Ten queer TV characters that made our 2021

2/1. Emily Dickinson and Sue Gilbert

AppleTV+’s Dickinson aired two whole seasons this year, with season 2 premiering in January and season 3 premiering in November, and Emily and Sue were the highlights of both seasons.

As a pair, Emily and Sue shared incredible moments throughout the second and third seasons, including the amazing sequence in episode 10 of season 2 and the sequence in episode 9 of season 3.

Individually, Emily herself struggled with the ideas of fame and what she truly wanted out of life, as well as introspectively searched to understand her own lesbian identity in a time where any deviation from the societal norm could result in physical danger. Emily also explored her gender, as well as her role in society, deciding ultimately that she would make art for herself, simply because she wanted to.

Sue’s journey from a try-hard socialite during the second season to a liberated woman in the third was incredible to watch. It was clear how much she desperately wanted to fit in and finally have a place in society during season 2, but by season 3, she decided that she’d much rather raise her son in her unconventional marriage and embrace the love she has for Emily.

With this show coming to a close, it’s hard to imagine queer TV without Emily and Sue, but it’s also wonderful to know that showrunner Alena Smith got to tell their story in its entirety, and now we get to enjoy it forevermore.