Classics: A Review of AJ and the Queen By Lauren Ennis

In a world of bad relationships, broken dreams, empty wallets, and absent parents life isn't easy. Throw in a pair of bumbling villains, a broken down RV, and a sassy stowaway, and life becomes an absolute drag. In Netflix's uproarious road comedy AJ and the Queen when the going gets tough the tough strut their stuff and walk it off in high style. This equal parts outrageous and inspiring adventure from the mind of drag icon Rupaul Charles serves as an entertaining ode to resilience, optimism, and all things fabulous.

This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship

The story begins with Robert a/k/a drag queen Ruby Red announcing his plans to retire from performing and open his own club. When the time comes to close on the purchase of the club, however, Robert's boyfriend and business partner, Hector, is nowhere to be found. Robert's personal and professional dreams are then shattered in one devastating blow when he learns that Hector is actually a grifter named Damien who has disappeared along with Robert's life savings. Things go from bad to worse when Robert returns home only for his neighbor's neglected daughter, AJ, to break into his apartment in an attempt to rob him. Although he is able to apprehend AJ and retrieve the money she had stolen she quickly disappears before he is able to return her to her foster family. The next day, he resolves to start his life over and resume performing. He then packs up his trusty RV and sets off on a national tour, unaware of the stowaway hiding among his dresses and wigs.

Combining elements of classic comedy with a millenial sensibility AJ and the Queen is a comedy for the ages. Following in the buddy comedy tradition, the series juxtaposes drag queen Robert with tomboy AJ with equal parts hilarious and insightful results. What begins as a simple buddy comedy quickly ups its ante when the unlikely pair hit the road and encounter an array of colorful characters. These interactions form both the emotional and comic core of the series as Robert and AJ embark upon one misadventure after another, all while learning vital lessons. Much like drag comedy classic To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything Julie Newmar the series utilizes its fish out of water protagonists to remind viewers of the importance of both embracing our differences and celebrating our common bonds. The duo's efforts to overcome the adversity in their lives also highlights the power of optimism while also serving as a surprisingly inspiring example of resilience. For a comedy with a heart of gold hitch a ride with Ruby and AJ in AJ and the Queen.

The wild world of AJ and Ruby comes to sparkling life thanks to the stellar work of the talented cast. Josh Segarra strikes the perfect balance between sinister and charming as duplicitous Damien. Tia Carrere makes for a hilariously memorable villain (and a fashion statement of bedazzled eye patches) as Damien's partner in crime, Lady Danger. Katerina Tannenbaum infuses her role as AJ's drug addicted mother with vulnerability and humanity. Michael-Leon Wooley runs away with each scene in which he appears as Robert's best friend and fellow drag performer Louis/Cocoa Butter. Izzy G convincingly balances her portrayal of AJ between street smart precociousness and childish innocence. Rupaul Charles reminds us all why he is the reigning queen of drag in his by turns glamorous, slapstick, and ultimately heartfelt portrayal of Robert/Ruby. Together, Charles and G make for a team that is the stuff of comedic gold as they play off of one another with a chemistry that carries the series from one misadventure to the next.

Whimsical, heartfelt, and utterly fabulous, AJ and the Queen is a re comedy that truly has something for everyone. The series' high hair and hijinks proves to be a winning combination as it continuously delivers more than enough laughs to go around. Through its expert comedic performances and witty script the series successfully takes viewers onto a wonderfully wacky journey into the depths of the human heart. When life starts dragging you down walk it off with AJ and the Queen.

Classics: A Review of Babylon Berlin By Lauren Ennis

Unemployment is rising, morals are plummeting, and politics continue to divide, my how the twenties roar; the nineteen twenties that is. Few eras continue to hold public fascination like the nineteen twenties, and few cities embodied that era of the beautiful and damned with the reckless abandon of Weimar era Berlin. The hit series Babylon Berlin explores the gritty reality behind the glamorous myth of the roaring twenties through its portrayal of a city hovering on the edge of disaster in a time and place in which life is anything but a cabaret.

Let's party like its 1929

The story begins with police inspector Gereon Rath being transferred from his hometown of Cologne to the gritty streets of Berlin. While the pornography/blackmail case that he is assigned to investigate initially seems open and shut, he quickly learns that not everything is as it seems. He soon finds himself ensnared in a convoluted web of political intrigue and personal greed that is guaranteed to leave even the most savvy of viewers guessing. He finds an unlikely partner in the form of aspiring detective turned call girl Charlotte. Together, the two uncover a series of sinister plots that take them from the city's back allies to the upper echelons of high society, and ultimately lead to the contents of a mysterious Soviet freight train. As they struggle to stay one step ahead of the criminals that they're pursuing, the pair face a series of revelations and betrayals that leave them wondering who, if anyone, they can trust, including each other.

Deftly merging elements of historical drama, political thriller, and police procedural, Babylon Berlin resurrects Weimar Berlin in all of its grit and glory, showcasing a dizzying array of details that even the most astute of historians would approve of. The sets and costumes highlight the extremes of a society torn between its past and present and divided between wealth and poverty. Rather than approaching its setting from a modern perspective and focusing upon the rise of the Third Reich, the series instead explores the ways in which Berlin, like much of Europe, was already engaged in a war within itself long before the Nazis came to power. In this Berlin, communist factions clash with one another in the streets, while rival criminal gangs unleash their own reign of terror, and nationalist groups seek to restore the monarchy at any cost. In this Babylon of a city it is not a question of 'us against them', but of every man, woman, and child against the world. Through its portrayal of an era in which merely surviving one day to the next was a matter of struggle and compromise the series reveals how Germany was already set on a course headed straight for disaster. Even as it portrays conflicts unique to the twentieth century, however, the series remains startlingly relevant through its depiction of issues that continue to resonate today including substance abuse, economic instability, PTSD, and political corruption. Despite its historical setting, the plot's maze of twists and turns serves up thrills that are sure to keep even the most seasoned of modern viewers on the edge of their seats. Although the sixteen episodes of the first two seasons are tightly paced, the series develops each of its numerous characters with a complexity and nuance that ensures that even the most brief of roles avoid cliches and stereotypes.

Toto, I have a feeling that we aren't in Cologne anymore

Weimar era Berlin roars to life thanks to the mesmerizing work of the series' talented ensemble cast. Liv Lisa Fries is captivating in her equal parts steely and effervescent portrayal of Charlotte. Volker Bruch conveys a world weariness worthy of Humphrey Bogart in a complex performance straight out of a classic noir. Peter Kurth steals each scene in which he appears, infusing his role as Gereon's corrupt colleague, Bruno, with charisma and humor. Severija Janusauskaite channels Marlene Dietrich in her smoldering turn as calculating nightclub performer turned Russian agent Svetlana. Anton von Lucke conveys warmth and boyish charm as Bruno's diligent assistant, Stefan. Leonie Benesch is appropriately vulnerable as innocent gone astray Greta. These are just a few of the cast of colorful characters that are certain to leave you binge watching.

Babylon Berlin is more than just a television series, it is a non-stop thrill ride through one of history's most explosive, fascinating, and ultimately ominous chapters. Through its absorbing script and enthralling performances the series relates a tale of intrigue, corruption, and desperation that is eerily resonant in our own era. Season three has just premiered, so start your own unforgettable journey into the Weimar Republic in Babylon Berlin.

PS Good luck trying to get the soundtrack out of your head