Queer as Folk: Season 1, Vols. 1-6 (Widescreen)

I award this series full marks for writing, acting, direction. And the sex scenes are far more daring than I'd ever imagined they would be, without being too gratuitous. Perhaps the producers of "Queer as Folk USA" (as we call it) could come over to Britain and show our TV producers how to make a decent show. Most of our TV dramas stink!

This DVD set is a must have. I've watched the whole of the first series twice now, and I love it!

Long live QAF USA!

By the way, I'm gay. Or at least, I'm a guy who's in a relationship with a guy, but if this show represents what "gay" actually is 90% of the time (and, sigh, I might have to concede that it does), then it's time for me to disinherit my family. Shallow, superficial, sex-obsessed, puerile, whiny, nasty, backstabbing, emotionally stunted men running around living Barbie stereotypes of gay lifestyles. I hate every single character on this show. I swear to god, I can't even decide what's more sickening - hearing Brian brag about his 30 different tricks a month (which, "safe" or not, is extravagantly neurotic behavior), or watching Emmett go christian and deny his homosexuality altogether. None of these people are remotely capable of having a healthy sex drive or life, or of otherwise doing anything that's not utterly frivolous and idiotic. And this is the image that so many gay fans are evidently thrilled to see portrayed on TV. Brian's ridiculous and suicidal promiscuity finally gets him into professional trouble when one of his "tricks," who also happens to be under his employ, slaps him with a sexual harrasment suit. Meanwhile Emmett comes frighteningly close to breeding with a similarly self-deluded lesbian, until his friends conspire to win him back by renting out a gay porn star for a romantic evening with the foppish fencesitter. Wouldn't ya know, he comes right around (so to speak). Then we have obnoxious stock twink no. 532, Justin, who is "just beginning to realize his sexual power" - which means that it's dawning on him that his "barely legal" status is a potent aphrodisiac for sleazy business guys in their 30's. He prances around and sucks blo-pops and we're all supposed to be charmed - whatever, I'm not elderly enough to find him appealing. And finally, Hal Spark's character, what's-his-name. All I have to say about Hal Sparks is that I always thought he was gay when he was on Talk Soup, and I found it annoying when he would talk about women (as if), and now he's still supposed to be straight apparently, but he is thoroughly convincing (though annoying as ever) as a gay "average joe" on QAF. Anyway he's probably doing well with the ladies now, cuz we all know that females love gay guys.

Now I understand that what I have basically done is complain about the way gay men are represented on this show, but (again) I can't really say that it's inaccurate as far as it goes - it just doesn't go very far. What we have here is 100% pure superficial gay drama. QAF is definitely "portraying a lifestyle," to use the Eminem defense, and I'll defend to death the rights of the producers et al to do so; but it's equally my right to express my rage at this portrayal because I feel that it's emphasizing all the wrong things, as dead-on as it may be within its pathetic little gamut. Of course, it's just my personal opinion, but I don't understand why ANY gay men feel that this is a positive thing. I hate vapid idiots in real life and I hate them on Showtime. I DO have to concede, however, that as far as "bourgeois" acceptance of homosexuality goes, any sort of representation is better than no sort at all; and shows like this, or "Will and Grace," or "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," really have helped to drag the "gay issue" out of the closet. But the next step will be to have a gay character who's not an obnoxious, buck-toothed, flaming Peter Pan, or a catty, mincing, home-interiors-obsessed dandy, or a conceited sexaholic label-whore, or what have you. I can't help but feel that this is sort of the "minstrel show" phase of our portrayal in pop culture. At any rate, I can't watch any more "QAF," nor can I listen to any more monotonous gay house remixes of crappy songs by "divas" off the soundtrack. Not that I'd rather watch sports!

P.S. I also understand that I have probably come off as somewhat of a "basher" of my own people, but I really don't mean that at all. I'm quite happy being gay (lol) and even though I don't think it's necessarily a "choice," I WOULD choose it if it were. I'm fairly shocked when I come up against lingering bigotry, but the politics of the moment make it crystal clear that it's still a very real issue. It just seems to me that shows like "Queer As Folk" give Jesse Helms a little bit too much to chew on. At this point it's not even "shocking" to see sleazy, gratuitous, redundant gay sex choreography on Showtime - it's just pathetic, and it's doing nothing positive for our image. Not that it's the responsibility of TV shows to arbitrate morals - god forbid! And like I said, I fully support everybody's right to free expression. I just feel like somebody needs to be saying "But there's more!" - even if there often isn't.

I must say that this series is unique. Not only because of the gay life it portrays and its nudity. Simply because of its treatment, its visual quality and its story line. This is quality TV production rarely equalled. On my list, it comes ex aequo with my all-time favorite TV series: Shogun. QAF is not only about sex, nudity and the gay club scene. It is also about real characters that we care for and who uncover multi-layered aspects of themselves throughout the series. It is quality TV for every adult viewer, gay or straight, and everyone can learn from QAF about relationships between friends, lovers, parents and children. It is also about acceptance, tolerance and respect of each other's lifestyle, from all points of view (parents, school mates, etc.).

I had to buy the DVDs because it promised so many extras. I watched all 6 discs and I must admit that it left me almost breathless.

Every episode (22 in all) is so well directed. Visually, it is simple pleasure to watch the story unfold with all the characters. The cast works better in the US version than in the British one. They seem to be working better together as an ensemble cast.

For every episode, you have chapter selections, the "next on" feature (a preview of the next episode), audio set-up, a synopsis of the episode itself. Very well made. And they kept the ending credits for each episode!

There are 3 special edition episodes. These are episodes with commentaries but it is uniquely done. While you have the episode itself on the right half of the screen, you have a filmed commentary on the left half of the screen, so you actually see the commentator (director, actor, etc.). This is amazingly well done.

The other extras are really good, from the outtakes to a sneak preview of Season 2.

It even looks better on DVD than when it originally aired on TV.
All DVD collections of TV series should be done that way. This is really what we may call a collector's edition.

Can't wait for Season 2 on DVD. I just hope they will do something of that quality for Oz when it comes out on DVD. It deserves the same treatment. "Shogun" as well!

Queer as Folk Premiere Season on DVD is already sold out in my neck of the woods. Hurry before it's too late!