DVD Review: Queer As Folk (Season 1)
Written by: Kage Alan

Film Rating: A-
DVD Special Features: B

I'll be the first to admit that I love the British QAF and was incredibly
skeptical about the US doing its own version of the series.  Why?  First of
all, they changed the age of the youngest character from 15 to 17.  The show
was already compromised in my mind, so that mixed with rumors of Showtime
asking for scenes to be toned down really turned me off and I didn't bother
to watch a single episode of it until recently.  I get stubborn like that
from time to time.  If they weren't going to do it right, then they had no
business doing it at all.  This isn't the greatest mindset to have while sitting down to give the show a chance, but I wasn't exactly proven wrong at
first anyway.

The first seven episodes of QAF are embarrassing.  I was embarrassed at the
writing, embarrassed for the actors who, in my opinion, were completely
miscast and embarrassed for Russell Mulcahy ("Highlander") for wasting his
directing talent.  It was a disaster and I seriously considered giving up and
returning the discs, but, being the glutton for punishment that I am, I
pressed on.  I realized later on that the main problem with the first 7
episodes is that it follows too closely to its British counterpart.  The
original series accomplished a huge amount in a mere 8 episodes and was damn near perfect.  The US version just couldn't compete and it's when it stopped trying and moved off into its own expanded world that it actually starts to get good.

The plot revolves around a diverse group of friends and all of their
plentiful drama.  Brian Kinney (Gale Harold) is the ringleader who's
handsome, successful, intelligent, conniving, arrogant, brutally honest and
has a habit of sleeping with every cute man he meets.  Michael Novotny (Hal
Sparks) is Brian's best friend and doesn't have the greatest self-esteem in
the world, secretly burns a candle for Brian, but is all heart.  Flamboyant
Emmett (Peter Paige) and less-than-great looking Ted (Scott Lowell) complete their little group as they hit the bars every night looking for sex with the hot guys, only end up going home empty handed more often than not.  Their happy little existence is changed when Justin (Randy Harrison), a
seventeen-year-old just coming out of the closet hooks up with Brian for the
night and doesn't like being dismissed as a one-night stand.

Then, of course, there's the token lesbian couple Melanie (Michelle Clunie)
and Lindsay (Thea Gill).  I hate to dismiss them as such because they're both
wonderful actors and characters and greatly enhance the series, but they are
treated as somewhat secondary to the guys.  Anyway, Lindsay has a baby in the first episode and it turns out it was from Brian's donated tuff.  Both she
and Melanie want a child of their own and it's because of Brian that they are
able to work out an arrangement.  Brian and Melanie don't exactly get along,
though, and it creates a huge amount of tension.  Then too, not many people
get along with Brian.  It must just be part of his charm.  Other characters
we're introduced to along the way include Michael's mother Debbie (Sharon
Gless), her brother Vic (Jack Wetherall), Justin's best friend Daphne (Makyla
Smith) and Michale's future boyfriend David (Chris Potter).

There's so many stories contained in season one that they're too numerous to
list them all.  Ted ends up overdosing and winds up in a coma, Michael deals
with his first serious relationship, Vic is arrested for allegedly exposing
himself, Emmett gets tested for HIV and makes a promise to God, Justin deals
with his homophobic father and school, Lindsay and Melanie see their
relationship torn apart and Brian faces the greatest fear of his life;
turning 30.  Some of these are directly borrowed from the British series
while other threads are entirely new and it's these new areas that make this
show work.

Gale Harold (Brian) and Hal Sparks (Michael) were, in my opinion, the two
weakest leads in a long time.  Their characters were supposed be tight and
Michael was supposed to be this lapdog always lusting after Brian and being
rejected, only it never really worked.  The chemistry just wasn't there and
while the dialogue was saying one thing, their actions were in direct
contradiction.  As soon as it moved away from this, though, both characters
and actors grew as did their chemistry.  Justin, the character Randy Harrison
plays was originally very angry, very frustrated, arrogant and ultimately a
Brian clone.  Harrison, though, is so obviously gay that it's hard to believe
that anyone he's ever spoke to couldn't figure it out.  He may be cute, but
that's the majority of what he brings to the role.

The supporting cast members are who make the show worthwhile.  Sharon Gless ("Cagney and Lacey") brings a world of talent and dignity to her role.  If I didn't already have a wonderful mother, I'd want her.  Scott Lowell and Peter Paige work extremely well together as somewhat polar opposites who at times are very much alike.  Makyla Smith, Jack Wetherall and Chris Potter all add great performances and enrich the scenes in which they appear.

The 22 episodes of QAF are presented in a beautiful Widescreen transfer that
sounds as good as it looks.  It's about sharp camerawork and music with a
beat and that's exactly what you get.  Well, there's that and also
controversy, but it comes with almost anything having to do with a show that
showcases gays, gay sex, promiscuity, male nudity and achieves a popularity
with as many heterosexual women as gay men.  Can't have that.  The show is
pretty unique in its frank portrayal of the gay community and those who live
in it, but I wouldn't call it entirely inaccurate.  It's just not something
that some want illuminated.

As for extras, there are three episodes presented in an alternate form that
contain interviews and observations with cast and crew.  Oddly enough, these
episodes are shown in pan and scan and look considerably poorer in quality
than the letterbox versions.  The interviews and observations aren't all that
great either.  Some of the information given is decent, but it's not
particularly insightful.  Sharon Gless talking about how she pursued the role
is a definite highlight.  The rest of the extras are on the last disc.   
There's a section hosted by Hal Sparks with deleted scenes and extended
scenes, some amusing outtakes, cast and character and crew bios, trailers, a
picture gallery and a Season 2 sneak preview.  It's a nice first attempt at
putting a season box set together, but I'm hoping for better when Season 2
comes out.

Despite a very slow and awful start, QAF comes into its own and turns into an
extremely dramatic show with some very humorous moments.  It manages to hit all the stereotypes as well as all the current dilemmas facing relations and
understanding between heterosexuals and homosexuals.  There are no definitive answers to be found here, but there's certainly food for thought and one hell of a season finale.  If you don't subscribe to Showtime, are mildly curious about the show or wondering how it compares to the British version, I
strongly recommend you give this one a chance.  Just make sure you continue
watching past the first 7 episodes and it will all come together.                                  

Kage holds degrees in Creative Writing, as well as Film & Video. He has been featured in a Life Journey Tele-Course, published poems in several national anthologies, been a contributor to The Third Coast Magazine and written several novels. kage@modamag.com