What’s New in Queer TV #11: 99 to Beat, The Lowdown, The Guest, English Teacher, House of Guinness, Wayward
A gay plot twist in The Lowdown | Woman seduces another woman to take revenge on a man in The Guest | Gay English Teacher is back | A courageous gay man in House of Guinness | A trans man lead with a side of lesbian romance in Wayward
Welcome to the weekly post where I discuss new additions to my 2025 queer streaming guide.
Aurelie Chazal
Disclaimer: All the shows listed below came out about one month ago because I've noticed that's how long it usually takes me to be able to confidently verify whether a show has queer representation. I'm not able to watch everything, but I'll only include shows that have proven queer characters as verified online through reputable sources.
99 to Beat • Season 1
Hulu / Fox • Challenge Based Competition • 🇺🇸 United States / 🇬🇧 United Kingdom • Fate Unknown
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Lesbian, Gay
Two of the contestants listed on IMDB are openly queer. Cara Maria Sorbello identifies as bisexual, and Tommy Bracco is gay and married his husband earlier this year.
My thoughts on it: The premise of the show and the challenges seem very silly. It's the kind of thing you put in the background. Just good to know there is a tiny bit of queer representation in it.
Others' thoughts on it:
Mack Rawden
The Lowdown • Season 1
Hulu • Quirky Crime Dramedy • 🇺🇸 United States • Fate Unknown
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Gay
Dale Washberg is revealed to have been secretly gay in episode 4. His sexual orientation is an important part of the plot. There is also a small character named Ray described as a savvy gay antiques dealer.
My thoughts on it: The Lowdown has been on my watch list since it came out. I've read good reviews on the show and the gay plot twist makes it even more intriguing. I just hope it's handled better than in Missing You.
Others' thoughts on it:
Vulture
The Guest • Season 1
Netflix • Romance Thriller • 🇨🇴 Colombia • Fate Unknown
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Lesbian, Bisexual (or just pretending)
Sonia sets out to destroy the life of a man named Lorenzo. In her scheme, she has a romance plot with his wife, Silvia. The romance seems to be mostly part of a revenge plot instead of a genuine connection.
My thoughts on it: It reminds me of the Unspeakable Sins plot where someone's sexuality is exploited for revenge. In that case, all reviews point to Sonia seducing Silvia only to get to her husband. Because there's nothing better than a lesbian relationship centered around men...
Others' thoughts on it:
Isabella Wandermurem
English Teacher • Season 2
Hulu • Education Comedy • 🇺🇸 United States • Fate Unknown
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Gay (including gay romance)
The main character is a gay teacher and season 2 focuses on its relationship with Malcolm. The relationship is struggling, largely due to Evan's over-dedication to his job and his need for control, which clashes with Malcolm's spontaneous nature. Harry, another gay teacher who was a potential love interest for Evan in season 1, still makes a few appearances but takes on more of a background role.
My thoughts on it: I didn't watch season 1, but I remember there were serious sexual misconduct allegations against the lead. I'm not sure what happened there, but we got a season 2, so I assume he got cleared. The gay representation seems to be handled well, and I've heard positive things about the show in general.
Others' thoughts on it:
Dr. Thomas J. West III
House of Guinness • Season 1
Netflix • Historical Drama • 🇬🇧 United Kingdom • Fate Unknown
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Gay
The series reveals that Arthur's sexuality is a highly dangerous secret, as homosexuality in 19th-century Ireland was a crime punishable by life imprisonment. He's forced into a lavender marriage, but he remains proud of his sexuality and has a positive relationship with his wife. Other characters exploit Arthur's sexuality for leverage, setting off a season-long plot involving attempts at blackmail and political and social maneuvering to keep his identity concealed from the broader public. There were some criticisms around historical accuracy (as there always are with gay characters), but there are historians who speculated that the real Arthur Guinness was likely gay.
My thoughts on it: I was not expecting a gay storyline from a historical Irish show, so this took me entirely by surprise, and I'm glad it did. The character doesn't have it easy, considering the times he lives in, but he's still proud of his sexuality, which is refreshing.
Others' thoughts on it:
Wayward • Season 1
Netflix • Psychological Thriller • 🇺🇸 United States / 🇬🇧 United Kingdom / 🇨🇦 Canada • Ended
Queer-o-meter: 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈
Type of queer representation: Trans Man, Lesbian, Bisexual
Alex and his pregnant wife, Laura, form a unique queer family unit that is embraced by the supposedly idyllic but secretly sinister town. Alex's trans identity is openly discussed, shown in routine moments (his T shots, nudity), and not made a “problem” but an authentic feature of his life. There is also a bisexual character named Leila who is sent to a "troubled teen" academy for reasons other than her sexuality. Leila begins a relationship with her female roommate, Ello, though Ello later relapses, showing a relationship facing external pressures (drug use and the cult) rather than internal homophobia.
My thoughts on it: I got excited when I saw that a show created by Mae Martin was coming out on Netflix. Then I found out it was on the horror side, and I still haven't worked up the courage to watch it. It helps to know there's a lesbian romance in it and that it's more of a psychological horror than gore. I might be able to power through it like I did with like.
Others' thoughts on it:
Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya
