Grab your wigs and your glitter, it’s time to get camp. Sky One’s new show, We’re Here is finally in the UK, and you can almost hear the sound of Ru Paul’s Drag Race fans squealing in delight from their sofas.
We see three of our favourite queens, Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara, and Shangela Laquifa Wadley (their legal names, of course) travelling around the US encouraging beat down locals to don a pair of eight-inch heels and an overdrawn lip, all in the name of self-love. Along the way we meet young LGBTQ+ folks, struggling with their identity and family relationships, a trans man and his loving wife both from religious families, and a father battling with his mental health. We won’t lie, the producers may have been a bit cheeky by taking the entire concept of Queer Eye and just replacing the Fab Five with three drag queens, but you know what? We forgive them. It’s a simple and uplifting show which is the sort of telly you’ll pop on not thinking much about it, then find yourself 20 minutes in with a warm heart, clutching a pillow as you cry about the heart-breaking stories featured. But more than this, it’s a wholesome portrayal of drag culture: of the camaraderie, the journey of going from sloppy to snatched, and the discrimination faced and overcome by these performers.
It’s not just us that think this show is great. It has received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program – catchy category – and has fans of the trio going wild on social media, tweeting their reactions to the show. But will this draw in viewers from outside the Drag Race fandom? We’re not sure. Whilst it’s a moving and entertaining watch, it also feels a bit rushed. We don’t really get the same level of emotional insight that we do with other, similar shows, which may be a big downside for new viewers. However, what we do get is outstanding lip syncs, 20-inch-tall hair, and death drops – and if you don’t know what that is, I encourage you to google it.
If the fast approach of autumn has you feeling blue, stick this on, and before you know it you’ll be feeling glitter rainbow fabulous instead.
First shown August 2020. You can watch the trailer by pressing play on the show image, or by clicking here.
