Netflixjust released the first teaser trailer forQ-Force, itsLGBTQ-themed animated comedy series, and… for lack of a more apt description, it’sextremelyLGBTQ-themed. Featuring an all-star cast and creator hailing fromBrooklyn Nine-NineandBroad City, this new adult-oriented show clearly knows its audience and identity and is proud of both.
Q-Forcecenters on a team of queer super-spies, formed after their leader is fired from his previous job for coming out as gay. The new team is entirely comprised of LGBTQ+ members, a fact that’s not only a central theme of the show but also extends to the majority of its cast. Make no mistake, this is a comedy first and foremost, and it knows exactly who its audience is. As a result, some more mainstream viewers might be taken aback at how open it is about its themes. But hey, that’s how all good change starts.
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Created by Gabe Liedman, the series sees Sean Hayes ofWill & Gracefameas team leader Agent Steve Maryweather. Both men identify as gay, and most of the rest of the leads are also voiced by members of the LGBTQ+ community, including Wanda Sykes, Matt Rogers, and Patti Harrison. So not only isQ-Force’s openness about its themes an important step forward, but its casting choices are also a breath of fresh air in a world where gay, bisexual, and transgender characters are still regularly played by straight and cisgender actors. Hey, maybeElliot Page will start getting more workas a result too.
As if the trailer itself doesn’t drive this point home enough, this series isveryadult-oriented. Just like how similar mainstream animatedshows of today likeInvincibledon’t shy away from the old ultraviolence,Q-Forceis loud and proud about its own themes and seems to regularly revel in raunchy humor. The big difference between its style of comedy and that of other popular adult animated series likeFamily GuyisQ-Forcedoesn’t treat its characters' queerness as a derogatory punchline.
The bottom line here is that inclusivity is always a worthwhile goal. Some might findQ-Forceto be not exactly their cup of tea, and that’s okay because a good chunk of the people in that category already have plenty of shows and movies that feature characters they can relate to. Meanwhile, some might find that this new show is the first time they see someone with whom they can identify in mainstream media. That alone should be enough to drive excitement.
So even ifQ-Forcedoesn’t look particularly engaging, at least understand what its creation meansfor the LGBTQ+ community, and respect it for those strides. Hey, not everybody likesStar Warseither, but even the haters can’t deny its cultural impact.
