“Slag Wars: The Next Destroyer” Season 1 – Recommendation

As we wait for 2021 to offer more queer content, there’s a 4-episode queer-centric reality show (released during the tail-end of 2020) I would like to talk about. You all need to go and watch Slag Wars: The Next Destroyer Season 1 right now!

While I appreciate the progress queer representation has made in media (we got some enjoyable queer-themed holiday movies this year!), you can’t deny that a lot of said media is written in a manner that’s safe for straight viewers. Such media features queer characters but also comes with tired tropes and watered down queerness. The primary target seems to be the (larger) straight community with straight actors being offered queer roles to expand viewership along with financial or critical gains.

Even the highly-popular RuPaul’s Drag Race has been criticized for exploiting the art of Drag to profit from a straight audience. The same goes for Netflix’s Queer Eye. However, Slag Wars: The Next Destroyer, in my opinion, is different. It’s a queer show meant for queer people. Straight viewers are welcome to watch, of course, if they can handle the shenanigans that occur.

It is inclusive, fun, sex-positive, and showcases an authentic look (as authentic as you can get during a reality show) at queer life, especially the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals interested in the adult entertainment industry.

Considering the amount of queer youth involved in this particular line of work, it’s important to talk about such topics and ensuring performers are working in safe environments.

Now, for those wondering, there’s no blatant nudity or sexual acts involved in Slag Wars: The Next Destroyer. I even recorded videos reacting to the four episodes. So, it’s all good.

Intimate acts are talked about openly while maintaining a sense of campiness and lighthearted fun. I don’t think it will make anyone uncomfortable (in the wrong way). The overall vibe is preserved by narrator Chase Icon. The way Icon delivers the lines is everything!

Produced by Men.com and written by Topher Cusumano, the main judges of Slag Wars Season 1 are adult entertainment actresses and queer icons Sophie Anderson and Rebecca Moore. They have been tasked with putting seven contestants through a series of challenges to determine who will be the next C*ck Destroyer. The fact this show was able to have such a small cast be quite diverse is commendable.

We have Nicky Monet (a transgender woman), Tyreece (a non-binary PoC), Gustavo (a very hungry gay Mexican performer), Cain (a gay man), Levi and Cameron (boyfriends), and Kevin (a young gay man who is yet to enter the industry properly).

In just four episodes we get to learn about the hardships these contestants have faced as members of the LGBTQ+ community as well as performers. Every one of them is a winner in their own right after what they have been through. All of them are advocating for something important and playing their role in expanding LGBTQ+ acceptance (including countering the prejudices existing inside the queer community) and safer work conditions.

You would expect such a show to follow your usual reality-competition format with contestants being eliminated after every challenge to finally crown the sole winner. The two main judges are aided by Matthew Camp. There are also guest-judges including Chris Crocker and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK‘s Baga Chipz. 

However, due to how Rebecca and Sophie operate, the four episodes are full of surprises. The reality-competition format is basically thrown out the window. And you know what? I don’t fault this show for a second. There’s just so much heart behind everything that happens in Slag Wars that I couldn’t complain about the results and the constant changes to the rules.

This show left me wanting more. I hope a second season is confirmed soon and we get more contestants and more episodes! And yes, I agree with the fandom that judging runway looks needs to be a thing. Everyone loves well-dressed (or not-so-dressed) performers. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Slag Wars: The Next Destroyer Season 1. It’s a show about queerness, featuring actual queer people. You should go watch it!

All four episodes are available for free on the official website.

If you have viewed the first season of Slag Wars already, feel free to share your thoughts with us.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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