What It Feels Like for a Girl

This is a working class story and it doesn't matter whether you like boys or girls; it's about the life of a kid, and how that kid tries to negotiate an alien world, sometimes making friends with the wrong people, and sometimes ignoring the love of the right people - like we all do. If this doesn't win all the awards, if all the cast don't win every accolade going, and if every man, woman, gay or straight, transgender, transsexual and everybody else with a heartbeat don't lift Ellis Howard up high on their shoulders, to be carried all the way to stardom and glory or whatever Ellis desires, this is a cruel world indeed.

None of the actors in this - and I had to keep reminding myself that's just what they were: actors - none of them broke that fragile glass between us and the drama, ever; they really were, for those short few hours at least, the characters they played. And when Byron said those last words to his mum I cried.

"What It Feels Like For A Girl" is the rare kind of TV series that seduces you slowly, then grabs you by the throat. Set at the turn of the millennium-when Y2K panic loomed large, the AIDS crisis lingered like smoke, and analog queer culture was on the verge of being swallowed whole by the digital age-this show is raw, dangerous, and electrifyingly intimate.

At the heart of the story is Byron, a beguiling character who embodies the beauty and brutality of the era. Byron isn't just a protagonist-he's a symbol of everything queer youth was navigating at the time: homophobia, poverty, and an aching, desperate need to be seen. His connection with Liam, a magnetic hustler surviving on petty crimes and half-truths, is the emotional (and erotic) core of the series. Their relationship is both transactional and tragic, smoldering with longing, lust, and unspoken truths.

Stylistically, the series draws clear inspiration from Gregg Araki's Doom Generation and The Living End-with its gritty, neon-soaked atmosphere and rebellious queer edge. It flirts with danger at every turn, refusing to sanitize the eroticism, thrill, or pain of queer existence in pre-social media times. Cruising culture, clubbing, and the art of wordless seduction pulse throughout, giving the show a visceral, nostalgic charge.

The writing is sharp, the soundtrack is a time capsule of late-'90s melancholy and defiance, and the performances-especially from the leads-are captivating. It's messy. It's sexy. It's heart-wrenching. And most of all, it's real.

For anyone who lived through that era-or wants to understand it-What It Feels Like For A Girl isn't just must-watch TV. It's a cultural reckoning.

Imagine if Euphoria and Gregg Araki had a lovechild raised on zines, raves, and queer rage-this is it.

I have only watched one episode but can already tell this is a groundbreaking show. It has that honest raw queer depiction like Queer As Folk back then but with a deeper sensitivity akin to the film Beautiful Things. It balances humour, coming of age drama and sexuality with perfection. The lead Ellis Howard is fantastic and so are the rest of the cast. I must admit I was worried it would be one of these overstylized and over the top LGBTQ dramas with ridiculous storylines and fierce characters. It's the opposite, it shows the flaws, doubts and struggle of a young queer character but in a funny and original way. The writing reminds me of author Douglas Stuart but lighter. Also the UK 2000s rendition is spot on. I know where the story is going and I'm impatient to follow it.

I loved it so much, it shows how hard it was for lgbtq+ people in the 2000s. The acting was also my biggest amazement from this show, the actors need a good applause for the amazing work in this series. In my modest opinion, this is a must watch for people. I'm literaly gonna tell everyone that sees this that if you haven't watched it, you should. Plus charecter development was so good for a short series like this, I'm very surprised that they pulled it off very well. In conclusion, this is a work of art, that really deserves lots of attention, and I recommend it to everyone cause it's queer and proud. Luv yall.

This series is fantastic. Every minute of it is enjoyable. And it gets even better.

It's sexy, though I would say it's a bit controversial considering the lead is only 15. The fact that it even got made is pretty amazing considering.

For me, it's a full 10 out of 10. I can't imagine how it could get any better. But as I'm writing this during episode 3, I may just be in for some surprises. Though I don't think there's a chance that I will be disappointed.

The music is wonderful, the cinematography fantastic. It's a feast for your eyes and for your ears. I hope there will be a second season, but as it clearly has a very specific audience, I don't know if it could have the kind of broad appeal that would be required.