I've always had kind of a love hate relationship with Chinese historical BLs. Some are genuinely excellent, but then there are others that cram in so much plot that keeping track of all the layers of betrayal and scheming gets exhausting, and I end up checking out mentally. Part of the issue is also just how much content is out there in this space, so something really has to stand out to keep me hooked. In this case, the production value is genuinely impressive, top tier stuff, but story wise, I just couldn't bring myself to actually care about these characters. There's a ton of political scheming and backstage manipulation running throughout. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, a hostage ends up falling for his own Prince Charming. The show runs eight episodes, each around 50 to 60 minutes long. After spending three years guarding the border, Fifth Prince Yin Qi gets called back to the capital because of a secret letter, only to end up walking straight into a deadly...
I have a confession to make. Even though I am gay, my knowledge of gay pop culture, be it USAor UK or anywhere else, is pretty bad and horrible. I don't know much about pop icons, TV stars or film stars who were supposedly gay, or rumored to be gay, or who eventually became icons. So this documentary, as good as it might have been , trying to give an insight on the gay celebrities through TV history, I just wasn't able to appreciate it all, given zero context.
It starts in 1952 after the Queen acceded to the throne and tells the story of gay performers and the role they have played in changing public perception of homosexuality and becoming national institutions along the way. From Kenneth Williams to Paul O'Grady, Larry Grayson to Graham Norton, Danny La Rue to Elton John, it will be a celebration of achievements and career highlights, as well as a history of how gay rights and our perception of gay performers has changed over the last 60 years. A stellar cast of contributors including musicians, actors and entertainers reveal the untold stories of our brightest stars combined with compelling archive. Expect every gay comic from Frankie Howerd to Stephen K Amos and Julian Clary to Charles Hawtrey to be featured in this short series.
This is what the producers of the documentary had to say "The history of entertainment is inextricably linked with camp culture. God Save The Queens is a celebratory look at the flamboyant male stars who have shaped our cultural landscape during the 60 years of the Queen's reign. As we celebrate the royal jubilee, God Save The Queens tells the stories of our favourite gay stars and the social landscape that defined them, providing us with constant entertainment over the last 60 years." (1/10)

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