This summer, as some of you may know, I traveled to England for five weeks to study English literature. However, I will not be writing about what I learned or where I traveled. Instead, I want to talk about the best television show I have ever seen.
I, like many of you, typically rely solely on Netflix for my television-viewing pleasure. As soon as I heard about "RuPaul's Drag Race" a couple of years ago, Netflix took it down. As I was not even paying for the Netflix account, I couldn't really justify spending money on another streaming service--and I had school work to be getting on with, anyway.
When I first got to my hotel room on a pit stop in Ireland, three things occurred to me: One, Netflix is different country to country. Two, I had heard that "Drag Race" might be on the British Netflix. And three, Ireland is close to Britain (yay geography!).
So, breathless with anticipation, I fumbled around for my plug adapter, forgot where I packed my laptop charger, remembered where I packed it, turned my computer on, frantically (but also tiredly) searched for the WiFi password in the room, called the front office, got the password, entered it in and BAM!
My journey through the perfect television show began!
Of course, perfect is just an abstraction we pursue, as if it could be actually realized. Dumb.
However, sometimes we love things as if they are perfect--like "RuPaul's Drag Race." Here are three reasons why it might just be the perfect show (or, why I love it):
1. It combines the best parts of every fashion-related show for the perfect storm of fierce and fabulous.
From the fun-filled, drama-packed work room, where contestants put together, sometimes from scratch, their own outfits...
...to the always stunning runway...
...there is no denying that these queens have talent to spare!
Speaking of which...
2. These ladies know what it means to put on a show.
From comedy...
...to reading...
...to live genre performance...
...to dance!...
...and everything in between.
However, the best part is getting to know some of the most inspiring, hardworking, determined individuals on the whole planet Earth.
3. It's about the people.
These queens often find a mentor-like relationship with RuPaul. Sometimes she pushes, sometimes she comforts and she's always honest and supportive.
More than that, though, I love the stories these girls bring to the show: addiction, disease, struggles made into victories, living in spite of all the prejudice and hate the world stacks up against them. Just by being their authentic selves, they bring bright, shining lights into the world, and this show let's them do that to a huge audience of queens, queers and allies (Make no mistake, though. Just watching this show doesn't make you an ally).
I started watching "Drag Race" at a turbulent time in my life. I'm not yet through that time, but in some of my darkest moments, these glorious stars have helped me to not only push through to take just one more step, but through their openness and honesty, they've also taught me more about myself.
Every time the contestants reveal their stories, I'm reminded of questions I have yet to answer about my own sexuality, and the reasons I continue to hide from them, and the hope that someday, I won't have to. And sometimes it gives me greater empathy for those who have hurt me.
Every time they come together as part of a community, within and without the show, I feel less afraid of a world full of people who could hurt me, and instead I want to embrace them as a fundamentally loving and compassionate family.
Every time RuPaul (in later seasons) asks the contestants to speak to their younger selves, I weep for what I might say to the abused and confused little girl inside me.
Every time I watch this show, it feels like hope is breaking through the despair that seems to want to swallow our world whole. It feels like the chaos inside and out is quieted, replaced with gentle love and bursting joy in diversity.
In short, "RuPaul's Drag Race" is perfect...for me, and anyone else who wishes they could live free. Thank you so much, RuPaul, and every beautiful queen out there, for bringing so much light into the world.
I suppose all that's left is just to decide if I'm going to watch season nine as it comes out or binge watch that shit later. My head says "later," but my heart says "now."
