Queer as Folk

Just saw the first episode on Showcase last night... I guess I won't be getting to bed before midnight for the next few Mondays. This is a show worth staying up for... easily one of the best TV shows I've seen (not -the- best, but up there). I've heard it described as "gay drama", but that makes it sounds as if it's an agenda show (anyone ever watched "Christian movies"?)... it's gay... way gay... shockingly explicitly sexually gay... but above all it's good TV.

And since it's out uncut in Canada, there may be hope for our more sensitive neighbour to the south :)

This is really a delight. Despite seeing all episodes in one marathon session, it remained great fun all the way. The high-energy and really interesting characters (including some great lesbians) kept interest from flagging.

I have been privileged to see this superb series on DVD, as our national TV channels have been somewhat reticent to air it. I thought it was a fascinating and realistic (to some extent) portrait of what it's like to be gay in this end of millennium Britain. But even though I'm bisexual myself, I felt that the characters sexual preferences were not the central issue. Relationships, love, coping with life's little petty annoyances & major issues was. And the acting was excellent, particularly Craig Kelly (an often under-rated actor), Denise Black and Aidan Gillen. It was a breakthrough drama as far as the portrayal of gay characters on mainstream TV is concerned. I'll admit to that. But more than anything it was a glimpse of televised fiction at its best. No one should miss it. And your (eventual) prejudices might be challenged. All TV drama should aim for similar goals, I think...

Down in Brasil, they aired the Portuguese dubbed US version of this show, and I hated it (and yes, I am male and attracted to guys). I just thought it was ugly, stereotypical and just a downright humorless gloom fest.

However, my friends showed me the UK version. I was hesitant at first, but I gave it a chanse. In fact, I love the UK version way much better than the USA version. Good acting, actual fleshed out characters, and some humor thrown in here and there (unlike the other one). Yeah, even thouhg some of the gay men here party and are sexually aroused, but this time they are more portrayed as humans and not stereotypes (and yes, in the UK, those are ACTUAL gay people, from what I heard).

Only if they air the show on Brasil TV and play it in Portuguese even.

Having never watched this back when it was on TV back in the late 90's I finally caught this on Netflix. I guess I thought it was irrelevant being far from gay and not really being particularly interested in that scene. I'm happy to say I was wrong. Gay, straight, in-between, whatever...this is a story about love and sex and how you deal with those emotions in a modern world. It is very clever - cleverly written and cleverly acted. Especially Aidan Gillen stands out and carries the role of the emotionally shut off Stuart with the perfect mixture of charm and arrogance. He is a real anti-hero. Just when you're convinced he is a right bastard, he surprises you.

The show is also interesting to watch these almost 15 years after it aired. I keep reading about how shocking it was and times must have changed because I didn't find it shocking at all. Sure, there is partial nudity but nothing explicit and sure: it deals with homosexuality - doesn't shock me. It's sort of a "Sex and the City" for the gay man.

Also I find it refreshing that Queer As Folks for the most part stays clear of the stereotypical over-the-top and almost feminine "gay man" as seen in shows like "Will and Grace". Different times back then perhaps?

The ending was, giving no spoilers, not really up to par in my opinion. But I guess they had to end it somehow and it feels like they were in a hurry. It did seem a little far fetched.

In some ways I would kinda like to see how Stuart and Vince live life in their 40s but at the same time a reunion done poorly would be devastating when the original is so enjoyable. Cannot do anything but recommend watching it. Gay, straight, whatever...