Queens Review: 1999 (Season 1 Episode 1)

Brianna, Jill, Valeria, and Naomi try to recapture the fun and success of their ‘90s girl group on Queens Season 1 Episode 1, “1999.”

Once upon a time, the Queens were the biggest group in hip-hop, but like so many acts their star burned bright and fast. Now the four performers are grown women with regular lives, families, and responsibilities.

However, a chance at a comeback has them re-evaluating past mistakes and new opportunities.

With cleverly intercut flashbacks to ‘90s hip-hop excess, Queens opens its first season with a fun episode that sets the table for a fascinating exploration of friendship, self love, and empowerment.

Like any great group, Queens’ real magic is in the chemistry between its leading ladies. With a cast of talented women like singer Brandy, rapper Eve, Naturi Naughton, Nadine Velazquez, and Pepi Sonuga, we’re instantly drawn into their complicated lives.

Brandy Norwood is Naomi, the creative genius behind the group. Since they split, she’s been chasing musical dreams, sacrificing her relationship with her daughter in the process.

Within minutes of meeting her, it becomes clear that Naomi needs this reunion more than the others. She’s never moved on from the high of success, and as her daughter points out it’s sad.

She even falls back into bad habits with her ex-boyfriend/manager Eric. He’s also involved with Valeria, and the reason they broke up, because it’s always a guy. Eric knows he’s playing Naomi and Valeria against one another, and doesn’t seem to care. He’s going to be a never-ending problem.

While Queens is obviously a comeback story about these four women and their musical aspirations, it’s really about the reunion of their friendship, and how important sisterhood is. Without the support of one another, they’ve fallen into and accepted lives without joy.

Jill is a devout Catholic, and closeted lesbian, who’s staying married out of guilt. She’s desperate to speak her truth to someone, but feels trapped every time she tries. It’s only through the strength of reuniting with the girls that she’s able to publicly come out during the big BET Awards performance.

Jill instantly bonds with up and coming star Lauren aka Lil Muffin, a Cardi B/Nicki Minaj amalgamation. Lauren is a young rapper surrounded by men who only care about how much money she can make them, so the Queens become her new family.

We don’t get to spend much time with Lauren, but there’s obviously more to her story, and Sonuga captivates us enough to want to know about her and how she became Lil Muffin.

The absolute highlight of “1999” is Eve as Brianna. She’s now a wife and mother of five, trying to figure out if her confident alter ego, Professor Sex, is still inside her somewhere.

On stage we get the superstar who delivered hits like “Who’s That Girl,” then she instantly turns into defeated mom Brianna.

Her cheating husband is diagnosed with cancer, leaving Brianna in emotional limbo. However, the Queens are the one thing she has for herself, and it’s where she shines.

We expect series premieres to give us something we can’t look away from. Something that will make us invest 13 weeks of our lives in these characters and stories.

With its relatable leads, authentic performances, and interesting setting, Queens is definitely something to look forward to.

What did you think of this episode of Queens? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Queens airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on ABC.

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