Whether it’s The Last of Us' character death, self-loathing or drama manufactured in the name of ending the connection, TV's queer relationships have a long history of being short-changed -- especially between women. NCIS: Hawai’i is crushing this history one episode at a time with Kacy. Lucy Tara and Kate Whistler (played by Yasmine Al-Bustami and Tori Anderson) have been entangled romantically in one undefinable way or another since the show’s beginning, but their relationship has been well-developed and their challenges are just like any other pairing.
NCIS: Hawai'i has highlighted that queer couples have all the same issues as straight couples. The series has not stumbled over a coming-out storyline or thrown in moments with the undertone of internalised homophobia. Kacy is so refreshing and compelling because they have been treated with the same care and complexity as a heterosexual couple. They're an example of how queer narratives in entertainment can evolve past tropes and shortcomings.
NCIS: Hawai'i Gives Kacy the Same Drama as Other Couples
Straight couples get the meaningful stares, moments of longing and other bumps along the way that come with slow-burn romances. All of those things have been bestowed upon Kacy: a queer couple who have not had any conflicts which center around their sexual orientation. Instead, viewers of NCIS: Hawai’i have been spoiled with lots of angst. The pilot episode offered fans a wonderfully unexpected kiss. Every moment they shared in the first season was fraught with wonderfully unexplored tension. Season 1, Episode 6 "The Tourist" saw the two begin dating in secret -- a classic trope used for many straight couples. Kate returned Lucy's bracelet under the guise of "files" in Season 1, Episode 7, "Rescuers" and then opened up to Lucy about her past in Season 1, Episode 9, "Impostor."
But it was the arrival of Kate’s girlfriend Cara -- another normal beat used in many other TV relationships -- that plunged Kacy into the throes of more relationship drama. They resumed the "will they, won't they" routine and were forced to work together through resentment and longing, as their dynamic became a more important part of the series. They restarted their relationship after the usually straight-laced and tentative Kate performed a very public display of her affection for Lucy -- a relationship-defining moment, but also proof that NCIS: Hawai’i cares more about its characters than creating unnecessary drama to attract viewers.
How Kacy Has Been Further Developed in Season 2
Kacy's relationship development has continued in NCIS: Hawai'i Season 2 as fans see more of their daily lives in a way that queer couples aren't normally highlighted. Speaking to TV Insider, Tori Anderson said, "You definitely see them in a more domestic place, in a really happy day-to-day place and what that looks like." And they've gotten more of the scenes that audiences take for granted with other pairings. The couple make each other breakfast in bed in Season 2, Episode 1 "Prisoner’s Dilemma." They argue about living together in Season 2, Episode 5 "Sudden Death." And in a general sense, viewers see them communicating about their relationship and having impromptu moments of affection, just like any other TV couple.
NCIS: Hawai'i had the option for pointless drama when Lucy became Agent Afloat after Season 2, Episode 7 "Vanishing Act." However, the relationship triumphed with long-distance phone calls and joking allusions to how Kate and Lucy would have handled the time apart when they were fighting. Kacy feels authentic and natural -- so much so that it’s easy for viewers to forget that they are watching a queer relationship. Lucy Tara and Kate Whistler are not two queer-identifying women trying to navigate their relationship through homophobia, uncertainty or over-the-top drama. They're just two people in love.
NCIS: Hawai'i airs Mondays at 10:00 p.m. on CBS and streams on Paramount+