2016 wasn’t a decade ago, right?… Right!?
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE BY IMBD
It’s that time of year again. We’re welcoming in a brand new year, and wondering how the heck a whole year passed in the blink of an eye. Well, to add to the existentialism, join me in taking a look at what films and TV shows were premiering 10 years ago.
Wynonna Earp
This supernatural show follows Wynonna Earp and her companions, who are on a mission to stop the resurrected souls of criminals. It became a queer favourite when it gave viewers a WLW ship to root for between Waverley Earp and Nicole Haught (#WayHaught).
Easy
This anthology comedy series follows the lives of Chicagoans as they explore modern romance, technology and culture. A highlight for me was seeing The L Word: Generation Q’s Jacqueline Toboni (and her fabulous armpits) and my ultimate celeb crush Kiersey Clemons making out.
Moonlight
Ten years ago, this film came out and made queerstory by being the first LGBTQIA+-focused film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. And I, of course, have to mention that the iconic Janelle Monáe is also part of the phenomenal cast.
Lucifer
This show started as a guilty pleasure for me, but you know what… I really loved it. It’s as bananas as a story following the likes of celestial beings should be. It also gave us a range of LGBTQIA+ characters and one of the best onscreen WLW weddings of all time. How in the hell did this come out 10 years ago!?
First Girl I Loved
This is the first queer film I remember buying. I had recently come out and was exploring my queerness. Thankfully, my coming out journey was nothing like the one in this film. While this serious film is often sad, even scary, it is also quirky, awkward and relatable.
Fleabag
While it would still be a while until the painful “it’ll pass” scene in the finale, this popular TV show is another iconic release from 10 years ago. It became even more of a queer favourite when its protagonist’s bisexuality was confirmed in the second season.
Stranger Things
Like lead star Millie Bobby Brown, I have gotten married and started a family since the first season of this show came out. And yet, somehow, it still feels like I started this series yesterday.
Raw
This horror film is sure to stick with viewers long after the final credits. It might also turn you vegetarian. While it’s not overtly queer, it is widely considered to have queer themes, such as the repression of identity and sexuality.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do The Time Warp Again
This reimagining of the iconic cult classic 1975 film caused quite a stir. The musical comedy television film starring Laverne Cox was full of nostalgia and was queer AF.
Hurricaine Bianca
This star-studded RuPaul film provides ab-building laughter. Roy Haylock, better known by the stage name Bianca Del Rio, stuns as Richard Martinez a teacher who moves to small-town Texas and is fired for being gay. What does Richard decide to do next? Well, return disguised as a mean lady to get revenge on the town, of course.
Billions
A big moment in non-binary representation onscreen was when trans and non-binary actor Asia Kate Dillon was cast in this show as the non-binary character Taylor Amber Mason. Their character is often viewed as the moral compass within the unethical world portrayed in Billions.
The 5th Wave
I gobbled up the young adult apocalyptic series that is The 5th Wave books. Do I remember anything that happened in the books all these years later? Absolutely not. Do I remember anything that happens in this film? No. Well, other than DIVA-favourite Chloë Grace Moretz leads the cast.
The Good Place
This will probably always be one of my favourite shows of all time. It’s queer-coded, quirky and often life-affirming. It’s also a rarity in that it’s a series with a perfectly satisfying ending.
The Handmaiden
This erotic psychological thriller was inspired by Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith. The British Victorian era setting was swapped to Korea under Japanese rule. I think we all remember where we were and how it felt the first time we saw that cunnilingus scene.
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