Top Four (4) Queer Shows From 2022

In need of a new queer series to watch? Look no further!

Photo courtesy of Mollie Sivaram

At the beginning of last year, I set out to watch several new TV shows and movies that centred around queer stories or individuals. Yet, by March the objective seemed unattainable but that didn’t stop me from still watching queer media. In fact, here are the top five movies/tv shows that I watched last year that I think you should check out if you haven’t. I will keep this post free from spoilers!

Photograph by Aaron Epstein/HBO Max

1. Our Flag Means Death - I first heard of this show on TikTok. My FYP (for you page) was filled with edited scenes from the show or individuals recommending it. I had to give in to the peer pressure and see what made this show so great! This show premiered on March 3, 2022, and consists of 10 episodes with a confirmed second season. The show is inspired by real pirates Stede Bonnet and Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard. Stede who has bought a ship with a rag-tag group that he calls his crew now sail the seas has no real idea of what pirating means until Blackbeard arrives. The show does a great job of introducing each character and setting up the perfect plot that doesn’t seem to take away from anyone. The series is perfectly paced and filled with great laughs for anyone that is watching. By the end of the series, I was fully engrossed with all the plots and rooting for all of the characters to get their happy endings.

Courtesy of Netflix

2. Master of None (Season 3) - As a lover of comedic entertainment I was on a search for something new on Netflix when I was introduced to Master of None. The show is centred around the life of Dev, an actor living in New York. As the audience, we get to see multiple troubles that Dev faces in his life as an actor or just his personal life. However, Master of None went on a hiatus leaving fans wondering what happens to Dev; then came season 3. Season 3 of Master of None is no longer centred around the life of Dev, rather he becomes a side character. Now we are watching the intimate parts of a queer relationship. Season three which centred on the previous side character, Denise has now gotten married to Alicia. I wish I had the words to describe how absolutely beautiful these moments are. Season three feels like a stunning standalone work of art, from the cinematography to the genuine emotions expressed by both characters. Granted, season three is completely different from what the show once was but I believe a person would be a fool not to appreciate the masterpiece that both Aziz Ansari and Lena Waithe tried to convey.

Courtesy of Netflix

3. Dead End: Paranormal Park - I will not be afraid to say that I love a good cartoon. I will rave on and on about Steven’s Universe and how much it impacted me as a closeted queer child. So, I just had to jump on the opportunity to see Dead End: Paranormal Park when it came up on my Twitter feed. Dead End: Paranormal Park premiered on Netflix around June of last year. One of the few things that drew me to this show was the bright colours of the trailer and the seemly new character designs. The show is focused on Barney, his dog and Norma. Similar to many of the shows listed here, the storytelling was amazing. The plot of this show is possibly one of my favourites with great twists and turns that I didn’t even expect. They also delve into Barney’s experience as a trans teen in a tolerant family. The queer representation feels intertwined in the story beautifully without overshadowing the main plot of the story. Sadly, the show has been cancelled as the creator, Hamish Steele, posted on his social media recently.

Courtesy of Netflix

4. First Kill - I must admit I grew up watching and fawning over Twilight and all it stood for. As a result of that time in my life, I adore vampires and the darkly inclined nature of the aesthetic of vampires. With all that being said you can know how absolutely excited I was to know there was a lesbian vampire series with a black family. First Kill is a drama series that first premiered on Netflix and it is the love story of Juliette and Calliope. Juliette is a part of the legacy vampire and Calliope whose family are monster hunters. It’s the good old enemies-to-lover trope and I was fully invested in it. I must preface it by saying that all of the series I watched last year First Kill definitely showed to be the most problematic. Something wasn’t quite right about the series, and many blamed the low budget or the fact that the love story itself was just not engaging. However, due to low viewership, the show was cancelled. I do still think it’s a show I may revisit every now and then and it certainly showed there is a market for vampire sapphic shows.