Eastsiders

I was hooked on Eastsiders from the start! The emotional roller coaster that is Cal and Thom soars from the beginning of Season 1 to the end of Season 2. The Eastsiders characters are authentic, entertaining, and most importantly likable - yet flawed. I find myself pulling for Cal and Thom while also rooting for their shared exploration to find purpose in their relationship and in their lives in general.

The richness of the supporting characters - Cal's Mom and sister, Quince, Ian, the Silver Lake setting - completes the tapestry of the Eastsiders universe. The club scenes feel genuine - hilarious and at the same time meaningful. I loved the cameos from Johnny McGovern, Jai Rodriguez, and the local drag performers. I couldn't stop laughing during the scenes in the free clinic.

The production quality, writing, and cinematography of Eastsiders is impressive not only within the LGBT genre but across the entire drama and comedy spectrum.

Okay, not really, but there is one scene with some amusing concealment of - gasp! - male genitalia.

Eastsiders is the story of the relationship between Cal, played by Kit Williamson, and Tom, played by Van Hansis.

I had recently seen Van Hansis in something else, and really liked his performance, very natural, and unforced, and he was the reason I chose to watch this show. Mentioning why I chose to watch, as I don't usually watch relationship stuff, and comedy/drama rarely works for me. Also, based on reviews, I don't think I would have watched this.

In short, I really enjoyed Eastsiders, as an entertainment. It's funny. Also, sometimes sad, but for my tastes much more light than dark.

Yes, these people are whiny, and self absorbed, but other than the Dalai Lama, and Mother Theresa, who isn't?

Yes, the sex is unrealistic, but for those who want graphic adult situational type content, I understand there is some available on the internet.

Going off on a tangent, the visual highlight of this series was Colby Keller, who played Arlen, someone Cal and Tom meet on their travels. I think I have seen him in something before, but I have no idea, at all, what that was.

Loved Traci Lords as Val, Cal's mother, having a great time, swilling Martini's. Alcoholics are often fun, until they're not.

Enjoyed John Halbach's satirical representation of heterosexuality, as the character Ian. I think it's satire, due to how many times he calls his girlfriend "babe", as no one actually does that, right? Or do they? IDK.

It's a mixed bag for sure, but for me it was enjoyable escapism, with occasional touches of reality, the pain of being different, but then normal is what most everyone pretends to be, but no one is.

Very good series to watch on a chill "guys" night in. Lots of different characters with unique insight into their own relationships, which also at times helps weave their lives together in a 'small world' kind of way. Glad to see its had a strong run of 4 seasons on netflix

The story in general is about group of young adults finding out who they want to be and the relationships they want to experience.

When Eastsiders hits the sweet spot it's great. Touching, authentic, funny, and sad - all the feels! But in between the splendid highs is a lot of relationship and existential navel gazing. I get it that 20-somethings into the 30-somethings are inclined to wonder out loud a lot about where they've been, where they're going, who they're going with yadayada but this ensemble are way to easily distracted by their own self-importance. Personally, I think the writing and character development improves over the seasons, although I loved the short-format of its early days. It never gets any less unbelievable that everyone in Silverlake knows each other, are hot as anything and have great sex all over the place, but these aren't exactly drawbacks. Traci Lords and Willam Belli playing it for the cheap seats are fabulous. I really like Eastsiders a lot. It's good tv and way overdue in the 21st century.

Finally a series that speaks to a Gay (and general) audience that pretty much ticks all the boxes. It has nuance, humour, heart and soul wrapped in an intelligent script and delivered with expert acting and high production values, to deliver an engaging and touching story that will make most viewers want to watch it all in one sitting. This is everything that its predecessors isn't. It's the series that hits the sparsity of good Gay television choices right out of the ballpark. Eastsiders sets the bar at the level a LGBT audience deserves. Highly recommended! Thank goodness for subscription television! Eastsiders is a stunning example of what channels like Netflix can deliver. I loved this!