of shiraz and trauma surgeons
by Brittany
Holby City introduced Bernie Wolfe at a time in my life where I craved
good lesbian representation. Growing up and watching show after show
where the heterosexual couples had happy endings and you never saw
gay people fall in love, I slowly learned to hate who I am and who I want
to love. While it’s true that some shows have gay characters and couples
now, they still quite often get killed off or don’t end up happy.
Berena is so different from what we normally see on TV. Two middle-aged
women coming to accept who they are and who they want to love later in
their lives, accepting it, and getting to be happy together goes completely
against our normal societal standards, that it’s revolutionary and unique
to see.
This is why the ship is so important to me. As a young lesbian, some won-
der why I so strongly enjoy two middle aged women on TV. It is because
I am coming into my own later in my life than some others, and because
it shows that no matter how old you are, you can still be happy with who
you are and make the decision to come out.
Berena also finally made me realize that I, a lesbian, could have a happy
life. Despite going through painful divorces and compulsory heterosex-
uality, Bernie and Serena finally find true love and happiness in each
other. Seeing that made me realize that it’s always possible to be happy,
no matter what is holding you back from accepting yourself.
Not only that, but Serena and Bernie are both very powerful and driven
women, but also flawed. Bernie says in the show that she lacks courage in
her personal life, but is incredibly driven and successful in her career as
a trauma surgeon. Serena struggles with alcohol addiction and accepting
the pain of her daughter’s death, but finds love and happiness with Ja-
son, her nephew, and Bernie, her lover.
Finally, Berena is important to me because their relationship has a hap-
py ending. So much of what we see on TV with LGBT couples is that they
break up due to differences of opinion, or one half of the relationship
ends up dead. Bernie and Serena spend time apart, but ultimately, they
love each other so much that it transcends any struggle that they have.
In conclusion, Berena is an important representation of an older sapphic
couple on TV, not only for older lgbt women, but also younger lgbt wom-
en, and even heterosexual people. Due to being wholly unique, flawed but
happy, and having a happy ending, Berena holds a special place in my
heart and has ultimately changed my life for the better.