For future reference

[cdybedahl]

The Xena Slashiness Scale

The Xena scale of slashiness is, as the name indicates, based on the TV series Xena: Warrior Princess, where the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle is defined as being 1.0 on the scale. It is also the closest it's reasonably possible to get to a canon same-sex relationship without actually stating it as such. For reference, I will describe a few more points on the scale. Note, however, that the scale is meant to be continuous and not limited to the levels mentioned here. For example, Blake and Avon on Blake's 7 would probably rate about 0.75 on this scale. There is also no requirement that a series stay at the same level for its entire run. It's perfectly reasonble to say "Dude, House totally hit 0.95 xena last night".

0.0: Asexual

The bottom of the scale denotes a complete lack of sexuality in the show. Since the very existence of sex raises the possibility that somebody, somewhere will feel attracted to somebody of the same sex, the bottom of the scale is reserved for the situation where nobody has any kind of physical attraction to anybody else ever.

Note that a 0.0 slashiness level does not necessarily mean that no slash has ever been written for the show. It just takes a greater flexibility of imagination.

Example: Teletubbies.

0.1

The characters are adult humans who can be assumed to be physically able to have sexual relationships, but none are ever seen or alluded to on the show. In fact, the characters never, ever even hug each other, and very rarely even touch.

0.2

Sexual relationships exist and are sometimes referred to, but they are practically never relevant to the story. Not even the villains stray far from the most conservative forms of relationship.

Example: Wonder Woman as written by John Byrne.

0.3

Romantic relationships are sometimes plot points, but sex is never explicitly referred to and none of the characters even seem aware that same-sex relationships are possible. Close friends are consistently shown to stand a decent distance apart.

0.4

The characters behave like very repressed and/or puritanical real people. Daytime soaps often keep this level.

0.5

Most characters behave as actual real-life humans, but same-sex relationships are still a huge blind spot. If they are ever referred to, it's as a problem that teenagers may suffer from. Close friends hug, and comforting grieving or distressed characters often include physical contact. It's pretty easy to extend existing relationships into slashy ones. This is the level most TV series hover at.

0.6

There are strong and/or ambiguous friendships that easily lend themselves to a homosexual interpretation.

Example: Kirk and Spock on Star Trek, or Buffy and Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

0.7

The "Um, wait a minute here..." level. People who aren't already into slash may notice the slashy stuff somewhere around this level. People who are into slash may start suspecting that the show producers are putting the slashbait in on purpose.

0.8

The "Oh, come on!" level. If you want to see same-gender attraction, it's there in spades. If you don't want to see it, it's possible to mentally filter it out.

Example: House and Wilson on House, M.D..

0.9

Getting hard to filter the same-sex stuff out even if you want to.

Example: Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in the D.C. comics universe.

1.0

Contains relationships that are as close to overtly homosexual as it's possible to get without explicitly saying so. It may actually (as in the case of Xena) be a goal of the production crew to see how far they can get without ever saying that there is a same-gender sexual relationship. It takes significantly more intellectual effort to deny the relationship than to accept it. To count as this level, there should be a couple of main characters that have done most or all of these:

• KIss on screen.
• Say "I love you" to each other, repeatedly.
• Be willing to die rather than part company (bonus if they actually do die).
• Have plot lines that just don't make sense if they aren't lovers.
• Having almost ridiculously strong hints about the relationship, like the characters in question posing as the Tarot card The Lovers, or having them look at each other while little animated hearts float across the picture.

1.1

This is the level of half-hearted explicitness. Same-sex relationships are mentioned as such, but not actually shown.

Example: Susan Ivanova and Talia Winters on Babylon 5 or Thelma and Cassie on Hex.

1.2

Same-sex relationships are shown as such and not treated as inherently problematical but not quite accepted by society at large.

Example: Willow and Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

1.3

Same-sex relationships are just business as usual, and doesn't warrant any more comment than other sexual relationships.

Example: Inara Serra on Firefly.

Comments

So where does that leave Boston Legal

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

They appear to be somewhere in the 1.0 to 1.05 range for James Spader/Wililam Shatner.

[hawkeye7.livejournal.com]

Aw come on! Even Jerry Falwell could see that Tinky Winky was gay. Teletubbies rates at least 0.3 on your scale.

(I note that Sailor Moon manages to touch base with every dot point at the 1.0 level. )

Suddenly I'm worried

[soren-nyrond.livejournal.com]

I mean, I know that the Transformers are, offcially, asexual, and genderless (being machines, an' all). but ....

And Robin of Sherwood is starting to look a little "Would you let your servants watch this ?".

To quote: "Hay-lp!!!"

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

Interesting, particularly for the use of the scale beyond Xena, as applied to canon relationships. It's certainly been well thought out.

[(Anonymous)]

Very cool.

So where is Servalan whenever she finds herself on camera near a girl?

[scarimor.livejournal.com]

Damn, I forgot to log in. It's me :)

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

How do House and Wilson display affection?