'Work in Progress' is not the only show that revolves around queerness, here are five shows that deal with the LGBTQIA+ experience
Queer characters in television shows have become mainstream for some time now. Be it ‘Modern Family’, ‘Sex Education’, ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’, ‘Daybreak’, or even ‘NCIS: New Orleans’, well-written LGBTQIA+ characters in shows without a hint of cliche or tokenism are aplenty and it is genuinely a good thing. But what is still missing from the mainstream is shows that revolve around queerness.
This is why Showtime’s upcoming comedy series ‘Work in Progress’ feels like a breath of fresh air. The show revolves around Abby, a self-proclaimed “fat, queer dyke” who faces the general anxieties of modern life but with an extra helping of anxieties that come along with being queer in a largely heteronormative society. The show features trans and non-binary characters and is generally centered around the queer experience.
Of course, this is by no means the only show like that. Here’s a list of five shows that defy heteronormative structures and paradigms and tell well-crafted tales of queerness.
Orange Is the New Black
The Jenji Kohan show about a minimum-security women’s prison is chock full of queer characters. The protagonist Piper (Taylor Schilling) is a bisexual woman who is in an on-again-off-again relationship with Alex (Laura Prepone). The show has a number of other gay characters and even a trans woman Sophia Burset, played by Laverne Cox. The show addresses, among a lot of other things, homophobia and the discomfort surrounding it. In a darkly funny way, of course.
Transparent
A dramedy, ‘Transparent’ revolves around a Los Angeles family and their lives following the discovery that the person they knew as their father Mort (Jeffrey Tambor) is a trans woman named Maura. Despite some criticism about a cis-gendered actor playing the role of a trans woman, the show has received largely positive reviews. Transparent is as much about inherited trauma and pain as it is about gender and identity.
Pose
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals, ‘Pose’ reflects on New York City's African-American and Latino LGBTQIA+ ballroom culture scene in the 1980s and early 1990s. Featuring an ensemble cast with the likes of Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Evan Peters, Kate Mara, James Van Der Beek and more, the show deals with gender identity, people of color, the culture of New York City and even the AIDS pandemic. Critics have hailed the show’s writing for not only telling a compelling story but also for casting the spotlight on both gender and racial minorities.
Special
A young gay man with cerebral palsy, Ryan Heyes (Ryan O'Connell) branches out from his insular existence in hopes of finally going after the life he wants in ‘Special’. In the show, Ryan decides to rewrite his identity. While the show received more or less mixed reviews, it was hailed for being patently compassionate and tackling not just queerness but also a congenital disorder.
Please Like Me
The Australian comedy-drama that features comedian Hannah Gadsby has received wide acclaim. The show has been credited for not just featuring well-written queer characters but also for tackling mental health. Depression and anxiety are thoroughly addressed throughout the show in a relatable fashion. The show is honest, oozes empathy and a lot of heart.
