To get fans excited over the launch of HBO Max (which officially launched yesterday), the streaming service has given those of you who are skeptical about subscribing to the site the opportunity to catch the very first episode of the Ballroom series Legendary.
In Legendary‘s first season, eight houses will compete in nine balls. In each episode (except for the premiere), the judges will decide who reigns superior and who goes home. The last house standing will win $100,000.
Based on the first two episodes that I’ve seen so far (two episodes were released on Wednesday; this recap covers Episode 1 only), I have to say that I absolutely love this show. Legendary is a cross between Drag Race, Pose and America’s Best Dance Crew, and I love that the show features more black and Latino queer performers than Drag Race and Pose combined. I also love how outspoken the competitors are when they feel that they’ve been unfairly chopped by the judges, which happens a lot at real life balls.
Speaking of judges, there seems to be a divide when it comes to some of the decisions made. I love Leiomy’s passion for the culture, and whatever decision she makes I tend to agree with, since she the RuPaul of the ballroom scene, and clearly cares about sticking to the rules of ballroom. I also love the sisterly banter between Leiomy Maldonado and Jameela Jamil, but it’s clear Jameela is not that well versed in the ballroom scene, and often looks to Leiomy for guidance.
It’s pretty clear that like Jameela, Megan Thee Stallion is on the show as a ratings draw, because the episodes I’ve seen so far she doesn’t give what I feel is an authentic opinion. She’s clearly gagging over the performances, but if you’re paid to be a judge, then give the performers some constructive criticism that will make them better performers.
Quite frankly I wish the producers would have chosen big personalities who are familiar with the scene rather than rely on stunt casting, and bring on big name celebrities as a guest judge, which they did in episode 2 with Tyson Beckford.
My least favorite judge is Law Roach. The stank attitude that he exudes works my root canal nerve. For someone who gets paid to dress some of the biggest celebrities in the world sounds real dumb whenever he tries to read the performers over their fashion choices. There’s a way to give a critique without resorting to being messy for the sake of going viral on social media.
I’m living for emcee Dashaun Wesley, who like Leiomy not only competed back in the day on America’s Best Dance Crew as part of the dance collective Vogue Evolution, but are big staples within the ballroom community. His fashions are ovah, and he brings a certain panache to Legendary that is missing from so many blank canvases posing as hosts on some of your favorite mainstream reality competition shows.
I remember ages ago when I watched Paris Is Burning for the first time (and the millions of times I’ve watched it since then), and I watched as the performers in the documentary revealed their hopes and dreams for mainstream stardom. They may not have been able to reach the level of infamy when they were alive, but it’s great to see the legacy of the culture that they were a part of two decades ago finally getting the respect that it deserves through shows like Pose and Legendary.
New episodes of Legendary drops every Thursday on HBO Max.
Check out the full episode below…