#I'll always champion how necessary network television is

[coldzonkprofessorturtle]

The Marina of It All

I can’t stop thinking about Maya and Carina’s arc on Station 19 this season. It’s bewitched me body and soul in a way that network television really hasn’t in so long so let’s talk about it (gif makers thank you in advance!).

To put it lightly there’s been a longstanding “tradition” to ruin queer relationships in television. Either death, disagreement (who wants kids?) or the show’s cancellation we rarely get to see a full arc from their initial meeting to dating to engagement, marriage and all the bumps along the way. Marina really is incredibly rare. I cannot overstate how rare they are. Sure they’re on an ensemble show but they’re fully on network television in very much a primetime slot. Thursday nights are as coveted as it gets in network - it’s huge. This season in particular has really just been so well thought out as they’re fully utilizing the previous three seasons (and really the whole series in Maya’s case) to create an incredible emotional arc. This is also why I’m constantly going off about the importance of network television! The longevity of it is what gives such depth to storytelling that you really don’t get in any other medium. 

Okay but why are Marina important? And why this arc? Honestly, I’ve just never seen a sapphic relationship handled with this much care. I’ve never doubted that they would actually break up even after that hospital scene. There’s been so much groundwork laid this season that has constantly given reassurance in a way that’s made this such an incredible journey to go on (and it’s not done yet). There’s never been any doubt to how much Maya and Carina love each other no matter the situation. Their rift wasn’t caused simply for the sake of drama but to borrow from Maya’s metaphor: their foundation was never finished. It was never solid and filled with cracks. We know Maya’s mental health was at risk, we’ve known since the beginning of this relationship but it was never Carina’s job to fix (as much as she tried). 

What Station 19 has done so well is explore how these characters who deal with traumatic situations day in and day out also need to handle their own trauma. Is it perfect? Absolutely not but the appearances that Diane has made throughout the show have all been incredibly impactful. I would love to see more of Carina’s backstory at this point (there’s so much there!) but Maya’s growth especially this season is some of the best I’ve ever seen. Instead of just ending this marriage completely, we’ve been shown that Maya is capable of working through her issues. That she’s redeemable and that relationships take work (so much work!). It’s such a mature way to handle this and we almost never see it in media and definitely not for queer relationships. 

The fact that these two characters from different shows with such similar backgrounds were put together and it worked in every way conceivable is as magical as it gets. I haven’t even touched on Danielle and Stefania’s chemistry because it’s just too much to talk about. Let’s just call it fantastico and appreciate the beauty of every one of their interactions. 

At the end of the day, is this show perfect? No, of course not. Does it delve into every character as much as I’d like? No, it’s too big of an ensemble. However, it continually pushes the boundaries of what’s been acceptable on network television. What the show has done this season is say “hey, we’ve got this couple that people like and we’re going to put them through the ringer but they’ll be better off for it and our audience will know even a queer couple is valid and important and real”. I know that hasn’t always been the case but it’s important to acknowledge now. 

#station 19 #marina #maya bishop #carina deluca #maya x carina #another long winded post #I'll always champion how necessary network television is #especially when they're able to tell such important stories #and these are important stories #there's something so comforting about sitting down every week for a show #and I'm so glad this show has had the space (and time) to give us these storylines #television