Common Sense Media Review
By Jenny Nixon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mild innuendo, curses in charming Indonesian prequel series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Ratu Ratu Queens
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
RATU RATU QUEENS is a six-episode comedy-drama series about four Indonesian immigrant women living in New York City who end up as unlikely roommates in a "found family" situation. Party (Nirina Zubir) is a timid but hard-working waitress and maid who serves as the breadwinner for her family overseas. Chinta (Happy Salma) is a spoiled socialite who finds herself divorced and broke after her rich jerk of a husband reveals his affair. Ance (Tika Panggabean) is a stoic widow struggling with grief after losing her husband and the father of her child. Biyah (Asri Welas) is a Times Square huckster living out of a van, which gets repossessed by a loan shark to whom she owes money. Though vastly different from one another, the roomies form strong connections just as their individual lives are falling apart.
Is It Any Good?
Initially, some performances feel cartoonish, but as the women bond over the course of the series, the characterizations deepen, balancing lighthearted comedic moments and heartfelt drama. Ratu Ratu Queens is a prequel to the 2021 film Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens, but you don't have to have seen the movie to enjoy the series—in fact, you may enjoy watching them in reverse order! The show has an addictive quality and is a refreshingly playful and endearing (if not particularly gritty) look at immigrant life in America.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way immigrant life is portrayed in Ratu Ratu Queens. How does it compare/contrast with other U.S. media depictions of immigrants? If you've had experience as an immigrant, what felt familiar or different?
How do the characters in Ratu Ratu Queens demonstrate perseverance? Why is this an important character strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 12, 2025
- Cast : Nirina Zubir
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 8, 2026
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