Pride 2024: A Q+ Celebration!
June 2
Dead Boy Detectives
Welcome to the otherworldly realm of Dead Boy Detectives, where ghostly mysteries meet heartwarming friendships in this delightful Netflix series. Developed by the imaginative minds of Steve Yockey and based on the beloved DC Comics characters by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, Dead Boy Detectives invites viewers into a world where the afterlife is anything but boring.
At the heart of the show are Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), an unlikely due whose friendship transcends death itself. Edwin, the reserved and introspective ghost who escaped the clutches of hell, contrasts beautifully with Charles, the charismatic troublemaker who has a penchant for mischief. Their dynamic is both heartwarming and complex, adding layers of depth to every ghostly adventure they embark on.
The plot thickens with the introduction of Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), a young psychic whose encounter with a possessive demon leads her to join forces with Edwin and Charles. Her sass and skills come in handy for the ghosts, and together they form an investigative trio like no other, unraveling mysteries that blur the lines between the living and the dead.
Edwin’s journey as a closeted gay boy navigating the afterlife is portrayed with sensitivity and authenticity, adding a very important and much-needed layer of real LGBTQ+ representation into the narrative. His unspoken feelings for Charles intertwined with their deep friendship create a subtle yet captivating undercurrent of emotion throughout the series, making their relationship the show’s focal point. The tightrope balancing act of will they, won’t they is real, folks!
In a television landscape hungry for diverse narratives, Dead Boy Detectives stands out as a beacon of inclusivity and imagination. Its seamless blend of supernatural intrigue, heartfelt friendships, and real LGBTQ+ representation position it as a much-watch for audiences craving a fresh take on the detective genre.
Where to watch? Dead Boy Detectives is available to stream globally on Netflix now.
Lavash At First Sight By Taleen Voskuni
Written in first-person present tense, Lavash At First Sight is a forbidden romance kind of story. Ellie meets Vanya at a convention she attends to help her parents advance their family business. At the time of their meeting, Ellie feels a little jaded with her life. Like so many others in the Bay Area, she works in the tech industry and she’s increasingly tired of being surrounded by all the bro-dudes she’s forced to work with every day, including her ex-boyfriend.
When Vanya falls into Ellie’s life she’s astounded by their similarities. They’re both Aremian and from San Francisco, and their families are both in the food industry. That, however, also becomes their downfall. It’s revealed all too quickly that Vanya is actually the daughter of Ellie’s parent’s biggest industry rival. Obviously, this is a problem.
While Ellie and Vanya themselves aren’t exactly rivals, their parents don’t want them together. Their families face off against one another in a food competition that leaves the winner with an advertising slot during the Superbowl. That kind of attention could be life-changing for Ellie’s family.
Lavash All The Way is described as much more than just a cute sapphic romance. It’s an exploration of Armenian female identity, of family, and culture, and the importance that food plays in the dichotomy of the two. It elaborates on the struggles that women, especially women of color, experience in the male-centered universe that is the tech industry these days. Ellie’s obsession with her job drives much of the narrative in the beginning and readers are introduced to the tenacious woman that she is.
Described as sweet, heartfelt, and dazzling, Lavash All The Way is a queer story about identity, prejudice, family and love.
Where to buy? Lavash All The Way is available to buy at all reputable booksellers.
Mysterious Ways
Mysterious Ways is an indie film directed and co-written by Paul Oremland. It’s a journey of love and faith against the brick walls and strangleholds of institutionalized religion. Peter (Richard Short) is an Episcopalian vicar from England living in New Zealand and wants to marry his lover, Jason (Nick Afoa), in the church before God and all the people who love them.
When Peter takes this idea to his seniors within the church ranks, he is, unsurprisingly, completely shot down. The Episcopalian church doesn’t allow same-sex weddings, regardless of their legality within the country of New Zealand. News breaks locally of Peter’s struggle and Peter and Nick end up on television. Because of the controversy attached to their desires, their story goes viral and garners international attention.
Peter desperately wants to use this notoriety and attention to advocate for change within his community. He’s an out vicar, making no effort to hide his relationship from the clergy and he truly believes that he could be the change the church so desperately needs. Jason, however, isn’t wild about all the attention and just wants to live their lives together in peace.
Peter, selfishly, charges forward with his quest, despite Jason’s concerns. It causes intense friction in the relationship and even though they’re engaged to be married, the two end up separating. It’s not a long separation though, because what kind of film would that be, and as the couple reunites at least some of their desires regarding their wedding are fulfilled.
In a candid interview with Q Plus Magazine Paul Orelmand talks candidly about the love that went into making the film and the personal aspects of his own life that made it into the story. He discusses the fractured relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and the church and shares his hopes for that relationship in the future.
Where to watch: Mysterious Ways is currently doing the film festival rounds and no official release date is available at this time. Watch this space as information regarding this changes in the future.
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