Sam Rutledge

Sam Rutledge is a former content writing ghoul, current horse "trainer" and future author. Her novella will be published later this year if she can find anyone to actually read it.

Television
Aug 4, 2019

Let the lady cops be in love: The queerbaiting weirdness of Rizzoli and Isles

Rizzoli & Isles – gayer than you thought it was. Sam Rutledge writes on the frustrating experience of being a queer fan of the ridiculously named cop procedural.

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Television
Jun 18, 2019

More than just great memes: Arthur is a progressive, hilarious gem

Sam Rutledge dives into Arthur, the 90s classic making headlines for a recent gay rat wedding, because of course it is.

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Television
Apr 23, 2019

She was her own biggest fan: Remembering 90s feminist teen icon Pepper Ann

Forget Daria, Pepper Ann was the 90s' greatest cartoon depiction of teenage girlhood, argues Sam Rutledge.

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Television
Mar 30, 2019

Tru Calling was the worst best show and we need it back

Two seasons, one Eliza Dushku and a pre-Hangover Zach Galifinakis - how could a show with all this fail? Sam Rutledge writes about the two-season wonder that was Tru Calling.

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Television
Feb 25, 2019

Where to get your Olivia Colman fix next

You saw her in The Favourite and you obviously loved it, but where can you experience Queen Olivia Colman on the small screen?

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Television
Feb 14, 2019

A love letter to Xena: Warrior Princess

It's Valentine's Day, so why not pay homage to the queer New Zealand icon herself, Xena: Warrior Princess. Sam Rutledge writes a love letter to the woman herself.

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Television
Oct 17, 2018

Ally McBeal was peak nineties

Unisex bathrooms, weird homophobia and even weirder visual effects. Sam Rutledge revisits the simultaneously regressive and progressive Ally McBeal.

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Television
Sep 11, 2018

Trust no one: A tribute to The X-Files on its 25th birthday

One megafan's love letter to the groundbreaking sci-fi TV series The X-Files, which turns twenty-five today

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Television
Aug 31, 2018

Who is the MOST McLeod’s Daughter? A Spinoff investigation

All eight glorious horsey seasons of McLeod's Daughters comes to TVNZ on Demand today. Sam Rutledge ranks the daughters – by order of McLeodiest (just go with it).

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Television
Aug 10, 2018

The Animals of Farthing Wood was the most brutal children’s TV show ever

Nearly 30 years ago, The Animals of Farthing Wood debuted – and promptly traumatised a generation of children with its cavalcade of animal slaughter.

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Television
Mar 7, 2018

Theory: all of McLeod’s Daughters are gay as hell

Sam Rutledge is a die hard McLeod's Daughters fan. Here she posits her (entirely canon and correct) theory that all the characters in the show are, in fact, gay.

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