Stay safe, screen lover
BY SOPHIE PERRY
Whether you’re self-isolating or not, with everything that’s going on in the world right now, it’s likely we’ll all be spending more time than usual at home in the coming weeks…
From the constant news reports to the scaremongering served by Karen Off Of Facebook, the world feels pretty doom and gloom at the moment. But! It doesn’t have to be all bad. That extra time spent at home can be put to good use: namely, catching up on all those queer TV series on your To Watch list.
The L Word: Generation Q
The cultural reach and legacy of The L Word for the lez/bi community goes without saying. It gave an entire generation of women a voice, representation and visibility like they’d never known before. Despite its melodramatic plot lines and representational flaws, the show has remained a central pillar of lez/bi media.
The highly anticipated series returned in December 2019, The L Word: Generation Q. Much like its original, Gen Q is glossy, fun and just a bit soap operary. Featuring a younger, more inclusive cast alongside some L Word OGs, Gen Q makes for some easy, colourful viewing that is neither too high-stakes or edge of your seat. If anything, it’s the perfect escapism rn.
Euphoria
One of the stand-out shows of 2019, Euphoria is a hard-hitting drama for the social media generation. Exploring everything from sexuality and gender, to drugs, rape and body positivity, the show is effortlessly inclusive in its casting and radically honest in its storytelling. Paired with some stunning cinematic visuals, a killer soundtrack and Zendaya in the lead role – what’s not to like?
Pose
The category is …live …work …POSE! Heavily inspired by the 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning, Pose shines a light on the underground ball culture of 1980s New York. Set to the backdrop of the AIDS crisis, Pose balances the extravagant glamour of the ballroom scene with the gritty reality of the characters’ lives. In many ways, Pose represents groups within the LGBTQI+ community that are still unrepresented, discriminated against and treated as second-class members of the community. It is a testament to both how far we have come –and how far we have to go.
One Day At A Time
A criminally underrated show to say the least, One Day At A Time is an old-fashioned, multi-camera sitcom with sharp writing and excellent performances from its cast. The show never shies away from its subject matter and tackles topics including homophobia, mental health, immigration and racism. In a time of Trumpian politics, the story of a Cuban-American family with an LGBTQI+ child and a mother with mental health issues is more timely than ever.
I Am Not Okay With This
From the producers of Stranger Things and the director of The End Of The F***ing World comes a new series based on the Charles Forsman graphic novel, I Am Not Okay With This. In it, angsty teen Syd navigates high school awkwardness, family drama and an unrequited crush on her best friend (#queerswoon) while trying to rein in her budding superpowers. Worth a binge.
Let us know what you’re watching @DIVAmagazine
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