Season 1 – AJ and the Queen

Play trailer

2:15

Jan 2020

Comedy

Drama

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

55%

Tomatometer

22 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Robert, a down-on-his-luck drag queen who performs as Ruby Red, prepares for a new adventure, heading out on a journey in a van across America. Joining Robert on the trip is tough-talking 10-year-old stowaway AJ. Ruby gets a chance to step back into the spotlight along the way, and AJ comes up with a crafty plan to earn some extra cash. The tour hits a snag as the vehicle rolls into Texas, and it comes to an end when Ruby competes in the Miss Drag USA pageant.

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Critics Consensus

Though it doesn't always come together, AJ and the Queen is a sweet, sometimes off-the wall adventure that's fun to watch even when it's fumbling.

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Ashlie D. Stevens

Salon.com

01/16/2020

AJ and the Queen can be a lot of fun... But the series is riddled with scripting snags, potentially by virtue of trying to balance camp and commentary in hour-long episodes.

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Spencer Kornhaber

The Atlantic

01/15/2020

The gospel Ruby-slash-RuPaul preaches is not one of great transformation but rather one of great transcendence, and the vision of queens as mini-Oprahs, capable of therapizing away America's wounds, is seductively comforting.

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Liz Shannon Miller

AV Club

01/11/2020

B+

There are moments that feel a little jarring... Beyond those moments, there are so many freewheeling touches over the course of the season that keep the fun alive.

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Daniel Hart

Ready Steady Cut

11/09/2024

3.5/5

AJ and the Queen is a crowd-pleaser for RuPaul’s fans, but even non-fans can take courage from a wonderful story about companionship.

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Bailey Jo Josie

Film Inquiry

04/24/2020

Despite some stumbles and clumsy writing, the first season of AJ and the Queen is a heartwarming, heartbreaking delight that lets you ride out every emotion while giving you a few laughs and some amazing drag, too.

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Monique Jones

Just Add Color

04/03/2020

Unfortunately, RuPaul continues to get in her own way in this series. Pretty annoying, since I wanted to love this series as a longtime RuPaul and Drag Race fan, a fan who sees the good and the bad of RuPaul's reign.

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Kevin B

@Kevininmia 04/30/2025

Drags at times, but I found myself being glad for that. Something light with a lot of heart.

Jenni S

@RT44226330 03/30/2025

Love this! Beautifully complex characters with depth. So much wisdom here. Absolutely loved it! So disgusted with Netflix for canceling! AJ and the Queen: 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🥰♥️😀 Netflix: 😡👎🏼 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼🤬

S G

@Sean123456789 12/08/2024

A great little show, nice story with heart, ruplaul is great as usual

Kathy H

@Sushisnake 12/21/2023

Interesting show, this. It seems to think it's a positive expression of inclusivity and smashing stereotypes while leaning heavier on the unfit mother junkie prostitute trope than any other show I've seen in decades. Hell, that trope holds the whole show up.

Ruby J

@RT58976219 05/25/2023

it's hard to make a street kid with a drug addicted mother funny, it felt like the show had bad aim and it never hit. Some scenes were just dumb, the RV falling over and being placed upright and driven away was ridiculous. As always, Ru was fab but the kid got annoying real fast. The blind guy remembering the prostitute/drug addicts sequin butterfly shirt was my favourite part. If he's blind how could he have seen it? Bad writing, decent acting, mildly entertaining.

02/14/2022

AJ and the queen is a fantastic series I was sad to hear Netflix has failed fans by cancelling the second season if you love drag race you will love this fun loving story of a drag queen who had been scammed out of every penny and a kid whose lost and looking for family

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RuPaul

Creator

Michael Patrick King

Creator

RuPaul

Robert

Izzy G.

Michael-Leon Wooley

Louis

Josh Segarra

Hector

Episode 1

Aired Jan 10, 2020

New York City

The story starts at the end of an era as Robert, aka Ruby Red, prepares for a new adventure; young AJ endures the mean streets of Manhattan.

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Episode 2

Aired Jan 10, 2020

Pittsburgh

Robert treats AJ to breakfast -- and a long list of questions; Ruby steps back into the spotlight and encounters bad blood, onstage and off.

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Episode 3

Aired Jan 10, 2020

Columbus

A fender bender leads to a frantic game of cat and mouse; AJ gets a message from back home, and Ruby prepares for an impromptu competition.

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Episode 4

Aired Jan 10, 2020

Louisville

AJ and Robert encounter a new cast of queens as Ruby gets ready for a daring performance; Damien's cruel game claims another victim.

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Episode 5

Aired Jan 10, 2020

Mt. Juliet

As the tour heads to Nashville, a peculiar pit stop catches Robert's eye; AJ makes a crafty plan for extra cash.

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Episode 6

Aired Jan 10, 2020

Little Rock

A late-night rest stop leads to a last-minute musical as Robert makes friends in a rural RV park; his history with "Hector" comes to light.

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Episode 7

Aired Jan 10, 2020

Jackson

AJ and Robert make their way to Mississippi for an action-packed reunion; back in New York, Louis opens the door to an unexpected visitor.

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Episode 8

Aired Jan 10, 2020

Baton Rouge

A medical emergency triggers a string of painful memories for Robert and AJ; Lady Danger and Damien cross paths with a fellow traveler.

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Episode 9

Aired Jan 10, 2020

Fort Worth

As the RV rolls into Texas, the tour hits an unforeseen snag; Robert reconnects with an old friend; AJ eagerly awaits life with Pop Pop.

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Episode 10

Aired Jan 10, 2020

Dallas

The end of tour arrives as Ruby competes in Miss Drag USA; AJ prepares for Pop Pop's farm; Brianna tries one last, desperate leap of faith.

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New on Netflix in January 2020

AJ and the Queen: Season 1 Trailer

2:15

Now Playing

AJ and the Queen: Season 1 Teaser - Introducing Ruby Red

0:23

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Director: Michael Patrick King, Michael Alan Spiller, Anne Fletcher, Bobcat Goldthwait, Adam Shankman, Dennie Gordon
Creator: RuPaul, Michael Patrick King
Executive Producer: Michael Patrick King, RuPaul, Jhoni Marchinko
Screenwriter: RuPaul, Jhoni Marchinko, Stephen Soroka, Drew Droege, Michael Patrick King, Jon Kinnally, Stephen Soroka
Network: Netflix
Rating: TV-14
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date: Jan 10, 2020

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Season 1 – AJ and the Queen

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