Streaming Queer: April 2025
April's queer streaming offering includes hallucinating pop stars, reluctant ballerina cultural exchanges, and comedians in behind-the-scenes feuds. We've got intergalactic time-travel disasters and award shows that affirm the power of queer creativity. We've got movies that will make you gasp and shows that will make your heart ache. There will be equal amounts of tears and laughter inspired by what's streaming this month!
We reunite with Pedro Pascal and the clickers in "The Last of Us;" and find out what is gonna happen with the new late-night TV dynamic between Ava and Deborah on "Hacks." Ncuti Gatwa returns as The Doctor for more intergalactic adventures, and we meet two ballet directors written by the "Gilmore Girls" creators who are desperately trying to sell tickets to their shows in "Etoile." We'll be saying goodbyes this month, too: Joe Goldberg's killer misadventures come full circle in the once-again New York-set farewell season of "You," and the long-awaited, disturbingly relevant "The Handmaid's Tale" returns for a final, haunting season. You're about to go through a rollercoaster of emotion with everything that's coming to your streaming suite. Happy streaming!
'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 6
"We use all of our friends — anyone and everyone who hates Gilead — to finally declare 'Enough.'" This trailer's giving violent rebellion, tensions bubbling over, and a show that's about to come to a remarkable, revolutionary close. With the show so far ahead of the book now, really anything is possible with the direction they take in this final season. Hulu offered clues about where we're heading with an official logline: "June's (Elisabeth Moss) unyielding spirit and determination pull her back into the fight to take down Gilead. Luke and Moira [out actor Samira Wiley] join the resistance. Serena tries to reform Gilead while Commander Lawrence and Aunt Lydia reckon with what they have wrought, and Nick faces challenging tests of character. This final chapter of June's journey highlights the importance of hope, courage, solidarity, and resilience in the pursuit of justice and freedom." We're also hoping for powerful, generous, kind conclusions to the narratives of the show's queer characters.
"The Handmaid's Tale" Season 6 premieres April 8 on Hulu.
'Hacks' Season 4
Season 4's "Hacks" trailer makes sure to express, as the official logline does, that "tensions rise as Deborah and Ava endeavor to get their late night show off the ground and make history doing it." This is all happening because of the dramatic Season 3 finale, in which comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) blackmailed iconic stand-up comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) into giving her the head writer job on her new late-night show host gig. When talking to TV Insider after the Season 3 finale, the "Hacks" team teased that "what happens next will be as exciting as where we left off," and warned us that the leads will have a completely new relationship dynamic due to the complicated cocktail of "hurt feelings and a lot of animosity about what happened, and yet they have to make the show work because this is the biggest stage Deborah's ever been on." Queer actors returning for this season include Meg Stalter, Mark Indelicato, Poppy Liu, and Johnny Sibilly. Queer comedian Robby Hoffman, who recently married "The Traitors" star Gabby Windey, is one of this season's guest stars.
"Hacks" Season 4 premieres April 10 on Max.
'Doctor Who' Season 2
The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) returns to our screens with a new companion, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu). This season, we'll join The Doctor and Belinda "on an epic quest to get Belinda back to Earth." She thinks she's been gone for a few hours, but it's been six months! What follows is the two time-traveling backwards and forward, stumbling upon intergalactic song contests and stylish days long gone while the Doctor tries to fix the TARDIS. They even get suddenly turned into animated characters by a villain voiced by Alan Cumming as they try to get back to Earth on their timeline. Trans writer and beloved, bestselling queer author Juno Dawson joined the writers room for this season. Fans of AppleTV+ spy drama "Slow Horses" (of which "Doctor Who" showrunner Russell T Davies is a big fan) will be delighted to be reunited with a trio of its cast ahead of its fifth season: Kadiff Kirwan, Christopher Chung, and Freddie Fox join the series this season.
Doctor Who" Season 2 premieres April 12 on Disney+.
'The 36th GLAAD Media Awards'
"Ugly Betty" and "Shrinking" actor Michael Urie opened this divinely, magnificently queer awards show in a two-sided custom "Wicked"-inspired Christian Siriano outfit, with "an electrifying monologue," calling on GLAAD's 40-year history "as a blueprint for a way to fight back and find a way forward through authentic and real stories that must continue to be told." As the show continued, the organization honored the artists and influencers who have made being queer in our world a more welcoming experience. Presenters and acceptance speeches alike did not shy away from addressing the painful and frightening realities of the political attacks against the queer community, but they also inspired us to keep striving for inclusivity, and reminded us that we can make a difference and achieve greatness by being our unique selves. The event featured appearances by Cynthia Erivo, Cooper Koch, Dylan Efron, the cast of "Hacks," Nava Mau, Bobby Berk, Marissa Bode, Doechii, and Dylan Mulvaney —among so, so, so many more queer icons!
"The 36th GLAAD Media Awards" premieres April 12 on Hulu.
'The Last of Us' Season 2
We're honestly not sure if we're emotionally ready to return to the tense drama and high-stakes adventures in this post-apocalyptic monster survival series, but we're showing up for it anyway. Not least of all because we can't look away from captivating duo Ellie (nonbinary actor Bella Ramsey) and Joel (Pedro Pascal). The show's creator and director Neil Druckmann told Deadline that the second season will be "a continuation of love from the first season, and this is just the dark side of that coin, the pursuit of justice at any cost for the ones you love and the exploration of that." Out actor Ariela Barer ("How to Blow Up a Pipeline," "Runaways") joins the cast this season, and so does Isabela Merced ("Madame Web"), who plays Ellie's romantic interest, Dina.
"The Last of Us" Season 2 premieres April 13 on Max.
'Smile 2'
A horror film about a pop star losing her mind while on the press tour for her world tour, which she is currently performing in while seeing hallucinations of people smiling at her in the most disturbing way —among them the deranged drug dealer (played by Lukas Gage) who very possibly passed on a demon possession to her the day she watched him die. Literally, what more could we ask for! This sequel to hit movie "Smile" stars Naomi Scott as Skye Riley, who is tormented by these hallucinations, guilt, the pressures of fame, her own ambition, and, eventually, by the terrifying idea that she has to die in order to be free of the parasite. Bi icon Drew Barrymore appears as herself, interviewing Skye on her talk show, and queer actor Miles Gutierrez-Riley plays Joshua, Skye's assistant.
"Smile 2" premieres April 15 on Paramount+.
'You' Season 5
Welcome to the killer final chapter of Joe Goldberg's bloody tale. This season, we meet Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) three years after he left London and returned to New York with Kate (Charlotte Ritchie) to enjoy their happily ever after —"until," the logline reads, "his perfect life is threatened by the ghosts of his past and his own dark desires." Not only is there family drama with Kate's siblings (led by Ms. Anna Camp herself) coming for her role as CEO of the Lockwood Corporation, but Joe struggles as he lives under the spotlight as Kate's loyal husband, having been "dubbed Prince Charming by the adoring public." Queer actors Natasha Behnam ("The Girls on the Bus"), b ("Station 19"), and Griffin Matthews ("The Flight Attendant") join the cast this season, and trans actor Nava Mau ("Baby Reindeer") joins in the role of Detective Marquez.
"You" Season 5 premieres April 24 on Netflix.
'Etoile' Season 1
International ballerina drama! "Etoile," the new show from "Gilmore Girls" creators the Palladinos, follows Jack ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" star Luke Kirby) and Geneviève (acclaimed actor and Jane Birkin's daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg), two directors — with a history they're putting aside for the sake of their careers — of renowned but struggling ballet companies; Jack in New York, Geneviève in Paris. In an effort to save their companies and increase ticket sales, the companies exchange principal dancers as a stunt to drum up renewed interest from the public. In Paris, American choreographer Tobias (out gay actor Gideon Glick) is having difficulty connecting with his new colleagues, but he's not the only one having trouble with this agreement. It's kinda giving "Smash" (though of course nothing could ever compare), and between two international ballet companies, we're looking forward to at least one storyline of gay male ballerina drama.
"Etoile" Season 1 premieres April 24 on Prime Video.
'Vanderpump Villa' Season 2
This new TV season's summer of debauchery and decadence will be spent at a lush Italian Vanderpump villa, where "some new faces, and some returning ones" will be competing for a monetary bonus and a coveted job opportunity with Lisa Vanderpump. Competing in "Vanderpump Villa" includes being charming and professional while creating spectacular once-in-a lifetime experiences for high-end guests (including entertaining "MomTok" stars of "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" who "are a little bit naughty in their playtime"). This season's big surprise: The staff will be spied on all summer (as they live, work, and play together) by "Vanderpump Rules" icon Stassi. It's looking like a summer of beautiful mess!
"Vanderpump Villa" Season 2 premieres April 24 on Hulu.
'Bravo's Love Hotel' Season 1
"I'm going to date multiple people? This isn't some sex hotel. ...Is it?" Well, Shannon, that's gonna be up to you! Reality TV paradise Bravo has created a new dating show, this one entirely focused on helping four "Real Housewives" — Shannon Storms Beador, LuAnn de Lesseps, Gizelle Bryant and Ashley Darby — find love. Joel Kim Booster takes on a new role as "Love Concierge," presenting the women with eligible bachelors who are "all established, successful, and hung like Bolo." The men, like the women, are serious about looking for love, and it all gets quite competitive. At the end of the show, the Housewives will decide either to leave the hotel alone or with one of their suitors. Between vulnerable confessions, literal red flags, and a proclamation that, "Yes, I'm going to take your man!," we can't wait to see how it all goes.
"Bravo's Love Hotel" Season 1 premieres April 28 on Peacock.