitely took effect with this film, but it’s all worth it until the end), the middle is good enough to award the film one of my favorite queer couple awards. If you like spy movies action films (OR decent queer representation!), then Atomic Blonde might be right up your alley.
Kelly and Yorkie – Black Mirror, Season 3, Episode 4 – “San Junipero” (2016)
Mackenzie Davis as Yorkie and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Kelly.
Image courtesy: Netflix
OK, let’s get something straight (or gay?). I reeeeeeally love “San Junipero”—more than a normal person should, probably. (I actually have a different episode of GAYXSU completely dedicated to it, if you wanna check it out.) But still, there’s no way I could create a list of my favorite Sapphic couples in media without this episode inevitably coming up. It is beautiful beyond words, and important to me in a way I could never describe. Similar to Atomic Blonde, the episode is dripping with a neon 80s aesthetic in a way that’s melancholy, but not dated.
Remember when Kelly and Yorkie invented denim skirts? Me too.
Image courtesy: Netflix
Just thinking about San Junipero gives me butterflies… if you haven’t watched it, please do. I watch it every few months, I’ll play it at my wedding, I’ll probably play it at my funeral. BRB, listening to “Heaven Is A Place on Earth” and crying!
Alex and Piper – Orange is the New Black, 2013
Taylor Schilling as Piper and Laura Prepon as Alex in OITNB.
Image courtesy: Netflix
OK… this one is controversial, I know. But let’s focus on Season 1 Pipex (because Piper sucks later in the series because things get interesting between the two of them later on). But, early Piper and Alex was golden. I’m not going to say that they were my queer/sexual awakening, but… they were my queer/sexual awakening. The chemistry at the beginning of the show was unforgettable, and even though the relationship had its definite ups and downs, I still think about early Pipex Vauseman with a warm feeling in my heart. (Side note: after watching OITNB, closeted, 13-year-old me literally signed up for notifications on the Tumblr hashtag “pipex vauseman” because of how much I loved the two. They were my top ship, no doubt.)
FOREVER IN MY HEART.
Image courtesy: Netflix
It’s hard to root for Piper later in the series, but in the first few seasons, their relationship was everything to me. The way Alex said “Pipes” always gave me chills… still does, lowkey. </3
MINOR OITNB SEASON 5 SPOILERS AHEAD:
Poussey and Soso – Orange is the New Black, 2013
Kimiko Glenn as Soso and Samira Wiley as Poussey. Oh, my aching heart, my aching soul. Image courtesy: Netflix
Another Orange is the New Black couple! No surprise, as OITNB basically set the bar as far as TV shows for queer ladies… (luv u, Jenji Kohan). Poussey and Soso, who started dating in Season 5 of OITNB, are literally my heart and soul. I don’t want to say too much because I will start crying because I love and treasure them so much as a couple but seeing them get together on OITNB was unforgettable. They had such incredible chemistry, and it was hard to not watch them interact with each other without getting the biggest, goofiest grin on your face.
It was amazing to see such an amazingly authentic couple written into such an already authentic and amazing show. My leading ladies. <3
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