I’m in mourning for my Thursday evenings with Bimini Bon Boulash. If like me, you’re wondering what to watch now RuPaul’s Drag Race UK season 2 is over, look no further. Try some of these shows, movies, and documentaries to get your drag fix. Apart from the apparently never-ending season 13 of Rupaul’s Drag Race, of course.
Paris Is Burning
Because reading is what? Fundamental!
If you’re going to watch any of the Drag Race franchise, you really should watch Paris Is Burning. Paris Is Burning is a documentary about the drag balls in 80s New York City. A lot of the challenges on Drag Race draw from the world of balls, and this documentary shows the grit behind the glamour. Ball culture is a big part of the drag scene, especially among Black, Latino, and transgender queens.
The documentary features some legends of the ballroom, including Pepper LaBeija and Willi Ninja, and is a great place to learn about balls, throwing shade, voguing, and the communities that make this subculture so special. I think it’s important viewing for drag fans to understand the reality of drag and the dangerous lives many queens had to face, away from the lights of the Drag Race main stage.
You can watch Paris Is Burning on BBC iPlayer.
Pose
Pose is also about the New York City drag balls, but this time in a fictional setting. The series, made by Ryan Murpy, follows several rival drag houses, and their ‘children’ who compete in the balls. Much like Paris Is Burning, the show is a great way to learn more about the ball scene, and the communities that made it.
You can watch Pose on BBC iPlayer.
Dancing Queen
Dancing Queen is one of the maddest things I’ve ever watched. It’s a documentary about Drag Race star Alyssa Edwards (back rolls?) and the dance school she runs in Texas. Of course, because it’s Alyssa, it’s not as straightforward as that. The show is part Dance Moms, part documentary about being a drag queen in small town Texas, and part music video. No seriously, some episodes contain fully produced music videos for no apparent reason.
It’s surprisingly moving in parts, often hilarious, and completely barking. I loved it, and if you’re a Drag Race fan, you probably will too.
You can watch Dancing Queen on Netflix UK.
Super Drags
This animated series is actually Brazilian, but there’s an English dub available on Netflix. It follows three friends who work together in a department store by day, who are also Drag Queen superheroes by night. It’s a fun little show, and the English dub is voiced by Drag Race alumni Trixie Mattel, Shangela, Ginger Minj, and Willam.
You can watch Super Drags on Netflix UK.
Glow Up: Britain’s Next Makeup Star
If you love drag for the dramatic transformations, then this show is for you. A group of amateur make-up artists competes every week in challenges ranging from red carpet make-up to creating creatures for a fantasy movie. There are some incredible skills on display and some gorgeous make-up.
You can watch Glow Up on BBC iPlayer.
Of course, there’s always rewatching old seasons of regular Drag Race, Untucked, All Stars, Secret Celebrity Drag Race, and Canada’s Drag Race too, that are all on Netflix UK or BBC iPlayer. If you can find somewhere to watch it and don’t mind watching with subtitles, there’s also Drag Race Thailand and Drag Race Holland. World Of Wonder produces loads of web series on YouTube featuring the Queens too, including Fashion Photo Ruview, The Pit Stop, and UNHhhh. Bianca Del Rio has two movies on Netflix that are quite fun; Hurrican Bianca and Hurricane Bianca: From Russia With Love. AJ And The Queen (which stars Ru) is pretty naff, but is packed with cameos from Drag Race stars, if that’s what you’re looking for.
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