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How ‘It’s a Sin’ Finds Joy Amid a Harrowing Period of British History

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Published on Thrillist on March 8, 2021

The mastery of Channel 4’s It’s a Sin, which follows a group of friends navigating the early AIDS epidemic in 1980s London, is in its understanding that even the darkest periods in history are imbued with ambition and joy. That’s not to say that Russell T. Davies’ (Queer as Folk, Years and Years) newest drama series, now available to US audiences on HBO Max, diminishes the inescapable grief that plagued entire generations of queer people, but rather that in order to comprehend the full weight of the AIDS crisis, viewers would need to be privy to the thrilling moments that made life so precious.

In the show’s opening scenes, we’re introduced to three gay teens who each flee the nest to make a life for themselves in London. There, they find one another and soon move into a communal flat they dub the “Pink Palace,” which becomes something of a queer community hub where all are welcome. Over the course of five episodes and 10 years, residents of the Pink Palace find it increasingly difficult to ignore the fast-spreading virus that’s crept into their inner circle, oscillating between pop-filled nights to remember and abrupt visits to the hospital to hug another friend goodbye.

While every gay character on It’s a Sin finds something to live for in a decade when gay men’s lives were particularly fragile, it’s Roscoe Babatunde, played by television newcomer Omari Douglas, who most adamantly refuses to let the threat of HIV keep him from living the fearless and fabulous life he planned.

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“If you need to forward any mail, I’ll be staying at 23 Piss Off Avenue, London W-Fuck.” | CHANNEL 4

Roscoe’s story begins under the reign of his conservative Nigerian parents, who vehemently condemn his homosexuality and make plans to send him away to “heal.” With some seed money from his sister and not much of a choice, Roscoe packs a bag, says he’s leaving, and stamps off in the rain to the tune of “Feels Like I’m in Love” by Kelly Marie. The pivotal moment sets the stage for Roscoe’s no-fucks-given attitude that empowers him to push through the difficult years to come.

“He’s fiercely proud and fiercely out, and has the confidence and bravery to express that in this really bold and innovative way,” says Douglas over a Zoom call, noting that Roscoe’s character arc isn’t about finding himself—he already knows exactly who he is—but rather one of finding a balance between being himself and fulfilling his duties as a friend, brother, and son.

Toward the end of Episode 1, Roscoe lays his full personality on the table when he unapologetically arrives late to a job interview at the local queer bar, where he’s asked what he wants to do when he’s older. “You wait,” he replies. “Give me five, six years, I’ll be stinkin’ rich. Every single teacher I’ve had, I want to drive past them in my big shiny car, like, ‘Fuck you.'”

“Roscoe is ambitious and he wants to achieve things and he wants to hit the high life,” confirms Douglas. “He’s going to go out and get it by whatever means necessary, and he does.”

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“So, tell me. Mrs. Thatcher, does she drink tea or coffee?” | CHANNEL 4

When Roscoe has a run-in with a Member of Parliament, Arthur Garrison (Stephen Fry), he sees his ticket to obtaining status and begins sleeping with him in secret. He grows closer to the MP over time, bailing on the bar job he’s had for several years now and diving headfirst into a private world of wealth and power that even his friends aren’t privy to.

“Roscoe knows that some of what he’s doing is maybe a little bit questionable and he’s not going to share it with the group,” says Douglas, acknowledging that Roscoe is fully aware he doesn’t belong in Garrison’s world. Still, Roscoe needed to let himself get burned before returning to reality—and the core friends who truly care for him.

Thus is the mystery of Roscoe: How can someone who brings such vibrance to every room he enters manage to keep an invisible guard between himself and his friends? And where does his aggressive independence come from? Douglas sees Roscoe’s bravado as his shield, his independence a side-effect of his parents’ intolerance. “To be pushed out of your home by the people who bore you is the greatest kind of rejection, so he’s quite selective,” says Douglas. “You would be selective about the people that you let into your life.”

Roscoe has several friends, ones that he genuinely cherishes, but few understand the extent to which his strained family relationships still weigh on him. The person who got to know Roscoe the most intimately was Gregory (David Carlyle), affectionately known as Gloria, who becomes one of the show’s many casualties of AIDS.

“He trusted Gloria, and he disappeared,” says Douglas, leaving Roscoe even more hurt and shut off to his pain. As it often goes with people who are suffering, it became easier to maintain his strong front than to vulnerably open himself up and risk more judgment or, worse, abandonment.

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“How’s mom? How’s things?” | CHANNEL 4

On the surface, Roscoe’s story never quite comes full circle, but Davies drops just enough breadcrumbs to suggest that, even if it takes time, Roscoe might one day have a relationship with his parents again.

First, there’s Roscoe’s subtle support of his mother from afar. “I think Roscoe still understands his duty as a son and he still wants to repair that,” Douglas says, describing why Roscoe would anonymously leave an envelope of cash at his mother’s door after learning through the grapevine that she was struggling. “It’s his mom, you know, and no one wants to lose that.”

Then, there’s the dramatic, cliff-hanging scene in the final episode when he runs into his father in the AIDS ward of a hospital and is asked for forgiveness. We never hear if Roscoe is willing to give his father a second chance, but according to Douglas, his dad’s apology is certainly a bridge toward mending the relationship—as long as one condition is met.

“Roscoe knew who he was from the beginning and [his parents] wouldn’t let him [be] that, so he’s not going to compromise for the sake of welcoming them back into his life,” says Douglas, explaining that while Roscoe would be open to the idea of reconciliation, he would rather have no contact with his parents than be forced to tone down any part of himself for them.

Its a sin cast laughing
“La.” | CHANNEL 4

Roscoe Babatunde is just one piece of Davies’ narrative—one that’s perhaps not given as much weight as other characters—but the themes of Roscoe’s journey lend themselves to the greater picture of It’s a Sin. Much like the 1987 Pet Shop Boys song of the same name, it’s a story of spirited youth just trying to live, despite being told at every turn that their pursuit of happiness is shameful. And along the way, it becomes the story of not only battling an oppressive moral high ground, but battling a deadly illness that only validates the shame instilled in them as children.

“It’s kind of a retrospective on [Davies’] experiences,” says Douglas, describing how It’s a Sin captures the happy moments of being a queer 20-something in the ’80s, in addition to the hard moments. “Back in the ’80s when all of these [seminal works about AIDS] were coming out, I don’t think there was time to sit in the joy.”

Now that time has passed and progress has been made, Davies was able to adopt a tone for It’s a Sin that might have been irreverent at the time. The show features fun pop anthems from the era, steamy sex scenes, and moments of pure ecstasy—whether on the dancefloor or in the company of good friends—that humanize the characters. It’s hard for anyone to watch It’s a Sin and not see at least an element of themselves reflected in Ritchie, or Colin, or Roscoe.

“I’m glad that we can enjoy that stuff because it needs to be seen. We need to see what these people lost,” says Douglas. “People lost youth and innocence and all the things that they should’ve been able to enjoy.”

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The 10 Most Fun Board Games Made in the 21st Century

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Published on Thrillist on July 30, 2020

If you’ve ever said, “Board games? More like bored games!” you should probably close this tab and go back to arguing in r/runescape. Not that some board games aren’t boring. Anything that requires reading a 14-page instruction manual is off the table. And everyone’s spent too much hard time with Monopoly and other family-gaming-night classics to get hugely excited about playing those in adulthood. (Except Clue. Clue rules.)

You probably already know about great, modern classics like Settlers of Catan and Cranium. Here are 10 even more recent board games that every household should have in stock, boredom not included.

How to Rob a Bank

Number of players: 2-4
Play time: 30+ minutes
Who it’s for: Fans of Secret Hitler and Baby Driver
Why it’s great: It satisfies strategists by requiring cooperation, foresight, and friendly competition.
What it’s about: One person’s the bank, everyone else is a robber. Can the criminals successfully execute a heist without the bank interfering? Over the course of three rounds, the robbers have to get a certain number of money bags into the getaway car in order to win, all while dodging alarms, evading security guards, and trying not to get tackled. How to Rob a Bank won’t teach you applicable skills for the real world, but it will teach you that pitting people against one another can have costly consequences, and that’s perhaps a better lesson.
Buy it here

Machi Koro

Number of players: 2-4
Play time: 30 minutes
Who it’s for: Fans of Monopoly Deal and The Big Short
Why it’s great: For a brief moment, your hunger for power will be celebrated.
What it’s about: This popular Japanese game moves fast. Your goal is to turn the town of Machi Koro into the bustling metropolis of your dreams by establishing businesses, making profits, building landmarks, and stealing business from other players who have their own plans in mind. On each turn, you roll the dice and hope that it matches the number on one of the buildings you own. If it does, you can take the action on that building’s card, earn money, and invest in future structures. The first player to finish building all of their landmarks wins the game.
Buy it here

Carcassonne

Number of players: 2-5
Play time: 30-45 minutes
Who it’s for: Fans of Risk and Sid Meier’s Civilization
Why it’s great: Players can build off opponents’ work to steal their points, making it anyone’s game right up to the end.
What it’s about: Drawing inspiration from France’s fortified city Carcassonne, this game requires players to build a countryside, one tile at a time. As players place tiles, they create an elaborate map full of fields, rivers, roads, cities, and monasteries — the question now is who will stake claim of each feature as it’s completed. Carcassonne is anyone’s territory, and players will have to disrupt their opponents’ plans if they want to come out on top. May the most ruthless builder win.
Buy it here

Pandemic

Number of players: 2-4
Play time: 45 minutes
Who it’s for: Fans of Outbreak and Contagion
Why it’s great: Pandemic tosses you into a parallel world where humanity works together when problems come their way. Plus, you learn geography.
What it’s about: You don’t need a rulebook to tell you that the only way to stop a pandemic is by working together to minimize its spread. This cooperative strategy game removes competition from the equation — you either prevent a pandemic together by controlling outbreaks and building research stations, or you go down together if it takes over. After you’ve mastered the classic Pandemic game, move on to its spinoffs — the elaborate Pandemic Legacy seasons are a strategizer’s dream.
Buy it here

Splendor

Number of players: 2-4
Play time: 30 minutes
Who it’s for: Fans of Munchkin and The Merchant of Venice
Why it’s great: Splendor puts to bed every notion that games with nerdy backstories are only for nerds.
What it’s about: Somewhere between a card game and board game, Splendor is quick, competitive, and far simpler than it sounds. Let’s set the scene: You’re in the Renaissance, you lead a merchant guild, you have raw gems but you want nicer gems. Can you earn more prestige than the other merchants, or will their wealth put you to shame? To turn your gem tokens into coveted prestige points, you’ll need to buy development cards, collect bonuses, and earn a visit from a noble. The first merchant to garner 15 prestige points wins.
Buy it here

Betrayal at House on the Hill

Number of players: 3-6
Play time: 1 hour
Who it’s for: Fans of Crimson Peak, Clue, and Scooby Doo 
Why it’s great: Avalon Hill incorporates every classic horror trope into a game that’s wildly different with each play.
What it’s about: Build your own haunted house in this spooky tile game that never takes the same form twice. Players spend the first part of the game exploring the house — discovering new rooms, finding useful items, and stumbling upon omens, for better or worse. At a random point during the exploration someone will accidentally trigger the “haunt,” launching players into part two of the game when the eponymous betrayal occurs. At the start of the haunt, one player turns on the others, using newfound powers to try and take them out. Will the traitor successfully pick everyone off? It’s anybody’s guess at House on the Hill.
Buy it here

5 Second Rule

Number of players: 3+
Play time: 15-30 minutes
Who it’s for: Fans of Scattergories, Catch Phrase, and trivia
Why it’s great: It’s easy to learn, upbeat, and as clean or adult as players make it.
What it’s about: Name three components of a fun game. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… Did you come up with them? If you quickly rattled off, for example, “a really short timer,” “an excuse to show off my creative little mind,” and “an opportunity for friendly debate,” you would get a point! In 5 Second Rule, you’ll get a prompt that begins with “Name 3…” and have five (very brief) seconds to spew off answers that make sense. If you can name them before the timer runs out, you get to keep the card. If you can’t think of three things in time, the next person in line has a chance to answer and steal your point. It’s a fast-paced game for all ages that requires virtually no setup. If you’re playing with adults, consider the raunchier uncensored version.
Buy it here

Azul

Number of players: 2-4
Play time: 30-40 minutes
Who it’s for: Fans of Sequence and coloring books
Why it’s great: It appeases gamers who value organization and structure.
What it’s about: For a few precious moments, pretend you’re a tile-laying artisan tasked with decorating the Royal Palace of Evora. Azul, short for the azulejos tiles you lay for a living. Players take turns moving tiles onto their player boards to create patterns on their wall. Patterns are built, backstabbing ensues, friendships are broken. At the end, scores are tallied, photos of the pretty patterns are taken, and you’re thrown back into your bleak reality where you’re not an artisan and you’ll probably never be invited to a royal palace.
Buy it here

Qwirkle

Number of players: 2-4
Play time: 30-45 minutes
Who it’s for: Fans of Scrabble and dominoes
Why it’s great: It’s not too hard for kids, not too boring for adults, and not too big of a commitment.
What it’s about: Qwirkle looks the handiwork of aliens, but once you decipher the tile patterns, you’ll find that this family-friendly game is not too difficult to get the hang of. The aim is to organize wooden tiles into rows and columns based on their color and shape. Adding a tile to the board earns you points, and if you create a line with all six colors or shapes in a row, you score a Qwirkle, which means six bonus points. The game ends when players run out of tiles.
Buy it here

Ticket to Ride

Number of players: 2-5
Play time: 30-60 minutes
Who it’s for: Fans of Settlers of Catan and any Around the World in 80 Days adaptation
Why it’s great: You can travel the continent and dominate the map in under an hour.
What it’s about: Inspired by Phileas Fogg’s 80-day journey around the world, a group of friends designs their own challenge: Who can visit the most North American cities in seven days, traveling only by train? The winner gets $1 million and — if you haven’t figured it out by now — you’re part of the squad. To travel from city to city, you’ll draw cards that can eventually be used to claim routes along the map. Whoever claims the most routes is poised to win, but Destination Tickets can interfere with players’ scores during the final tally. With so much cash at stake, you better hope your journey goes smoothly.
Buy it here

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The 25 Best Episodes of ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ Ranked

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Published on Thrillist on July 25, 2020

When a new Canadian sitcom starring Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara dropped back in 2015, we hoped for instant buzz. With comedy classics like Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration already under their belt, the Levy-O’Hara comedy duo had more than proved their talent and effortless, natural ability to play off of one another. Instead, Schitt’s Creek followed the path of other Canadian sleeper hits like Trailer Park Boys and Letterkenny, only rising to cult-favorite status partway through its six-season run on Pop TV. With the series wrapping up in April 2020 (and the first five seasons available on Netflix), it’s as good a time as any to reminisce.

Schitt’s Creek follows the high society Rose family’s fall from grace as their fortune evaporates from unwittingly investing in a Ponzi scheme. Kicked out of their mansion, the smug has-beens are forced to post up in a motel in Schitt’s Creek, a podunk town they once bought as a gag, until they get back on their feet. Levy and O’Hara play dynasty heads Johnny and Moira Rose, and while their chemistry was all but guaranteed, we weren’t prepared for how much of the spotlight they’d share with co-stars Dan Levy (son David Rose), Annie Murphy (daughter Alexis Rose), Sarah Levy (townie Twyla Sands), and Emily Hampshire (motel owner Stevie Budd) — or for how much talent we’d see from the Levy bloodline.

Between Alexis’s mysterious past life as an international socialite and the highly specific way she says “David”; David’s ridiculous wardrobe (great sweaters, though) and constantly pained facial expressions; Johnny’s expressive eyebrows and crisp suits; and Moira’s wigs and accent and inexplicably complicated vocabulary, the series mined chunks of comedic ore in every scene. That said, some moments were more memorable than others. These are our 25 favorite Schitt’s Creek episodes of all time, ranked from great to greatest.

25. “Roadkill”

Season 5, Episode 10
It’s a horrible, haunting experience to knock on a stranger’s door to tell them you ran over their cat. Moira and Johnny get a double dose of that terror when their attempt at doing the right thing backfires and they’re forced to console a sobbing grown woman instead of enjoying the spa day they had planned. The rest of the episode is equally uncomfortable to watch, as David realizes his old business partner is ripping off his shop and Ted proves to be terrible at talking dirty when he gets it on with Alexis in the Rose Apothecary bathroom (and breaks the sink in the process). The late-season episode masters the art of cringe by playing out real-life fears that everyone’s had.

24. “Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose”

Season 4, Episode 13
Holiday episodes are more often skippable detours rather than essential viewing, but Schitt’s Creek‘s sappy Christmas special succeeds at transporting the audience to a cozy, wintry December, even if you’re binging the show in mid-August. Johnny — who, ironically, is Jewish — wakes up on Christmas Eve and decides it’s time the Roses stop sulking during the holidays and suggests that they throw a big Christmas bash just like they used to (minus the mansion and celebrity guests and expensive champagne). The plan falls apart, and when Johnny gives up on the idea altogether and tromps off to the cafe to eat his feelings, Moira and the kids realize that they’ve let him down; they put their socialite skills to work and throw a truly adorable Christmas Eve party that leaves Johnny touched when he’s coaxed back. It’s not the kind of mansion party they’re accustomed to, it’s better — this time around, it’s about the people, not the panache.

23. “Town for Sale”

Season 1, Episode 13
Someone finally wants to buy Schitt’s Creek and the Roses immediately plan their return to New York City. But first: Ted proposes to Alexis, Alexis sleeps with Mutt, Stevie turns down David’s offer to flee with them, and, in general, everyone’s relationships turn messy. But all of this happens before the town’s sale is finalized, and moments before signing the paperwork, the potential buyer falls into a coma, ruining the Roses’ plan to get the hell outta town. Honestly, they got what they deserved.

22. “The Hike”

Season 5, Episode 13
Love presents itself in many ways. As Alexis prepares to escape to the Galapagos with Ted for six months, she starts feeling sentimental about leaving her family behind. As Johnny heads to the hospital for a potential heart attack, both Moira and Stevie, now his business partner in the motel, fall apart imagining life without him. And as Patrick proposes to David on a beautiful summit, their investment in one another is affirmed. It’s not the most exciting episode, but it’s an important one for showing that even the often frivolous Roses managed to form genuine human connections.

21. “New Car”

Season 3, Episode 3
Moira’s absurdist character acting reaches new heights when she borrows tragic plot points from her erstwhile daytime soap Sunrise Bay to earn pity from a car dealer and get a better price. Johnny’s mortified, but we know by now that nobody cares what he thinks. Stevie, meanwhile, is tasked with handling her great aunt’s affairs after her death, and she starts wondering if her life will amount to the same lonely fate. She’s given the deed to the motel — a responsibility she’s not sure she wants — and realizes she can’t run it on her own. Ted loses coolness points for getting headbutted by a goat but gains them back when Alexis, now working as his receptionist, learns that he has a secret girlfriend who booty calls him by calling the vet office and asking Ted to come “bathe her cat.” He’s hot shit now (buff Ted!) and he damn well knows it.

20. “Moire Rosé”

Season 6, Episode 7
Moira’s renewed fame from the Crows movie leads Herb of Herb Ertlinger Fruit Wines to give her another chance at representing his business after a failed attempt in Season 1. This time, he wants to name a wine after her and call it Moira Rosé. The only issue is, well, his fruit wines still suck, and after Moira and David get drunk sampling all the flavors looking for one that tastes decent, Herb gets pissed off again and the deal falls through. Alexis’s PR career also takes an interesting turn here as she gradually realizes that one of her new clients is a cult, but only after getting a bunch of her friends mixed up in it. The Roses may be on the come up, but they’re not quite done embarrassing themselves yet. And honestly? We love that.

19. “Family Dinner”

Season 2, Episode 2
Moira enlists the help of David to make enchiladas for dinner and prove that she knows how to cook, making for a riotous afternoon in Jocelyn’s kitchen. How does one “fold in cheese”? they wonder. What does burning smell like? Moira asks. There’s no way their cooking experiment was going to end well. And speaking of things not ending well, Johnny’s hunt for an office space results in the notoriously tight-fisted Bob trying to take advantage of him, Stevie aggravates David by claiming she’s already gotten over him, and Alexis wants to be with Mutt but can’t bring herself to call off her engagement with Ted (she really is a little bit single, even when she’s not).

18. “Turkey Shoot”

Season 1, Episode 7
Stevie is an actual icon for getting David to don full camouflage and go turkey huntin’. Despite feeling like “one of the Manson girls” after nailing a turkey in the neck, David proves himself capable of being one with nature — outside of just attending Coachella. David’s not the only one trying out a new look, though. Jocelyn takes Moira out for a spa day and they return with hideous identical haircuts… Moira’s predictably upset. One Rose thrives in this episode, though, and for that we rejoice: This is the day that Alexis meets and first falls for Ted, a man who she’ll be seeing plenty more of as the show unfolds.

17. “Housewarming”

Season 5, Episode 5
Bet you never expected to see Ted and David kiss! Neither did their significant others. At Patrick’s high school slumber party-themed housewarming bash, jealousy soars thanks to a drunken game of spin the bottle that makes the two men smooch. Of course it was harmless — Ted and David think it’s pretty funny, actually — but that doesn’t stop Alexis and Patrick from acting catty toward each other. Naturally there’s only one way to solve this: Alexis and Patrick have to kiss and make it even. So they do. And it means nothing. And they realize this is a non-issue. And they move on. With the kids out of the motel, Moira and Johnny offer to stay in and babysit Roland Jr., and despite their mild incompetence, they survive the night and prove to themselves that they at least kind of know how to be parents. The chaos never ends.

16. “The Throuple”

Season 3, Episode 2
David and Stevie have both been seeing Jake, the polyamorous bisexual man they met at Mutt’s barn party, and it’s starting to get weird. Jake kinda likes it though, and instead of choosing one of them to date more seriously, he proposes that they officially become a throuple. David and Stevie’s days of hooking up are behind them and they’re not down for the idea, ending their brief-but-exciting run with the hottie. Moira reluctantly invites Alexis to lunch after being accused of liking David more, and the two spend the morning realizing they don’t know how to talk to each other and panicking about how to fill an entire lunch with conversation. It… doesn’t go very well, sparking riveting dialogue like, “What is your favorite season?” “Awards.” 

15. “Love Letters”

Season 5, Episode 2
Moira’s first priority is herself, of course, but every now and then we’re reminded just how in love with Johnny she really is. One of these rare moments of sincerity happens in Season 5, when Moira spirals after finding naughty, handwritten letters between Johnny and a mystery woman. Letting jealousy get the best of her, she spreads word around town that Johnny has a mistress, tarnishing his name before he has a chance to explain what’s actually happening. (Hint: There isn’t actually another woman in Johnny’s life.) The most memorable characters in this episode, though, are David and Stevie, who get caught up in the funniest robbery in TV history. “Small problem: Our money isn’t for sale,” says David, moments before offering the masked man two tote bags of Rose Apothecary product instead.

14. “Don’t Worry It’s His Sister”

Season 1, Episode 3
Schitt’s Creek got off to a famously mediocre start, but the third episode ranks for its underrated comedic genius. When Johnny realizes that the town’s welcome sign appears to depict the founder of the town, Horace Schitt, boinking a woman from behind, he goes on a quest to convince the oblivious town council that they need to take it down. Unsurprisingly, Roland’s “solution” to the problem doesn’t exactly improve things. While Johnny’s dealing with the racy signage, David struggles to find work, Alexis falls for a townie, and Moira projects her insecurities on an unsuspecting group of schoolchildren — they’re themes that we’ll see again and again throughout the series, and this episode is arguably where the show really starts to pick up.

13. “Singles Week”

Season 4, Episode 12
The character development jumps out in “Singles Week.” Alexis manages to pull off the town’s biggest tourism event, taking her PR experience to the next level. Jocelyn and Moira bond when Jocelyn goes into labor and needs a ride to the hospital — the baby is later named “Roland Moira Schitt” in her honor. Ted realizes he never stopped loving Alexis, so he breaks up with his girlfriend, Heather, to follow his heart. Inspired by Ted and Alexis’s care for one another, David faces his fears of commitment and uses the L word with Patrick — for the first time in any relationship. By the end of the episode, there’s so much love and appreciation in the air, making it the perfect lead-in to a season finale.

12. “Carl’s Funeral”

Season 1, Episode 9
Who is Carl?! Why did he love Johnny so much!? Why would someone read an excerpt from Breaking Dawn at his funeral?! These are this episode’s most pressing questions as Johnny and Moira fall victim to a confusing chain of events that make them the main entertainment at a stranger’s memorial service. While they’re trying to figure out what the hell is going on, David and Stevie are frisking through a back-woods couple’s motel room getting high on their weed and drunk on their beers. One thing leads to another and BOOM! they’re making out. Their relationship is about to get messy and we’re along for the ride.

11. “Motel Review”

Season 3, Episode 8
Moira’s asked to watch the front desk of the motel for a little bit — harmless enough, right? — but quickly finds herself struggling to be friendly when a high-maintenance guest spews several obscure requests her way. She thinks she handled it how she was supposed to (“I manned that front desk with the vigor of a wartime radio operator.”) until a negative review hits the internet calling her out for her scary vibe and hostile attitude. (“Oh, that fussy little fucker… after niggling me with relentless demands…”) Luckily, she’s an actress, and after crafting a heartbreaking backstory she’s able to convince the guest to take down the review. Episodes that center around the motel tend to be a little dry, but “Motel Review” keeps the jokes coming and the energy high by putting the worst possible customer service representative in charge. Plus, this is when David and Patrick first meet, so, naturally it’s an important watch.

10. “Happy Anniversary”

Season 2, Episode 13
It took two seasons to get there, but the Roses finally learned to embrace their life in Schitt’s Creek. Johnny and Moira go out for a nice anniversary dinner where they run into old friends from their past and the Schitts, turning their romantic evening into an awkward triple-date affair. The friends from their old life are assholes over dinner, helping the Roses realize how lucky they are to have Roland and Jocelyn in their lives — even if they are borderline bumpkins. They tell the rich folks off and head to Mutt’s barn party, where Alexis and Ted are busy reconnecting, and a giddy David and delightfully stoned Stevie are fighting over the same boy’s attention. The episode closes with Moira telling her kids she l*ves them and all of our favorite characters dancing together to James Morrison’s “Precious Love.” Talk about a plot twist.

9. “Moira’s Nudes”

Season 2, Episode 9
Moira catches wind of a scandal involving nude photos of her leaked on the internet. Rather than panicking, she eagerly elicits help to track them down and bask in the fame. Sadly, she can’t find them, leading to a hilariously twisted spiral about the piece of herself that was lost along with the nudes from her youth. While Moira’s caught up trying to unbury her own skeletons, Johnny’s dealing with a crisis of his own that requires financial aid from a bitter David and moral support from Alexis (who really can’t offer much else). Somehow, David and Alexis have become the caretakers… who would’ve thought?

8. “Happy Ending”

Season 6, Episode 14
It’s a happy ending for the series, yes, but the title more likely refers to the happy ending that comes with David’s wedding-day massage. Schitt’s Creek wraps up with David and Patrick’s wedding, which, after a series of last-minute issues, turns out to be a beautiful gathering — and a perfect farewell party for Johnny and Moira who are skipping town the next morning. No series finale satisfies everyone, but “Happy Ending” succeeds at nodding to all our favorite things from seasons past: Moira says “bébé” one last time, the Jazzagals hark back to the show’s most sentimental moments with covers of “Precious Love” and “Simply the Best” at the wedding, and when Johnny and Moira make their final departure out of town, they catch a glimpse of Roland’s parting gift: the incestuous town welcome sign that showed the Schitt’s Creek founders now features the Rose family, giving a whole new meaning to the slogan, “Where everyone fits in.”

7. “Honeymoon”

Season 1, Episode 10
Somehow, Schitt’s Creek managed to describe pansexuality better than any other show, all without losing its humorous edge. After Stevie and David hook up, Stevie pries about his sexuality, implying that she thought he was gay. This prompts David to explain his preferences through a now-famous metaphor: “I do drink red wine, but I also drink white wine. And I’ve been known to sample the occasional rosé. And a couple summers back I tried a merlot that used to be a chardonnay. … I like the wine and not the label.” Johnny gets stoned with Roland that night and says that life would be easier for David if he just picked a lane. In a rare moment of thoughtfulness, Roland tells Johnny that, “When it comes to matters of the heart, we can’t tell our kids who to love.” Aside from low-key championing queer narratives, “Honeymoon” also features a horrifically awkward dinner party at Ted’s apartment that foreshadows the unraveling of Mutt and Twyla’s relationship.

6. “Life is a Cabaret”

Season 5, Episode 14
Stevie… STEVIE!!! The bulk of the Season 5 finale centers around David and Patrick revealing their engagement, but the real star here is Stevie. It’s opening night for the town production of Cabaret, and Stevie’s feeling a lot of emotions: nerves about the performance and bittersweet feelings about losing her best friend to Patrick. As she takes the stage for her big solo number, we watch her find her confidence and start to realize that beneath her rugged exterior lies a strong and talented woman who can weather any storm. The deadpan Stevie that we once knew is no more — she’s an expressive queen now and she’ll find a way to thrive, one emotional breakthrough at a time.

5. “Open Mic”

Season 4, Episode 6
If you didn’t cry during this episode, you’re frighteningly out of touch with your emotions and should maybe work on fixing that, love. “Open Mic” has all the sentiment and plot development of a season finale, a rare treat for a mid-season episode. Patrick suggests that he and David host an open mic night at the apothecary to bring more customers into the shop. David’s mortified by the idea, but when Patrick heads to the mic on the night of the event, something magical happens. “I want to dedicate this next song to a very special someone in my life, David Rose,” says Patrick, who’s played by real-life singer Noah Reid, before launching into the sweetest acoustic cover of Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best.” The crowd is shocked, and David and Moira are moved to tears realizing how lucky David is to have Patrick by his side. The rest of the episode is great too, but it’s these two minutes that rank “Open Mic” high on the list of best queer episodes in sitcom history and make it worth a watch (and a second, and a third). 

4. “Grad Night”

Season 3, Episode 13
David’s birthday and Alexis’s (high school) graduation day are derailed when everyone has scheduling conflicts that keep them from celebrating together. Patrick offers to take David out to a celebratory dinner in what turns out to be more than just a friend date. When Patrick drops David off at the motel afterward, they share a kiss — Patrick’s first romantic moment with another man. “I was getting a little scared that I was going to let you leave without us having done that,” admits Patrick before sending David off. Over at the high school, Alexis is bummed that nobody is there to cheer for her. Before the event’s over, though, Ted sneaks up and says he’s been taking photos, then Moira appears on stage with the Jazzagals for a dreamy surprise performance that brings Alexis to tears. The mother-daughter duo has come a long way since the time when they couldn’t even make conversation at lunch together.

3. “Wine and Roses”

Season 1, Episode 6
When Moira’s asked to be the spokesperson for Herb Ertlinger Fruit Wines, a hard-to-pronounce vintner with harder-to-stomach vino, she sees the gig as her chance to make a comeback. Her desperation to succeed paired with Johnny’s overbearing presence leads Moira to crack under pressure and bomb the commercial shoot. While she’s anxious at the winery, David’s dealing with his own anxiety back at the motel. He’s referred to the “doctor” in town, veterinarian Ted Mullens (his first appearance on the show), who tells him that he’s having a panic attack — something the Roses thought was made up by celebrities. Johnny and Alexis come to the rescue, finding ways to calm down Moira and David, in what goes down as one of the most memorable episodes of the entire series. You’ll remember the experience and you’ll remember the name: Herb Erfling ger. Burt Herngeif. Irv Herb-blinger. Bing Livehaanger. Liveling. Burt Herkurn. Ban-Bingo ling-fucker! 

2. “Start Spreading the News”

Season 6, Episode 13
Hope you like syrup, ’cause this episode’s heavy on the sap. After years of floundering to get back on their feet, the Roses finally did it. Everything’s falling into place: David with his marriage, Alexis with her PR career, Moira with her new TV gig, and Johnny with his budding motel empire. Sadly, their new opportunities mean they won’t be returning to NYC together — they’re all going in different directions. But before everything changes, David and Alexis have some things to figure out. After an emotional moment with Stevie, David decides to stay in Schitt’s Creek and buy Patrick their dream home; without any pettiness or passive aggression, Alexis and Twyla exchange gifts (and compliments) and make a pact that Twyla will visit New York. Humor sneaks its way into the plot, but “Start Spreading the News” ranks high more for its emotions than its jokes.

1. “Finding David”

Season 2, Episode 1
Season 1 had its share of low moments, but the second season returned with tighter wit and stronger storylines that raised the bar for everything to follow. David steals Roland’s truck and runs away after a dramatic letdown in the Season 1 finale, and the Season 2 opener picks up where it left off — with the Roses realizing they should probably look for him after a few days of radio silence. An investigation leads them to a farm where David has been not-so-peacefully living with an Amish family and pouting that nobody’s come chasing after him. On their way back to Schitt’s Creek, Moira lectures David about running off and utters one of her most underrated lines: “What you did was impulsive, capricious, and melodramatic… but it was also wrong.” These 20 minutes are a master class in character acting, executed flawlessly by the cast that we’ve come to adore. There’s truly no family like the Roses.

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entertainment

26 Essential Queer Movies and TV Shows You Should Stream Right Now

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Published on Thrillist on June 25, 2020

Some of the best stories are queer. Inherently deeply complex and typically considerably more emotional than their cis-het counterparts, they go against everything the media raised us to believe about right and wrong. Since the early days of television, queer people have looked to movies and shows to find semblances of themselves on screen, and over the last few decades, Hollywood has taken great strides toward boosting LGBTQ+ representation and telling diverse stories. (That said, they could definitely take bigger steps.)

We’re living in an era with more queer content available than ever before, and so much of it deserves praise. Spanning nearly every genre, these are just 26 of the must-see LGBTQ+ movies, TV shows, and documentaries you can stream right now.

Listen to Kyler and activist, comedian, and general icon Margaret Cho talk about their favorite LGBTQ+ movies on Thrillist’s Best podcast.

Bessie (2015)

Bessie Smith helped define the Jazz Age as an openly bi blues singer who inspired generations of performers that followed. Nearly a century after the Empress of Blues’ rise to fame, Dee Rees’ made-for-TV biopic brought her journey to the screen. Queen Latifah plays the hell out of Smith, a fiery force backed by indisputable talent, and Mo’Nique (as mentor/frenemy Ma Rainey), Tika Sumpter (as lover Lucille), and Michael K. Williams (as husband/manager Jack) offer supporting performances that make the Emmy-winning film that much more deserving of attention. Bessie bares the barrier-breaking moments that elevated a tough, queer woman of color to stardom, and the tense situations that nearly brought her down.
Where to watch: HBO Max, HBO GO, Hulu, Amazon Prime

The Birdcage (1996)

Longtime partners Armand and Albert Goldman (Robin Williams and Nathan Lane) have built a fabulous life for themselves in South Beach, Florida. Armand owns The Birdcage, a popular drag club, and Albert — more famously known as the drag queen Starina — is the club’s biggest talent. Things get tricky when Armand’s grown son, Val (Dan Futterman), hastily proposes to the daughter of a prominent Republican senator (Gene Hackman). The families plan a dinner in South Beach to get acquainted, but there’s a catch — Val wants Armand to hide Albert away and pretend to be straight for the night. What could go wrong? The Birdcage reimagines the 1978 French comedy La Cage aux Folles and features additional performances by Christine Baranski and Dianne Wiest to tell a hilariously cringey tale of two polar-opposite families digging deep to find shared values.
Where to watch: Hulu, YouTube, Vudu; rent on Amazon Prime

Bonding (2019- )

Newly out Pete (Brendan Scannell) dreams of taking New York City’s comedy scene by storm. Dreams and reality are very different, though; Pete’s never actually performed in front of an audience and his job as a waiter can’t foot the bills alone. When he reconnects with his old BFF Tiff (Zoe Levin), a grad student by day and dominatrix by night, he’s offered a solution to his money problems — working as her assistant/bodyguard during her evening rendezvous. At first Pete’s squeamish at the thought of BDSM, but over time he’s able to find his own sexual liberation and confidence by exploring the kink community. Tiff and Pete — otherwise known as Mistress May and Master Carter — are the dead-faced antiheroes and model archetypes of the struggling millennial New Yorker.
Where to watch: Netflix

But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)

Natasha Lyonne, honorary queer of Orange Is the New Black and Russian Doll fame, cemented her place in lesbian canon more than two decades ago. Lyonne stars as Megan, a teen cheerleader with an athlete boyfriend who she doesn’t like kissing too much. When Megan’s parents suspect her of being lesbian — which comes as news to her — they ship her off to a no-nonsense conversion camp to set her straight. Under the leadership of disciplinarians Mary Brown (Cathy Moriarty) and “formerly gay” Mike (RuPaul), campers undergo a five-step program to “correct” their gender expression and “cure” their homosexuality. Throughout her stay, Megan grows dangerously close to rebellious camper Graham (Clea DuVall), challenging everything she thought she knew about love and sexuality. Years later, But I’m a Cheerleader holds up as the campy conversion therapy comedy that nobody asked for and everybody enjoyed.
Where to watch: Criterion Channel, Tubi, Vudu; rent on Amazon Prime

Carol (2015)

Todd Haynes’ story about lesbian love in the 1950s is a gorgeous film from start to finish, from the direction (every frame is as lush as a painting) to the awards-worthy performances (Rooney Mara as the gawky, vulnerable Therese and Cate Blanchett as the alluring, perfectly coiffed Carol). Carol is one of the most tender cinematic depictions ever of what it feels like to be in love — how the quality of light changes, how time slows, how every fleeting gesture takes on the deliberateness of sign language — and why two people would be willing to go against everything society expects of them in order to hold on to it. The film, based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, garnered both of its lead actresses Oscar nominations, among a handful of other awards, and their chemistry will have you feeling as if you’re just as wrapped up in their tumultuous relationship, too.
Where to watch: Kanopy; rent on Amazon Prime, Vudu

Circus of Books (2020)

When it comes to work-life balance, Karen and Barry Mason know best. For decades, the unassuming Orthodox Jewish couple quietly ran a gay bookstore and porn shop in Southern California, taking a front-row seat to the AIDS crisis and finding a soft spot for a community that once seemed foreign — all while raising three children who had no idea about their day job. In Circus of Books, their now-grown daughter, Rachel (who has since been clued in on the family business), documents the real story of Karen and Barry’s relationship, their secret business, and how working in a queer industry would help them come to terms with their own son’s sexuality down the road.
Where to watch: Netflix

The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

When Marsha P. Johnson, the transgender activist hailed as the “Rosa Parks of the LGBT movement,” was found dead in the Hudson River in 1992, authorities ruled it a suicide despite a number of suspicious details. Twenty-five years later, many people still believe she was murdered, and in The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, trans activist Victoria Cruz sets out to get some answers. Through her interviews with Johnson’s friends and family, plus archival footage of Johnson and fellow leaders like Sylvia Rivera, viewers are able to piece together the monumental life she lived — and make judgments about her untimely death. In an age where trans people of color still live in fear of being targeted, the documentary feels all-too apt and important.
Where to watch: Netflix

Disclosure (2020)

Most Americans say they don’t personally know a trans person. That means the media is largely responsible for shaping society’s understanding of the trans community, and for the most part, films and TV shows haven’t done an adequate job. Disclosure analyzes the history of trans representation in media and how those characters stack up to the lived experiences of actual trans people. Directed by Sam Feder, executive produced by Laverne Cox, and featuring in-depth interviews from trans filmmakers, actors, and activists like Candis Cayne, Chaz Bono, Mj Rodriguez, and Jamie Clayton, Disclosure shows that media may have come a long way with increasing trans representation, but there’s still plenty of work left to be done to demystify, deradicalize, and diversify trans portrayals. 
Where to watch: Netflix

Feel Good (2020)

Inspired by real experiences in comic Mae Martin’s life, Feel Good follows the turbulent relationship of Mae, an obsessive comedian who struggles with drug addiction, and George (Charlotte Ritchie), a charming school teacher who’s never dated a girl before. The British dramedy hits every emotion in a way that doesn’t always feel good, but does always feel human. George struggles with her friends’ microaggressions, Mae butts heads with her cruel mother (Lisa Kudrow), and the pressure of keeping George interested puts Mae’s sobriety to the test. Feel Good exposes the confusing jumble of euphoria and suffering that characterizes many queer relationships, using impeccable comedic timing and wit to soften the blow. 
Where to watch: Netflix

Holding the Man (2015)

Based on Timothy Conigrave’s 1995 memoir, Australian film Holding the Man pieces together the 15-year romance of Tim (Ryan Corr) and his longtime partner, John (Craig Scott), as they grow up together, navigate parental damnation, and confront their HIV diagnoses. Through the highs and lows of their relationship — distance, infidelity, arguments, and guilt — there’s always a tenderness beneath the surface of their interactions. Equal parts heartwarming and heartwrenching, Holding the Man strikes a sensitive chord and proves that some love is worth fighting for.
Where to watch: Netflix

How to Survive a Plague (2012)

A history of the AIDS epidemic through the mid-1990s is obviously one of the most gut-wrenching films of all time, but this Oscar-nominated documentary elicits as many tears of joy as tears of heartbreak because it chronicles a story of hope, determination, and ultimate victory. Comprised mostly of footage shot during the early years of the crisis, much of it by camerapeople who didn’t live to see the film, the quest of organizations ACT UP and TAG to find better treatment for HIV and AIDS is experienced up close and personal through director David France’s archival-vérité approach.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime

I Am Jonas (2018)

When a traumatic experience yanks his first gay lover away, quiet teen Jonas gives up on happiness. Eighteen years later he’s still reeling from the loss, looking for comfort in club nights and casual encounters, until a chance meeting forces him to confront the past and find closure. I Am Jonas straddles two timelines, showcasing the charm of Nicolas Bauwens and Félix Maritaud as young and grown Jonas. Originally released in France, it’s a coming-of-age picture that tackles grief and self-forgiveness in a way that few films dare to attempt, and fewer manage to accomplish.
Where to watch: Netflix

La Casa de las Flores (2018-2020)

Does drama follow the de la Moras, or do the de la Moras breed drama? Either way, their lives are dramatic. The upper-class family owns a flower shop and a cabaret, both named La Casa de las Flores (The House of Flowers), and when they’re not busy fighting over how to run the businesses, they’re busy covering up scandals to keep the de la Mora name untarnished. La Casa de las Flores helped popularize the millennial telenovela genre by incorporating LGBTQ+ characters and progressive values into the typical soap opera style. The dark dramedy challenges traditional Mexican morality and shuts down queerphobic viewpoints in a satirical and digestible way, and soapy as it may be, it’s hard to stop watching.
Where to watch: Netflix

London Spy (2015)

A gay British crime drama starring the winsome Ben Whishaw? Tom Rob Smith knows how to please. Danny Holt (Whishaw) thinks he’s finally found the one, only for his new lover, Alex (Edward Holcroft), to wind up dead a short time later. Danny learns that the man he fell for was an illusion, an identity manufactured to mask his true life as an MI6 spy. Hurt, confused, emboldened, and still in love, Danny dives into the world of espionage in order to get some answers. London Spy adds a needed slow-burn thriller to the queer television arsenal — one that can be watched from tame start to hair-raising finish in under five hours.
Where to watch: Netflix

Moonlight (2016)

Chronicling the boyhood years, teenage stretch, and muted adult life of Chiron, a black gay man making it in Miami, this triptych altarpiece is at once hyper-specific and cosmically universal. Director Barry Jenkins roots each moment in the last; Chiron’s desire for a lost lover can’t burn in a diner booth over a bottle of wine without his beachside identity crisis years prior, blurred and violent, or encounters from deeper in his past, when glimpses of his mother’s drug addiction, or the mentoring acts of her crack supplier, felt like secrets delivered in code. Panging colors, sounds, and the delicate movements of its perfect cast like the notes of a symphony, Moonlight is the real deal, a Best Picture-winning movie that will only grow and complicate as you wrestle with it.
Where to watch: Netflix

Pariah (2011)

Writer-director Dee Rees’ first feature film grapples with identity and belonging through a soul-stirring coming-of-age story set in Brooklyn, New York. Gifted 17-year-old Alike (Adepero Oduye) starts embracing her sexuality with the help of her friend Laura (Pernell Walker) and at the contempt of her mother, Audrey (Kim Wayans). Between the film’s title, which means “outcast,” and an opening quote by Audre Lorde — “Wherever the bird with no feet flew, she found trees with no limbs” — Rees offers a window into Alike’s conflicted mind. She feels alone, and she wants that to change. Alike’s private warfare samples from Rees’ own personal experiences, and Oduye’s tender embodiment of Alike elevated Pariah to its award-winning status praised by both GLAAD and NAACP.
Where to watch: Sundance Now; rent on Amazon Prime

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

Portrait of a Lady on Fire opens with the simple image of a hand drawing charcoal lines across a blank piece of paper. That’s how an artist begins her work: sketching out the outline and making preliminary judgments about what goes where. We soon learn the hand belongs to Marianne (Noémie Merlant), a French painter in the 18th century who falls in love with the young woman (Adèle Haenel) assigned to her as a subject. (In the early stages of the relationship, Marianne must keep her profession hidden on long walks with her object of obsession, giving the narrative an almost spy-movie like touch.) The fastidiousness of the early scenes helps establish the precise, exacting style of director Céline Sciamma, who tends to favor uncluttered compositions filled with lots of blank space, deliberate movements, and dramatic splashes of color. As the story builds to its inevitably tragic and bittersweet finale, the movie strikes a powerful emotional chord through an unflinching final scene. And yes, the flame-kissed title is very literal. 
Where to watch: Hulu

Pose (2018- )

With Paris Is Burning, the revolutionary 1990 documentary that peered into NYC’s drag ball culture, no longer on Netflix, Pose takes center stage as its worthwhile if not dramatized counterpart. Focusing on the queer ball communities as well as the upper-crust businessmen of New York in the 1980s, Pose was destined to be an important show from its debut, especially considering it features the largest regular cast of trans actors ever on TV. But the show from Ryan Murphy proved to be even more fabulous than anyone anticipated, thanks to nuanced storylines and incredible performances from talent like Janet Mock, Indya Moore, and Mj Rodriguez. It’s an ode to an overlooked community, keying in on the fictional House of Evangelista, but Pose is also a testament to resilience and one of the most joyful viewing experiences in recent TV memory. 
Where to watch: Netflix; rent on Amazon Prime

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood (2017)

Ryan Murphy’s Hollywood turned heads when it dropped on Netflix this spring, painting a captivating but exaggerated portrait of Hollywood after WWII — and the shady encounters that happened behind closed doors. Some of Murphy’s characters are pure fiction, but Ernie West (Dylan McDermott), the hunky pimp who conducted business out of a gas station, was based on the real-life Scotty Bowers. Matt Tyrnauer’s documentary Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood chronicles Bowers’ decades of sex work in an equally intriguing and much closer-to-the-truth manner. Interviews with people, like actor Stephen Fry, former film executive Peter Bart, and Bowers himself before his death, shed light on the high demand for gay escorts particularly in a time that required discretion.
Where to watch: Starz; rent on Amazon Prime

Sex Education (2019- )

This British Netflix original centers around Otis (Asa Butterfield), an awkward teen who finds himself an unwitting sex therapist to his peers, thanks to the knowledge gleaned from being the son of an actual sex therapist, Jean (Gillian Anderson). He and his crush form a side hustle at their school that turns out to have a lot more clients — and bumps in the road — than they expected. As the high school student body struggles to navigate the traumas of young love, a number of queer scenarios rise to the surface. Otis’ best friend, Eric (Ncuti Gatwa), lights up the screen as an ebullient gay man on the quest for companionship and acceptance from his family, and an entire story arc on anal douching in Season 2 teaches viewers more about gay sex than any high school health course could ever dream. It’s funny, yet also takes its subject matter seriously, and plays like a sex-positive manifesto for teenagers everywhere. 
Where to watch: Netflix

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018-2020)

Reimagining the ‘80s series She-Ra: Princess of Power with fewer gender stereotypes and more diverse characters, this adventure cartoon brings queer representation to a level that’s not often explored in family-friendly television. When teenage warrior Adora stumbles upon a magical sword, she gains the power to embody She-Ra, a princess tasked with defeating a malicious army intent on taking over the planet. Not only does the heroine herself rank on the Kinsey Scale, but several supporting characters help amplify the narrative that sexuality and gender are fluid, and there’s no right way to express yourself. Whether platonic, romantic, or familial, the relationships in She-Ra pack a ton of nuance, carefulness, and empathy.
Where to watch: Netflix

Special (2019- )

Ryan O’Connell writes, produces, and stars in Special, a short-form, semi-autobiographical series about a gay man with cerebral palsy ready to build a life for himself outside of his mother’s home. As he enters the workforce, considers dating, and finds a new place to live, Ryan gets a taste of independence, and all the challenges that come with. With support from his new friend Kim (Punam Patel), he makes it work, even if that means pushing his overprotective mom, Karen (Jessica Hecht), to the background. The concise first season leaves plenty of storyline to be written, but the little content online tells a bewitching tale of self-acceptance and bravery rarely seen on-screen.
Where to watch: Netflix

Steven Universe (2013-2019)

We’ve finally reached a time when multiple cartoons feature prominent LGBTQ+ themes, for which you can thank Steven Universe for wholly championing. The Cartoon Network series centers around Steven and the Crystal Gems, a group of guardians that fight off interstellar evil to protect the planet. The titular character and half-gem is the youngest in the group, surrounded by female protagonists and role models. A handful of the show’s characters are queer — gay, lesbian, pansexual, asexual, and nonbinary people are all represented through the rolodex of Gems and their fusions — and showrunner Rebecca Sugar confronts their sexualities and genders head-on, not through obscurities and metaphor. There’s a lesbian wedding, gender-neutral pronouns, and an intentional dismissal of gender stereotypes throughout. Steven Universe is technically geared toward young audiences, but plenty enjoyable for cartoon-lovers of all ages.
Where to watch: Hulu, HBO Max

Tangerine (2015)

Tangerine’s natural hook: Sean Baker shot the 2015 film on an iPhone, before anyone was shooting movies on Apple products. But it’s the portraits Baker captured through that lens are what make his film meaningful. Baker began picturing the story of two trans sex workers on a Christmas Eve odyssey across America when he met star Mya Taylor at an LGBTQ center in West Hollywood, where he said “her aura” made him realize he had to speak to her. In pairing Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, Baker found a story of friendship shaped by extreme circumstances brought on by marginalization, doing so without leaning into exploitation, even as the plot veers into raucous directions every bit as thrilling as big-budget action set-pieces. Merry Christmas, bitch, indeed.
Where to watch: Hulu

We’re Here (2020- )

Remember Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar? Take that plot, sign on actually queer talent, tweak it for reality TV, and you’ve got We’re Here. HBO’s new show follows three Drag Race alums (Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara, and Shangela Laquifa Wadley) on their mission to nurture queer leaders throughout small-town America. In each episode, the queens spend a week in a different conservative community, where they adopt a few locals as their “drag children” and prepare them for a one-night-only drag show. At a glance, We’re Here is a queer-led makeover show a la Netflix’s Queer Eye — an established queen takes a shy townsperson and puts them in drag for the first time to help them find their confidence — but makeup, wigs, and learning to walk in heels are far from the point. The drag transformation is simply a means to an end, with the end being a newly empowered queer community in every town that they visit.
Where to watch: HBO Max, HBO GO

Wig (2019)

Lady Bunny’s legendary drag festival, Wigstock, entertained the gay community every summer from 1984 till 2001, featuring top talent of the time and giving NYC queers a space to connect and express themselves. In 2018, Lady Bunny resurrected the iconic event to bridge the gap between her generation of drag and the modern drag community. Wig targets a younger audience in need of a history lesson; it reminisces on the “glory days” of drag — when Lady Bunny and RuPaul ruled the town and the Pyramid Club was the hottest place to be — and follows the journey to bring Wigstock back, including footage from the 2018 event itself, which was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and featured drag stars new and old. 
Where to watch: HBO Max, HBO GO

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The Drag Stars of HBO’s ‘We’re Here’ Are Making Lasting Change in Small Towns

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Published on Thrillist on June 11, 2020

By now we know not to underestimate HBO. The network ushered in the golden age of television dramas, marketed a medieval fantasy to mainstream audiences, gave Seinfeld comics a platform to build upon their legacy, and revolutionized the way TV talks about sex and relationships more than once. In April, ahead of its new streaming service debut, HBO quietly premiered We’re Here, a tearjerking reality show that’s taken real strides toward increasing queer visibility in rural communities nationwide.

We’re Here follows three drag superstars on their mission to nurture queer leaders throughout small-town America. There’s Bob the Drag Queen, a New York City icon and winner of Drag Race Season 8; Eureka O’Hara, the “Elephant Queen,” who nearly took the crown in Drag Race Season 10; and Shangela Laquifa Wadley, the three-time Drag Race contestant who landed a role in A Star Is Born. In each episode, the queens spend a week in a different conservative community, traveling to places like Farmington, New Mexico, and Ruston, Louisiana, where they adopt a few locals as their “drag children” and prepare them for a one-night-only drag show. 

At a glance, We’re Here is a queer-led makeover show a la Netflix’s Queer Eye — an established queen takes a shy townsperson and puts them in drag for the first time to help them find their confidence — but makeup, wigs, and learning to walk in heels are far from the point. The drag transformation is simply a means to an end, with the end being a newly empowered queer community in every town that they visit.

Shangela and Eureka spoke to Thrillist about the impact that We’re Here has already made in its first season, which wrapped up on Thursday, June 4. “Interestingly enough, We’re Here is not a drag makeover show; We’re Here is a real-life series that happens to include a transformation,” Shangela clarified. “Drag’s not just about the performance. It’s being able to say, ‘I love myself so much, I have so much pride in who I am and what I’m able to deliver in this world, I’m going to put on this look and I’m going to strut because I don’t have to be ashamed. I don’t have to be shy. I don’t have to be closed off. I can live my life out loud and proud.'”

Every participant in the six-part season brings a different perspective and goal to the drag show stage. Some wanted to perform in drag to show acceptance for their family members; some got in drag to explore their own identities; and some LGBTQ+ allies performed to help break down stigmas for other straight folks in the community. The complicated relationship between religion and sexuality is addressed, race-related struggles are put in the spotlight, toxic gender roles are challenged, and every speck on the rainbow gets airtime.

Shangela gives her new drag children, Brandon and Mikayla, a wedding do-over in Twin Falls, Idaho. | Christopher Smith/HBO

For example, in episode 3, Bob, Eureka, and Shangela went to Branson, Missouri, the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World” and home to many quietly queer performers because LGBTQ+ people don’t have adequate protection against discrimination in the state. They met three men each grappling with muddied views of masculinity and identity that their community had instilled in them. Charles, an openly gay dancer, found himself suppressing his sexuality because of the town’s intolerance; Chris, a straight man with a young daughter, fell into depression after bottling up his emotions like he was raised to believe he should; and Tanner, a young guy who previously came out of the closet, then withdrew his queer identity after turning to Christianity and feeling like the two lifestyles weren’t compatible.

Eureka believes there’s a moral code in today’s society that informs how people should look, feel, behave, and love at a young age. “There’s a lot of stereotypes, and at the same time there’s a lot of people who don’t fit that mold,” they said. “What’s so special about the show is that it’s giving voices to people who don’t normally get heard.” The queens aren’t just grooming drag children, they’re grooming community leaders who can continue breaking down gender stereotypes and providing queer safe spaces long after the HBO crew packs up. 

“It’s one thing going into these towns and then leaving,” Shangela said. “People see that with makeover shows — in and out, and then you hope that they feel better.” We know by now that upgrading someone’s wardrobe and giving them a fancy haircut doesn’t do much to make the world a better place; in some cases, it does more harm than good by sending a message that looking polished is the key to unlocking self-love. That’s not the case with We’re Here. The genuine impact the queens had on not only their drag children, but the town as a whole, is why HBO’s take on a “reality makeover show” feels bigger than its more narrow-sighted competitors — and why it’s already been nominated for a Critics’ Choice Real TV Award.

Eureka rehearses with Lynn, a double amputee and soon-to-be drag king, in Ruston, Louisiana. | Jake Giles Netter/HBO

“A lot of times small towns get a bad rap like, ‘Oh my god, you poor queer person living in a small town, I’m sure you can’t wait to grow up and move to the big city where you can be you,” said Shangela, who grew up in Paris, Texas, with a population of around 25,000. “But there are people who live in small towns who love living in their small town, and a lot of times, there just isn’t a space for queer people and queer allies to come out and be together and say ‘I support you.'”

Of course, this is a real, unscripted series, and not everyone in each town responded so openly. As the queens go around passing out flyers promoting the drag shows, they run into plenty of people who show no interest, and in Branson, a business owner called the cops to have the queens kicked off the property, forcing them to leave peacefully despite not breaking any laws. But none of those negative run-ins prevented the drag moms and their children from doing what they set out to do.

“In the first episode I remember telling Bob as she was setting up the stage area, I’m like, ‘Baby, you don’t have to leave all that standing room, this isn’t a regular drag show it’s not going to have tons of people standing and jumping and screaming,'” said Shangela. However, when showtime rolled around, there were so many people from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, lined up to watch that they couldn’t get everyone inside the historic distillery-turned-gay club. That’s when it became clear that We’re Here was going to do some real good.

Shangela and Jose test out a wig in Ruston, Louisiana. | Jake Giles Netter/HBO

Even through a screen, viewers can see that the connections formed are genuine, a byproduct of mutual openness that doesn’t disappear when the cameras do. “I didn’t expect to be that vulnerable, you know, in doing this show, and it’s just been really beautiful,” Shangela said. “Those are all my children now, and I feel like I had a little part in seeing them grow to that place they were at, that level of happiness, the freedom.” 

For a number of reasons (e.g., COVID-19, Drag Race Season 12, the launch of HBO Max, nationwide protests), We’re Here aired all six episodes mostly under the radar, but the people who watched are already demanding more. “It’s not the kind of show that you can pick apart. It’s not about drama, it’s not about shade, it’s really about love and telling stories that people get emotional to and can relate to,” Eureka said. Luckily, HBO’s already confirmed that they’re here to stay — at least for another season.