Coming out of the same studio that gave us RuPaul's Drag Race, and stacked with a whole crew of former contestants, Stop! That! Train! plays like RuPaul basically taking a bow for the entire franchise she's built. It's not really a gay film in the traditional sense, but with so many drag stars from Ru's shows popping up alongside a few cameos from well known out gay actors, I figured it earns a spot on this blog anyway. The whole thing is completely over the top, packed with GenZ slang, loud flashy visuals, and humor that's constantly winking at you knowing how ridiculous it is. Going in you'd assume it's meant to be a laugh riot, and a lot of critics online seem to be eating it up, but I just couldn't get into it at all. I've never really been someone who vibes with campy silly stuff like this, so honestly my reaction doesn't surprise me one bit. The setup follows Tess and DeeDee, two low level stewardesses who sneak onto the fancy Glamazonian E...
Here we go again with another vertical BL series that pretty much raids the entire toolbox of tropes we've grown used to. Even though it hits every cliché on the list, I have to say it actually wasn't bad. It was a relief to see fewer toxic side characters than usual, and for some reason, the chemistry between the two leads really clicked for me. Outside of that, the show has the whole works: scary debt collectors looking for their cash, a guy in total distress, a hero swooping in to save the day, a sick family member, and a dangerous ex-girlfriend who’s out for blood.
The story follows Keith, a struggling single dad who’s been dealing with a daughter in the hospital for two straight years—which is a crazy long time when you think about the bills piling up. He’s drowning in debt and has ruthless collectors breathing down his neck while he scrapes by with odd jobs. Then there’s Gavin, a pro boxer. Their lives crash together when Gavin jumps into a fight to save Keith. Realizing Keith is desperate for money, Gavin takes him home and pays him, eventually pulling some strings with his manager to hire Keith as his personal physiotherapist. It turns out they actually knew each other back in college. Gavin used to be into a girl who was always hanging out with Keith, never realizing they were both gay or that Keith had a massive crush on him back then. As they spend time together, Gavin finds himself falling for Keith, though he tries to hold back because of his boxing career. Once he learns about Keith’s daughter and her illness, he starts caring for her too, and Keith finally starts to reciprocate those feelings. Of course, Gavin’s ex-girlfriend shows up and tries to ruin everything with a kidnapping plot, but it all leads to Gavin going public about their relationship, calling Keith his boyfriend, and hanging up his boxing gloves for good.
This whole series is incredibly formulaic, using basically every BL trope in existence, but the sparks between the leads are what kept me watching. Gavin is definitely easy on the eyes and super hot, and it’s pretty obvious he’s head over heels because he just keeps throwing money at Keith—at one point he literally writes a check for a million dollars! I did have to wonder what kind of illness this little girl has that keeps her in a hospital bed for two years and costs so much that a million-dollar check doesn't even clear the debt. If you can ignore the logic gaps like that, it’s actually really sweet watching Keith and Gavin slowly warm up to each other even when they’re trying to deny their feelings. I also liked that Keith’s best friend and Gavin’s manager were actually supportive instead of being secret romantic rivals, which saved the show from feeling even more over-the-top. With good-looking actors and a simple "boxing world" backdrop, it’s a decent way to kill some time, especially if you’re just looking for something to watch while you're on the treadmill.
It’s a trope-heavy, predictable series that manages to stay afloat thanks to some genuine heat between the leads and a few likeable supporting characters. It’s not breaking any new ground, but it’s a solid enough watch if you’re in the mood for some easy romantic drama. (6/10)
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