Though the streaming age is said to offer endless viewing opportunities, it seems like it’s hard to find a shiny, new, easy-going show to dive into. Luckily, Netflix has a solution: Glamorouscreated by Jordon Nardino (Star Trek: Discovery).
In the style of workplace shows like Ugly Betty And The brave guyThe series is about Marco Mejia (Miss Benny), a wannabe makeup influencer who works in a department store and craves something more. When Madolyn Addison (Kim Cattrall), the mogul behind luxury makeup brand Glamorous by Madolyn, shows up for an impromptu makeover, she’s impressed by Marco’s vision and hires the two to work for her, giving them the opportunity of her life gives.
But Glamorous is not only a cute, charming show that makes for one of the most enjoyable binge-watches in ages – it might just be the gayest show alive today, a tribute to female quirkiness we’ve never seen on mainstream television before have.
Seriously, this show is extremely Cheerful. For example, answer questions about Marsha P. Johnson, dance to Sylvester’s “Mighty Real,” and ride a go-kart through a rainbow to attend a gay pride party. Kim Cattrall takes pictures with drag queens (including amazing). Drag Race Winner Priyanka)! There is a longer sequence of a group of gay guys doing drag things and performing the full cell block tango. There’s a lingerie party.
A major plot point involves Madolyn’s makeup company running a Pride campaign — rumored to be a huge deal for a luxury makeup brand. There’s even a character whose name is spelled Mckynnleigh. To be honest, the only one Glamorous It’s missing Kylie Minogue’s queer summer hit Padam Padam, although I’m sure it would be here too had the show been filmed more recently.
Glamorous is not only exuberantly queer, but also has something special with its main character Marco, who presents himself as feminine. While that might not sound revolutionary, there is still a very limited idea of how queer men should look and act on TV.
The gay guys we see starring are often very masculine and conventionally very attractive. Groundbreaking shows about gay men like Six feet under, LookAnd Queer than Folk changed the way we saw homosexuality on screen, but it was a predominantly white and heterocoded image that stuck through the years — and when gay characters aren’t white, you can bet they have abs.
Fortunately, a lot has happened in the last decade, and we’re seeing more and more diverse perspectives on homosexuality. And by more diverse, I don’t mean just less white characters, but a more diverse portrayal of all that queerness entails. That’s especially true in recent years with shows like sex education, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Schitt’s Creek, poseAnd Dear whites They give us unique gay characters that show a broad queer experience. While that’s great to see, gay men on TV are often still different versions of six-pack jocks who have all the qualities of a “brother” but happen to be gay.
But we’ve never had a main character like Marco Mejia. Marco is uncompromisingly feminine and refuses to conform to any gender norms. Queer men who celebrate feminine and extravagant qualities are often sidelined in pop culture, hearing little more than the odd cheeky one-liner. Marco isn’t one to take a backseat – this wonderfully confident guy is the star of the show.
Marco isn’t just the star. He’s the guy everyone wants to be with. Not only that but Glamorous Deliciously plays with and subverts the tropes surrounding masculine gay men. We’re so used to seeing these muscular hunks at the top of the theoretical queer pyramid, where each of them thirsts for their impossibly good looks. But Glamorous flips that pyramid and has a bevy of sexy bros lusts after Marco, the kind of character most shows wouldn’t take a second look at due to his passion for makeup and female-coded outfits.
There’s Chad (Zane Phillips), Madolyn’s exceedingly manly son, who spends more time working out than anything else. Upon meeting Marco, he is quick to claim, “I’m gay, but I’m not…gay,” looking at Marco in confusion. While the series never develops a romantic relationship between the two, nothing can convince me that Chad Marco isn’t actively undressing with his eyes on numerous occasions.
Marco’s main romantic interests are Ben (Michael Hsu Rosen) and Parker (Graham Parkhurst), both of whom are very I look forward to putting our makeup guru to bed. Ben is cute and geeky – but in that downright cute and geeky way on TV where you realize he actually has washboard abs as soon as he takes his shirt off. He falls in love with Marco as soon as they make eye contact. Parker, on the other hand, is a tattered finance brother who hosts and entertains Marco from the luxury of his swanky apartment.
While it is delightful and awe-inspiring to witness Marco’s obsession, Glamorous explores some of the unfortunate realities that female queer people experience. This is a euphoric show where things like homophobia seem like ancient relics. But discrimination within the queer community is very real and present in the show.
Marco’s experience with Parker is great at first glance – there’s definitely passion in there and the sexual chemistry between them is exceptional. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that while Parker loves Marco’s femininity, he’s very uncomfortable being seen with Marco. This is an issue that is all too relevant in queer communities, especially for women presenting themselves as women and non-binary/trans people: the notion that being your authentic self is somehow shameful and that it makes others uncomfortable. It’s great to see that being addressed here Glamorous.
Parker tries to come to terms with Marco’s femininity, but asks her not to wear makeup at his big work event. “If you can’t take it off for a night, you don’t wear it, it wears you,” Parker tells Marco. However, what Parker doesn’t understand is that Marco doesn’t wear makeup because it’s a fun distraction or because he needs more attention. Makeup is a big part of Marco’s identity. It allows him to break the barriers of gender and feel more freely who they are. In short, makeup helps Marco be Marco. As they told Madolyn in the very first episode, “When I do my makeup in the morning, I’m not a boy who lives with his mother and can’t find a real job. I’ll be a star, a diva. I can be anything I want to be… It’s therapy in a tube. Magic in the glass.”
On the other hand, Ben loves every facet of Marco. One night, to show his support for a big event Marco is running at, Ben leans into his feminine side, wears makeup, earrings (his ears aren’t pierced, so he glued them on) and a black fishnet shirt. It’s not just a gesture of support from Ben, but one that portrays femininity as an ideal and not something to shy away from. It’s an incredibly touching moment, and one that will have you screaming on TV for Marco to choose Ben right now!
It’s magical watching Marco in these 10 episodes Glamorous. While in some ways Marco still knows who he is, in other ways he’s incredibly sure of who he is. Chad marches into a meeting after losing his job and tells him he can’t just walk in. “I’m a cutie on PrEP, I can do anything,” Marco replies coyly in his crop top and bright blue shorts. Marco is incredibly feminine, incredibly confident and, like Glamorous constantly reminds us, incredibly desirable. This is a super fun, outrageous camp and justifiably moving show. Bingeable TV is back and it’s more queer than ever.
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