THEGAYUK

Tag: Netflix

All the latest breaking news on Netflix. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on Netflix.

  • FILM REVIEW | Eurovision Song Contest The Story Of Fire Saga

    FILM REVIEW | Eurovision Song Contest The Story Of Fire Saga

    Rating: 4 out of 5.

    EUROVISION SONG CONTEST THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA – A big-budget comedy musical extravaganza about our favourite pan European gay as anything song contest with added Australia of course. A perfect very knowing made with love homage including all the clichés & idiocies from the 64-year-old event which of course this year was postponed due to the pandemic and replaced with a well-received online show including clips from this film.., but this movie partly makes up for the lack of the original this year. Available on Netflix.

    Nutshell – Lars and Sigrit from a small fishing town in Iceland inspired by watching Abba sing “Waterloo” at the 1974 show become singers with big dreams of entering and winning Eurovision. With the aid of some fun pop songs, four of which have already charted in the UK for real, weird outfits ludicrous gimmicks and the help of some mountain elves the duo due to a plot twist taken entirely from a Father Ted episode get their chance to compete in the Edinburgh finals but it is anything but an easy ride not least as Iceland don’t really want to win as they cannot afford to host it the following year and also because of a smarmy Russian singer who is attracted to Sigrit.

    Running Time – 123 Minutes – Cert PG-12.

    Tagline – ‘Nobody Wins Solo’… a key to where the plot goes.

    The Gay UK Factor – There are three membership requirements to be gay 1 a sexual attraction to your same-sex, 2 you must watch and study every episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race and 3 You must worship at the pool of Eurovision. This film is as gay as Linsey Graham’s dress closet being stormed by Lady Gaga and Kylie for a World Pride party at the MET Ball. To help you also get continual commentary from Mr Graham Norton playing himself and for sex appeal the hottest thing to come out of Downton Abbey Dan Stevens in a chest exposing scene-stealing supporting role… but is he gay, well throughout the movie there are heavy hints although he is also pursuing Sigrit consistently but at the end when told ‘That he deserves to be happy’ he replies ‘Mother Russia does not agree’ meaning the country he represents has very well-known retarded anti-gay relationship views.  

    Cast – Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Dan Stevens, Piers Brosnan as the sceptical dad, Graham Norton, Demi Lovato and all your Eurovision winning stars that you can tick off as they cameo such as Neta, Conchita Wurst, Alexander Rybak, Jamala, Loreen…etc plus a number of new acts which could fit into any edition of the last few years. 

    Key Player – This is written, produced by and of course starring Will Ferrell who is a massive fan of the contest and what the contest means to our Continent as he is married to a Swedish lady. The love he has for the event and its intricacies like who votes for whom and everyone hating the UK so they will get zero points etc is evident throughout. Done in the same style and with the same humour as all his movies so you will already know what to expect in tone. He camps it up like crazy and has the most fun he has probably ever had and with the worst wig possible to boot. That said you will be hanging even more on the Dan Stevens scenes as he steals, robs and plain nicks the movie whilst everyone else is gluing their sequins on.

    Budget – $35 Million but it looks glitzier. This is a Netflix original and with the likes of Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hanks and Spike Lee releasing their latest films exclusively on online platforms together with the likes of The Lady And The Tramp and Hamilton then Box Office is measured in a very different way from cinema ticket stubs. It is now all about new subscribers with Netflix alone adding 16 million new members in March of this year and Disney Plus being launched to spectacularly great figures it seems that film production and its money-making potential has entirely flipped across into a whole new exciting world.

    Best Bit – 1.04 mins; As Eurovision aficionados will know to get through to the Saturday final a country has to successfully navigate one of the Two semi-finals. That is utilised in the movie to great effect as in all these types of films the main characters have to have a major setback before they get things together in the film’s climax here Fire Saga has the worst possible three minutes on stage in front of an audience you could imagine, it is cringeworthy and oh so funny.

    Worst Bit – 0.07 mins; The two main villains here are lightweight to say the least. An underused Pierce Brosnan as the father has very little to do in an undercooked role and the head of the Finnish selection committee is as threatening as Alan Carr and Louis Spence in a fistfight. Yet in a movie like this, you don’t really need the drama just the acres of glitz, sparkle and neon matched by heavy doses of eternal hope and ambition.

    Little Secret – Will Ferrell’s interest in the Eurovision Song Contest began when his Swedish wife Viveca Paulin took him to her cousin’s house in May 1999 and the family turned the competition on. He always spends his Summers in Scandinavia. Since then, he kept following it. In 2014, Ferrell travelled to Copenhagen, to watch the finale of The Eurovision Song Contest live in which Conchita Wurst was crowned the winner whom he met. He was given full access to the Lisbon finals in 2018 including all rehearsals and backstage access as research for this movie.          

    Further Viewing – Pitch Perfect’s 1-3, Sing, A Chorus Line, Sister Act 2, American Dreamz, Talladega Nights, Blades Of Glory, Get Hard, Step Brothers and anything involving the words Zoolander, Daddy’s, Home or Anchorman.

    Any Good – This is great and is so happy it will provide the perfect tonic and lift for anyone in these strange times. It helps if you are not allergic to Mr Ferrell and also if you are an avid consumer of Eurovision you will get a lot more from all the knowing little asides. It has a wonderful feel about it and just wants to entertain with no wish or likelihood of winning Oscars and there is nothing wrong with that.

    Many of the songs you wish were longer and you may want to buy the CD which is already Top 5 but most of all you will feel better for seeing it. It’s been a while maybe not since Mamma Mia Here We Go Again, Pride or Rocketman that we have had a fun gay film that just wants to make you feel good as opposed to all the wrist wringing queer kitchen sink struggles and dramas that usually pass for gay cinema.

    ‘Hello Edinburgh, we hope you are having a great night and we love your dress. Without further ado, it is 10 points to Russia but our 12 points go to … (Pause for added dramatic effect)… ICELAND’ !!!

    4 STARS

  • Gay sex scenes are getting the nation’s hearts racing

    Gay sex scenes are getting the nation’s hearts racing

    Orange Is The New Black and Queer As Folk both appear in the top 10 of sex scenes that get the nation’s hearts racing.

    Also included in the list of shows which have explicit scenes are Shameless and Sex Education both of which have a high proportion of gay sex.

    Social distancing can be dull and uneventful, so many people choose to get their excitement from the fictional world. In fact, series like Normal People provide exactly that; a good storyline, interesting characters, and loads of raunchy SEX! Which plenty of us are missing at the moment, let’s be honest!

    With that in mind, experts at OnBuy.com were curious to see which TV series are the most heart racing. To find out, they gathered 1,807 eager respondents and ask them to watch multiple sex scenes from different TV shows while wearing a Fitbit. The average heart rate of people watching those scenes was then used to measure which series is the hottest! 

    RESULTS

    The winner of the hottest TV series contest is none other than Orange Is the New Black. In fact, the average heart rate of those watching the sex scenes was 101 BPM. Porn site viewers also agree, as the sex scenes from OITNB uploaded on Pornhub gather millions of views. One compilation video in particular, showing all the nude scenes from the show, has over 5.4 million views!

    In second place is… Shameless! In fact, those watching the series experienced a BPM of 96. The show is also very popular on Pornhub; the most popular video showing a compilation of the actors doing the dirty has gathered over 2.4 million views. 

    Swords, dragons, and… SEX! 

    Third on the list is none other than the fantasy drama that got us all talking… Game of Thrones.

    The show which broke our hearts while boosting our libido! Respondents found their BPM rose to 95 while watching raunchy GOT scenes. Plus, while only third in our chart, the show wins the title as the most popular TV series on Pornhub, where over 11 million people gathered (separately, from the comfort of their own rooms) to re-watch a compilation of the hottest scenes. 

    Law of Attraction 

    In 4th place, we find our favourite bunch of lawyers, the actors from Suits, who managed to raise the BPMs of our respondents to 93. Scenes featuring Meghan Markle in Suits have gathered over 344,000 views on Pornhub! 

    Normal People… Outstanding sex! 

    Tied in 4th place is the most spoken about sultry show of the year, Normal People. There are many reasons why this show is great: it’s educational, open-minded, and it raises the heart rates of people watching it to an average of 93 BPM! 

    Another, very educational show, that gets both our brains and “bits” buzzing, is Sex Education. So, if you are looking to spend your evening learning something new while enjoying a BPM of 91, this is the show for you!

  • Top Romantic Gay Films To Watch On Netflix

    Top Romantic Gay Films To Watch On Netflix

    Netflix has upped its game when it comes to romance and gay content. Long gone are the cheapy looking, terribly scripted – soft-porn gay-themed movies. Instead, there are some incredibly refined, touching films well worth the watch.

    UPDATED MAY 2020

    Alex Strangelove

    High school senior Alex Truelove’s plan to lose his virginity to a loveable girlfriend goes awry when he meets the equally lovable Elliot.

    GAYUK RATING: ★★★★ | LENGTH: 1hr 39m | YEAR: 2018 | CERT: 15

    Holding The Man

    Holding The Man is a 2015 Australian romantic drama film adapted from Timothy Conigrave’s 1995 memoir of the same name.
    GAYUK RATING: ★★★★ Read our review| LENGTH: 2hr 8m | YEAR: 2015 | CERT: 15

    Ideal Home

    Celebrity chef Erasmus and his partner Paul lead a comfy life until they become impromptu caretakers to the grandson Erasmus didn’t know he had.

    GAYUK RATING: ★★★ Read our Ideal Home review | LENGTH: | YEAR: 2018 | CERT:

  • Netflix has epic clap back to tweet complaining about too many gay characters

    Netflix has epic clap back to tweet complaining about too many gay characters

    We love it when a company claps back, especially when it’s to someone who thinks there’s too much representation of minority communities. It’s the kind of allyship that our community really needs.

    Whoever is controlling Netflix’ official Twitter account has some sass and has managed to put one raging viewer in their place.

    It all happened after a user, apparently sick of seeing one too many “unnecessary gay characters” from Netflix, shared a meme demonstrating the force-feeding of gay characters onto audiences.

    The Tweet was captioned “every damn series”.

    The original tweet, from user @AdamSB___ managed to wake up the anti-gay trolls and unearthed some truly worrying comments from other users agreeing with the original Tweet and using homophobic language. Twitter remains a platform where homophobic is rampant, with thousands of anti-gay slurs used on a weekly basis.

    However, the official Netflix account wasn’t having any of it and snapped back, “sorry you have yet to realize that every gay person is very necessary”.

    The response from Netflix quickly overtook the original message with love and admiration from users and was retweeted over 53,000 times.

    The Walking Dead star, Daniel Newman even responded to the Tweet saying, “Best ever” to Netflix.

    Even Amazon’s Prime Video’s account got in on the love in for Netflix

    Corporate allyship that actually matters

    Netflix’ response goes beyond slapping a rainbow on a company logo for pride month.

    In 2019 we reported how nearly 40 per cent of companies who use the pride flag do not give back or pay forward to any LGBT+ groups, charities or organisations.

  • Here Netflix’s secret codes for all gay and LGBT+ content

    Here Netflix’s secret codes for all gay and LGBT+ content

    Does it ever feel like you actually run out of stuff to watch on Netflix?

    Trouble is, Netflix can feel like a bit of an iceberg, only a fraction of the available content is easy to find right there on the front page. The rest, the hidden 90 per cent, can feel like a taunting and neverending task of endless searching.

    Strangely enough using Netflix.com can be easier to find the content you’re looking for, rather than Fire TV or the dreaded Apple TV.

    Weirdly depending on what device you’re using, searching Netflix for that next great find can either simple or an hours worth of wasted time. We’ve used a number of devices ranging from the simplest (iPad) to the mediocre (Fire TV) to the downright unstable (Apple TV gen 2) .

    For the record, using Netflix’s website to find content is always much easier. So you might want log in there first using your laptop or iPad find something that looks good then go back to your browsing device and use the search to manually type in the title.

    Luckily Netflix has tagged all of its content quite well and we’re happy to report that gay content has been divided into sub-genres to help you get the exact kind of content you’re in the mood for.

    Don’t spend hours and hours blindly searching. Use these links to find exactly what you’re looking for.

    Whether you’re looking for a great LGBT documentary, like The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson or a gay love movie, like Alex Strangelove Netflix does have you covered.

    So what are these secret links? Well, all gay films can be found on genre link 5977, while TV shows can be found on link 65263. If you were looking for a foreign language LGBT+ film you’d be able to find the full list of content on link 8243.

    Here’s all the links to get you to exactly what you’re looking for

    Gay & Lesbian Movies (5977)

    Gay & Lesbian Comedies (7120)

    Gay & Lesbian Dramas (500)

    Romantic Gay & Lesbian Movies (3329)

    Foreign Gay & Lesbian Movies (8243)

    Gay & Lesbian Documentaries (4720)

    Gay & Lesbian TV Shows (65263)

    There you have it…

  • The best Drag Queen shows on Netflix

    The best Drag Queen shows on Netflix

    Netflix has become a bit of a home for the Drag world, especially with its commitment to stream lots of RuPaul content… So what other drag queen shows are worth the watch?

    Paris Is Burning

    Paris Is Burning is a must-watch film about the 80’s and 90s voguing scene in New York. Deeply emotional and insightful viewing and a slice of drag, trans and LGBT+ history. Not to be missed.

    AJ And The Queen

    AJ AND THE QUEEN

    Netflix decided to put RuPaul in front of the camera, not as a judge of her famous show, but as an actor in AJ And The Queen, it was met with mix reactions – while it garnered a fan base, it ultimately only got one series from Netflix.

    RuPaul’s Drag Race

    This has pretty much become a staple for Netflix and has helped cement RuPaul as the world’s most bankable Drag Queen. It currently has 12 seasons of the show available to stream. Catch up with all your favourite DQs from Bianca Del Rio to Trixie Mattel.

    RuPaul’s Drag Race Untucked

    Next from the RuPaul treasure trove of content is Untucked. Although there’s only one season of this, but the reality show gives you the chance to go “backstage” and get all the juicy gossip.

    RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars

    A chance to catch up with your favourite queens from past seasons. Netflix only carries season 4 of the show, but if you need more RuPaul – then you can always watch RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular.

    RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular

    What’s camper than Christmas? RuPaul’s Drag Race Holi-Slay Spectacular is. Watch as Latrice Royale, Shangela and Kim Chi battle it out to become the number 1 Christmas queen.

    Dancing Queen

    Drag Race star Alyssa Edwards rules the dance school and the night clubs in this warts and all, fly on the wall reality series. Reality TV at its cattiest.

    Pose

    Set in 1987, this drama series follows Blanca as she starts her own house. Starring Billy Porter and Evan Peters. Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuck and Steven Canals.

    Super Drags

    Campy, adult animated series with drag queens saving the gay community for an evil nemesis.

    Trixie Mattel Moving Parts

    Drag Queen superstar Trixie Mattel allows the cameras into her life to document the highs and lows, post-RPDR in this intimate film.

    The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson

    As she fights the tide of violence against trans women, activist Victoria Cruz probes the suspicious 1992 death of her friend Marsha P. Johnson. An emotional documentary film about one of the un-sung heroes of the Stonewall movement in New York.

  • Is our streaming obsession causing the environment harm?

    Is our streaming obsession causing the environment harm?

    Netflix hits like Sex Education and Stranger Things could be causing damage to the environment with millions of tonnes of Carbon Dioxide being released into our atmosphere, a study has found.

    Netflix and other streaming platforms have become the main source of TV viewing for millions of us across the UK, but new research shows that the habit might not be that eco-friendly.

    For an individual to stream video content, it has to travel through a complex network (i.e. cables, routers, data centres etc.) that runs on vast sums of electricity. This electricity in turn generates carbon dioxide (CO2) – which can leave a devastating impact on the environment.

    Interested in the carbon footprint from streaming, energy comparison site SaveonEnergy utilised official viewership figures to discover what watching Netflix’s top original movies and shows is equivalent to in terms of miles driven by a car, and the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted.

    Series like AJ and The Queen use a lot of power, both in their creation and their supply to our homes.

    Save on Energy found that the energy generated from Netflix users’ total 80 million views of the thriller Birdbox is the equivalent of driving more than 146 million miles and emitting over 66 million kg of CO2.

    To put that into context, the equivalent of driving from London (United Kingdom) to Istanbul (Turkey) and back 38,879 times.

    The energy produced from 73 million streams of Adam Sandler’s Murder Mystery translates to driving over 104 million miles and emitting more than 47 million kg of CO2.

    Since taking a return flight from London (United Kingdom) to Los Angeles (United States) creates 1,650 kg of CO2 per person – this means an individual needs to fly 28,610 times from London to Los Angeles and back to produce the same amount of CO2 amassed by every Netflix user who has watched Murder Mystery.

    And binging on your favourite series?

    Save on Energy discovered that the energy accumulated from the 64 million streams of Stranger Things season three is comparable to driving more than 420 million miles and emitting over 186 million kg of CO2.

    This is effectively driving from Marrakech (Morocco) to Cape Town (South Africa) and back 12,771 times.

    Subsequently, the energy garnered from 45 million views of the Umbrella Academy season one, translates to driving more than 164 million miles and emitting over 364 million kg of CO2.

    Flying from London to Perth and back produces 3,153 kg of CO2 per person – this means an individual would need to fly 115,657 times from London (United Kingdom) to Perth (Australia) and back to produce the same amount of CO2 generated from those who have watched Umbrella Academy season one.

    Save on Energy discovered that the energy accumulated from the 64 million streams of ‘Stranger Things’ season three is comparable to driving more than 420 million miles and emitting over 189 million kg of CO2.

    This is effectively driving from Marrakech (Morocco) to Cape Town (South Africa) and back 28,391 times.

    Subsequently, the energy garnered from 45 million views of the ‘Umbrella Academy’ season one, translates to driving more than 364 million miles and emitting over 164 million kg of CO2.

    Flying from London to Perth and back produces 3,153 kg of CO2 per person – this means an individual would need to fly 52,046 times from London (United Kingdom) to Perth (Australia) and back to produce the same amount of CO2 generated from those who have watched ‘Umbrella Academy season one’.

    Flying from London to Perth and back produces 3,153 kg of CO2 per person – this means an individual would need to fly 115,657 times from London (United Kingdom) to Perth (Australia) and back to produce the same amount of CO2 generated from those who have watched Umbrella Academy season one.

    Netflix says that it is trying to be as “efficient as possible” but the majority of the power used to supply us those hours of entertainment actually lies in the Servers that hold all that information.

    They explain,

    “This includes the energy use of companies we work with such as Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud, and the power required to support the servers we install with internet providers.

    “We don’t control this energy footprint, so we’re not able to address its efficiency directly ourselves. But we do account for the emissions by matching them with regional renewable energy certificates and carbon offsets.

    “This indirect energy use was about 357,000 megawatt-hours in 2019.

    *This article was updated to reflect the correct miles and C02 emissions.

  • Netflix cancels AJ and The Queen

    Netflix cancels AJ and The Queen

    It seems as though the numbers didn’t quite add up for the streaming giant Netflix as it looks to cancel a number of shows, one of which includes the RuPaul comedy, AJ and The Queen.

    It’s also putting an end to Atypical and Insatiable, both include quite a considerable amount of LGBT+ representation.

    Netflix has canned AJ and The Queen just two months after it premiered and RuPaul herself commented on the slay, tweeting

    “Thank you for all the love & support. We’re so very proud of the work,”

    AJ AND THE QUEEN

    Of course, as it’s Netflix, no official numbers are stated, so we don’t know how well the show actually did on the platform, but clearly not as good as RuPaul’s other venture, you might know it: RuPaul’s Drag Race

    Anyway, the show is still available to stream and you can read all our reviews here.

  • FILM REVIEW | Uncut Gems, fast, furious, heart-pounding and brilliant

    FILM REVIEW | Uncut Gems, fast, furious, heart-pounding and brilliant

    Uncut Gems ★★★★★

    Uncut Gems film review

    An Adam Sandler movie connotes bad acting and a stupid plot. Not ‘Uncut Gems’ – it’s fast, furious, heart-pounding and brilliant.
    Shockingly and shamelessly ‘Uncut Gems’ has been ignored by the people who give out film awards – its Sandlers’ best film ever as well as one of the years top movies.

    The action and plot in ‘Uncut Gems’ builds and accelerates into hyperdrive – a feeling probably akin to being on meth with the high becoming more and more intense until an explosive ending.

    Sandler plays Manhattan gem dealer Harold Ratner, a man known to place a few bets in his time. He comes across a rare black opal which he wants to sell for a big score. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. Other people (criminals) also want their hands on the opal, meanwhile, Ratner owes money to loan sharks, he’s been cheating on his wife (Idina Menzel) with his sexy and saucy mistress who is his assistant in the jewellery shop (Julia Fox). Also involved is a professional basketball player dangling lots of money in his face to spend on jewellery. Combining all this and what you have is a man whose life is spiralling out of control to a point where it’s do or die for Ratner.

    To say Sandler is brilliant is an understatement. I saw this film last year at the BFI London Film Festival and didn’t know what to expect going in. When I left the cinema 135 minutes later, my head was spinning and my mind took hours to process what I had just seen. The ending is such a crescendo it’s so unlike anything you’d expect from a Sandler movie.

    Directors (and brothers) Benny and Josh Safdie (who did the award-winning 2017 film Good Time starring Robert Pattison), with a script by both of them (and Ronald Bronstein), bring us a superb film that’s thrilling, intense, and will have you on the edge of your seat. And while all the cast is brilliant, Uncut Gems is Sandlers’ movie.

    Go see it just for him, and expect the ending to just blow your mind.

    ‘Uncut Gems’ is on Netflix but is also currently playing in cinemas.

  • TV REVIEW | Episode 10: A journey that will warm your heart

    TV REVIEW | Episode 10: A journey that will warm your heart

    AJ AND THE QUEEN

    So there we are then: the end and damn it Rupaul, you almost made me cry!

    What a journey and how happy I am that I kept watching after a rough start, even though I am now sad about having to let go of my new drag family.

    Ruby and AJ have reached their destination: the Dallas pageant and it seems AJ is even more invested in Ruby winning than Ruby is. AJ is worried about how Ruby will fare without her once she leaves for her grandfather and wants her well taken care of.

    Meanwhile in New York Cocoa is visited by AJ’s mother again, this time she is ready to listen. Finding out where AJ is and where she is going she seems horrified. Stealing some money from Cocoa she quickly leaves to find her.

    AJ and Ruby find themselves in trouble: all the other queens seems to have brought busloads of fans with them to help their chances at winning. Ruby and AJ only have each other. AJ decides on a plan.

    Finding her police officer lover has let her down Cocoa travels to Dallas to join her friends. Ruby needs all the support as a call from Sanchez has sent her wavering.

    A lot of things happen: Sanchez realises he might have feelings for AJ, Lady Danger has escaped prison and has gone after him – he has all her money.
    The other queens, including the two divas destined for number one, played by Trinity the Tuck and Jujubee have noticed AJ trying to get their fans on Ruby’s side and they are not happy.

    Meanwhile, anti gay/drag protesters have descended onto the pageant.

    The pageant rehearsal is a joyous line up of former Racers and seeing Rupaul stand alongside them is so moving. You can see that despite being their former judge she is one of them too, she came from this world and this is her love letter to them, to drag.

    Meanwhile, Lady Danger seems rather jealous of the fact Sanchez choosing Ruby and searching for her stolen money she decides to trash her wigs. Finding out Ruby thinks the protesters did it, then the other queens. The speech Ruby gives the protesters is gorgeous but the way the other queens (the bitchy rivals) rally round to get Ruby wig hair so she can still compete is heartwarming.

    Sadly Ruby doesn’t get to compete as AJ’s scam and story has sent the police and child agencies to the pageant. Meanwhile, Ruby, in utterly gorgeous drag, is visited by Sanchez – he brings her the money and his heart, or so he claims. AJ drags Ruby out, with money and all – of to grandfather before it’s too late.

    While they flee Cocoa decides that even if Ruby can’t compete there is no reason to leave her place vacant. So for the first time ever Cocoa performs again, and she is everything!!

    Ruby and AJ have reached grandfather. Fearing he might be conservative AJ asks if Ruby can drag her up, to fit in. Then they say their sad goodbyes. Ruby’s face as AJ explains why Ruby can’t come with her to meet her grandfather is sad. 

    But things get worse: waiting in her van to make sure AJ gets home to Pop-pop safe and sound she makes a shocking discovery. She has to find her.

    Then, in such a beautifully acted and filmed emotional moment Ruby thinks AJ is finally hers. The daughter, friend and companion she always wanted. But then …

    No, you will have to watch it yourself to find out, please do. It is a journey that will warm your heart.

  • TV REVIEW | AJ and The Queen review episode 8&9: Learning to love

    TV REVIEW | AJ and The Queen review episode 8&9: Learning to love

    AJ AND THE QUEEN

    Poor, poor Ruby, AJ has gotten into her heart. 

    Finding themselves at a playground, Ruby teaches AJ how to swing (she had never played before). Sadly AJ asked for a push too much and flies of, breaking her arm.

    Overcome with fear and seeing something wrong with her arm Ruby takes AJ to the hospital. AJ, though, doesn’t want to go, she is terrified. Soon we find out why: a hospital is where she was separated from her mum.
    We find out AJ would rather be in pain than lose Ruby as she knows that difficult questions might be asked the moment the doctors and nurses separate them.

    She is right, soon people start to ask questions: what reason could a black gay man possibly have to travel with a white child? The fact that no-one even thinks of the possibilities: adoption, teacher, nanny, baby sitter is shocking.

    Stumped for an answer Ruby blurts out she is her pageant coach.

    This is both a tragic and hilarious episode all in one, as at first, the hospital staff all want something from Ruby. A cute young doctor wants drag advice, a nurse wants pageant advice for her grand doctor and – more offensive – a desk nurse wants to know if she could judge her daughter’s black boyfriend.
    The young doctor is the kindest one and helps out when Ruby has to take desperate measures to get AJ back.

    We flashback a lot between four key hospital moments: the present, AJ’s birth as well as the moment she got taken away from her mum, while the relationship between Ruby and best friend and drag sister Cocoa is further explored as we flashback to the incident that caused Cocoa’s disability. This gave Rupaul the chance to display one of her most fabulous looks of the series. To see her run through the corridors in that red dress is a visual delight. The scene of her talking with Cocoa in the hospital bed is beautiful. They have great chemistry.

    Back to the present where Ruby pretends to be a Jamaican intern. For some reason, RuPaul can really get away with this look and actually knows how to do the accent, which sells it. This end scene makes the episode end on a high.

    During the hospital visit, we got to see how much Ruby cares about AJ and how much AJ has started to care about Ruby. In the next episode, we zoom in deeper on this.

    When they reach Texas and the club Ruby was supposed to perform in is bulldozed down AJ asked if Ruby can maybe bring her to her grandfather immediately. Ruby immediately thinks of things they could go and do before that and quickly settles on visiting an old very rich friend (instead of, you know, the war museum.)

    There a lot of things happen, an important one is that Jane Krakowski plays Beth her old friend fabulously. Meanwhile: Ruby has to explore her own fears, Beth’s marriage and life isn’t as fabulous as she claims (though she is rich) and AJ befriends the couple’s reclusive son.

    The next day Ruby is roped in to be the entertainment of the party Beth is planning. The entertainment manager is non-other than Ginger Minj who proves herself to be another fabulous actor. These queens are so damn talented!!

    AJ haggles Beth’s husband to pay Ruby $4000. Then the poor girl collapses. It turns out that the innocent health juice she thought she drank was Beth’s special juice – 90% vodka.

    Ruby carries AJ in and looks after her. Spaced out the girl tells her “I love you” and Ruby breaks down.

    She is further upset when Cocoa calls her to say that the mother has visited her and she is sending the police after her.

    Ruby admits: she doesn’t want to give up AJ anymore. She has grown to love her as a daughter.

    The rest of the episode explores Ruby’s own identity. It turns out she was always afraid of her feminine side and instead of admitting it thought it was Beth who stopped her playing with dolls and with her female friends. It was her own fear holding her back.

    A positive trans message is included as well.

    AJ tries to break away with the couple’s son, crashing the van. She explains she tried to leave without saying goodbye because she fears she will never be able to say goodbye to Ruby.

    Both agree they want to travel together a little longer.