Stories from My Gay Grandparents

Right from Episode 1 (S1E1), you know you are in for a treat. Brother and sister, both gay, welcome their grandparents to town. See the description of this series to learn the rest of the premise.

In a wasteland of shows without original ideas and stories, Stories from My Gay Grandparents has such fertile ground for story and character development and possibilities. The Season 1 episodes are less than 15 minutes each, yet the short format is very efficient, tight, and well thought-out for a short comedy.

Although there are moments where the writers need to make sure that characters do not become cartoonish or drop into stereotypes, I will be eager to see more episodes when they drop.

The writing and acting is fast-paced but not overly fast. I feel like there can be more pauses for more serious moments of character development, and there are. But a few more moments like that would not hurt (think David's character development in Schitt's Creek").

Give it at least two episodes to see what you think. Take two, they're small!

In this series we are introduced to Barbara and Rusty, a seemingly normal married couple from a very conservative small town in Canada. After an unfortunate accident, they decide to move to Toronto and share an apartment with their gay grandchildren, Mish, (not sure on spelling), and Mason. They bring with them the revelation that they have been each other's "beard" for many years but are now ready to be who they were born to be. Watching Barbara and Rusty struggle to say the words at first is something I think many of us can relate to. You would think that they would be at the "We don't care what anyone thinks about us" phase in their lives but letting go of a former identity is never easy. Mish and Mason must get used to life with their grandparents living on top of them while Barbara and Rusty must get used to not only living their new lives, but getting used to not being dependent upon each other as they once were. The other main character, Church Street in Toronto, serves as a foundation for these lives. Mish owns a nightclub there. Barbara's first love worked there. Rusty and Barbara are finding their true selves there.

I really hope season two comes along and that it will still be available to view in the States. It has much promise and potential for true growth.

For a goofy set of comedic spoofs on gay life, there's a surprising amount of nuanced reality allowing for keen observations on the human condition. The string of camp clichés reveals some deeper points about coming out late as well as being young and out. A generation gap story provides the basis for tender insights. Can't wait for the second season which is set up nicely by unfinished story lines in the last episode of S1. It's a succinct, quick watch where economy of story and plot packs in a surprising amount. I salute the writing of such content within our modern attention span, without lacking meaning. This is a surprising package of romp and belly laugh, and for me, a few teary bits.... But I'm a sad old Queen ...

Watched the first episode and was hooked! Great storyline great acting and just an amazing show! I soooo hope for a second season I'm an older gay man and loved watching the grandparents discover their groove! Can't wait for more. I would love to come to Toronto and be an extra! I have told all of my friends to watch and they are hooked as well. I love that it is filmed on location and not in a studio. I hope in the next season the episodes can be a little longer. Even though the episodes are short it still contains so much content that they actually feel longer! Great job on creating and directing this fresh new series.

I just binged all 10 episodes in two sittings. SO funny and so refreshing to see an LGBTQ+ tv show that is real and relatable, not stylised and artificial. The characters and subplots are authentic - it really feels like this show has been made in the LGBTQ+ community, more than any other that I've watched. Great acting and storylines that had me laughing and crying in every episode. It's testament to the writing, production and acting that I feel so attached to these characters even though the episodes are so short. I could easily have watched 10 x 60 min episodes and still be wanting more. I will be sharing it widely among my friends - the community and allies too. Really hope there's a second season and more!!