The Queer media reviewer

Reviewing all things queer from books, manga, movies, shows, and characters.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review #15: Heartstopper season 1

For this review we will be discussing the first season of Heartstopper. spoilers ahead

In this season, We first see Charlie Spring an openly gay high school kid who is in a secret relationship but he began start to have a crush on Nick Nelson who also starts developing for Charlie and we see this relationship develop from friends to more.

When I first went into the series, i was very excited as at the time I started reading the web novel so I wanted to see how different was the first season was to the very first chapters of the first few volumes period. It's my surprise that the show remained faithful to the book and it was very easy to follow along. While the series is often presented as this wholesome meet you love story between two teenagers series isn't afraid to tackle dark subjects such as bullying and mental health. which really does makes the show really stand out as these are very common things that are found within the community. The first season of the show is very wholesome and seeing these characters come live action is a really nice thing to see and many queer media that are often based on books tendon to not have a live action.

Pros: one pro of the series is the actors as for many of them this is their very first role and they are very believable in playing these characters why some might argue they may have a hard time distinguishing the actors from the characters. One example is Joe Locke Who plays Charlie Spring, really does make the character feel realistic and grounded which is very good on him as this is his first acting role. Another pro would be the handling of the secret relationship as this is a case for many queer people in which they are in a relationship that they do not want to be in but it feels the most possible outcome freedom to have love. Showcasing the relationship as toxic from the get go in which it only feels to suit only Ben's needs and not Charlie's really highlight why this relationship is not good.

For the cons of the season, my only real complaint would be the shortening of some scenes so it could mainly focus on Charlie and Nick which isn't necessarily a bad thing for the first season; However, It really does shaft the relationship between Elle and Tao or Tara and Darcy which really stings as they are all great characters.

Overall, the series first season was really great and start off really strong which help continue its momentum for the latter two seasons. I thoroughly enjoy watching scenes be acted out from the webcomic and I am glad it happened. for most of the actors being their first major role, they all did a really good job. If I were to give this season a rating I would give it 9/10 which really bought my expectations for the later seasons to do really well and hoped that the side characters gained some spotlight.

I hope you all enjoy a first review and if you want to watch the first season of Heartstopper it is available on Netflix. please recommend me more shows to watch.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer media trope analysis #2: LGBT in KPop

So for this diatribe we will be discussing queerness in KPop and how it is percerieve when an actual queer person is an idol vs. fanservice and fanships.

In the kpop fandom the fanships of idols of the same gender is often popularized to the point in which companies have profited from these images but when it comes to queer idols, they are often discriminated against or censored on TV. The freedom of queerness in a conservative country is nad but when its in the form of media where queerness can thrive.

A very recent example would the group XLOV who is making waves as the concept for a group is to be genderless so they're attracting a very queer audience and some of the members have stated that they do not have a preference in what pronouns they prefer but for a group who have a predominately queer audience there are some fans who expressed that the members are not queer and it is just a concept which ok sure but assuming they are straight is just as bad as assuming they are gay when either option feels like its being force upon them instead of just letting them be and for the most part they enjoy having the androgynous concept and actually choose the concept themselves. The group also had trouble when it came to their concept as for one of their comebacks they were afraid that their dances would make some idols uncomfortable which is actually sad so I was happy to see that for their recent comeback at the time of writing that they have some idols dancing with them.

Despite a group like XLOV being positively received well in the international fanbase I'm not to sure in Korea as I am not korea nor live there myself. But I do see them being a change in perspective for some. I also saw the change as The first openly gay Holland was not received as well as he was censored in Korea. When he first released his debut music video, it was rated a 19+ which is reserved for more explicit media but video only featured a same sex kissed that would not have raised any concerned and that since he was debuted as an openly gay man most companies would not want to produce him so he ended up doing most of the work himself which was detrimental to his career to the point where he has admitted to not being able to make music due to no financial backing.

Another group that debuted long ago was a group called Lady which feature an all trans female but they were heavily discriminated against and were asked pretty transphobic questions and were treated pretty badly in the media and never really had a chance to do anything before disbanding due to prejudice. Which for the time is not a shocker but at time there was trans model singer Harisu who was also popular at the time and served as inspiration of the also faced discrimination as well.

Queerness in Kpop seems to be taboo for fans but at the same time, the same fans often ship same sex idols and actively make fan edit of them which is not only hypocritical for actual queer idols but also fetishizing as idols who are openly queer are treated badly by fans while idols who are not tend to be put on a pedestals. Such ships such as VKook, ChanBaek, Minsung, NoMin, and Haobin are some of the ships I have seen that are often talked about, I wonder how some of the idols feel about it especially those who are friends and seem to have a great connection, do they feel weird or creeped out. While somes fans obviously treat it as a joke or not serious and mainly like the pairing as friends or making funny variety show moments, others take it to the extreme and it makes me wonder that if their otps are real or one of them are queer would they react differently. What about the idols who are praised for the different gender beauty traits like Jimin or Felix would they be treated differently.

Being a fan of kpop for awhile since gen 2 honestly (damn I feel old) the current climate shifted when it comes to queer topics and idols in general some of which are good. As stated above a group like XLOV is doing really well with supported fans. Another openly queer idol Bain from the boy group Just.B had recently came out and was meet with support from the fandom and Idols who are more themselves and open with the gender are able to express it. Idol participating in BLs are also becoming more prevalent and not facing any back and in fact celebrated for it. A survival show call Boys planet that is often joked as Gays planet seems to garner much positive attention for the trainees and the debuted group that have trainees that openly do feminine things such 3 members of XLOV and AHOF Woonggi who were loved for their "babygirlisms" and are celebrated when doing dances originating from queer culture such as Sung Hanbin from ZB1 or Chunghan and Leserrafim. Even a variety show made by Hong Seok Cheon who was open gay in the 2000s and face discrimination is able to flourish in interviewing idols. Even in Kpop like groups such as Katseye in which members Lara and Megan are LGBT are celebrated. The climate is changing for the better and I hope it continues changing in which there will be queer idols being able to perform without scrutiny.

Hopefully you all enjoy this analysis and give me some examples I missed so I can update it accordingly

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review #14: Red, White, and Royal Blue

For this review, we will be discussing the Movie based on the novel Red, White, and Royal Blue; Which I've been dying to watch for awhile now so I am finally happy to talk about it.

Red, White, and Royal Blue plot revolves around the First son of the USA Alex Clermont-Diaz and Prince Henry of England who were enemies since first meeting becoming closer after an incident at a royal wedding and we see the two fall in love despite the pressure of the public.

When I first watched the movie, I was kinda excited since I've been hearing how good it is and I am happy to say that it met my expectations. The comedy was really good and it didn't feel that the relationship was rushed and we got see every side character's reaction to their relationship. The movie is really good and it tells its story thoroughly and this may be because its a book but the it seems that not a lot of details were cut and the fact the we see the relationship develop through text in the first half really show how the boys became closer and making jokes with each others news articles and rumors.

For the pros of the movie, I would say one would be the side characters as they do bring more of the comedy for the relationship, such as Zahra whose actress really played the hell out of the tired assistant who somehow is the glue for most of Alex's mom when he came out as it being a funny yet wholesome talk. Another pro would be the pacing as it felt that the relationship was growing throughout the film from starting off as enemies, to sharing perspectives and fixing misunderstandings to making jokes to realizing their feelings for each other, it felt organic and I bet that the book put more details into it.

For the cons, I would say that there isn't much as most of the movie seems faithful to the books except for some missing details such as Alex's sister but I guess that due to timing but the changes feel so minor and other changes would most likely take some time away from the plot.

Overall the film was great and when I heard that a sequel is planned I can't wait to see it and I do want to read the book now to see how much has changed and see if there's a difference in tone between them as the movie seems geared towards a romantic comedy feel. If I were to give a rating to the film I would give it a 10/10 as it was really good and sweet to watch and I kinda want to see more queer movies emulate this formula.

I hope you all enjoy this review and If you want to watch the film, it is available on Amazon prime. If you want to recommend more movies please do.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review #13: Agatha All Along

For this review I will be doing Agatha All Along, I was going to do this review earlier but decided against it but overall I was really excited to review the show as I am not into marvel but I do like witchy shows. Spoilers ahead.

Agatha All Along follows the titular character Agatha Harkness as she assembles a group of witches to form a coven to head to the Witches Road in which they have to survive the trials and head to the end to gain the answer for their reason to head to the road.

When I first watched the show I had to catch up what happen to Agatha from Wandavision so I had to read up on the MCU's version of the character so Thankfully I was able to gain an understanding of the story so far. When watching I was at the edge of my seat With all the trials and all the drama and the questions that were being answered as the show went on. I fell in love with all the characters and I hoped they all made the end, that was how much I was invested in each character and with a short amount of the time. Also the ballad of the witches road was on repeat for weeks after it came out. This show made me pleasantly surprised and when it ended I kinda wanted to get into the MCU but for mostly the witches which may seem controversial for some.

For the Pros of the series, were the characters as Each had a backstory and a reason to go into the witches road from Agatha wanting Power, to Lilia and Jen wanting to find their power again, to Alice wanting to find out about her mother and the curse. Each character you love and their dynamics with each other made it feel so real and seeing their growth as a coven made the stakes of the road feel more higher as they went along. Another pro was the twists and reveals as it did leave me wanting answers from what happened to Nicholas Scratch (Agatha's son), To who really is Teen (Billy Kaplan), to how Jen and Lilia's power, To the reveal the Agatha and Rio dated and that Rio is Death. All these reveals feel like they had a natural growth and not to twisty to where there isn't any rewatch value. Lastly another Pro is the Ballad of the Witch's Road itself in which no matter what version was being played it never felt too overused and really highlighted the series for me.

For the cons, my only complaint that it was too short especially with the amount of time we had for some characters I really wish the series had 12 or 13 episodes instead of nine but I really did like the show and the pacing was really well done with what they had. this is my only real con as everything about the show was really well done and well written and I hope to see the surviving characters more in other MCU projects and not one off cameos.

Overall the show was really good and I enjoyed watch and despite it not being overally marketed as a Queer show, it still features so many queer storylines and romances in the forefront and gave us probably "disney's" most queer show probably right after the Owl house. If I were to rate the show I would give it a 10/10 as I really loved it and for someone who does not like anything marvel in general, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I hope you all enjoy this review and comment any other shows that you want me to review. also I would only be updating on Fridays for now on to catch up on more media.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Character analysis #5: Dr. Frank n Furter

For this special queer character analysis we will be discussing the iconic and terrifying pansexual alien, the sweet transvestite from transexual, transylvania Dr. Frank N Furter from the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show played by Tim Curry. This Halloween icon is known to many especially those who are fond of musicals and I couldn't help but change my upload schedule to show case them.

We first see Dr. Frank N. Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show after the couple Brad and Janet had gained a flat tire in front of his castle so the two decide to use their phone to call a repairman in which Frank invites them to stay while he builds a man named Rocky to marry. In the film we also see his murderous tendencies as he kills a biker named Eddie. Later on through the night Frank seduces the couple separately in their bedrooms while disguising as the other. We see more of them as Frank discovers Janet and Rocky together enraging them. When it is time for dinner the meal the was prepared was made from Eddie which causes Janet to go into Rocky's arms which causes a jealous Frank to turn people into nude statues. When Frank unfreezes them, They put on a show but was interrupted by Riff Raff and Magenta who declare mutiny and are returning to their home planet but due Frank's plea on wanting to stay, they Kill Frank and take off to their home planet.

As a character in a movie, Frank's characterization is meant to be told in a shorter story but they play the main antagonist throughout the film as evident as murdering Eddie and seducing the couple as each other, Frank is overall presented as a villain through and through but that kinda gets lost with the musicality and comedy of the movie. Frank's sexuality is most definitely a part of his character from their outfit to their personality along with being a mad scientist, with most of their inventions and creation being more explicit in nature as making a ray the turns people into not only statues but ones that are naked really show cases his sexuality as a whole. As Frank is an Alien I presume the the human confines of gender and sexuality does not apply to Frank at all which is why the proclaim themselves with the title of "Sweet Transvestite" as for someone not human it is more of a fun title and nothing to be ashamed about which is why some queer people like Frank for being apologetically queer. Though some people do find Frank offensive as they do represent some harmful stereotypes such as being overly sexual and deviant to name a few but it goes from people to people so there's no right answer for it plus the movie was mad 50 years ago so things are different if viewed with that lens.

Overall as a character, Dr. Frank N. Furter is a great character who was well written and Frank is still seen as an icon to many LGBT people. Due to Frank being an Alien, they are allow to be openly queer and not feel ashamed of that fact. While some will see Frank as a stereotype which is understandable as the film was made 50 years ago. If I were to rate Frank as a character I would give them a 8/10 for just being iconic but with the stereotypes not helping.

I hope you all enjoy this review and I know I did not post on Monday but due to finding more media, I am going to post on Fridays for now. I did want to do this for Halloween though so if you have any more characters to review let me know.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review #12 : Fireworks

For Today's review, we will discussing the Italian film Fireworks or also known as Stranizza d'amuri. I hope you all enjoy and spoilers ahead.

The films centers around two boys and their budding relationship in 1982 Italy in which they face prejudice from the people around them and their family. this film is based on a tragic hate crime that took place around the time

When I initially watched the film, I was interested in knowing what the film is about as its looked interesting and I was already watching foreign films at the time. watching it felt real as it was said to be based on a hate crime that took place in Italy, so most of the film shows the prejudice and abhorrent behavior that two faced which made me feel bad for those who had faced these actions in the past for simply loving the same gender. Gianni, one of the two main characters faced such torment in the beginning just based on a rumor alone and it was quite sad that even his mother did not even had is back fully but I admired that he still kept true to himself even in a time which could lead to death as what happen in the real life event.

For the pros of the film, I like the fact it was based in real life events as it shows the history of how lgbt people were treated back then and it could teach others how they have been discriminating against and the overall message of the film showcases that nothing is wrong with the two teenagers being in love so it sends the message to non-lgbt people that nothing is wrong with them but yet with the films ambiguous ending with the two gunshots mimicking the real life event and It fully felt terrible with the anger Nino's family had said about Gianni, but it was so realistic. Another prop is the ending as I said above it chooses to ambiguous but I would rather pretend they got a happy ending instead of the real life event but still acknowledging it.

For the cons of the movies, I would say the some cuts did makie it confusing to watch if I were to accidentally miss a scene but overall there was nothing else to it, This film was greatly acted and had beautiful cinematography.

Overall the film was great it had a great message and it could be used to show the ridiculousness of discrimination for something so harmless and innocent that if one of the boys gender were female none of the violence and hate would not have happen showing that homophobia is such a stupid concept. If I were to give a rating to the film I would give it a 9.5/10 if there was a bit clearness to cuts it would have been perfect.

I hope you all enjoy this review and if you want to watch the film it is available on Tubi for free

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review# 11: The Next Prince

For this review, we will be discussing the Thai Bl The Next Prince which was very interesting watch. Spoilers ahead.

The plot revolves around Khanin who at a young age was sent into hiding until after an attack on his life he was given a bodyguard Charan to protect him and be sent to his home country the kingdom of Emmaly in which he would compete for the crown.

In my initial watch of the show I was interested in it due to me being a sucker for the royal x bodyguard trope so seeing the main couple did not disappoint. I was captivated by the world building of a fictional country and how it would explain its geography. watching Khanin and Charan having to escape from mercenaries on their way to the country was fun and learning more about the history process was a good addition. Also I was interested in the side couples there were involved and seeing how their relationship dynamics plays out as we have Ramil and Paytai be that of a secret with slight bdsm undertones or Calvin and Jay in which it was showing the beginning of one.

For the pro of the series, all the cast have good chemistry they were believable and fun to watch and tearjerking when each had their moments and you just want to watch how the relationship develops and see where everything goes. Another would be the costumes and the sets which shows high amount of details and elegance which is like a dream to watch and imagine yourself in. Another pro would be the first part of the series where we are learning about the overall setting and world building as we are introduce to each royal candidate and learning about the geography of the kingdom and how it operates with 4 distinct regions. Lastly another pro wou;d be the villain that had very good reasons to be one and casted un an understanble light but since it was not revealed until the end their still an era of mystery on who it would be.

For the cons, One would be the obvious product placements that were so obvert, I was taken aback like ok once or twice sure but like nearly every episode yeah... too much, I am watching a show not a commercial. Another would be when the show burst into random song like in the beginning it was fine but in other times it was random, luckily the singing voice was great so it was enjoyable. Another con would be the side couples get less screen time as the story when on as in the beginning they were on full display but near the end it became less and less. Lastly, another con would be plot as it felt like it went into different directions at times where you never really know what it was going to do luckily the ending was fine for me.

Overall the series was great and I enjoyed watching it and great way to pass the time. The Thai Tv rating is 18+ as there as very explicit scenes for at least two of the couples and some violence that is not suitable for young viewers. If I were to give the series a rating I would give it a 7/10 as I wanted so much more from the series and despite me wanting to know what's going to happen next it just left wanting more but not more as in it was good but more as in I need more from the plot and characters.

I hope you all enjoy the review and if you want to watch the series or check it out the first episode is on YouTube and there other places to stream but if you have a subscription it is on iQIYI. Please give me more Series to watch if you like.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media trope analysis #1: Queerbaiting

In a part of this blog we will be discussing tropes or topics revolving around queer media and the roots of them and how it has evolved or regress as time moves on and in this first analysis will be Queerbaiting which is the act of a media using a character or plot point that is used to attract a queer or ally audience to watch the show but outright not do anything with it to appease more homophobic audiences in most often cases it would done in the marketing of the media but not in the actual media. So lets see some examples and how it changes.

Queerbaiting can come in many different forms and can be overt or subtle with how its done. A famous example would be the marketing of Disney Queer characters, In which they hype of these characters up in marketing but when the actual movie comes out its usually regulating to characters with bit roles that do not have much to do with the plot with only one or two lines. Some of these example seen above I have seen and I'm like that was it, why hype these character up for such short roles, they could've not marketed them and it will be better received.

Another example would be hinting at a queer relationship blossoming between two characters but never ending up anywhere and that if one of the genders were reserved then they would have full blown written the relationship some examples I have heard was in Supernatural between Dean and Castiel where some of the fans felt that they were teased with a relationship only for it to be one sided confession and then Castiel was killed off right after. Many of my friends who have watched show expressed displease and unsatisfactory with how it was handle. I can understand how they feel, imagine seeing onscreen romantic chemistry but it goes no where, and if the relationship was straight this couple would have more on screen physical moments.

Queer baiting in fictional media is somewhat just detrimental for the community as I can see it, can be like feeling like you're in a safe space then not being a safe space. Like if it was a straight character it would have been green lit bit a queer relationship has to be teased and hidden in subtext while some companies will fully market them more than that which could lead to disappointment.

Now I have also seen Queer baiting used on real people in which I don't mostly agree with. As 1. it can feel as if we need know people private lives or their sex lives, 2. It is rooted in stereotypes for example Harry Styles wearing more feminine clothing, as people have stated they felt it was queer baiting but we don't know Harry Styles as a person and while the praise he got for it from people while queer men have always dressed femininely is a separate issue that does not need to include Harry's sexuality into it, and 3. It forces people to come out when they are not ready Ala Kit Conner of Heartstopper fame (I will review the show after the final volume) which we as a community should have never done.

However, I will also point out the some content creators or media companies will Queer bait but in turn can be absolutely homophobic or support homophobic causes. One example would be the Kpop industry in which companies will advertise an Idol ship pairing in any way possible and highlighting it while actively be homophobic to actually Queer idols Like HOLLAND who is know to be openly queer and out with his sexuality. Another example I have seen is when content creators will tease being queer for fans to buy their products but actively say they are straight essentially being gay for pay. And while not common, Some people will use faking queer to lead on people while actually claiming straight so they can get something out of it but this can happen to straight people as well so it mostly does not count.

Queer baiting as whole feel like its okay to market things for us but not give in which is essentially just false advertising and detrimental for real representation and the community, I wouldn't want to watch a show that was market as queer but the get like one vague scene with a bit character; this would just waste my time when I could actively be watching a queer show and enjoying it. Companies actively pandering to queer fans but giving crumbs and or being actively homophobic is just immortal and downright tired, Can they just give us good representation and just let us feel safe and not also pander to hate groups; queer people are not a cash market, we are people who want to be seen.

I hope you all enjoy this analysis and give me topics like this to talk about and give my your opinions one whether or not a media is queer baiting or not, I would love to hear it.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review #10: Our Dreams at Dusk

For our media review we will be reviewing the manga Our Dreams at Dusk, which is insightful of viewpoint of several identities in Japan along with learning and acceptance.

Our Dream at Dusk revolves around highschool student Tasuku Kaname who was outed unintentionally and planned on commiting self harm but before he could, he witness a person jumping from a window only to find they were unharmed and followed them into a "drop-in" center and meet others like him.

My initial read of the manga I was quite interested as I hear some things about the manga so I wanted to check it out but when I did, I absolutely loved the story and how it explores all identities and sexuality, the story telling and the character were all well written. With Tasuku being the main character, we view the world in his lens and he gets to give the other member of Cat Clutter, the drop in center each time to shine as he learns more about his identities and and come to terms with his own sexuality. Someone-san is also a highlight of the manga as their mysterious aura seems almost spirit like and highlights in my opinion the freedom of being who you are and open and leads almost like a role model for the younger characters and in inspiration for the older ones, I really loved their character and I would honestly wish the meet someone like them.

For the pros of the manga, as I highlighted above each character was given their time to shine when ever Tasuku was with one of them as we learn each about them and their histories, such as Haruko who is a lesbian who we learn that she has a partner and deciding to be married at the end; Shuuji, a kid who doesn't know what gender they identifies as but loves to dress in a more feminine appearance; Natsuyoshi, a transman who deals with transphobic microaggressions; Tchaiko, an elderly gay man who plays classical music and in near the end we found out his lover is in hospice and was the first to meet someone-san; and lastly Someone-san, who we find out us asexual but leaves Tasuku the impression that no matter what they identify as they are happy to be free. Another pro is showing the struggle of being LGBTQ in the eyes of a less accepting area as despite most of the characters are just people, some people in the story still treat them less than and this was highlight when Tasuku was with a group a friends when his crush Touma (who later starts questioning his sexuality?) says some disparaging remarks but one girl objected that they are not what he is saying and that they are regular people which highlights that fact allyship is important when it comes to those remarks as I believe that when done right an ally should also speak up and call out comments like that.

For the cons, I don't really have any, the mange was really well written and highlight both gender and sexuality and gives it a viewpoint on each one, from a young and old person perspective to a cis and trans person perspective, show the struggle in many different age, gender, and sexuality groups while also giving it a hopeful ,message of acceptance.

Overall the manga is really great and I recommend everyone to read it as it showcases the freedom of being who you are and the option of having a chosen family and overall a great support system and setting on learning who you are. Despite their being heavy topics, it really showcases real struggles that many LGBTQ people face e]and can be relatable to many. If I were to give this manga a rating, I would give it a 10/10 for its realism and message.

I hope you enjoy this review and give the manga a read, its found in most manga websites and can be purchased on Amazon if you want a physical copy.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review #9: Young Royals Season 3

Continuing where we left off, we will be reviewing the final season of Young Royals. Spoilers ahead.

In season 3 of Young Royals we continue where we left off, where we see the consequences of Wille's Speech and his confession of love for Simon and we see both boys determination to be together despite the public knowing of their relationship

My initial watch of season 3, I was already waiting to see what was going to happen after the speech now that everything is out in the open. We see the relationship of the boys be out in the spotlight as now they are getting harassed by the paparazzi and Simon being put under scrutiny for even attending events that he would normally not be threaten for. We see Sara be more reclusive and leaving the school due to the incident of last season. There is also the looming arc of the schools potential shut down after past hazing incidents become public and the queen potentially abdicating which puts Wille in a tough spot.

For the pros of the season, we finally explore the plot the season one question in which what would happen if the relationship was public and we see full effect that Simon is still put under scrutiny, but now Wille can have a say instead if hiding behind the monachy. another pro would be the focus on the side characters such as Felice and Sara having to build their friend ship again and we see the other kids at school have their little moments to shine as the school is closing. Another pro would be the fact that now we would see what would be the monarchy's and the public's answer to a homosexual king and it shows how like in most place where some are happy and others not so much.

for cons the only one would be the end as it felt fast in which maybe another episode would've help but that's just me as while I like the ending in which Wille and Simon end up together with Wille renouncing the throne, which Wille wanted day one but it was kinda lost until the end which yeah I get it because your boyfriend is getting threats but I which they would have had Wille be more assertive with relationship like throw the Crown power a little bit but overall it was fine for how it was.

Overall the series as a whole was a good watch and I loved watching as the seasons were airing and I'm happy it got a full series and not cancellation. I loved that the boys were able to live a happily ever after driving into the unknown and that it makes wish that for them. If I were to rate the season I would give it a 9/10 as I wish it was longer and If I were to give a series rating I would give it a 8.5/10 as it was really good and I wanted more overall. I would also like to give a hand to the actors as they did a really good job and showed so much onscreen chemistry.

I hope you all enjoy the review and if you want to watch the series it is available on Netflix in its entirety. If you like please give me more shows to watch.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Character Analysis #4: Titus Andromedon

For this character analysis we will be covering Titus Andramedon from Unbreakable Kimmy Schimdt played by Titus burgess. Titus is by far one of the most funniest characters on the main cast and since he is one of the principle players, there is plenty of screen time where we get to see the character have his time to shine. Whenever he would appear on screen I knew it was going to be a laugh riot with theatrics and fun. His character's flamboyance, sass, witty remarks, confidence, and just overall himself makes the show 10 times better and quite honestly I would've had wanted a spinoff season with just him because he was so funny.

When we first see Titus, it is the very first episode where he is introduced as the new roommate for Kimmy when she moves to New York after living in a bunker for 15 years. Titus is living in New York to try to be a Star, auditioning for roles on Broadway or Movies. For most of the first season, he is a guide for Kimmy adjusting for the outside world and telling her the ins and outs of life in New York while also mostly thinking about himself most of the time. He was relegated for the role through most of season one but in season 2 we experience more of his past in which it opens up to the fact that he was married to a woman who he broke it off by claiming he was dead and only found out he was alive due to a viral video about Kimmy. When the matter is resolved we see that later in the season we see him getting involved with a construction worker named Mikey who he helps with coming to terms with his sexuality. We also see his determination in becoming a Star by working in a musical theater restaurant and making a one man play about a geisha.

In The later half of the series, Titus' character evolves more after in the ending of season 2 he was casted as a swing on a musical on a cruise but leaves the cruise as he accidentally poisons the whole ship (not lethally) and leaves on a life boat with nothing . When he comes back to New York he found out Mikey is seeing another man which causes him to start "Lemonading" (singing mostly Beyonce's lemonade album song) but was wrong but broke up with him anyway due to stress being Mikey's first boyfriend. He did join a choir and met another guy but is quickly did not last. In the final season Titus is mostly Trying to land roles and pitch movie ideas and win Mikey back. But ends up mostly unsuccessful but in the series finale Titus lands the role of an understudy on Broadway and got back together with Mikey.

As a character Titus is seen to develop over time after while as Kimmy tries to get him to be more emotionally vulnerable as when we first saw him he was always thinking of himself and had a huge ego but as the series went on he becomes softer but still keeping his theatrics. His sexuality is also on the forefront of his character often showing in his storylines. Titus' homosexuality is often the highlight of the show as it provide witty remarks but not ones that are laughing at but with him, often quoting queer pop culture or jokes such the whole Lemonading segment which honestly I would do in real life. Though for some he might seem like stereotypical musical theater gay, He has more stuff going on in the show such the divorce storyline and the Mikey storyline so it does not make him one note and though he can also be described as the gay best friend to the leading lady, he has plotline outside of her and this makes them feel more equal instead of a batman and robing dynamic that can be seen in some media.

Overall Titus is a great character who gets his time in the spotlight and is hilarious with his theatrical nature and sassy demeanor. HIs open homosexuality accentuates his character in his comedy and plotlines and even though it is in the forefront of his character its just as much as important as his dream of being a Star and his remantic relationships. His plotline of not giving up on your dreams and being who you are is honestly great and his determination is aspiring. If I were to rate his character, I would give him a 10/10 he is greatly written and I enjoy watching his scenes.

I hope you all enjoy this character analysis and If you like, please give more characters to analyze and in the future I might also consider characters that are also more prominent queer media as well.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review #8: But I'm A Cheerleader

For this review, we will be discussing the American movie But I'm A Cheerleader. A classic comedy full of hilarious scenes. Spoilers ahead.

But I'm A Cheerleader revolves around Cheerleader Megan Bloomfield as she is sent to conversion therapy camp by her parents as they, to her shock believe she is a lesbian for being a lesbian but while there she develops feeling for her female camp mate Graham and goes through self discovery.

In my initial watch of the movie, I was weary with how serious the movie was going to be based on the premise, but to my surprise to see how campy (pun intended) it was. the comedy was funny and basically makes fun of the whole conversion therapy as it should not even exist in the first place, fortunately as someone who has never been sent to one the idea of it makes me afraid. The characters themselves were hilarious and I really like Megan's journey of finally accepting who she is being in the camp as while out of the camp she just thought she was straight but just like stereotypical "lesbian" fads and just not into her boyfriend but in camp she realizes she is a lesbian and goes on to accept it.

for the pros of the movie, I do like the characters as there were albiet some stereotypes, they were still written in a comedic sense; especially Rupaul's Characters Mike as one of the "ex-gays" who still is attracted to men. another pro is as I stated above Megan's journey as it really is well written, as I think it could relate to someone's sexual identity or gender identity where she tries to be straight but ultimately accepts she's a lesbian which is nice to see that even when question later on in the film she apologetically says shes a lesbian. Another pro would be the ironic scenery when it comes to the camp as it is filled with "happy" and pastel colors despite the place being horrible as it feels like a false front and most of the movie is filled with ironic moments.

The only con I would say about the film is that maybe it can be considered too campy for the subject matter especially revolving around conversion therapy which is a very serious topic to discuss and it goes with some of the punishment some of the campers face a bit too lightly like staying in a dog house. Also it being campy may find some moments a bit too much and while I don't mind it and like most of the scenes, some people may find it a bit dull or crude but that's a personal matter.

Overall the movie is a very good watch and has a great message and unlike other coming out type movies, there isn't any angst and more or less does not take itself seriously but does not fall into the trap of bad writing or resorts to mostly telling crude humor. I could see why this film is a cult classic for some and it can be relatable, it is a rather great film that I think most LGBT people would like to watch. If I were to give the film a rating I would give it a 9/10 as the film is hilarious and great and does not need much improvement but the message about acceptance is wonderful.

Hope you enjoy this review and if you would like to watch the film it is at the time of posting is available for free on Philo but sometimes it can be free on Youtube or Tubi. If you have any other queer movies to watch please comment or message me with some recommendations.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media review# 7: Young Royals season 2

So continuing where we left off, We will be reviewing season 2 of Young Royals, this review will be similar to my review of season 1. Spoilers ahead.

In Season 2 of Young Royals we continue where we left off after the break up of Wille and Simon after an intimate video of them leak in which causes Wille to plan his revenge on the leaker, his cousin August and Simon, who is trying to move on by starting dating someone new.

My initial watch of season 2, kept me at the edge of my seat as I wanted to see what was going to happen after the break and the leaking of the video. We see Wille tormenting August by using anything to take away his power while also trying to win back Simon. Simon, meanwhile having to face the brunt of the leak himself just wants to move on from the while mess which leads him to start a relationship with a guy named Marcus, which caused Wille to breakdown and threaten the monarchy. As this is happening Sara, Simon's sister has moved into the dorms and started hanging out with Felice and the other girls while also having a secret relationship with August which come backs to bite her as when Simon found out who leaked the video he was going to go to the police but she told August before he could. This all culminates to a dramatic scene where all the secrets were revealed with Simon feeling the most betrayed by his sister.

For the pros of this season, one would be not being repetitive of the previous season as instead of Wille and Simon being all lovey dovey they are broken up and having to rebuild their relationship. another pro would be depiction of therapy and mental health as Wille definitely needed it especially after the death of his brother and the video. Another pro would be the season shows the consequences of previous action and steps taken to not repeat it, such as Wille being more outspoken not just against August but even the monarchy after being passive which caused him to lose Simon and in one scene that made me laugh when Wille and Simon were having an intimate moment he went up to the window to close the curtain before continuing which alright Wille lets not make the same mistakes again. Lastly another pro would be the ending of this season as it felt more open ended with some strings left unfinished but overall showed Wille's development as stated before with hum confirming that it was him in the video and professing his love for Simon.

For the cons, I would say it would be the introduction of Marcus as it felt he was more of pawn for Wille to come to his realization of his feelings for Simon and not an actual person. This introduction of the love angle was pointless as it could have been done away with and also not make Simon a cheater and lead someone one as it did kinda ruin his character abit but it did give drama I'll give it that. also the plot line with Felice and Wille which there was a rumor between them did not do much with the story and was glossed over and for me it was either make a thing or do away with it. Another would be the relationship with August and Sara as it could have been done but for me it ruins Sara's character and only made her worse when she told August Simon's plan to report only for her to do the same when she felt that she betrayed her brother which ok but it felt like the writers want to makes couple work by giving them some spotlight only for it crumble as it seemed Sara was okay with what August did until it blew up in her face.

Overall this season was okay as it focused on more characters and leaned way more into the drama aspect and with the open ending of this season it left me wanting to see what was going to happen next while also pleased that if netflix were to cancel at-least I had something to not gripe about but thankfully they did not and atleast we would be able to see the consequences of this season unfold. If I were to rate the season I would give it a 7.5/10 as it focused on making drama but it did not follow through and made characters look worse.

Hope you all enjoy the review and next week I will be reviewing the final season. If you would like to watch the series it is available on Netflix. If you like please give me more things to review.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Character Analysis #3: Marceline

For our third character analysis, we will be covering the other half of bubbline Marceline from adventure time voice by Olivia Olsen. Marceline The Vampire Queen or Marcy by some is one of the more fascinating characters on the show as she gave us glimpses of the past due to her being a 1000 years old and shows us events that happen way before the era where the series would start. Everytime I saw her I knew the episode was gonna be great with tunes or lore. Despite her sexuality being more hidden due to "TV standards for kids" she was comfirmed to be at least BI based on the last two relationships she had. So lets see how she evolved over the course of 10 seasons of the show and spoilers ahead.

When we first see Marceline in the series she actually played an antagonistic role where she kicked out Finn and Jake out of her home but the matter got resolved later in the episode. From then on Marceline was a main character where she would drop in on Finn to hang out or scare Jake. In the first few seasons she was different then most female characters as she never really played the damsel in distress but more so "one of the boys" type character where she usually seen hanging out or rocking out. the first inkling we got to a backstory was in the first episode of season 2 where we are introduced to her Dad, a demon king from the nightosphere and we see that her relationship is strain at the very least. In season 3 we have an episode where we see some of her memories including one featuring her dad and an ex-boyfriend who in turn try to erase a memory so they could get back together, one of the first episode where we sorta see Marceline need "saving". In season 4 opener we actually do see Marceline need saving when we see her dad trick her into ruling the nightosphere and Finn and Jake had to get her out. Near the end of the season we have an episode where Ice king came to Marceline's house to write a song but it is revealed that in the distant past Ice king or Simon who is what Marceline knows him as took care of her before he became insane and this episode starts the trend in which Marceline doesn't see him as a villain but someone struggling with mental health which help develops his character later on.

In the later seasons we see more episodes focusing on Marceline outside of Finn and Jake such as a season 5 episode "Simon and Marcy" where we see a flashback which shows how Marceline was as a child post war and Simon taking care of her in the absence of her parents and we see how their relationship switched in the present day in which Marceline has taken a more mature role in the relationship and treating Simon more as a crazy uncle than a parental figure. In a season 6 episode "Princess Day" we see her have a Thelma and Louise type adventure with Lumpy Space Princess. In a season 7 episode "Varmints" we see her relationship with Princess Bubblegum rekindle while hanging out together. In the Stakes Miniseries we see her origin in becoming a vampire while protecting humans and we see her grapple with her immortality to the point she chooses to revert back to a mortal for awhile until she was turned again. For the most part she remained a presence in the series until the season 10 episode "Marcy and Hudson" where she and her father start to make up and lastly the famous kiss between her and PB at the finale.

As a character, Marceline is in the forefront of various episodes throughout the series. in the her first episode she she was an antagonist but after that she was a deuteragonist. Marceline's sexuality as a Bisexual character was not put in the forefront but unlike Bubblegum, she had a story revolving around an ex-boyfriend and her relationship with Bubblegum was often down to teasing such as the episode "I remember you" in the first few seasons to some flirting and reminiscence in the latter especially seen in the episode "Varmints" that gave the most development in my opinion and since Marceline was the focus in the Stakes MIniseries, we see their relationship develop more estranged people to more until they finally kissed in the last episode. For the most part Marceline's role in the story was to act as a lore keeper for Simon and in her focus miniseries, to show what it is like to be immortal and the tolls it does have and how it could skew her morals abit but due to this she gives light to why Ice King is the way that he his and the ability to not have Bubblegum on a pedestal unlike the rest of the cast due to their long history with each other.

Overall Marceline's characters has given us the most amount lore and backstory for many of the series main characters. Unlike PB, relationships were the forefront just not romantic ones or well besides PB but familial ones such as her dad and SImon. Any romantic relationships were mostly in the past and any hints to Marceline being Bi was more obvert than PB as she was more openly flirty teasing with her than PB was. If I were to rate her character it would be a 10/10 as she was complex and gave clues to the past that we would never have known as the viewer.

Hopefully you all enjoyed this analysis and I will definitely cover the Bubbaline relationship more in depth later on. If you want to watch the show it is available on Hulu, Max, and Disney+.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review #6: Marry My Dead Body

For this review we will be going over the Taiwanese movie Marry My Dead Body. This movies was surprised me in a good way. So lets get this review rolling and spoilers ahead.

Marry My Dead Body centers around a Straight cop Wu Ming Han who was put into a ghost marriage (a tradition in which involves a living person marry a deceased single in hopes of them achieving peace, please correct me if I'm wrong I'm not familiar with the custom) with Mao Pang Yu, a gay guy who had died recently. Once married Ming Han starts seeing Mao's ghost and in attempt to appease him, he starts going through Mao request and help solve his mysterious death.

My initial watch of the movie made me abit turned off by it due to Ming Han's homophobia in the beginning to there was a sense of irony when it came to him marrying a dead guy which kicks off the movie. When Ming Han starts going through Mao's requests they start getting along better and we see Ming Han be more accepting. For most of the movie follows Ming Han finish Mao's unfinished business along with a overarching plot with Ming Han trying to solve a high profile case. Later on in the movie we see how Mao died and we find out it is related to Ming Han's case so the intersecting of both causes both plots to combine and we get to see the resolution a both with a twist villain but it caught me off guard which I loved.

For the pros for the movie is the comedic aspect of as most jokes are ironic or just physical comedy which made me burst into laughter quite a few times. Another aspect is the twist villain, I did not expect it and I usually get most twist villains so I was shocked to see this one as I hadn't noticed any clues but yet it still made sense in the narrative of the movie. Another pro would be the sense of mystery over Mao's death as it was important and done right as it did help connect the two subplots of the movies which made it great for the story and gave focus to both instead of one.

The cons of the movie would only be the beginning when Ming Han was homophobic and abit of a prick but it was quickly subsided as the movie went along. Another con would it felt slow in the beginning but it kinda introduce the concept of a ghost marriage to someone who might be unfamiliar so I can't really fault it for that, but in that time it felt slow and it really only picked when Ming Han starts the solve Mao's death but that may be due to the fact it was an intersecting point of both plots

Overall the movie was really great and I like the fact it shows a platonic relations instead of a romantic on because both are important and its nice to see that as queer friendships are not talked about as much or for most movies I've seen it either the queer character is put to the side or the story becomes a dramafest of unrequited love so this was a unique format to watch as the relationship started of as a marriage but blossomed into a great friendship. If I were to rate the movie I would give it a 8.5/10, my only complaint was that if felt slow but overall it speeds up as the movie progresses.

I hope you all enjoy the review and if you want to watch the movie it is available on Netflix. If you like please give more queer movies or Taiwanese bls to review

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Review# 5: Young Royals season 1

For this review, we will be discussing season one Swedish TV show Young Royals. For series that contain more than one season, I will be reviewing each season individually. I fully watched this as it was airing and I was hooked. Spoilers ahead.

Season one Young Royals is about a Swedish prince Wilhelm or Wille as he transfers to a prestigious private school in which he meets a scholarship student Simon in which he develops a relationship with. Their relationship is put to the test as it will be under heavy scrutiny. with not just the people surround them but the whole country as well.

My initial watch of the show left me with intrigued as I wanted to see how would this relationship played out and it certainly did as I waited for every season to come out. for the first season, we see the boys develop their relation while also trying to hide it due Wille being a prince and all and for the most part it went well until Simon asking payment from August, Wille's cousin for the alcohol he bought them which lead to some problems but only blew up when one of August's friends were caught with drugs and he wanted to blame Simon but Wille put a stop to it and in anger Leaked a video of Simon and Wille having an intimate moment and caused the whole nation to panic because this was after Wille's brother Erik who was like his biggest support and current crown prince had died in an accident making Wille the new crown prince. This incident causes a massive strain as Simon's private life is over and causes some irrevocable damage to the relationship until next season.

The pros of the show was the story telling as it left me at the edge of my seat every episode, I wanted to know what happens next every credit roll. Another pro would be the side characters and their presence in this season, mainly August who serves to be the villain and the Felice who had a crush on Wille but dates August instead and Simon's sister Sara who is also a scholarship student as well. the characters are very well written and it makes you want to see more of them the next season. Lastly another pro would be showcasing the differences between Simon and Wille as it really show how different they are the the struggles it presents in the relationship. for instance Simon not being rich and Wille being the new crown prince a long with their family dynamics with Wille having the pressure to follow the monarchy rules and only having his older brother to support him while Simon has his family being more free and open about themselves. Another difference would be privilege as Wille being the prince can get away with a lot more than Simon can as this is seen in the final episode as Simon is the one getting the heat with Being with Wille and his privacy is taken away from him.

For the cons, I would say that the season felt incomplete but that's fine as there are two others but with how Netflix is with cancelling shows after one season it was a blessing that it got two more to help finish the story especially since August did not get any justice but that is also would happen in real life so yeah. Another con would be seeing more of Simon's life outside of the school as we know his friends and family but that's it, for the most part his only conflict outside of school is his dad who is and absentee parent. Seeing more of Simon's life outside of it could help drive the differences between him and Wille would have been great as it could show how this relationship would not just affect him but everyone around him.

Overall the first season of the series is great and it left me wanting more and I was very pleased to see that it was given the greenlight for two more seasons. Due the series tackling very serious issues and being more explicit the rating is TV-MA so keep that in mind when watching the show, so I would not recommend it to a younger audience. If I were to give it a rating I would give it an 8.5/10 as it left me wanting more but there was some stuff still missing that I wanted.

Hope you all enjoy the review and in the subsequent weeks I will be review the latter two seasons which can give me more time to watch for shows in the mean time. If you would like to watch the series it is available on Netflix. in the mean time give me some more recommendations on shows.

[queermediareviewer]

Queer Media Character Analysis #2: Princess Bubblegum

For our second character analysis would be the ever controversial princess Bonnibel Bubblegum from Adventure Time voiced by Hyden Walsh. Princess Bubblegum or PB by some is famous or rather infamous for being the princess of the candy kingdom and according to some, a tyrannical dictator. Having seen the show since it started airing, seeing her evolve into a complex character is very interesting and quite frankly astounding. I low-key wanted be her at the beginning of the series which I mean yeah who would not want to be a princess made of candy who is wicked smart. Despite not having her sexuality stated on the show, she was at least confirmed to be queer outside the show due to "Tv standards for kids" So lets see how her character evolve throughout the series and of course spoilers ahead.

When we first see Princess Bubblegum, she is like everything else in the world of Adventure Time; zany, weird, and colorful. There was not much too her in the early season 1-4 of the show, for the most part she was the crush of the main character Finn and was friend with Jake's girlfriend Lady Rainicorn. She was portrayed as the damsel in distress character for whenever the Ice King kidnapped her (which I would like to know how he was able to do so for so many times, I get he can just freeze her but I would think that someone who is smart enough to invent thing would make something that would instantly melt or be used against him), In her first appearance in the first episode of the series we see her as smart enough to attempt to bring back life but goes horribly wrong and creates candy zombies and as an attempt to calm her citizen she creates a slumber party in her castle. Thought season 1 she was a damsel in distress character in episode that featured her to some extant. In season 2 we see her first interaction with Marceline which show some familiarity in the past but we do not know what and a major polt shift for her was in the last episode of season 2 where she was reverted to a "physical" age of 13 matching Finn. In season 3 we see her revert back to her normal age when on of her creation Earl Lemongrab tried to take over the candy kingdom and in what was missing we see that PB and Marceline had a falling out in the past as seen in Marceline's song I'm just Your problem (which I will analyze later in Marceline's character anylsis). In season 4 we finally see her in a more heroic role In the episode "Lady and Peebles" where they have to rescue Finn and Jake. In Goliad we see her more questionable side arise when Stating the "Goliad" is a genetic copy of her that become more tyrannical which suggest something more darker in her.

In the later seasons of the show we see a major turning point in her character. Starting in season five we see her more questionable side in action starting in the episode Earth and Water, Where she is testing Flame Princess's elemental matrix which doesn't seem bad but in a flashback we see the PB is indirectly the reason Flame Princess was in a lantern as she told her father that he needed to do something about her or she will which is questionable. In the episode Rattleballs we see her destroy an army of robots she made because they were too ruthless and basically ordered them to stay still and be crushed. Season 6 is when we fully see her tyrannical side in play in which in the episode "The Cooler" she goes to the fire kingdom and Sabotage their kingdom by 1. destroying the fire giants that are meant to protect the kingdom and 2. having Ice King freeze the kingdoms core which causes the kingdom to decrease in temperature which is bad for her citizens. In the episode "Hot Diggity Doom" She was elected out of the kingdom due to in her own word for making the candy people too stupid to realize a bad leader. In season 7 episode "Bonnie and Neddy" we see her origin being born over 800 years ago from a giant gum amalgamation and later in the episode the "Dark cloud" she takes back her throne. In the episode "Thin Yellow Line" we see some of her citizen questioning her authority and being labeled as a tyrant. In season 8's episode "High Strangeness" she begins to create candy life to inhabit other planets causing due to her fears of something going wrong. Lastly in Season 10 we see her preparing for the war against her "Uncle" Gumbald and here we see her finally kiss Marceline in the very last episode in the series.

As a character Princess Bubblegum was pretty much in the forefront of many episodes thought out the series filling various roles in the story. For the first few seasons, she was seen as a damsel in distress or a hero while in the latter season was given a complexity to even be given the role of antagonist in some episodes. Princess Bubblegum's sexuality is not in the forefront of her character which gives so much room for her to be complex, and to be honest she never really had an romantic plotlines unless it involved her past relationship with Marceline but for the most part until the episode "Varmints" which gave the most in term of development of their past relationship and the stakes miniseries in which we see the more development from friends to something more, we really don't see much of it until the final episode of the series in which they kiss. And while her sexuality has no label she is queer for the most part. But for the most part her main storyline is what is it like to not just be a ruler but essentially being the creator of a bunch of people and trying to maintain a status quo for their own protection even if it means having to do bad things. Princess Bubblegum puts her Kingdom first she is their "mother" for the most part and this drives her morals and she simply does not care if some see her as a tyrant as in her eyes she does care for her people. This is mostly her reason not to date until she felt like she wanted too.

Overall Princess Bubblegum is by far one the more complex characters I have seen in most children media and Adventure Time itself really does exemplify what it means to be a complex character. Despite Princess Bubblegum's sexuality not being open and more or less hinted at until the final episode of the series, her character alone is complex enough where her relationships is not a forefront, her being queer is more or less just a facet of her but for story purposes just not a big one, which is alright as romance does not need to be main point or motivation for every character. If I were to rate her character it would 10/10, her complexities really do shine as she stands out as the most divisive character on the show.

Hopefully you enjoyed this character analysis and it was a long one but I am covering nearly 10 season of show. I will down the line cover Marceline in a separate post and maybe cover how their relationship develop and their history. If you want to watch the show it is available on Hulu, Max, and Disney+.