Grab the popcorn because the ultimate Pride Month watchlist round-up is here with the best pride picks from Comedy to Reality and of course, Sex in Afrikaans:
Global (29 October 2023) — Grab the popcorn! To celebrate the end of Pride Month in South Africa this October, genres have united to be part of the ultimate LGBTQIA+ watchlist, with something for everyone on offer. From Reality and Romance to Comedy and Post-Apocalyptic favourites, pick your next couch potato night from these episodes:
The Ultimate Pride Month Watchlist
Horror: Chucky S1-3
Yes, it’s about a serial killer-possessed doll who makes horrible puns and murders people, but Don Mancini’s Chucky series has one of the most multi-faceted portrayals of queer identity and exploration of the world on TV.
It starts when Jake Wheeler (Zackary Arthur), a 14-year-old gay boy and doll collector, finds Chucky, who returns the “favour” of being rescued from the yardsale trash pile by targeting Jake’s bullies, including his abusive alcoholic father.
As well as giving us a queer revenge story that turns to horror, Chucky delivers a voyage of discovery between Jake and his crush-turned-friend and more, Devon Evans (Bjorgvin Arnarson).
Post-Apocalyptic: The Last of Us S1
A horror series about the end of the world is also one that clings to love and hope in all forms. Joel (Pedro Pascal) the smuggler escorts 14-year-old Ellie (non-binary performer Bella Ramsey) across an apocalyptic version of the United States in which society has collapsed thanks to a fungal outbreak that turns its human hosts into zombies. Episode 7 centres on Ellie’s backstory, including her playful love for her best friend Riley (Storm Reid) and their first kiss.
Series fans have also fallen in love with gay couple Bill (Nick Offerman), a grumpy doomsday prepper and Frank (Murray Barlett), an outgoing survivalist in episode 3, who gets a kind and moving story as they thrive together despite the world falling apart.
High School Drama: Euphoria S1-2
Zendaya has taken home two Emmys for her role in Euphoria as troubled teen addict Rue. The series’ first season offers a heartfelt look at trans experience and identification through Rue’s girlfriend Jules (trans performer Hunter Schafer) and her discussions with her therapist, along with a look at the damage that repression does through Nate (Jacob Elordi) and Cal (Eric Dane).
University Comedy: The Sex Lives of College Girls S2
Four best friends embark on multiple journeys of self-discovery at university in this comedy series created by Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble. Along with tackling student debt, sexual harassment and racism in academia in relatable and sensitive ways, the series also delivers queer joy in the budding relationships between closeted rich girl Leighton Murray (Reneé Rapp) and out-and-proud feminist Alicia (Midori Francis).
As the series goes on, Leighton continues to experiment in ways that’ll ring a bell with many viewers.
Messy, shameless, fun and freeing, Leighton gains confidence as she gives free rein to parts of herself that she was cut off from growing up.
Comedy about Comedians: Hacks S1-2
Hacks follows the sparky interplay between bisexual trainwreck and Gen Z comedy writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder), her ‘boss’, demanding comedienne Deborah (Jean Smart) and Deborah’s retinue, including her manager and PA.
The creators of the show stated that they wanted to reflect the full spectrum of gender and sexual identities and cultures that they worked with in LA, but more than that, they wanted to showcase queer people just living their lives.
Medical Drama: This Is Going To Hurt
Winner of four BAFTAs, This Is Going To Hurt follows a junior doctor in an obstetrics ward in the UK’s overburdened and collapsing public health system during 2006. Adam Kay adapted his own tragic-comic memoir of the same name, winning the Writing: Drama BAFTA in the process.
Adam (Ben Whishaw) spends most of the series at the end of his rope from exhaustion as he tries to train another junior doctor, Shruti (Ambika Mod), and to be present in his relationship with his supportive boyfriend, Harry (Rory Fleck Byrne).
But, there’s just not enough of him to go round and everything is starting to buckle. The series then shows Adam clinging to survival by his wits as his parents urge him to marry a nice girl and go into private medicine, and he’s battling with just not fitting in with the posh, straight friends he grew up with, or Harry’s hard-partying queer friend group. The struggle is real.
Best Comedy Drama: Somebody Somewhere S1-2
Actress, comedian and singer Bridget Everett breathes life into this HBO semi-autobiographical midlife crisis drama-comedy. Sam (Everett) is 40-something and lost after returning to her small-town Kansas home to help take care of her dying sister, Holly.
Sam gets back a piece of the joy that she’s lost when a new friend and co-worker, Joel (Jeff Hiller) reunites her with people who share Holly’s determined individualism and courage at “church choir practice night” — a front for a secret social club where the town’s queer community can be themselves without fear.
Period Drama: Gentleman Jack S1-2
Another BAFTA-nominated pick, this historical romantic drama is based on the coded diaries of real-life Victorian-era landowner, lesbian and industrialist Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) and explores her courtship and relationship with Anne Walker (Sophie Rundle).
The series treatment of their relationship covers everything from discreet and guarded flirtation in public to non-exploitative, sense-intimate scenes that build off the couple’s relationship without ducking entirely behind steamy metaphors.
Reality TV: We’re Here S1-2
In this fun and moving reality series, drag queens Shangela, Eureka and Bob The Drag Queen (From RuPaul’s Drag Race) travel around the US visiting small towns to help LGBTQIA people to celebrate their individuality, find their allies and establish community as they put on a drag show.
Their clients are a true reflection of life growing up queer, neurodivergent or differently abled in small-town USA, and doesn’t gloss over the struggles while pursuing freedom of expression.
Sex Ed: Sex in Afrikaans
South Africa’s Afrikaans community is often seen as deeply conservative but this docu-reality series blows the lid off that potjie.
As clinical psychologist Bradley R Daniels leads a panel of 10 Afrikaans people in opening up about what they do when the neighbours aren’t around and what they’re curious about, we see the true range of how Afrikaans people pursue pleasure.
Local and International Movies
- Rafiki
- Kanarie
- Moffie
- Inxeba | The Wound
- Call Me By Your Name
- The Fallout
- Swan Song
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