Queer as Folk - The Complete First Season

I found this show while channel surfing, just a few months ago on a censored station. I had heard of this show before, but did not have premium cable, so I was unable to watch when it hit the screen originally. I absolutely fell in love with it with just one episode, I would tape and watch faithfully. I was determined to get the DVD version, so that I could see it uncut and in it's original form. The first season is very near and dear to my heart, probably the best of the series!! The show was casted perfectly, you will fall in love with each and every character. Yes, it contains a lot of sex, drugs, and language, but it's also full of loving relationships, fun, humor,intelligence, brilliance, and warmth that will make it very difficult to tear yourself away from it. I'm a 40yo straight woman who would love to be a part of these queer as folk!

My wife and I really enjoyed this series. If you can get through the first episode, and not be too disturbed by the gay sex, you will be rewarded with a very human story. The sex is presented as just another part of life (though a very integral one for these guys), something completely unusual in shows produced for the sex-phobic American market. It manages to be graphic and unsensational at the same time, and always relevant to the characters' personalities (Ethan's adventure with on-line dating is a hilarious twist on his everyday personality). It is a great mixture of drama and comedy, with a diverse set of characters that will grow on you. Michael's mother (Sharon Gless) is funny at first, but becomes a little bit over-the-top in later seasons. Other than that, a captivating and nearly perfect series that we were sad to see end.

I could probably start this review by welcoming you into the world of gay sex, complete with disco music and darkrooms in clubs. I could invite you to watch sex scenes like you've never seen on TV, or I could go on and on praising "Queer as Folk" as a controversial TV show that makes the girls of "Sex and the City" look like school girls. "Queer as Folk" is all this, but much, much more. By the end of season one, and once the initial shock wears off, you will find yourself actually watching this show not because of the sex it's not afraid to show, but because of the plights and emotional conflicts of its characters.
The three main characters are probably meant to represent a cross-section of gay culture - Hal Sparks plays the "sensitive narrator" role, Gale Harold is Brian, the predator, and Randy Harrison plays Justin, the virgin. Also, there are Emmett and Ted, and also Melanie and Lindsay, the lesbian couple... The list goes on and on, but the good thing is that the stereotypical concept fades out during the show - "Queer as Folk" treats its characters like actual, emotional humans, who evolve as the show progresses. It can make a powerful emotional punch as well as a sex scene, and that is what makes this show so good. The fact that it makes you care for the characters because of who they are, and not simply because they're gay is the biggest praise I can give this excellent show. Kudos for QAF!

And after watching this show, to add to what my co-worker told me, I would've taken the WHOLE day off in anticipation to what was in store for me for what was going to happen next on this show!!!

'Cause that's how you start to feel once you get into this show. I mean, I was totally hooked after watching the first episode--if not, after watching the first minute!!!

I found myself liking all of the characters instantly and I liked how most of the characters are all connected to each other in one way or the other, like how Emmett and Michael are roommates. Ted is secretly in love with Michael. And how even though Michael and Brian are best friends, Michael, in his own way has a thing for Brian and Brian, in my opinion, has a thing for Michael--even though Brian's never going to admit that.

I also liked the overall tone of the show. And how it could somehow balance itself with having a scene go in one direction towards the outrageous (insert Brian here) and then how it could go in a very down to earth, very human and touching direction (also, insert Brian here.)

I guess I just have a thing for the Brian character and though how on the surface, he might be plotting and making everything be all about him--you just have to wait for the moments when it's just him and Michael and you get a glimpse that there's a whole lot more cooking with him.

To get an example of this, please see the episode wherein the fellas are heading out to New York to find Justin, who's run away. There's a moment, when the car gets a flat and Emmett and Ted have to fix it and Brian and Michael sneak away to share a joint.

As the scene unfolds, Brian tells Michael how much he means to him. And then before you know it, the two of them are kissing.

But that's not the part, that gets to you. It's how when Ted & Emmett start telling them that the car is ready, it's like Brian holds onto Michael maybe a little longer than he has to and while doing this, Brian at this point kisses Michael on the forehead. That one little scene tells you just how human Brian really is. (Incidentally, those were always my favorite scenes throughout the show--the little moments that were quiet and unassuming--you might have to really look for them, but man are they worth it!) :)

Anyway, I can't say enough about this show. I hope everyone out there who hasn't watched this show, will give it a try. I think you'll be very surprised in more ways than one.

I know I was!

(Also, a BIG shout out to the phenomenal Hal Sparks!!!) What he gave to the character Michael was truly amazing!!! I can't imagine the WHOLE world not falling in love with him. (I know I did!!!)

I was first exposed to this show on the tv channel LOGOS this summer but I knew they were cutting out language and scenes. The DVD has everything so if you are uncomfortable with same sex action, male-male or female-female stay away. That said this is not pornography in that the sex while highly suggestive does not show penetration and rarely full frontal. The show is also not for anyone who has tender ears because the characters swear up a storm. If you like to see characters struggle with their everyday lives, society, and a solid dose of hot male bodies then I highly recommend season 1 on DVD. I most also commend the writers and producers for doing a lot of foreshadowing for later seasons which bespeaks of quality work and committee to the project from everyone.