The Mini Unicorn Scale: Webseries Edition

Hey howdy hey, Unicorns and Unicorn aficionados! How’s it hanging? Are we well-rested? Hydrated? Did our morning stretches? Limited our exposure to blue light before bed? (If you’re reading this before sleeping, put down your phone; I promise it’ll be there in the morning.) 

Then faboo! Let’s get going. 

Most of the mini Unicorn Scales so far focused on musical forms of bi expression and bi representation, and that’s all well and good. But it’s not the only short-form available! So after asking around and doing a little digging, I curated a list of bi webseries — bite-sized films all about our wonderful orientation. 

Before I get too far into my analysis, I should give a few heads-ups and disclaimers. 

First and foremost, there will be SPOILERS for the shows I listed. The good news, though, is that the shows are FREE and available to watch right here. I should also give a content warning: drug use. Last but not least, if this is your first time checking out the Unicorn Scale — or just want to double-check what metric I’m using to rate these narratives — you can check that out on this page here.

All good? Splendid. Let’s get cracking.

1. “Queering”

“Queering” on YouTube follows the parallel narratives of twenty-something New Yorker Harper (Sophia Grasso), a lesbian, and her mother, Val (Susan Gallagher). Harper is stunned when her newly divorced mother, Val, goes viral with the release of her bi coming out video. 

This tenderly wrought story does a neat trick of letting its flawed heroine work through her biphobic viewpoints while her mother stays assured in her orientation, but ALSO nervous about what comes next. Funny and insightful, the series takes on the lesser-seen perspective of a Boomer’s trials and tribulations in coming out in the modern era. 

Not only that, but the smart writing of creator Leticia del Bortoli’s “Queering” makes sure that if Val doesn’t have an ally in her daughter at first, at least the rest of the LGBTI community isn’t as judgmental. Devon (Diana Oh), Harper’s friend who supports Val in her first few steps out of the closet, helps to buoy this surprising queer tale.

2. “Bi: The Webseries”

Creator and leading actor David J. Cork’s offering on YouTube follows the relatable life of Alex Walker, a working actor in New York City who is comfortable in his bi identity — he just wishes his circle of friends would catch up. 

Alex breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly to the camera (a la Fleabag), drawing in his audience in an immediately engaging and empathizing way. This is also the hallowed form of modern queer media where not only is the lead a bi person of color played by a bi person of color (in the realm of Rosa Diaz), but nearly the entire cast is populated by people of color. This is a refreshing and real spin on casting that should be seen as an example rather than an exception in television.

Though the production often has audio and camera focus problems to the point of distraction, Cork’s captivating performance and screenwriting keeps us riveted and dying to click on the next episode to see what happens. 

The second season does have better production values. It is worth noting that the second season also includes a drug use narrative. But this is not out of the blue, as the bi community is more likely to experience depression and be at higher risk for drug use. Still, Cork and company make this series very much worth a binge.

3. The Good Advice Cupcake

Available both on Facebook Watch and Instagram TV, The Good Advice Cupcake is the brainchild of illustrator Loryn Brantz. Most episodes focus on the eponymous, sometimes foul-mouthed confection (voiced by Kyra Kupetsky), doling out suggestions to people who write to her for guidance. At turns sweet and spicy (but always hilarious), the Good Advice Cupcake (AKA Cuppy) is understanding and helpful in giving suggestions to her audience.

In the episode in question, Cuppy relates hard to Tiago, a person who sends a video asking for her advice on how to come out to his family. Cuppy recalls her own coming-out experience, extolling on her confusion at her attraction to more than one gender while she grew up. While she does not use the term “bi” in this particular episode, Cuppy happily claims that label whenever asked about her orientation on her Instagram feed, even going so far as to appear in Pride products from Sprinkles cupcakes.

And there you have it! Not one, not two, but THREE excellent representations of bisexuality in easy, binge-worthy form. That’s a first for a Mini Unicorn Scale — but of course, we hope it won’t be the last!

Have you come across a web series with queer content you’d love for me to cover? Holler at me on Twitter @JennieRoberson and I’ll give it a gander.

But for now: Stay golden, and don’t forget to follow Cuppy’s best advice — grab life by the balls.