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...
The story is a big power struggle between three siblings who have the same dad but different moms. Their father is a wealthy, powerful guy looking for someone to take over his empire. The oldest son, Chet, is hungry for power and thinks everything belongs to him. The daughter, Risa, is just as greedy, but her dad constantly ignores her because she’s a woman. Then there’s Pheem, the younger son whose mom was killed by Chet’s mother years ago. He’s desperate to prove himself. After someone tries to kill Pheem at a hospital opening, a guy named Than saves him. Pheem is so impressed that he hires Than—a suspended cop who was investigating a drug mafia—as his bodyguard. Than is easygoing and smiles a lot, while Pheem is the total opposite: cold, smart, and really lonely. Most of the show follows the siblings trying to take each other down to get the top job at their dad's company. Even though Pheem and Than have a thing going on, Pheem isn't afraid to ditch Than or even sleep with a potential investor to get ahead.
Pheem is a total walking contradiction. He’s mean but also vulnerable, and he’s ruthless because he’s terrified of not being loved. There were times I wanted to hate him and other times I felt so bad for him. His love for Than feels like a lifeline, but there are plenty of moments where he’s willing to cut that cord if it helps his plan—though the show later claims it’s all part of his master strategy. Than’s character isn't quite as deep, but he’s the steady, grounded one who chooses kindness over anger. This show is a far cry from the light, fluffy BLs we usually see. It’s more of a corporate drama full of violence and revenge. It’s almost tragic how greed turns the siblings into enemies and the parents into monsters. It wasn't even a shock when Risa turned out to be the biggest manipulator of them all. Even the side characters, like the other bodyguards, have a lot of tension and interesting love stories of their own. The show definitely has its fair share of problems, though. People just walk around with guns and kill each other like it’s no big deal in the corporate world. Characters get shot or fall down and then just show up later like nothing happened, and the police are basically invisible. The finale really highlights these issues. It finishes the story, but it feels way too rushed and doesn't hit as hard emotionally as it should have. Some of the big reunions needed more room to breathe. That said, the ending still keeps that tragic vibe, proving that these kinds of games rarely have a happy ending. It’s not a perfect show, and it can be pretty chaotic, but it’s intense and really keeps you watching.
It’s a gritty, high-stakes corporate drama that swaps typical romance for a messy and intense battle for power. (6.5/10)
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