Bill Dunphy

By far the most intelligent, layered and soulful television I've seen in a long while. The writing is spare, nuanced and gut-punching and marries theme and plot more tightly than anything I can think of in episodic drama ever. The cinematography and directing serve the story's themes of duty and shame with as much power as the writing. There is not a weak actor, or even a merely competent acting job delivered by anyone in the cast - they are superb. And this is all done while marrying two very different traditions - Japanese and Western - into a single narrative.

Fascinating look at a moment in time - one that proved to be a real time of transition for American drag culture. It's poignant, funny, sad and a reminder of how far LGTBQ culture has come - and contributed. After watching this, take in Paris is Burning (1990) for a better understanding of how it grew and matured in skills and diversity.