Welcome back, y’all!
THE QUEEREST THING I WATCHED THIS WEEK
It’s a tossup between Monet X Change and Peppermint for their stand up specials.
FILM
REWATCH
Spider-Man: No Way Home
This was in preparation for the next episode of Agree to Disagree. Tune in to hear all my thoughts about it there, but suffice to say that I loved this film and I think it’s great. 8/10. Queer Factor: 0/7.
NEW TO ME
Origin (available on Hulu)
When trailers for this started coming out, I thought for sure it was going to be an Oscars movie, but it received zero nominations and seemed to get not great reviews in the press. Upon further research, it is actually quite well reviewed, and I can see why. Ava DuVernay adapted it from the book Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. This is a non-fiction book, so in order to create more of a narrative it follows the character of Isabel (beautifully played by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) as she does her research for the book. In the wake of the Trayvon Martin murder, Isabel starts to see connections between the treatment of Black Americans, the rise of Naziism in the 1930s, and the Indian caste system. She explores these through conversations with a number of people.
The film is very thoughtful, and quite educational. There are parts that are painful to watch, and it made me cry during one particular sequence. It’s shot simply but effectively, and it boasts an incredible cast, including Jon Bernthal, Vera Farmiga, Niecy Nash, Finn Wittrock, and Audra McDonald, among others. It made me want to read the book, and I am not a lover of non-fiction. I can see how the headiness and simplicity kept it from being an Oscar contender, but it a truly excellent film and I highly recommend it. 9/10. Queer Factor: 1/7.
NEW ON STREAMING
Joel McHale: Live From Pyongyang (Hulu/Disney+)
I’ve always been a fan of Joel McHale’s, and was surprised to learn that this was his first actual standup special. It is very much his brand of humor, with the running throughline being that he’s kind of a dick. It’s pretty funny, but not particularly remarkable. Also, not filmed in Pyongyang, lol. 7/10. Queer Factor: 0/7.
Monet X Change: Fist of Glory (Hulu)
Of all the comedy specials I’ve watched recently, this one is my favorite. Monet is hilarious, and her jokes flow effortlessly from one topic to another. She also has a big costume change and sings opera, so it’s a jam packed hour. 9/10. Queer Factor: 7/7.
Peppermint: So-Sigh-ety Effects (Hulu)
I’ve never known Peppermint to be terribly funny, and this didn’t even actually feel like a stand up set. It has the hallmarks - a microphone, pacing as you talk, jokes - but it felt more like her just talking about aspects of her life with an occasional punchline thrown in. Interesting, but not really that funny. 5/10. Queer Factor: 7/7.
TELEVISION
STARTED SEASONS
Suits (available on Netflix)
Season 1, Episodes 1-12
Season 2, Episodes 1-11
Fantasmas (HBO on MAX), Season 1, Episode 1
CONTINUING SEASONS
The Acolyte (Disney+), Season 1, Episode 3
Weakest Link (NBC on Peacock), Season 6, Episode 20
House of the Dragon (HBO on MAX), Season 1, Episodes 3-5
My Adventures with Superman (Adult Swim on MAX), Season 2, Episodes 3-4
Top Chef (Bravo on Peacock), Season 21, Episode 13
RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars (Paramount+), Season 9, Episode 6
CONCLUDED SEASONS
Bridgerton (Netflix), Season 3, Episodes 5-8
The second half of the season dropped! Finally! I really don’t understand Netflix splitting this season up, and I hope they don’t continue with future seasons. This is my least favorite of the three seasons so far, but I still ate up every second of it. They first end ended on something of a cliffhanger, but it felt a little rushed. I think certain elements could have been drawn out longer, and there were a significant number of subplots involving Benedict and Francesca that could have been simplified. A lot of time was spent with the latter as she debuted in society and had her own romantic storyline, but this is the Colin season, so her story isn’t done yet. I won’t say too much more, for those that may not have caught up yet, but a few actors seem to be gone from the cast for good now (or until the series finale, anyway), and I’ll be intrigued to see where they go from here, especially since they have started to deviate from the books more and more. Also big ups to Nicola Coughlan on cementing her status as an actual icon. 8/10. Queer Factor: 3/7.
Well, that’s it for this week! Grand total: 36 episodes, 5 films
Thanks for reading! Until next time, stay queer out there!