Connor Macgregor Reviews…Queer As Folk
Episode One
INTRO: Queer As Folk is the show that introduced the world to the wonderful writings of Russell T Davies. I’ve covered two of his shows so far on this forum, and so now I go back to the show that made him and carved his own niche spot on British TV. We travel all the way back to 1999, almost a different era altogether. And Queer As Folk is the show.
SUMMARY: Handsome and arrogant, Stuart Jones can have anybody he wants on the Manchester gay club scene and knows it, as do his less confident friends Vince, whom he knew from their school days, and Phil. One night Stuart picks up inexperienced but eager twink Nathan and takes him home for a good seeing-to, subsequently discovering that, at fifteen and still at school, the boy is legally too young for gay sex. Their session is interrupted by news that Alfie, a baby, sired by Stuart for his lesbian friends Lisa and Romey, has been born and he visits in the hospital. Next morning Vince drops Nathan off at school but graffiti on his car alerts the other kids to the fact that Nathan is gay.
THOUGHTS: The first episode of any show always introduces the world, and this show does it very well with Canal Street vibrant, fun, and of course – very gay! Gay life seems very fun and relaxing. Clubs that allow you to unwind and be one’s self, happy with who they are without fear, intimidation or bullying. The three central characters Stuart, Vince & Nathan are all introduced well here, with their basic personalities shining and prominent on screen. The cutaway monologues on camera are cute, and let you in on their thoughts, opinions and perspectives on life and being gay. The only criticisms are that the episode is a bit too short for me, with the runtime only over thirty minutes through this episode, and thus the whole series roundly orbits around this time. Also some of the acting from the supporting characters can be at times lacking and not very animated. Thankfully it’s not as distracting as I thought it’d be and is only sidelined to many minor characters.
RATING: 76% - B+