Well, I was planning on waiting till I've just watched a film to post my first review, but I just don't see that happening for a while. I recently got hooked on the show Queer As Folk and have been lent all 5 seasons! I also planned to review each episode as I watched them, but I just don't want to waste time between episodes! This show is seriously addictive, however unlike "Friends" it's not exactly the sort of show I can watch while my kids are awake, so I can't exactly have a Queer As Folk marathon like I did with "Twin Peaks" when I was younger!

I did have an interesting conversation with my daughter though today! She is 6 so is coming to understand more about the world around her, but of course still sees things in such a simple way. Makes me wish some adults could see things so simply also. We are currently in possession of the class budgies. My daughter and I were watching them and she said "oh they are boys and kissing", my response was that sometimes two boys do love each other, like two girls can love each other like her (2nd) cousin's mummy and girlfriend. My daughter then said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "then they get married". I answered "maybe one day" and then moved onto a different subject. I don't think she is quite old enough to understand why her cousin's mummy can't get married. I am determined though that she'll learn to be accepting of any people from all walks of life. It seems she already has a good start.

I seem to have got off track a bit! Once I've finished watching the whole series I plan to go back and review episode by episode as there have been many things I have wanted to write about in regards to particular episodes.

I mainly wanted to write here today because of how deeply I felt this season. Many people would assume that most people would watch the show for the hot guys or girls or for the sex scenes, but I don't think that is completely true. Yes those 2 things are nice to watch - there is no dispute there, but what makes the show compelling is the relationships between the characters - romantic and platonic.

I'm left at the end of this season feeling a great sense of sadness. Justin leaves Brian at the end of the last episode. Usually when something like this happens in a show you have a favourite that you side with. One of the two is the bad one, responsible for the split. I do know that there are a great many people that feel this way about Justin and Brian, however for me I can't find it in me to blame one over the other. Brian and Justin clearly love each other, but are unable to give each other what they want. Justin is young, and wants to be romanced. He went into his relationship with Brian believing he could be happy with their arrangement of non monogamy and a strong nightclub life, and he seemed to enjoy this for a while, but eventually felt he needed more. This is not an unreasonable feeling. Unfortunately while Brian is able to show his love in his own way, he will only go so far. He has broken many of his previous rules for Justin but is unable to show his love in more obvious ways and won't commit to something he probably doesn't believe he can stick to. He places a lot of importance on being honest.

It is just so sad to see Justin's torment while being torn between staying with Brian who he has loved since the first night they were together and moving on with Ethan who he believes can provide him with the romance and fidelity her craves. Brian's ultimate act of love I believe was to let Justin go. He knew he wouldn't give Justin what he wanted, and he does want Justin to be happy. While at the same time it seems obvious that it is tearing him up that the first person he has really opened up to is leaving.

I can't fault either of them for the break up. Justin shouldn't have to live unhappily even if it is with a man he loves, and Brian has lived a certain way for a long time and his unhappy childhood has left a mark on the man he is today. He is not at a stage where he feels he can give Justin what he needs, and that is ok too considering how far he has come.

They do get back together in season 3 (have only seen snippets), and I think this time apart will be good for them, maybe they will be able to get to a place where they can meet on a more common ground.

Season 2 Review

Season 2

Queer As Folk