Queer as Folk

Two men are standing on the roof of a hospital. Brian and Michael are in their late twenties, gay and best friends. In the past three hours before this rooftop scene, Brian has had sex in a gay nightclub, hooked up with a 17-year old boy (whom he will deflower approximately one hour later) and has become a father. Michael, on the other hand, was about to have a one-night stand and realized but once again that he actually is secretly in love with Brian.

With drugs inside, Brian goes on a trip, climbs the edge of the roof, pulls Michael to him and whispers in his ear: "Come on, Mickey, let's fly!" In the background, Heather Small sings "I step out of the ordinary…" It is a mild summer night in the middle of a sparkling city and there is magic in the air.

The first episode of "Queer as folk" was probably the sexiest, craziest, sweetest and best TV show premiere I've ever seen (well, apart maybe from "Desperate Housewives"). It really impressed me and woke my interest. But it was this magical moment Michael and Brian share on the roof that made me fall in love with this show. You can almost smell the night air, feel the warm summer wind breeze and know: it's one of those crazy, unusual moments that make us feel alive. The music, the atmosphere, the scenery – it's all perfect and goes straight under your skin into your heart and soul. The scene gives a promise to the viewer that in the future we will witness unusual, as well as profound and ordinary things, but most of all it is a promise that there will be more magical moments like this one and breathtaking surprises like the ones that happened previously and followed right after. And what better promise can a first episode give – and keep? We witness the lives of four gay friends, a newbie, a gay man's mother and a lesbian couple plus their friends, lovers, relatives and one-night-stands in Pittsburgh. Brian, the main character, is a selfish asshole and Casanova on the one hand and a vulnerable, caring, sweet young man on the other. Michael, whose relationship to Brian I have already described a bit, on the one hand loves his proud mother, on the other tries everything to pretend that he's straight at the supermarket he works in. Emmett, a sweetheart of a queen, always delivers flamboyant one-liners and looks for the man of his dreams. So does Ted, suffering from his not-classically-attractive looks, but having a heart of gold. Young Justin is about to discover the scene and has the (bad) luck to choose Brian as his first love(r). And then there are Lindsay and Melanie, just your average lesbian couple, who has just become mother and … mother with the little help of … Brian.

After having seen three more episodes I am completely addicted to this show. I could enumerate at least 1000 reasons why it went so quickly with me and scenes like the one above which pulled me inside this "queer" world. But I won't. Because everybody has their own reasons to love (or hate) this show and the right to discover it for themselves. But I would like to mention "QAF" 's greatest strength and maybe THE reason why this is a brilliant series. Today's TV shows have so many clichés, try to judge, to label. You will find none of this in "Queer as folk". It just witnesses the lives of people without commenting on it, judging or trying to justify what they do. If they want to shag, they shag, if they want to take drugs, they do so without asking anyone's permission, if they want to party, they party and they make just as many and stupid mistakes as everyone does. Sometimes they screw up and there are times they don't know if they want to scream of joy or suffering. They just live and the show celebrates them for it. And what better message can it have? I know that the show was already a huge success in the US, I am glad that it finally reached Europe (or at least Germany) and I am very grateful that I have the opportunity to see it. Great performances by a brilliant cast and a plot that simply knocks you off – for me one of the best TV shows that has ever been done.

This show, has brought the best five years to my life. I started watching the show when I was 13, and was the backbone for my coming out. Without this show, I don't think I would have had the courage to come out when I did. It was like home to me when things got rough. Now 17, I have developed a connection with the characters based on the lifestyle they led and the one I lead. Through the whole last episode, I cried, it was like a part of me had died, remembering that it was the biggest reason why I came out. I already miss the show, and I am anticipating buying the rest of the box sets I'm missing, the two Cd's I'm missing, and the book, to keep in my collection of the greatest t.v show to be aired and the greatest backbone support to gay people around the world. That's all folks!

As an older man (55), I'm amazed at the level of graphic nudity, the frankness of the sexual couplings whether gay or lesbian sex is involved, and it struck me as astonishing that the reason I would sometimes be uncomfortable viewing these scenes, is that there are virtually no images for gay people on TV that are comparable to those in QAF. I'm no prude, and thank goodness I've stopped squirming. My normal reaction is that if a series is good in its original British guise, the Americanization will be awful. Not so here. QAF started for me as a superficial soap about gay life. But once the first season was half over, I was hooked. I found I cared deeply about these characters. Their insular gay world in Pittsburgh was refreshing. The relationships work beautifully and you see a fairly representative slice of gay life on this series. Sure everyone always seems to be showing up at the big gay club with its go-go dancers and steamy back room. But how wonderful to have a show all about gay people where nobody gets killed for being gay, or commits suicide or is in some sort of depression or any other negative situations that have been such a feature of films showing gay characters as life's losers.

Gale Harold's Brian took me totally by surprise. His no gamesmanship attitude towards sex and relationships makes total sense. What I responded to is his character's absolute refusal to be liked, unlike the very likable Michael (Hal Sparks) whose insecurity demands that he be liked. Brian's a stunning bad boy, confident of his looks, his talent, his ability to spot bullshit a mile away. He wants to be appreciated for his worth. Nothing wrong with that. He's unapologetic about his sexuality and is not obsessed with settling down into domestic bliss the way Michael is. Michael is a child, but a sweet one with his love of comic books, and his unresolved longing for Brian. His character's worry about everything has finally become endearing. Peter Paige's Emmett is adorable and heartbreaking. I love that he's always picking himself up after every romantic disaster, dusting himself off and heading towards the next with high hopes. Scott Lowell has a natural affinity for Ted Schmidt's insecure and manipulative accountant. I'd like him to settle down for awhile. I sometimes weary of his travails.

At first I thought Randy Harrison's sweetly beautiful Justin was going to be a fluffy love toy for Brian, but Justin's own problems have shown Brian's caring side, and you get to see that Justin is no dummy. He goes after what he wants. Nothing wrong with that. Sharon Gless's working Mom waitress can be abrasively grating at times, but she presents a loving mother to a gay son, and that's a good thing. Michelle Clunie as Melanie and Thea Gill as Lindsay strike me as an appealing, smart, and caring lesbian couple Their stability as a couple shows what is possible without proselytizing.

Now in its fifth season, I've come to appreciate the show in big gulps since I rent each season from Netflix. It's a real wallow, and I'm always sorry that it's over. Right now I'm deep into season four and I can't wait to find out what happens next. QAF is excellent series TV, vastly entertaining. Best of all it won't make you feel dumb.

QAF is, in my opinion, the best cable TV series of all time (since Rude Awakening is off the air). Kudos to Showtime for having the courage to put it on. The most important reason this show works is because of THE ACTORS, who are all superb, creating 3-dimensional characters that you care about, deeply, week after week. It's impossible to imagine any different actors in the main roles, in fact - the true sign of brilliant casting. This is the only show on television, cable or network, that I watch religiously and I couldn't be any more thrilled that it's been renewed for another 2 seasons.

Added on August 8th (a day after the series finale aired) - Just wanted to say that this show has changed television forever, not just because it pushed the envelope - actually, it EXPLODED the envelope - but also because of all the lives it touched, informed and/or changed. This show crossed all barriers, appealing to every kind of viewer, thanks to the beautifully written characters, magnificently realized by the superb cast, and I for one am sad to see it end, this once-in-a-lifetime bold and redemptive journey.

Before I begin, I am a 35 year old guy who tried to supress my homosexual feelings until May of this year. Now I have slowly been coming out and experiancing my true self,and "Queer as Folk" really is inspirational in hitting so many issues in the Gay society. As sexually active as some of the main characters are they always use a condom and make a point of saying so. The show came around at a great time for me, as I am still new to gay culture and want to become part of the culture, and this series,QAF really gave me glimpses of it, and I am ready to start exploring the many gay bars down in Santa Monica Blvd and perhaps meet some cool friends, or something more? Anyhow, this show is the smartest soap opera type show, gay or not, because it makes you think about things! It makes issues of very relevant topics. ANd the actors are amazing. Especially Gale Harold, as the sexy, manipulative, self serving Brian Kinny, who's portrayal is so ruthless and emotionless at times, the actor manages to sometimes show a very human, soft loving side that Brian trys to keep hidden. Hall Sparks also is another big reason to watch. He gives his character of Micheal such warmth and compassion and sincerity. Any gay guy would love to have a best friend like Micheal. And the chemistry between Brian and Micheal is undeniable. This is the best series on TV! And thanks QAF for giving me a much needed spark of interest to actively pursue the gay culture and be true to myself....