Lately, LGBTQIA+ content has been dominating the charts. With the recent success of The Last of Us, The White Lotus, and Yellowjackets, it’s clear that the queer TV show is gaining well-deserved traction. It’s worth noting that none of these shows focus primarily on the type of LGBTQIA+ stories that have been conventionally successful, such as tales of coming out or being bullied. Instead, these new shows feature thrilling, darkly comedic adventures that show LGBTQIA+ characters as any other show might present a straight person.
To celebrate this increase in LGBTQIA+ content is a list of shows that feature quality storytelling and representation. The criteria for the following list of queer TV shows were that they needed to be stories with deep cultural meaning and have at least one main LGBTQIA+ character that is clearly presented as queer within the first season of the show. Many of these shows make their queerness clear from the very first episode – a deliberate choice, given that queer TV series often receive limited screen time and renewals are about as rare as a snowball in hell.
And if you too are often held under the weight of the buyer’s conundrum – too many options and too few hours in the day – then here’s a well curated list of queer TV shows to watch based on your zodiac sign.
Aries (March 21-April 20)
Good Omens, 2019- (Prime Video)
Energetic, fearless, protective, has an end goal in mind but isn’t quite sure of the path to get there: these are all ways to describe both Aries and the often-chaotic energy of Good Omens. Aries can be disarming, defensive, and naïve, but they can also embody wonder, courage, and independence. No matter who is in their close circle, they tend to need someone to confide in. Thus, we set the foundation of Good Omens.
Adapted from the 1990 novel, the story of Good Omens now takes the form of a soon-to-be-wrapped-up three-part series on Prime Video. Highlighting the relationship between the angel, Aziraphale, and the demon, Crowley, this show gets straight to the point in showing us exactly what these two have meant to each other since the dawn of time. For over 6,000 years, Crowley has become increasingly agitated trying to get Aziraphale to ditch the goodie-two-shoes in heaven that are actually no better than the leaders of hell. These two dramatic fools have been in equal parts squabbling and pining since creating the galaxies.
Like The Ram, conviction and impulse drive Aziraphale and Crowley, and their fiery spirits match the dramatic tension of the upcoming apocalypse. Aries will appreciate this demon-and-angel coin toss of a coupling and their back-and-forth pull of instigation and passion.
Taurus (April 21-May 21)
Difficult People, 2015-2017 (Hulu)
Taurus’ will love Difficult People who dig themselves deeper and deeper into holes of their own creation – also known as stubborn New Yorkers with a love of the finer things in life.
Billy Eichner and Julie Klausner play Billy Epstein and Julie Kessler, two aspiring comedians who hate everyone but each other. Their dynamic is defined by an indulgence and appreciation for the arts, which mirrors their passionate pursuit of success in both their careers and calamitous love lives. This energy aligns with Taurus, known for loyalty, but also for the jealousy that can arise when those bonds are threatened.
The series features cameos from John Mulaney, Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Turturro, Debbie Harry, Patton Oswalt, and more. As a show set in the entertainment industry, these names and faces make it feel real. You get the sense that you’re watching the real-life Billy and Julie struggle through the messy NYC landscape. Taurus isn’t known for gossiping, but watching Difficult People bridges the gap between loyalty and getting that strong tea.
Gemini (May 22-June 21)
Heartstopper, 2022- (Netflix)
Curious, talkative Gemini will love Netflix’s Heartstopper, a series following Alice Oseman’s graphic novels of the same name. This is a show that many queer people wish we had seen growing up. Its acceptance of the queer self, of young love and friendship – it’s all such a joy to witness.
We’ve come quite a ways with the complex development of diverse LGBTQIA+ characters, and Heartstopper is the perfect example of that progress. Plus, it makes old news of “a minor communication becomes a giant plot point.” These are teens, so we can expect hesitance to speak openly, but there’s no withholding just to cause narrative drama.
As they fall in love, Charlie and Nick are communicative, sweet, and patient. Heartstopper doesn’t have time for toxic masculinity. Geminis can have room for emotional volatility and a general unhinged vibe, but that’s sandwiched between a load of charisma. All of that makes this air sign the perfect match for the charming students at Truham and Higgs.
Cancer (June 22-July 22)
The Haunting of Bly Manor, 2020 (Netflix)
As a crab, you’re used to having a big heart, even at the risk of heartbreak. The Haunting of Bly Manor is perfect for Cancers, providing nine hours of sapphic romance and pure feelings. Bly is one of those stories that challenges and expands what you thought were the limits of your genre interests. It’s extremely sorrowful, but not so devastating that it’s not worth pressing play a million more times.
A ghost story about love, Bly will pull in Cancers in a whirl of nostalgia and grief. Their tender nature will have them empathizing with Dani’s emotionally fraught past, and their needy side will have them going “me too” when different characters come to learn that love weaves its way throughout both life and death. Bly is the only show on this list that was always planned to be a miniseries. Sometimes you don’t need to expand on perfection.
Leo (July 23-August 22)
Sex Education, 2019-2023 (Netflix)
Everybody knows that Leos are the divas of the zodiac sign. Leo’s creativity and individuality will have them feeling like Sex Education wrote the flamboyant, unapologetic Eric Effiong just for them. Like a true Leo, Eric is loyal, accepting, and funny. Throughout the series, he comes to terms with his intersecting experiences as a religious, Black, queer boy. It’s important to see this kind of diversity on the screen, and Leos are bound to love this powerhouse of a character.
In addition to Eric, other things that will attract Leos to Sex Education are its dedication to not taking itself too seriously – the school swing band performs “F*** the Pain Away” at a press conference – the confrontation and overcoming of sexual assault, growing into one’s sexuality and sexual desires, and its large cast of LGBTQIA+ characters. Leos love feeling loved, and nothing does that like seeing our stories told in an assortment of different ways.
Like Leos, queer people are not a monolith; we’re all individuals who can speak fluent diva at any given time.
Virgo (August 23-September 22)
Severance, 2022- (AppleTV+)
Severance has been everywhere this year, from iBooks to promo boxes on Instagram to Grand Central Station. Apple even made a mockup of the computers that the workers in Severance use to complete their mysterious macrodata refinement work – Severance took its Season 2 advertising seriously. This type of effort seems huge in a streaming-obsessed era, especially for a show with a main queer character.
The meticulousness of this show’s promotional material alone reflects Virgo’s dedication to organization and perfection. Virgos will inevitably notice the extreme level of detail that’s clear in Severance from the very start.
They will also love quick-witted Irving and Burt’s relationship and how they find each other against serious odds. Virgos are critical, ready to give you a list of reasons why you were in the wrong in that one text you sent three years, two months, and eleven days ago. Chances are, Severance will scratch that overthinking itch.
Libra (September 23-October 22)
One Day at a Time, 2017-2020 (Netflix, PopTV)
Libra is a sign that we often overlook because it isn’t overly problematic, chaotic, or unwieldy. That’s a good thing! Though flying under the radar isn’t such a plus when it comes to TV, ODaaT is the embodiment of a Libra. This 2017 reboot packs a lot into short episodes: discussions of gender and sexuality, Cuban heritage, white privilege, and having an irritating landlord (who is also somewhat charming – by far the most unrealistic part of the show).
ODaaT works for The Scales because like the zodiac sign, this show focuses on balance: it effortlessly juggles humor, politics, and familial life lessons. It’s impossible not to smile while watching the incomparable Rita Moreno interacting with the delightful Justina Machado and her on-screen grandchildren. Libras prioritizing justice and connection will love hearing the refugee backstory of Lydia (Moreno) while basking in her huge personality.
Scorpio (October 23-November 22)
Interview with the Vampire, 2022- (AMC, AMC+)
Did you really expect anything else for Scorpio? This water sign’s ability to feel emotional intensity is unparalleled by anyone except Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt. Scorpio, a sign of transformation, is a perfect partner for Interview with the Vampire: the show follows Louis through his inner and outer turmoil as he learns to live as a vampire. At the same time, he exists as a Black gay man across centuries and continents. Being immortal doesn’t erase people’s prejudices.
Scorpio is also known to be secretive, fearless, and controlling; all impeccable synonyms for the undead at 1132 Rue Royale. These men love each other in fire and brimstone, their emotions heightened by the endless ticking of the clock. In the midst of this heightened horror, this show is also surprisingly funny. Fun fact: Lestat’s birthday is commonly understood to be November 7th, the same as Anne Rice’s Scorpio husband, who inspired the character.
Sagittarius (November 23-December 21)
Our Flag Means Death, 2022-2023 (Max)
Usually when we say zodiac signs enjoy something tangible, it’s pretty subjective or just plain wrong. Sometimes your birth chart needs to align just right for your horoscope to make you say “that’s so true.” However, when they say Sagittarius loves to travel, they mean it.
That need for escape and adventure is also what brings Our Flag Means Death to life. The plot is driven by aristocrat Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) leaving his wife and children to become a pirate. At sea, he falls in love with Blackbeard (Taika Waititi) amongst threats of the English Navy and toxic masculinity.
Sagittarius is bound to feel at home amongst Stede’s diverse pirate crew, including a nonbinary character and men who get married at sea. This show is as funny as it is poignant. Leaving in the middle of the night to pursue something you’ve only ever dreamed of? As Taylor Swift would say, that’s The Archer.
Capricorn (December 22-January 20)
Young Royals, 2021-2024 (Netflix)
Ambition, success, duty – these are all core traits that encompass the Earth sign Capricorn. Saturn, the planet of discipline, rules this sign. Leading without losing yourself is at this show’s core, featuring a boy dealing with the pressures of Swedish royalty.
Wilhelm, feeling the pull of royal obligations, is set at odds with his forced-upon straight-laced identity when he gets to know Simon, a character who should be his antithesis: a lower-class boy who is comfortable being gay and who pushes Wilhelm to act from the heart. They’re surrounded by the tradition of their prestigious boarding school while their ambitions veer in seemingly different directions. Capricorns will appreciate this depth of depicting emotional restraint and learning to grow into whatever power you are given.
Aquarius (January 20-February 18)
In The Flesh, 2013-2014 (Prime Video)
Known for their individuality and sense of self, Aquarius will appreciate the genius that is BBC Three’s In The Flesh. Favoring a Golden Retriever/black cat vibe in many of its relationships, this series is all about challenging the status quo.
In The Flesh refocuses a usually villainized group into the main character, and therefore shines a sympathetic light on them. The series follows Kieren, a PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome) sufferer excited to have been rehabilitated. He returns to his small English town only to find that he’s now an outcast. His parents love him and want him to stay, but his sister views him as an outsider. Then he meets a handsome PDS sufferer who encourages him to stop trying to blend in with everyone else. Thus begins the revolution.
The innovative, humanitarian Aquarius spirit is baked into the script of In The Flesh, from its radical empathy to the way it reinvents what it means to be human. Choosing love and staying where you are over fear and running away is an act of rebellion that lives at the beating heart of this undead show that revolutionizes the zombie genre.
Pisces (February 19-March 20)
Clean Slate, 2025 (Prime Video)
Pisces, known for being dreamy and empathetic, prioritizes escapism and generosity. However, they can struggle to escape their daydreaming and resent those who take advantage of their kindness.
In Clean Slate, Desiree (Laverne Cox) and Harry (George Wallace) can easily be described as two fish swimming in opposite directions: as dualistic as they are conflicting. After many years away, Desiree returns home and reintroduces herself to her father Harry as a trans woman. Harry is confused and skeptical, but the undercurrent of love outweighs any doubts about who Desiree is. His world is cracked open, and while confronting prejudices, he begins to embrace change.
A heartwarming comedy with a focus on repairing a father-daughter dynamic, Clean Slate is perfect for the Pisces who says they want to find something funny to watch but probably secretly wants an emotional gut punch. To do both – entertain and provoke thought – is at the heart of both this TV show and The Fishes.
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