Queenie explodes off the page and onto screen in this profound and timely adaptation-Asyia Iftikhar-Entertainment – Metro

Candice Carty Willliams does it again with Queenie (Picture: Channel 4)

Five years after Candice Carty Williams’ hit debut novel Queenie came out, the Channel 4 adaptation reminds fans exactly what gripped everyone the first time. 

The eight-episode series, from author and showrunner Candice, brings the British-Jamaican Jenkins family to roaring life through a standout cast and heartfelt plots teased out from the beloved novel and deftly expanded for the show. 

Meet Queenie Jenkins (Dionne Brown), a 25-year-old journalist desperately clinging onto the last gasps of life from her relationship with longtime sweetheart Tom (Jon Pointing).

After discovering deeply troubling news at the hospital, life takes yet another turn for the worst as Tom tells her they need to go on a break.

Like someone tipping over the first domino, the precarious balance she has mastered to keep going in the face of past traumas collapses in one fell swoop.

Ghosts from her past reappear in her life, and bring with them memories of a difficult childhood she has yet to confront.

Bellah and Dionne display gorgeous onscreen chemistry (Picture: Channel 4 / Latoya Okuneye)

She finds herself going from one toxic situationship to another in a bid to heal. Her workplace brings a whole set of troubles of its own and, on top of all this, she’s a Black woman navigating a misogynistic and racist society. 

The whole saga feels like a ticking time bomb.

The show is ambitious, offering up relatable woes to anyone in their mid-20s frantically trying to figure out where they fit in the world while peppering in social issues that tangibly impact Queenie’s life.

From the nods to the genterification of South London to Queenie’s workplace constantly overlooking her ideas to her objectification on dating apps.

Even just watching the plethroa of troubles becomes exhausting at times yet alone living it. But Dionne holds her own as the series lead, an impressive feat for an actor still relatively new to the industry.

The series fleshes out the characters beyond the book (Picture: Queenie / Channel 4 / Latoya Okuneye)

The beginning has teething issues as Candice – also the creator of BBC series Champion – races to pack in as much context and foundation but soon enough the show comes into its own as viewers are pulled along for a rollercoaster ride.

Even during moments where the the plot drags, the chemsitry between cast members remains capitivating.

The frendship between Queenie and Kyazike (Bellah) shines and there is one paricular moment between the two, under the bright London sun, that truly feels as though we are just watching best friends riff off one another.

Meanwhile, Llewella Gideon and Joseph Marcell play Queenie’s grandparents, Veronica and Wilfred and bring a deightful presence to the chaotic Jenkins family set up.

Veronica’s more vivacious approach to life is beautifully offset by Wilfred’s gentle nature as they both try their best to guide Queenie through the choppy waters of twenty-somethinghood.

Friendship, romance and familial discord are all explored in Queenie (Picture: Channel 4)

The show also introduces Kyazike’s cousin Frank (Samuel Adewunmi), a character book fans won’t be overly-familair with but who quicky carves his place into our hearts with an endearing performance.

The small changes Candice adds to the show makes the social commentary more contemporary and offers Queenie even greater moments of self-empowerment.

The show isn’t faultless by any means, with some pacing issues and occasionally overdone plot points. In it’s aim to tackle such a wide range of issues, at times, some threads can feel undercooked.

But it is tender in its humanity and unapologetic in its message – that someone doesn’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love.

It’s a refreshing addition to the slew of TV shows trying to tackle what it means to be a young adult in modern-day society, especially when from a margianilised group.

A topic not every series is able to handle with grace and just the right amount of subtelty.

What’s more, there is a touching scene later on that even offers an intergenerational perspective to processing trauma and acknowledges the hardships many Black British families have gone through over the years.

In a nutshell, Queenie will have you covering your eyes in despair, reaching for the tisssue box, and giddily smiling at the TV screen in equal measure. So strap in, have fun, and trust the process.

Queenie drops all episodes on Channel 4 on June 4, 2024.

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