'AJ and the Queen' Episode 4: AJ battles emotions with her addict mother while Robert deals with public pity
This article contains spoilers for 'AJ and the Queen' Season 1
As drag queen Robert aka Ruby Red and 10-year-old AJ continue to evade and run away from Robert's criminal boyfriend, Damien Sanchez, we see how they need each other to help them overcome their demons. We can see how much AJ has had to grow up while having to raise herself. "I see everything, I only pretend that I don't, so they can pretend that I don't. I'm cool like that," said AJ at the start of the episode. Although she may have hurt Robert's feelings, she serves to be his sane hope while on the road.
The duo is on their way to Louisville as they continue the cross country club tour. While the Louisville Queens were far from welcoming, Ruby Red notices his old friend Brian was not sitting next to him near the makeup mirrors. As Ruby prepares for an epic Sia number, she continues to get calls from Sanchez. Deeming this a dangerous situation, she has her best friend in New York, Louis to let NYPD know about the criminals following them. A cop from LMPD pays them a visit and leaves with the Sanchez license plate number, that only AJ could remember. The cop tells Ruby that she should warn the other drag queens about Sanchez.
In a moment of frustration combined with grief from a break, Ruby picks up Sanchez's call. As Sanchez apologized to Ruby telling him that in a week he will be able to return the money he stole, Ruby Red seems to get emotional telling Sanchez, "you killed me." Asking Ruby to meet him in a week, Sanchez and his criminal friend Lady Danger set up Ruby so that they can finally catch him for snitching to the cops about the stolen money. "He bought every word," Sanchez tells Lady Danger, as they continue their criminal activities of having strangers pay for fake cosmetic procedures.
As Ruby continues to reel from such an emotional upheaval of being target by a criminal, AJ continues to keep a rude yet happy front as she deals with a mother who's more occupied with drugs and sexual antics. In New York City, AJ's mother tries to find a phone to make contact with her daughter, who doesn't pick whatsoever. Not understanding how her mother can't take care of her, she dwells in happy moments that we see in flashbacks. Wanting to go see her grandfather, or pop-pop as she says in Texas, she focuses on the adventure she's having on the road with Ruby.
AJ, taking the cop's advice, posts on social media about Sanchez being a gritter with a picture of Ruby and Sanchez as a collage. Wating to warn other drag queens, she broke Ruby's heart. Ruby now having to deal with public pity from other drag queens, is furious. AJ reminds Ruby of the strength she possesses and the duo goes to find Brian, Ruby's old friend. They find out that the reason Brian was MIA, was because he too, was a victim of Sachez, who has five different aliases. Summoning all her strength and joy, she helps get Brian out of his depressed slump and back on the stage killing it with a Cher number in no time. As an apology to Ruby, AJ finally reveals the name of her mother, Brianna Douglas.
On the south side of the tracks, Lady Danger and Sanchez have agreed on a plan: Kill Ruby Red.
With some inspiration from Cher and Oprah, this drag queen drama with a mix of emotional comedy makes for a great road trip and support therapy.
All episodes of Season 1 of 'AJ and the Queen' are now streaming on Netflix.
