Queer as Folk

It's always fashionable to negatively critique US versions of British material, but I am not always into that fashion.

I loved the first two episodes of this Americanized QUEER AS FOLK. It certainly follows the plot of the British version (so far at least). Yet the pace is more leisurely since the US version takes 45 minutes to do what was done in 30 minutes on the British version.

The US version is also easier to understand -- and it's not just the fact that we aren't getting the British slang in quickly-spoken thick British accents. Maybe it's the more leisurely pace that makes the plot easier to follow.

Hal Sparks has a wonderful dead-pan dry humor as the narrator, Michael. Randy Harrison is sweet as Justin, the newly-out teenager. When he was rejected by his dream-man Brian, his pain looked genuine and touching.

Even though the opening narration indicates "It's all about sex," the show is actually about more than that. The narrator is referring to the fact that gay night life in trendy bars is "all about sex," but we see in Michael and Justin the reality of people searching for a sense of connection in a world that doesn't offer a lot of connection -- especially for gay people.

While the British version was only 8 episodes with a 2 hour finale (which I found disappointing), this US version promises to begin with 22 episodes and possibly go on from there. I look forward to the future developments. So far, I see nothing to complain about.

I love the American version of Queer as Folk. I never saw the British version, though I'm interested to see if I can find a copy of it. I started watching the show because I was bored and I like Hal Sparks (Michael) from seeing him on VH1's I Love the 80s. But in this show, I discovered some things that a lot of television shows now seem to lack: interesting plots, three-dimensional characters, and most importantly, realism.

I like how the character's issues are never resolved in one episode, and how the actions of one have some effect on the other main characters of the series. The characters are all three-dimensional, and very strongly played by their respective actors. They have wide ranges of emotion, and though they at first appear to be stereotypes, it is soon very evident that each one has plenty of flaws. The story lines are extremely engaging as well, and I find myself disappointed at the end of every episode, because now I have to wait and see what happens.

Of course, it isn't a documentary of gay life in Pittsburgh, so of course there are over-exaggerations and the occasional predictable plot line or relationship. But that's okay, because this is television, and the writers are allowed to have creative license. Now into the fifth season, I am a dedicated fan of the show, and will be sorry to see it end.

It's about time that filmmakers created a series that doesn't revolve around the trivial and comic relationships of heterosexual couples - many of the sitcoms these days seem to have that theme in there somewhere do they not? It's controversial, often quite graphic and rarely comic - it's an adult 'soap opera' with alot more content than your average. Apart from anything else, Queer As Folk has thrown a revealing light onto the trials and tribulations of gay relationships - proving to those unfamiliar with the subject that they are not relationships that should be ridiculed or discriminated against. Regardless of the moral merits, it's just a really good series. The acting is great and the storyline keeps you watching week after week. The series explores numerous relationships that all differ in some way or another - yet in many ways they are also very much alike. This series can be enjoyed by anyone, despite some of the reviews I've read in the past. In fact, I'd encourage anyone to try it out at least once - you may be presently suprised.

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.

My family was taken more than somewhat aback to find out that this mainstream retired accountant highly touts Queer as Folk and watches it not just once a week, but also the repeats. I tell them that after awhile you forget that these are gay people - yes, a few of the more scorched sex scenes are very explicit and take some getting used to. What wins one over is the superb writing and story lines (especially the first year). The characters are well fleshed-out and you can't wait from week to week to see what happens to them - in point, you have really learned to care for these people and understand their joys and agonies and day to day tribulations. The acting is first rate and you sometimes forget that these are people just emoting and not playing out their own lives. I love to see the contrasting facets to Brian: sometimes ruthless and cunning, but perfectly balanced with great acts of compassion and kindness - and he juggles these traits perfectly.

I subscribe to Showtime Cable Channel just to see this show.