MovieChat Forums > AJ and the Queen (2020) Discussion > So in 2020 it's RuPaul who is bringing w...

So in 2020 it's RuPaul who is bringing wholesome values back to TV

posted 5 years ago by [deleted]
10 replies | jump to latest

Of all people!

I watched this over the weekend with very low expectations. Ru has always been an engaging personality but I was not holding out any hope that he could carry a comedy / drama series on the strength of being a kick-ass drag queen. Colour me fabulously surprised! Turns out that this is a funny, moving and extremely sweet (actually a few sequins off being twee) show with characters you care about and a premise that is comforting in its simplicity.

The thing that really struck me though is how wholesome this show actually is. Assuming you are not the type to be offended by the sight of a man kissing another man or wearing a frock, there is NOTHING in this show that couldn't be watched by the whole family. It's also in no way preachy which is a trap that a show set in the LGBTQ world could have easily fallen into. Instead of trying to hit us over the head with messages of tolerance and acceptance, the writers have very cleverly just let the lives of these people speak for themselves, let the story do the talking if you will. As a result you don't feel like you've just watched a whole series lecturing you about tolerance, but somehow you end up feeling more of an affinity than you might have with the drag world beforehand.

The dude who plays Ru's blind best friend is a fucking scream too, very funny performance.

I perhaps wouldn't recommend this show if you are looking for a series with great depth or overwrought performances, but if you want a warm, heartfelt story about love in all its forms, this one's a winner.

7.5 stilettos out of 10

[–] sslssg (34330) 5 years ago

It's on my list to watch, Glad to hear you liked it!

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I hope you enjoy it too, pop back in and let me know what you thought if you remember.

[–] sslssg (34330) 5 years ago

👍

[–] sslssg (34330) 5 years ago

So I'm halfway through and I'm really liking it. AJ sometimes is a little much, but overall it's very enjoyable.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

👍👍 Good to hear you’re liking it.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (14488) 5 years ago

Isn't RuPaul dead by now?

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Girl! Now how many dead people do you know who get their own show?

RuPaul is very much still alive and syncing. There's this show called Drag Race....uh....never mind.....

[–] Jinx (3746) 5 years ago

You are so right! This series deserves some major recognition because it is simply BEAUTIFUL. I wasn’t eager to jump into this show even though my best friend is gay and normally I watch anything pertaining to lgbt so I can tell him about it and we will skype watch together when we can because we are now on opposite sides of the continent. Neither one of us were ever into the drag scene even though we had friends that would do it, we’d go to their shows because it was Denver in the 00’s and there wasn’t a big scene. All that to say that while we loved and supported our friends, drag wasn’t particularly appealing.

I couldn’t have loved the heart, wisdom and humor of this series more! RuPaul is a dearly wonderful and charismatic person, so much fun to watch and the child actress was precocious without being annoying. They concentrated more on the relationships between all kinds of people and families across the Bible Belt than the drag scene which they still portrayed accurately.

I loved the blind friend actor dearly, what a great character, I would love a friend like him.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

That’s awesome Jinx I love that there are other people enjoying this great show.

I know what you mean about having no real connection to the drag world. Other than seeing a few shows in my 20s, the movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert and a few Drag Race seasons (because those queens are characters!), the drag scene never appealed to me either. I think where AJ and the Queen is different to Drag Race in particular is how it gives you the sense of the family groups these performers form outside of the drag scene which are as warm and complex as any family. Rather than just the bitchiness and outfits.

I was impressed by RuPaul’s acting. No disrespect but I didn’t think he had it in him, but he should be proud of his work here.

I liked reading about you and your friend too, thanks for your reply Jinx 🙂

[–] Jinx (3746) 5 years ago

Priscilla Queen of the Desert!! Yes! Such a wonderful film, Hugo Weaving is a master. AJ and the Queen was just overflowing with warmth and all because of RuPaul's beautiful spirit. You could tell that his character's kindness and wisdom came naturally to him. He should definitely be proud of this. Also Michael-Leon Wooley, who played Louis, I was a little unsure of in his first few lines because I thought they seemed a little forced . . .wow, he turned out to be the most naturally funny character, I just love him. It did make me angry on his behalf when he was taken advantage of at various times, I felt a big 'ol ache in my chest.

Thanks, I miss my buddy so much, we spent about 13 years together in Colorado he moved to NY and I moved to OR. We text every day but it makes me sad that we can't just pop over and hang out or go for coffee at our favorite place. C'est la vie, maybe we'll end up in a retirement home together lol