Vagrant Queen Review: A Royal Ass-Kicking (Season 1 Episode 1)
Syfy’s new space adventure burst on to the screen, guns blazing, with its premiere episode, Vagrant Queen Season 1 Episode 1, “A Royal Ass-Kicking” and the results are part Guardians of the Galaxy, part The Fifth Element, and a splash of Star Wars all wrapped in a flippant neon pink package.
As most pilots do, especially sci-fi pilots, Vagrant Queen has some rough edges, and, at times, its irreverent tone can feel a bit heavy-handed. But, all the ingredients are there for a summer escape full of imagination, heart, and creative visuals that are the stuff cosplay dreams are made of.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Vagrant Queen is its potential for expansive world-building. In the tradition of shows like Farscape and franchises like Star Wars, Vagrant Queen is set in a galaxy far away from earth and is not bound by any history or biological constraints of shows more specifically tied to the world we know.
They’ve given themselves a huge sandbox to play in and to create an entire universe of characters, societies, culture, and histories in. Vagrant Queen may center on Elida, but it is as much about the world she and her friends inhabit as it is her journey.
There is always a risk that the otherworldliness of shows like these can become a distraction from the emotional arcs of each character, but if Vagrant Queen does it well it could be the thing that sets it apart from other current sci-fi shows and one of the most fun things about it.
No matter how cool the world is though, whether a series is successful ultimately comes down to whether the characters and relationships in that world are compelling and complex enough to keep us interested. Vagrant Queen has at least three characters I’m hoping can do just that.
First, of course, is the titular Vagrant Queen herself, Elida. Elida is a welcomed continuation of Syfy’s trend of shows with tough, funny, badass leading ladies.
From a plot perspective, her search for her mother is the driving force of the entire series, but what makes her most interesting is her conflicted relationship with her royal linage and the lessons she learned from her mother about not trusting anyone but herself.
After years being on her own and only relying on herself, she’s going to be forced to trust someone who’s betrayed her in the past and someone she barely knows.
It seems likely that her arc will end up with her needing to put aside her mother’s lessons and have faith in her team, but watching her get there offers a lot of opportunity for character-driven stories that add depth to the lighter tone of the series.
Then there’s Issac, played by Tim Rozon, who Wynonna Earp fans will recognize as the beloved Doc Holliday from that series. Fans of Doc Holliday might also notice some similarities between Doc and Issac.
Both are charming characters with fantastic facial hair dropped into unfamiliar worlds. In Issac’s case, we meet him long after he somehow ended up in a galaxy far far away, so he is a bit more acclimated and not as out of place as Rozon’s Doc.
Hopefully, we’ll get a few flashbacks to Issac’s arrival in this world, so we can see him just starting to figure out his new environment. If there is one thing Rozon does well (and there are in fact many) it’s playing a befuddled outsider perplexed by things the people around him take for granted.
The most important similarity Issac and Doc share though is that like Doc, Issac at least initially has a personal agenda that make his loyalty questionable, creating a complicated tension for Issac and Elida to grapple with. She has every reason not to trust him, and he will no doubt prove her instincts right before he learns to look out for more than himself.
Unlike Doc, though, Issac is a lighter character. He is less burdened by his past and less plagued with guilt. Issac is a fly by the seat of his pants rascal and that makes him the most fun character on the show so far.
One of the characters we know the least about is Amae. Amae is an original character not in the comic, so her story can go any number of directions and could also take Elida and Issac in unexpected directions.
There isn’t a whole lot to say about Amae just yet because we are just getting our first glimpse into who she is, but hopefully, that will change soon. What can be said is that Amae is a fun character poised to be the idealist of the group who keeps them from getting lost in their own cynicism.
I’m particularly interested to learn her backstory and find out how she ended up working on a shady space station of mostly fugitives and outcasts, and why she is so ready to help Elida even if it means picking up her entire life to join Elida and Issac on the Winnipeg.
There is a great story behind that optimistic plucky persona that I can’t wait to see.
One of the best parts of Amae’s introduction is the clear and immediate attraction between her and Elida that lets the audience know right away that, in addition to having a fantastic woman of color as their lead, Vagrant Queen is going to continue Syfy’s strong track record of LGBTQ representation.
I’m excited to see where Elida and Amae’s relationship goes. I’m ready for a slow burn between these two as they get to know each other and learn to depend on each other.
I am also relieved that there are no hints of an impending love triangle between Elida, Amae, and Issac. That could change down the line, but for now, Issac seems like he is still in love with his wife and, even after all these years apart, eager to get back to her. I’m good with things staying that way.
Vagrant Queen takes everything that is great about the comic and kicks it up a notch, bringing these characters to life with even more panache and exuberance.
“A Royal Ass-Kicking” is a strong start. There are places where it still needs to find it’s groove, and if you are looking for expensive production value or stunning special effects, Vagrant Queen might not be for you.
But, if you are looking for some summer fun and a lot of adventure, this is exactly the thing for you. Welcome to the galaxy.
What did you think of this episode of Vagrant Queen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Vagrant Queen airs Fridays at 10/9c on Syfy.
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Sarah Fields
Sarah is an obsessive geek who likes to get into the weeds and over think things. She is passionate about Sci-Fi and comics and is a giant classic film nerd. Sarah cares deeply about media representation and the power of telling diverse stories. When she's not writing or watching her favorite shows she spends her days working in the non-profit world trying to make life a little better for those that need some extra help.