I wasn't planning to review Survival of the Thickest, about a thick black woman finding body positivity as a fashion designer. But Queerty said that it had gay representation, and one of the cast members, somebody with the last name Lopez (I didn't record the first name), appeared on the n*de celebrity subreddit, so I figured I'd give it a shot.
In Episode 3.4, "C'est la vie, Bitch," they visit Paris Fashion Week, while back in New York, Khalil and Luca "connect." They must be the gay couple, and there'll be shots of Paris.
Khalil is played by Tone Bell, backside on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends
Scene 1: Mavis and her friend on a tour bus, shouting "I'm a designer!" They reach their destination, the Victoria Palace Hotel , but they're actually staying at the horrible hostel next door.
"It's got character," Mavis says, trying to look on the bright side. "It's got [a vulgar term for lady parts]"
"It smells like an 18th century pap smear." A lot of lady part jokes.
She likes the doorknobs in the center, like a belly button, and asks the concierge if she can check his belly button. He refuses.
Scene 2: Seven flights of stairs and a hallway bathroom, but there's a view of the Eiffel Tower from the window. Of course -- on tv every Parisian hotel room looks out at the Eiffel Tower, even if it's miles away and facing the wrong direction. Mavis washes up with a handi-wipe, while they discuss how far they've come in two years.
Whomp, someone farts. Turns out that the ladies have a roommate sleeping under the covers in the top bunk.
Scene 3: Luca (Marouane Zotti), the one who's going to connect with Khalil (hopefully by kissing), is counseling a refugee couple, assuring them that they'll get housing soon. They also need a job. "I promise that you'll..."
His coworker Donny Wang (Ronnie Chien) butts in to tell them that their chances are slim, When they leave, he advises "Never promise anything. Keep their expectations vague...."
In other news, a girl asked him to DJ at the gentlemen's club tonight.
"Sorry. I have plans with friends," Luca tells him.
"Oh, I wasn't inviting you. I was bragging about all the n*ked ladies I'm going to see."
Ugh, a character whose shtick is being a slimebag. Left: Ronnie seems to be gay in real life.
Scene 4: Mavis is giving a pep talk to her models, telling them to "eye f*ck" everyone. There are some androgynous and genderqueer types, and some plus-sized, like David Ventakapen (n*de on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends). They walk across a portico (with the Eiffel Tower in the background, of course) and get photographed. Then Mavis is introduced to thunderous applause. A journalist tells her that the genderqueer outfit has made her the Best New Renegade of Fashion Week, which will get her a
Vogue cover. And she's invited to the
Vogue party tonight.
Wait -- she's the most renowned fashion designer in the world, but she's staying in a youth hostel?
Suddenly Mavis almost collapses in pain, but her friend tells her to dance it off. Chekhov's Gun: This better be important.
And when are we getting to the Lopez guy?
Scene 5: They have time before the
Vogue party tonight, so we get a montage of the usual. They want to take a boat tour, but the tour guide won' sell them tickets, even though the boat is only half full. And when they try to go to a restaurant, the waiter (Theo Pham) tellsl them that it's closed.
Racism plotline? About 10% of the French population has African ancestry, more in big cities.They try a Senegalese restaurant in the Black neighborhood, Château Rouge in the 18th Arrondissement, and are served immediately. "I like Black Paris a little better than the rest of Paris," the Friend muses.
Khalil and Luca getting close after the break
