Television Archives - Roger Hyttinen

Queer Magic & Monster Madness: My Favorite LGBTQ+ Paranormal Shows & Movies

By Roger Hyttinen / March 18, 2025

Okay, so, like, you know how much I’m obsessed with all things spooky and queer, right? It’s like peanut butter and jelly, or maybe more like, um, vampires and werewolves? Anyway, I’ve been binge-watching a ton of LGBTQ+ paranormal shows and movies lately, and I just had to share my absolute faves with you guys. These are the ones that keep me up binge-watching at 3 a.m. when I’m whispering, “Just one more episode” (and probably making questionable life choices). Don’t judge—you’ve been there! There’s something extra satisfying about watching queer characters battle demons, bend magic, or straight-up punch a vampire in the face. Here are my top magical and spooky picks that feature LGBTQ+ characters. You can watch these while ignoring your texts like a true fan.

Let’s kick this off with The Magicians. If you haven’t seen this show yet… where have you been?! Trust me. This one’s not your basic “Oh I’m a wizard, I guess?” story. You’ve got sexy magic, inter-dimensional travel, talking animals, and—best of all—some stellar bi and queer representation. Quentin Coldwater and Eliot Waugh’s relationship? Ugh, I loved their dynamic. There’s actual emotional depth beneath the sass and spells. And that scene in Season 1 where Eliot says, “I love you,” and Quentin’s just standing there, all confused and feels-y. Yes, give me more. Add tons of sarcasm and a bit of trauma, and this show just cracks me open every time. Magic in this universe has consequences—and so does love.

Okay, moving on to something darker, Cemetery Boys! So, technically this is a book, but I couldn’t not mention it. It’s about a trans boy, Yadriel, who accidentally summons a very cute (and very dead) boy’s ghost. Cue all kinds of paranormal hijinks. Ya’ll, if this doesn’t scream “Netflix, please adapt me right now,” then I don’t know what does. I mean, I’m just here waiting with popcorn and high expectations. If we do get a TV adaptation, it’s going to be the kind of show that lands smack dab on your rewatch list. Until then, just say it with me: GIVE US A CEMETERY BOYS SHOW.

Now, we can’t skip over the absolute pillar that is Buffy the Vampire Slayer—specifically, Willow and Tara. Do you remember when Tara showed up and Willow’s super shy “just friends” energy turned into “My goddess, I’m in love”? Besides the apocalypse-of-the-week format that never got old (giant snakes, Hellmouths, casual chaos?), their relationship felt groundbreaking at the time. Two witches falling in love while fighting the forces of darkness… like, what could be better? Not to mention Willow’s huge coming-out arc hit a lot of emotional beats, balancing Buffy’s epic battles with something much more intimate. Plus, Tara was just a cinnamon roll in witch form, and we deserved more of her. Let’s not talk about “Seeing Red.” Nope. Not today.

Alright, onto Teen Wolf. If you missed this cultural phenomenon back in the day, I’m both sad and… also jealous, because you get to experience it with fresh eyes. Stiles Stilinski, let’s be real, carried about 90% of the show with his personality alone. Then there’s Danny Mahealani, openly gay and casually awesome, hacking the plot forward while being, you know, cool about it. Is the plot a chaotic mess drenched in werewolf drama? Absolutely. But it’s fun wolf drama. More wolves, more gay characters—that should always be the goal moving forward.

Also, y’all, we’ve gotta talk about Shadowhunters. A bisexual warlock named Magnus Bane, played by the ridiculously charismatic Harry Shum Jr.? Say less. I don’t need any more convincing. Mix in Alec Lightwood, who’s super awkward yet emotionally intense when he comes around to fully owning who he is, and bam—you’ve got one of the most well-loved queer relationships in the genre. I still get feelings about Malec. They’re soft, but also deadly powerful. Magnus casually saving the world while wearing perfect eyeliner and fabulous jackets. Honestly, I aspire to be this extra in every aspect of life.

And if you’re into comics, you HAVE to check out ”Dead Boy Detectives.” It’s based on the DC comic book series, and it’s got this quirky, dark humor that I just adore. Plus, the two main characters, Edwin and Charles, are ghosts who solve crimes together. How cool is that? Unfortunately, the show was canceled after only one season. Typical Netflix.

And, while it might not be everyone’s usual cup of (blood? soul essence?), Hemlock Grove sticks with me too, because that show was a whole vibe. You’ve got vampires, werewolves, and a bunch of weird small-town magic sprinkled in, all wrapped up in horror. It’s a big yes from me, and I’ll never forget the vibe Famke Janssen threw down. There’s something about all that supernatural angst and subtle queer undertones that gave it… an edge.

Some other must-watch LGBTQ+ paranormal faves include:
– Legacies (hello, Hope Mikaelson, can we talk about queer witches?)
– The Old Guard (immortal warriors with soft but tough gay romance!)
– Sense8 (magic sci-fi vibes with a beautifully diverse queer cast)
– Supernatural (oh, the queerness in this show is subtle but there, especially with Cas and Dean moments – Plus, it’s got some seriously awesome queer characters, like Charlie Bradbury.)
– Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (I mean, the witchy queer representation was super fun.)
– Wynonna Earp (#WayHaught anyone? A bisexual cowgirl meets police officer dynamic. I love.)

Also adding quick nods to: The Haunting of Bly Manor, Constantine (queer vibes in both the show and movie), True Blood (was there any character not a little bisexual?), The L Word: Generation Q (because, ghosts?), American Horror Story (Coven, specifically for the witches), Interview with the Vampire, What We Do in the Shadows (quirky but gay vampires? Always yes), Torchwood, Being Human, Midnight, Texas, and Penny Dreadful.

Anyway, that’s my list. If you’re not already drowning in queer paranormal content, you’re welcome. Grab some popcorn or whatever your go-to binge snack is and dive right in. Monsters, magic, and queer romance? A winning combo!

Nick Michelson is 16 and he:

👻 Can see ghosts
🃏 Reads Tarot cards
💭 Gets visions of the future
🏃‍♂️May or may not have a crush on his best friend.
🔥 And ghosts come to him for help
☠️..and some, for revenge

Read the book that began it all…

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Kanopy: Your Ticket to Free Movie Nights Courtesy of Your Library Card!

By Roger Hyttinen / December 8, 2023

Photo by Jeshoots.com

So, I’ve stumbled upon this absolute gem of a service, and I just had to share it with you all. It’s called Kanopy, and get this – it’s like finding a secret door in your library that leads to a wonderland of films!

Now, let me set the scene. For those of you who follow this blog, you know that I’m on this crazy movie-a-day challenge for an entire year (I know, ambitious, right?), and just when I thought my wallet was going to stage a protest, Kanopy swooped in like a superhero. If it weren’t for this fantastic service, I’d probably be surviving on instant noodles to fund my film addiction!

Kanopy isn’t your run-of-the-mill streaming service. Oh no, it’s more like a cinephile’s dream come true, minus the hefty price tag. Thanks to the fairy godmothers and godfathers at your local public library or university, you can access thousands of films. Yes, you read that right – thousands!

Now, you might be thinking, “What’s the catch?” But here’s the kicker – there isn’t one! If you have a library card or are part of a university, you’re pretty much set. Just sign up, log in, and bam! You’re in movie heaven.

The selection? Oh, it’s like a buffet of cinematic delights. From those artsy indie films that make you feel intellectually superior, to the classic hits that remind you of the good old days. And documentaries? Kanopy’s got them in spades. You can practically hear the voice of your high school history teacher saying, “See, learning can be fun!”

What I love most about Kanopy is the absence of mainstream, commercial noise. It’s like walking into a boutique film shop where each movie is handpicked for its uniqueness. And the best part? No annoying ads interrupting your movie nights. That’s right, ad-free streaming! You can munch on your popcorn in peace.

And for the parents out there, Kanopy Kids is a lifesaver. It’s a safe, educational, and entertaining haven for the little ones. You can finally take a breather while your kids explore a world of learning and fun.

But remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Your access might be limited to a certain number of films per month, so choose wisely. It’s like being on a movie diet – good for your cinematic health!

So yeah, Kanopy is a hidden treasure for movie lovers. It’s easy to use, free with your library card or university affiliation, and offers a diverse range of films. So, grab your library card, pop some corn, and prepare for a movie marathon that won’t cost you a dime.

Catch you on the flip side,
Roger 👋

P.S. Don’t forget to thank your librarians next time. They’re the real MVPs for signing up for this service! 📚🎥🍿

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On Customer Churn

By Roger Hyttinen / April 5, 2022

I read an interesting report about a topic I’ve written about a couple of times on the blog, especially in regards to cutting down the number of streaming services to which I’m subscribed. And that is: Customer Churn. I didn’t even know there was a name for this.

Customer Churn is when people subscribe to a streaming service such as Netflix, AppleTV+, or Hulu, watch the content they want to see, and then, when they’re done, ditch the service and move on to the next service. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m guilty of doing this. When there are several shows I want to see on a service, I’ll subscribe to that service for a month or two, binge-watch the shows and then cancel my subscription. In fact, I just canceled my Disney+ subscription because I’d finished the show/films I wanted to see there for the time being.

Apparently, the streaming companies loathe this practice, especially given that in the United States, customer churn rate is about 37%, which is a lot higher than I thought. I found it also interesting that half of Gen Z and Millennials report that they had switched streaming services over the past six months.

From what I could gather, people who are more comfortable with technology are more apt to engage in churn — this is to say, people who are tech-savvy enough to hop online, log in to their account, and cancel their subscription as compared to someone who is elderly or non-tech savvy and may find that whole process too daunting.

Another reason for churn is cost, which is certainly the case for me. I couldn’t afford to subscribe to every streaming service out there and pay their sometimes rather high monthly fee. The high monthly payment is the reason I dumped cable so long ago. It also makes little sense for me to watch a series for a month or two while paying for other streaming services that I’m not watching.

Streamer services are desperate to keep customers on their books while more and more customers are engaging in churning. The companies may just have to get used to the fact that people are going to watch a show and then, when finished, cancel their subscription until a new show or new season arrives. I suppose an alternative would be to stop offering monthly subscriptions and only provide yearly ones. If this ever happened with any of my streaming services, I would probably just cancel them entirely. Then, if there were anything I really wanted/needed to watch, I’d simply rent it on AppleTV or Amazon Prime Video.

I think if the streaming services want to minimize churn, they’ll have to put out regular, more engaging content to keep people engaged. For example, one service I tend to keep all year long (at least for the moment) is HBO Max. This is because they’ve been featuring a steady flow of new films and shows each month. For a while, they even showed first-run movies at the same time they were hitting the theaters. So I’ll probably be sticking with them for the time being.

So if you’ve decided to engage in this customer churning practice, know that you probably won’t be seen favorably by the streaming service. But perhaps they just have to get used to the fact that people are no longer happy paying for a year-round subscription, especially if they’re only watching content for a month or two.

How about you? Are you a “churner”?

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Altered Carbon Netflix series – off to a great start

By Roger Hyttinen / February 5, 2018

I just started watching a new series on Netflix called Altered Carbon. This is an adaptation of a cyberpunk science fiction novel written in 2002 by Richard K. Morgan. I read the novel about 15 years ago, and it was one of those stories that stuck in my head. I was super-pumped when I heard that the book was finally going to be made into a series. It’s a Netflix original, so that’s the only way to watch it at the moment.

I’ve watched only the first three episodes and thus far, I love it! The story takes place in a future world where human personalities can be stored digitally and downloaded into new bodies (the new bodies are referred to as “sleeves”).

Of course, the more money you have, the better body (sleeve) you can obtain.

Most people have implants in their spinal columns called “stacks” which store all their memories. If their body dies, their “stack” can be stored indefinitely and then implanted into a new body. If your stack is somehow damaged, you’re dead for good. However, the very rich are able to keep backup copies of their stacks in remote storage, which they update regularly. This way, even if their stack is somehow destroyed, they can be “resleeved”.

The story revolves around our hero, Takeshi Kovacs (played by Joel Kinnaman), an accused terrorist who’s been “on ice” for the past 250 years and has now been revived in a new body. He was brought back (resleeved) in order to find the murderer of a very, very rich man named Laurens Bancroft. It was believed that Laurens Bancroft committed suicide, but the recently revived Bancroft believes that he was murdered, and has hired Kovacs in the hope that Kovacs will find his killer.

…and thus the story begins.

I’m definitely looking forward to watching the next seven episodes in this series (the first season consists of 10 episodes). I think this is a great start to the series and can’t wait to see where they’re going to go with it. If enjoy cyberpunk, science fiction or dystopian stories and are a Netflix subscriber, you might want to check out Altered Carbon.

Or you can check out the original novel HERE

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Television