Hey y’all! Welcome back!
QUEEREST THING I WATCHED THIS WEEK
Despite competition from Hannah Gadsby and Drag Race, I have to go with the new season of Queer Eye on Netflix. I got about halfway through the season over the weekend and plan to finish it out this week.
FILM
I watched quite a mix of old and new stuff this week.
Dr. No
I’ve been wanting to work my way through all the Bond films and started at the beginning, of course. Very fun, sexy film. 7/10. Queer Factor: 2/7.
Hannah Gadsby: Something Special (Netflix)
This is a lighter special from Hannah Gadsby after her previous two specials and it was absolutely delightful. I laughed a lot. 10/10. Queer Factor: 7/7.
Inu-Oh
Every now and then, I watch a movie and go: This was an excellent film that I did not enjoy. This was such a film. Good story, great animation, but it just really did nothing for me. 6/10. Queer Factor: 1/7.
Raiders of the Lost Ark
This is a great film. Absolute joy from start to finish. 9/10. Queer Factor: 1/7.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
The last time I watched this, I hated it because of how poorly Kate Capshaw’s character is written, and I still hated that aspect of it, but I focused more this time on Ke Huy Quan’s performance as well as the action sequences and had a really good time. 6/10. Queer Factor: 2/7 for the “Anything Goes” opening number.
Polite Society
GO. SEE. THIS. MOVIE. It might be my favorite of the year so far. Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan, a British-Pakistani girl who dreams of becoming a stuntwoman. Her best friend is her sister, Lena (Ritu Arya), who has recently dropped out of art school and is trying to figure out her place in the world. When Lena begins a whirlwind romance with extremely eligible bachelor Salim Shah (Akshay Khanna), Ria suspects that something isn’t right and is determined to prove it, despite opposition from Salim’s very imposing mother Raheela (the incredible Nimra Bucha). Oh, also, it’s a martial arts film.
I cannot recommend this movie enough. It is funny, heartfelt, action-packed, and just a good freaking time. It is writer/director Nida Manzoor’s feature film directorial debut, and I can’t wait to see what she puts out next. 10/10. Queer Factor: 2/7.
TELEVISION
COMPLETE SEASONS
Falling Skies, Season 5
I finished it! This apocalyptic alien drama is dark and fun and exciting and it all leads to a finale that is pretty satisfying. 8/10. Queer Factor: 1/7.
Good Girls, Season 4
Big week for finishing up series this week. This show was always so much better than anyone knew. And it would have gotten a fifth season to finish the story, but apparently there were some difficulties with one actor and so they weren’t able to make a deal in time to save the show. Huge bummer. 8/10. Queer Factor: 3/7.
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+)
Like most Muppets properties nowadays, I don’t expect to see a second season of this show, but if this is all we get, I’m so happy with it. This show centers around Muppets we don’t get to interact with much: Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem! The band consists of frontman Dr. Teeth (Bill Barretta), saxophonist Zoot (Dave Goelz), trumpeter Lips (Peter Linz), basis Floyd Pepper (Matt Vogel), guitarist Janice (David Rudman) and, of course, drummer Animal (Eric Jacobson).
The human component of the show is Nora Singh (Lilly Singh), a junior A&R executive who is trying to find her big break. While going through records, she discovers that the failing record label she works at has a contract with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem to produce an album that they’ve never produced, despite 40 years of touring. Her mission is to make that album!
Beyond that, it’s just typical Muppet hijinx, but there’s also a lovely backstory created here for Dr. Teeth and how the band came together. Add in Tahj Mowry as Mayhem superfan Moog and dozens of celebrity cameos, and you’ve got some great opportunities for comedy and the show delivers on them every time. Highly recommend. 9/10. Queer Factor: 2/7.
NEW SEASONS
Queer Eye (Netflix), Season 7, Episodes 1-3
The Fab Five take on New Orleans as they go about changing lives of people who both need and deserve a total life makeover. So far, not as emotional a season as previous, but still very fun to watch.
RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars (Paramount+), Season 8, Episodes 1-2
They’re back, back, back again! 12 queens who did not make it on their seasons are back to try for the crown. The strongest competitors are Kandy Muse, Jimbo, La La Ri, and Heidi n Closet and my early prediction is that it comes down to Jimbo and Heidi and I bet Jimbo takes it this time.
CONTINUING SEASONS
Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO), Season 4, Episode 4
Fatal Attraction (Paramount+), Season 1, Episode 4
Hunter x Hunter, Episodes 59-73
The Weakest Link (NBC on Peacock), Season 3, Episode 5
Ted Lasso (Apple TV+), Season 3, Episode 9
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount+), Season 1, Episode 7
True Lies (CBS on Paramount+), Season 1, Episode 11
COMPLETED SEASONS
Family Guy (FOX on Hulu), Season 21, Episode 20
Another season of low level humor and the occasional really good joke. I don’t know why I keep watching this show, but at this point, I might as well keep going. 6/10. Queer Factor: 3/7.
The Power (Amazon Prime), Season 1, Episode 9
This show is fantastic. Based on the book by Naomi Alderman, it chronicles the emergence of a new organ in young women that allows them to produce and conduct electricity. This leads to an uprising globally of women taking power in ways they could not before, and shows how many men react negatively to the dynamic shift. The show stars Toni Collette, Auli’i Cravalho, John Leguizamo and Toheeb Jimoh as well as relative newcomers Ria Zmitrowicz, Halle Bush, and Zrinka Cvitešić. I recommend reading the book, of course, but the show does a fantastic job of adapting the source material and I can’t wait to see what they do with a second season. 9/10. Queer Factor: 3/7.
TOTAL: 66 episodes, 6 movies. Whew!
Thank you as always for reading, and until next time, stay queer out there!