***WARNING: If you haven’t seen the show you might want to watch all the episodes first before reading my review so not to stumble across any spoilers***
I was excited when I heard that Queenie was coming to our screens. Having read the book and had lots of similar experiences with the lead character – dodgy messages from dating websites (“Do you like big Black c***?” isn’t the best conversation starter if we’ve never met), and familiar locations in and around South London – I was looking forward to the series. Besides the annoying (but I suppose necessary) build-up since the end of last year, I was ready and binged the entire eight episodes at 1am on Thursday morning. Now upon watching the series I realised it’s not a direct lift of the book to screen which gives it a fresh appeal for those who read the book when it first came out but the running themes are still there at its core.
Here’s what I loved
Dionne Brown – Dionne is the actress behind the title character and she is just GORGEOUS. Curvy, rich brown skin not dissimilar to Queenie author Candice Carty-Williams who is equally gorgeous. There’s something about seeing fuller figured Black women particularly on social media and television which brings such joy. One of my favourite social media influencers is Achieng Agutu who is a Kenya content creator and recently was featured in the US version of Sports Illustrated swimwear edition who is all about body confidence and acceptance. I guess it’s liberating for me as someone who has been curvier than most for a good chunk of my life – and loved it most of the time – to see other women wearing it well and reminding me how sexy it is. Dionne was great and extremely believable as Queenie.
Samuel Adewunmi – With the influx of beautiful Black women hitting our screens, it stands to reason that there are also BEAUTIFUL Black men joining them and Samuel Adewunmi is definitely one of them. Though I was ten when he was born – *weeps silently* – I have eyes, ok? Good luck to all the women actually in his age range because he is fine.
If you want to see more of this talent you can watch Samuel in ‘You Don’t Know Me’ on Netflix. It’s a gritty, thrilling drama which is carried by Samuel as the leading man and main character. He definitely joins my list of “Fit Black British actors I’d like to meet though I am old enough to be their older sister”. Like actor Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù who a friend was kind enough to introduce me to at an event last year as an early birthday present. *Drops photo as evidence*. If you haven’t experienced Sope up close try either Gangs of London if you like a bit a rough with your leading man – think Luther but hotter – or Mr Malcolm’s list if you like a bit of Bridgerton.
Cultural references – Do you know what I’ve really appreciated about the Black British creatives who have been producing shows like Queenie and Riches for television? They made sure they served their audience with references that meant something to them and stayed authentic to their UK roots. It was particularly moving to have the production team feature rapper and friend TY’s music and mural who was a fervent Brixtonite through and through. It was also great to see one of our most loved and undervalued institution Black Cultural Archives (BCA) as the backdrop for one of the scenes. When I was the Marketing Manager years back, Candice was a guest at one of the multiple book events I hosted there so it was nice to see that connection continue.
Talk therapy – I think one of the things we’re known for as a community is the idea that we keep our business to ourselves so talk therapy is typically frowned upon. However to see Queenie go to see a therapist and then, later on down the line, to have her very traditional grandmother not only change her mind about Queenie quote unquote sharing her business with strangers but changing her mind about therapy and actively encouraging Queenie to go was an important topic to touch on.
The complicated business of friendships – Her close friendship with ‘The Corgis’ – Kyazike, Darcy and Cassandra – is also a running theme throughout the show with her relationship with Cassandra ultimately become quite contentious. I think we’ve all had a friend like Cassandra? Someone who seem seems to have it together and acts as though they are superior to you but are actually as insecure as the rest of us, if not more.
When it turns out that Queenie is inadvertently sleeping with Cassandra’s boyfriend – Cassandra has never named him nor introduced him to Queenie so she wouldn’t have known – she instantly turns on the bulk of venom on her university friend and not her non-committal ‘boyfriend’, irrationally blaming Queenie.
Thankfully as Queenie grows in her love of self she realises that her friendship with Cassandra is not worth saving. It was an important lesson. As I see more and more people talk about how friendships can hurt more than romantic breakups and the complexities around navigating these types of relationships, it’s refreshing to have a friendship that just doesn’t recover because sometimes, they don’t.
A special shout out to Cristale De’Abreu who plays Queenie’s straight talking, younger cousin Diana who repeatedly tells Queenie to fix up in no uncertain terms. Her deadpan delivery and comedic timing is just on point.
Things that made me go hmmm…
The sex – I am all for sex and women having the right to explore and enjoy our bodies, no matter how much the world likes to guilt trip us for it. But I have to admit I was quite uncomfortable with what felt like endless episodes where Queenie’s sex life was front and centre. I quite liked that Queenie ‘dating’ style was very United Colours of Benetton and that Black men were portrayed differently to the stereotype often prevalent in the Black community (i.e. dealing with multiple women at the same time with the inability to connect with just one).
However it was uncomfortable to see Queenie go through multiple (white) men who in some cases fetishized her. As I write this I’m torn between this being a normal for a woman of her age – my own uni experience reminds me of a particular incident where I was told “I’ve always wanted to be with a Black woman” *sigh* so I know this experience very well.
It was also uncomfortable to see her in multiple instances where the sex didn’t involve love or feelings – an important characterisation and a direct correlation with Queenie’s history and the relationship she has with her mother. I suppose I worried it played into the idea that Black women are promiscuous and up for anything when it comes to sex. Including sex so rough Queenie is asked if she’s being abused. It was something that really stayed with me throughout the day like a dull ache. Is this how Black women should be seen on prime time television? With very few narratives to counterbalance how the Black experience is shown in mainstream media I’m not 100% sure.
There’s definitely something in Queenie ending up with Frank after a string of white men… Is there a subliminal message there that only a Black man can love a healed or healing Black woman?
To be fair, if you focus just on the sex, then you miss the point as it’s a subliminal character in its own right. A manifestation of the lack of love Queenie has for herself and the love she is searching for in these meaningless interactions. What should be noted though is the fact that she holds her own. Saying no to relationships that don’t serve her once she realises she deserves better.
Overall, I’m pleased Queenie was produced for television and I think it was a fast paced, humorous, and thought provoking. I’m proud of Candice in succeeding where few Black women have so far. I’m intrigued to see if it will generate enough positive response for a follow up season – if that’s even what Candice and the team would want. It’s definitely heartening to see Black British writers and actors taking the lead. However, I think it lacked more substantive storytelling. There are so many gaps in the way that Black women’s stories are told and I don’t think general audiences understand us enough to dive or explore our reasoning deeper yet. It skimmed the complexity of our experiences like being a Black woman and not believed in the workplace for example or the relationship with her mother.
