Happy Almost Pride!!! This week on Autostraddle dot com, Kayla recapped the Hacks finale, the final episode of one of the best Third Seasons of all time, and Riese recapped Under the Bridge’s final episode. Also we have all the answers for anybody wondering what the gay television show you are re-watching says about your mental health.
In the world of cinema, Lisa Laman explains why ‘Furiosa’ is a dazzling blockbuster and also a trans allegory, Sai’yda watched ‘Queen of the Deuce,’ a captivating documentary about a queer woman who created a porn empire. Also, since Pride is so very close (it’s tomorrow), Drew has dug up 10 queer movies that will turn your straight friends into gay friends before Pride. You’re welcome!
Also, also, also — did you know that all AF+ Members not only get an ad-free/ad-lite layout on the website (and an ad-free experience on the app), but they’re also automatically added to the list to receive two new newsletters, one from Riese about television and one from Drew about cinema? Well they are and if you’re not already a member, there’s never been a better time, you can get in on this for a mere $4 a month.
Notes from the TV Team:
+ If watching the second series of We Are Lady Parts whets your appetite for British humour, might I suggest the new season of The Outlaws which just dropped its third (and final?) on Prime Video. I wish the show gave its lesbian character, Gabi, more to do but Outlaws is always a fun time. — Natalie
+ It was a relatively quiet week for The Chi‘s rainbow coalition: Britney stops in to check up on her brother, Bakari. Later, when Douda stops by the studio to question why she hasn’t delivered on what he paid her for, she spills the beans about her brother’s plans: he’s writing a book. Nervous about having his business put out on the streets, Douda orders Britney to persuade her brother to find another hobby.
Meanwhile, Fatima reappears, just in time to be a resource for Kiesha in her search for information about her baby’s father, and a supportive partner when Victor is strong-armed into a vote and is subsequently arrested for murder. — Natalie
Station 19 Episode 710 Series Finale Recap: “One Last Time”
Seven years later and it’s official, our beloved fire show is over. But our beloved fire family is forever — a fact that Station 19 hammered home in its series finale.
Speaking of fire families, as I predicted last week, Maya survives the brush fire and makes it home safely to Carina. When it looked like it was all over for her, Andy called out to Maya that she should focus on who she’s going to make it out for. This opens up one of my least favorite finale framing devices, the Happy Ending Fast Forward (TM). Normally I would complain, but in this instance, when the present day of Station 19 entails an increasingly intense fight against spreading Seattle fires, I actually appreciated the reprieve of seeing the future. It kept my breathing even to know that, no matter how dire it seemed, everyone was going to make it to the other side.
For Maya and Carina, that means a family. That’s no real surprise, they’ve been pushing towards that plot all season long. But we get to see both Carina and Maya support each other through their respective labors in the future, and I hope you caught the Easter Egg of Carina pushing Maya’s hands off of stroking her hairline and instead pushing them between her legs mid-birth for a little…ummm…natural pain relief (once Dr. Orgasm, always Dr. Orgasm!). We also get fast forwards to see all three DeLuca-Bishop children as they grow up into teenagers.
(Did I mention that in the present day, in a delightful bit of fan service, we also get to see Carina DeLuca suit up in a fire uniform!?!? To deliver a baby in the middle of a forest fire?? Is it hot? Is Stefania Spampinato hot dressed as a firefighter? You already know the answer, but in case you didn’t, her saunter coming out of the station will tell you, just to be safe.)
The biggest news of the night is that in the final minutes of the episode we learn that Maya will once again become captain of Station 19, this time on her own terms. They put a wig on her that I think was supposed to approximate her infamous bisexual bob from Season Four, but arguably wasn’t the best costume choice for our final seconds together. No matter, Maya becomes Captain (and baby Prue grows up to become a Station 19 Probie!). Andy becomes Seattle’s Fire Chief. Our family is in such safe, loving, good hands.
