Watch AJ and the Queen

AJ and the Queen is a comedy-drama television series that premiered on the streaming platform Netflix in 2020. The show is created, written, and executive produced by Michael Patrick King, best known for his work on Sex and the City, and RuPaul Charles, the renowned drag queen and television personality. The show features RuPaul himself in the lead role of Ruby Red, a drag queen on a cross-country tour who is accompanied by a precocious and street-wise 10-year-old orphan named AJ (played by Izzy G).

The show begins with Ruby Red, a popular drag queen in New York City, who has saved up enough money to buy her own drag club. However, her plan falls apart when her boyfriend and business partner, Hector (Josh Segarra), steals all of her money and disappears. A devastated Ruby is forced to hit the road and embark on a cross-country tour to earn the money back to fulfill her dream of owning her own drag club.

Ruby's road trip takes her to various cities across the United States, including cities like Columbus, St. Louis, and Austin. Along the way, she meets several colorful characters, including fellow drag queens, waitresses, and bar owners, who become a part of her journey. One such character is Louis, a mischievous and loyal friend of Ruby, who is played by Michael-Leon Wooley. As Ruby and AJ travel from one place to another, they encounter various situations and learn valuable life lessons about love, friendship, and family.

The relationship between Ruby and AJ is the heart and soul of the show. The two form an unlikely bond as they navigate their way through the challenges of the road. Ruby, who initially sees AJ as a burden, gradually realizes that she needs her more than she ever thought possible. AJ is a street-smart survivor who has had to fend for herself for most of her life, but beneath her tough exterior, she is vulnerable and in need of a parental figure. Ruby, who lost her own mother at a young age, sees this in AJ and takes her under her wing. Together they become a family, and their relationship serves as an emotional anchor throughout the show.

The show also deals with broader themes such as the struggles faced by people in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly drag queens who are often marginalized and discriminated against. Through the character of Ruby, the show tackles issues such as homophobia, transphobia, and dealing with one's own identity. The show also explores the concept of chosen family, where people who are not related by blood can form close bonds and relationships that are just as powerful as those in traditional families.

The supporting cast of the show includes Katerina Tannenbaum as Brianna, a waitress who befriends Ruby and AJ, and Tia Carrere as Lady Danger, a wealthy socialite who befriends Ruby on her journey. The show is also notable for its guest stars, who are mainly drag queens and include popular names like Bianca Del Rio, Mayhem Miller, and Valentina.

Overall, AJ and the Queen is a feel-good show with heart, humor, and plenty of drag queen shenanigans. It is a show about family, love, and the bonds that bring people together regardless of their backgrounds. It is a testament to the enduring popularity of RuPaul and his larger-than-life persona, and a celebration of the drag queen culture that has become such an integral part of LGBTQ+ history.

AJ and the Queen is a series that ran for 1 seasons (10 episodes) between January 10, 2020 and on Netflix