Russell is a bona fide nailed on genius. I worked on Canal Street for a decade in the 90's & it was the best time I've ever had. God, I miss my old friends.
So much of it did resonate. I grew up in a small West Country town - the 'only gay in the village' :-( - where it was not at all unusual for people I'd known all my life to say stuff like, 'Backs against the wall, lads!' and, 'Where's your handbag?' Anyways, I stood up for myself - at great cost - and then later I marched, and I protested, and did all that shit. Good times. And the '90s? Wow, even better. But now, the idea that we're heading back to that makes me wonder if any of it was worth all the effort. I've always kinda known - guessed - that many straight men still hate, and are afraid of, us - even the ones I occasionally slept with(!) - but they'd learned to back the f**k off. Maybe that is changing. It's very saddening, and I feel for those growing up in this world.
But, thanks for a great review. We're gonna watch the next episode tonight...
I remember (as a straight, white, cis male) being in tears at the end of at least one episode of It's a Sin. I feel like this is going to do the same to me, but I'm still going to watch it.
I’m not convinced by it. I find the dialogue old fashioned and unrealistic. I find the agitprop contained within it tiresome. Like listening to a jackhammer crack a walnut. The gay village has one again been bathed in artificial rainbow light (Queer As Folk began the trend)) and doesn’t represent the depressing reality of it. Especially during daytime scenes. The bar is called Spit and Polish which doesn’t work, as that’s the name of a tired old drag duo who’ve been doing the circuit for years rather than that of a trendy gay bar. Getting to the meat and two veg of the plot, giving the neighbour a key and an alarm code isn’t realistic. Even if you did feel somehow pressured into handing over the code, you’d change it at the first opportunity. We learn early on that Leo and Clive have been neighbours for 14 years, yet the former seems to have no inkling that the latter is a bigot, despite the thin adjoining wall through which you can hear every raised voice. Then there’s Leo’s libido, which is truly remarkable for a man of nearly 60. I’m in my 60s and remember Boy George lying about enjoying a cup of tea rather than sex. I’m not lying when I say it myself now. I also have issues with the old queen and sage of The Village, Melba. She’s just not raddled enough. I’ve met many Melbas in my time and they’re hard as nails. They’ve lived through the worst of times and have cigarettes and vodka and a drop of orange juice for breakfast (one of your 5 a day) and that should show. Tip Toe Melba’s makeup is too perfect and her eloquence seems forced, not lived. I looked forward to this with trepidation (the trailers have given away too much of the story in advance) so it’s no surprise that I was ultimately disappointed with it…
Russell is a bona fide nailed on genius. I worked on Canal Street for a decade in the 90's & it was the best time I've ever had. God, I miss my old friends.
An emergency. Yes. We’re in it. And this sounds like it understands…
Just watched the first episode. Gonna take a break. I'm 61 and I feel like I've been here before. Straight men like Clive I knew (know) all too well
I don’t blame you. It’s a desperately important show, but it’s going to be tough for some. I hope it breaks out of its echo chamber.
So much of it did resonate. I grew up in a small West Country town - the 'only gay in the village' :-( - where it was not at all unusual for people I'd known all my life to say stuff like, 'Backs against the wall, lads!' and, 'Where's your handbag?' Anyways, I stood up for myself - at great cost - and then later I marched, and I protested, and did all that shit. Good times. And the '90s? Wow, even better. But now, the idea that we're heading back to that makes me wonder if any of it was worth all the effort. I've always kinda known - guessed - that many straight men still hate, and are afraid of, us - even the ones I occasionally slept with(!) - but they'd learned to back the f**k off. Maybe that is changing. It's very saddening, and I feel for those growing up in this world.
But, thanks for a great review. We're gonna watch the next episode tonight...
I remember (as a straight, white, cis male) being in tears at the end of at least one episode of It's a Sin. I feel like this is going to do the same to me, but I'm still going to watch it.
This is brilliant. The more straight white men the better.
I’m not convinced by it. I find the dialogue old fashioned and unrealistic. I find the agitprop contained within it tiresome. Like listening to a jackhammer crack a walnut. The gay village has one again been bathed in artificial rainbow light (Queer As Folk began the trend)) and doesn’t represent the depressing reality of it. Especially during daytime scenes. The bar is called Spit and Polish which doesn’t work, as that’s the name of a tired old drag duo who’ve been doing the circuit for years rather than that of a trendy gay bar. Getting to the meat and two veg of the plot, giving the neighbour a key and an alarm code isn’t realistic. Even if you did feel somehow pressured into handing over the code, you’d change it at the first opportunity. We learn early on that Leo and Clive have been neighbours for 14 years, yet the former seems to have no inkling that the latter is a bigot, despite the thin adjoining wall through which you can hear every raised voice. Then there’s Leo’s libido, which is truly remarkable for a man of nearly 60. I’m in my 60s and remember Boy George lying about enjoying a cup of tea rather than sex. I’m not lying when I say it myself now. I also have issues with the old queen and sage of The Village, Melba. She’s just not raddled enough. I’ve met many Melbas in my time and they’re hard as nails. They’ve lived through the worst of times and have cigarettes and vodka and a drop of orange juice for breakfast (one of your 5 a day) and that should show. Tip Toe Melba’s makeup is too perfect and her eloquence seems forced, not lived. I looked forward to this with trepidation (the trailers have given away too much of the story in advance) so it’s no surprise that I was ultimately disappointed with it…
Sounds like you need to write a Substack about it. But thanks for the comment. 🤓