ABC 'Queens' Episode 1 Review: The Nasty B***hes get ready to take over queendom

Four women in their 40s reunite for a chance to get back in the spotlight as the superstars they once were on 'Queens' on ABC
UPDATED OCT 20, 2021
A still from the season premiere of 'Queens' (ABC)
A still from the season premiere of 'Queens' (ABC)

'Queens' finally dropped on ABC and fans are already loving it! The ABC musical that hit screens took audiences by surprise with its relatable yet fun opener. The show is a musical drama that will revolve around friendship and hip-hop primarily.

'Queens' will explore the relationships of four friends who were once at the top of their game as fierce women rappers but are now being snubbed by life. The women who were once known as the group 'Nasty B***hes' get the golden opportunity to showcase their talent once again as we see their swag re-emerge. 'Queens' stars Eve as Brianna aka Professor Sex, Naturi Naughton as Jill aka Da Thrill, Nadine Velazquez as Valeria aka Butter Pecan, Taylor Selé as Eric Jones, Pepi Sonuga as Lil Muffin, and Brandy as Naomi aka Xplicit Lyrics. Here's what we thought of the first episode.

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Spoilers for 'Queens' - "1999"

The first episode opened with a montage showing the before and after of the girl group known as the 'Nasty B***h'.  The rappers, who are known as Professor Sex, Da Thrill, Butter Pecan, and Xplicit Lyrics, are now a mother of four, a gay pastor, a TV host, and a failed musician, respectively. This accurately portrayed the reality of many artists who have been forgotten and treated harshly by time. We flashback to 20 years before and are shown just how popular the women were with their brand endorsements, paparazzi, etc. But they've fallen from their height of fame, and boy, they have fallen hard. The episode then focuses on their individual characters and their personal problems. Brianna walks in on her cheating husband, Jill is avoiding intimacy with her husband and is having an affair with a lady, Valeria is not getting a promotion while Naomi is given a harsh reality check by her daughter for being an absent mother. Many across the world can relate to these conditions which got us sympathizing with the ladies.

Eve as Brianna in 'Queens' (ABC)

The fun kicks in as conditions lead the women to reunite for a small gig. Naomi picks a fight with Valeria over their manager Eric(Taylor Selé). Turns out the three had a love triangle and Naomi is still not over it. We can expect some drama to follow amongst the two as Eric still plays with both their hearts. As the group overcomes initial conflicts we see them reconnect after decades which was sweet to view. A spontaneous switch leads the Nasty B****hes to unleash their musical talents once again and perform on stage after 20 long years.

Brandy and Nadine Velazquez in a still from 'Queens' (ABC)

The premiere of 'Queens' was quite good with the show packing a lot into the first episode itself. Seeing real-life rappers Eve and Brandy perform was a cool experience and we look forward to such experiences again. A fun watch 'Queens' holds the potential for a really entertaining show for fans of hip-hop and women's power. 

'Queens' will air on Tuesdays at 10/9 C on ABC.

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