Review of "Bad Girls" Season 1

Helen who sees herself as completely straight and is indeed engaged (to a rather geeky looking gardener) begins to realize that she has feelings towards this woman, who is a prisoner in her care. Obviously thinking that denial is the best way to go, Helen tries very hard and unsuccessfully to concentrate on her insanely boring boyfriend instead.

Their relationship is not only well-portrayed and well-explored, but it manages to combine issues of sexuality with issues of morality. The very thought of a relationship with Nikki goes against every rule that Helen has followed and must follow. For such an idealistic woman to have feelings for an inmate, no less a female inmate, it’s no surprise that she is confused and dejected.

The on-screen chemistry between these actresses is wonderful to watch, and the power battles in the early episodes are not only true to character, but are portrayed with real intensity and sincerity. And, man, can Nikki give some cheek:

Needless to say, this is one relationship you don’t want to miss. It will make you fall in love with the characters, it will leave you frustrated, and it may even make you cry. But it will definitely make you smile, too.

There are other lesbian/bi-sexual storylines in season 1 of Bad Girls, but the only one worth mentioning is the rather strange and un-explained entanglements of Shell Dockley (Debra Stephenson) and Denny Blood (Alicya Eyo). Shell Dockley, who likes to set fire to people’s hair and is just generally a psycho, is neither straight nor gay. In fact, her sexuality is never really explained and even though we see her involved with men and she never makes any declarations of bisexuality, we see her sexually involved with her side-kick, Denny. Again, it seems that writers perhaps find it easier to write the lesbian storyline more than the bisexual one, for their relationship is never fully explored or even understood.

Shell is the kind of character that will use sex to influence people, in fact, sex is all she’s ever known and perhaps that can go a long way to explain her relationship with someone who is technically just her best friend, her side-kick.