One Tree Hill's Anna: Yep, She's Bisexual by Sarah Warn, January
26, 2005
Editor's
Note: go to our new One
Tree Hill section
to get the latest updates on this storyline
As
we predicted last month, new recurring character
Anna (Daniella Alonso) on the WB teen drama One
Tree Hillwas
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).
Lesbiancharacters 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 upshortly 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.