'AJ and the Queen' Episode 3: Running away from his ex-boyfriend, Robert develops a vulnerable bond with AJ
This article contains spoilers for 'AJ and the Queen'
This episode picks up in Pittsburg, where duo Robert (a drag queen named Ruby Red) and AJ are running away from Robert's ex-boyfriend Damian Sanchez. Having stolen Robert's $100,000, the cops are after Sanchez, who now has a bone to pick with Robert for snitching. Sanchez and his criminal friend Lady Danger are chasing the duo across cities, and while they try to run away from criminals, Robert still continues his cross country club tour with AJ. In the midst of the criminal drama, Robert uses the time on the road to urge AJ to call her mother, and we find out a little bit of why AJ is the brat she is.
As they try to leave a diner in Pittsburg, they get into an accident that leaves them with $200 'I'm sorry' money and broken tail light. Trying to avoid running into Sanchez and Lady Danger, they take another route across the Hershey Highway to Robert's next gig in Columbus. Stopping at a repair shop, they find out that along with a broken tail light, and a missing RV ladder, the ol' vehicle also had a leak. With no choice but to come up with the money to repair the damage, the duo stays overnight at a motel and attend a wet T-shirt contest. The winner of $1000? Why, Ruby Red of course?
As they go through adventures, we see the vulnerable side of both Robert and AJ. Robert does not understand why Sanchez was following him after he broke his heart and stole his money, "he's taken everything," says Robert. During the length of this episode, we see flashbacks of how Robert and Sanchez met, and how Robert is still incredibly hurt, yet too forgiving. "Maybe there's another part of him that loved me," Robert tells AJ.
AJ, too mature for her age, has a nasty, attitude yet a strong head on her shoulders. In the previous episode, we had a glimpse of her mother, a prostitute who never came home but was obsessed with her phone. AJ also had a hysterical breakdown when she lost her phone at a diner in Pittsburg. We see now that the only way mother and daughter can stay in contact, is through the phone - it's their only lifeline. AJ's mother is addicted to drugs and the street life, and while getting arrested for illicit activities, drugs, and resisting arrest, she loses her phone. Meanwhile, on the road, Robert tries to explain to AJ that just because addicts are addicts, it doesn't mean they are not capable of love. "They just love drugs more," AJ tells Robert, not ready to believe that her mother could actually be there for her.
Unfortunately, when AJ does finally take Robert's advice and calls her mom, the phone on the street vibrates as a car drives over it. 'Someone told me there could be two (two sides) of you, so if the 'good one' calls me back in an hour, I'll forgive her'. This was the message AJ left her mother.
As Robert was performing at his gig in Columbus, he sees that Sanchez and Lady Danger have caught up with them and with that, the duo is back on the run.
An unlikely yet vulnerable friendship begins to develop between AJ and Robert, who are not only running away from criminals, but also fighting their own demons. A dark comedy portraying a real social scenario, this show will make you laugh and gasp all the way.
All episodes of Season 1 of 'AJ and the Queen' are now streaming on Netflix.