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- 2020
- TV-14
- Netflix
- 2020
- TV-14
- Netflix
Summary The comedy series follows the adventures of a drag queen named Ruby Red (RuPaul Charles) and AJ (Izzy Gaspersz), the 11-year-old who stowawayed in Ruby's RV.
Created By: Michael Patrick King, RuPaul
- 2020
- TV-14
- Netflix
- 2020
- TV-14
- Netflix
AJ and the Queen
Season 1 Premiere: Jan 10, 2020
46
6.8
Summary The comedy series follows the adventures of a drag queen named Ruby Red (RuPaul Charles) and AJ (Izzy Gaspersz), the 11-year-old who stowawayed in Ruby's RV.
Created By: Michael Patrick King, RuPaul
All Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 8 Critic Reviews
46
13% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
63% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
25% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 8 Critic Reviews
46
13% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
63% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
25% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
The half-hour-per-episode version of this show might have ultimately been stronger, even though many episodes don’t feel overlong. Beyond those moments, there are so many freewheeling touches over the course of the season that keep the fun alive.
The story plays like a wobbly, if occasionally charming, amalgamation of La Cage Aux Folles, Every Which Way but Loose and Curly Sue. ... The show's nostalgia for slapstick, false identities, chase sequences and general "Let's get out of here!" hijinks may test some viewers' loyalty to RuPaul, but the narrative gradually evolves into a sensitive exploration of created families.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 65 User Ratings
6.8
66% Positive
43 Ratings
43 Ratings
6% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
28% Negative
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 65 User Ratings
6.8
66% Positive
43 Ratings
43 Ratings
6% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
28% Negative
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
This was so much fun. The casting is terrific. The story is involving. RuPaul is remarkably winning. It was so nice to see Adrienne Barbeau again. And Marc Singer? I mean, come on! Both were terrific. It's a great place to be for 8 hours. RuPaul should make more series like this. Where did they find Izzy Gasperz? She carries the show on her tiny capable shoulders. And Izzy is such a fine actress. Anyone up for a remake of Paper Moon? And where do we start with Josh Segarra who is featured on several of the episodes in a see-through top. He is such a doll. (I want to see him in the Ryan O'Neal Dad role in that Paper Moon remake.) I like the way RuPaul thinks. I like his approach to entertainment. I find funny the things he finds funny. Sure, it can be cornball, silly. But it always works. Most Inspired Character of the series has got to go to Michael-Leon Wooley. That man is the real deal in every conceivable way.
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Thoroughly enjoyed this and didn't want it to end, such a feel good show with laughs and tears. Great job all involved!
Season 2 please!!
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There are moments that are absolutely transcendently funny. ... But the series is riddled with scripting snags, potentially by virtue of trying to balance camp and commentary in hour-long episodes. There are attempts at wordplay that just do not land, leaving viewers cringing. Meanwhile, Robert is charmingly unflappable, bordering on wry in his best moments, for much of the series. His introspective moments — in which he ponders aging, love, and identity — knit the series together.
I can’t say that the show is...good. Bless RuPaul for finding gravity and soulfulness in some upsettingly saccharine dialogue, a contrast to the sassily-delivered one-liners he delivers with grade-A charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.
AJ and the Queen might have been a lovely film, sweet and snappy and just on the right side of unique, but at 10 episodes, the premise grows strained and the pace is all over the place.
Unfortunately, Netflix’s “AJ and the Queen” has little to recommend it other than Ru himself, bringing to bear the star’s charisma on a tonally uneven, shaky story and trusting that glamour will carry the day. Even RuPaul has his limitations.
The acting is not great. It is bad. ... Whatever its intention, AJ and the Queen is indeed awful. But it’s not good because of it.
First of all, RuPaul’s acting in this is phenomenal. He convincingly portrays a full range of emotions. AJ is an annoying character at first, but you need to have empathy for what she’s endured and give it a few episodes. It’s called a character arc, people. Iggy is an amazing young actress and has a bright future ahead of her. As for the rest of the show, some of the plotlines and acting are camp and over-the-top, but they’re supposed to be! What did people expect from a show about drag queens? Ruby & AJ’s relationship arc feels completely real and keeps the whole show grounded. Most of the drag race queens are natural actors too. Tia Carerre is over the top and ridiculous at times, but she’s supposed to be. Again, I don’t know what people expected, but overall I was delighted and hope there’s a season 2.
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Pretty much the only reason to watch this show is if you're a fan of RuPaul's Drag Race. As a fan of Drag Race, I wanted to support the show. I did enjoy seeing the cameos from all of the queens. But it was hard to get past the writing. AJ's character was infuriating to sit through. It is a cute show that you don't have to pay much attention to, but something about it feels like a cheesy TV movie. I didn't really have many complaints about the acting like many other people did. I more had a problem with the story and writing. I don't think the show was terrible- I'd say it was bearable. With that said I wouldn't really recommend the show to anyone unless you're a fan of RuPaul and Drag Race.
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No wonder this show got canceled. The chemistry between Ruby and AJ kind of worked, but the writing is just too awfully dated for this to be remotely enjoyable. Situations and stereotypes we saw billions of times with sprinkles of weak LGBT propaganda and RuPaul self-celebration. Everything is so comfortably predictable that unless you are a Drag Face fanboy there is really little to enjoy. It's doesn't even fall under "so bad it's good". No way I could have watched the whole thing if someone hadn't forced me.
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....this is embarrassingly bad - horribly written, edited, and -short of some glimmers of hope- abysmally acted - torturous to get through even episode one. Being **** and a drag performer I’m almost upset. I love all those involved but we need to stop enabling bad art in the name of ****.
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Production Company:
- Michael Patrick King Productions
- Warner Bros. Television
Initial Release Date: Jan 10, 2020
Number of seasons: 1 Season
Rating: TV-14
Awards
Dorian TV Awards
• 1 Nomination
