DVD Review | Queer As Folk (Season 2)
Written by: Kage Alan

Film Rating: B+
DVD Special Features: B+

I’m one of those poor saps who doesn’t have Showtime.  It’s not that I can’t afford it per se, but rather I have so many discs to watch and review that I don’t have time to watch TV as it is.  Anyway, I had to wait an entire damn year to find out how the cliffhanger from Season 1 would resolve itself.  Bet you’re really feeling sorry for me, huh?  No Showtime and I had to wait for a year…  Right.  So, moving right along.

When we last left our group, Justin (Randy Harrison) had been bashed by a fellow student and was in the hospital.  If hadn’t been for Brian (Gale Harold), the lad would have died.  So, Season 2 picks up with Justin attempting to recover, Mel (Michelle Clunie) and Linz (Thea Gill) deciding to get married while a third party/ex-lover of Mel’s enters their lives, Michael (Hal Sparks) contemplating a career and boyfriend change, Ted (Scott Lowell) being forced into a career change (and what a change that is!), Emmett (Peter Paige) sharing more of himself than ever before…over the internet and Debbie (Sharon Gless) dealing with all the drama the men in her life bring her way.

If it’s drama you crave as well as lots of flesh, sex and humor, then QAF is still the show that won’t disappoint.  It’s moved almost entirely away from its British counterpart and been forced to come up with reasons as to why it’s still around.  Now, I’ve heard a number of complaints from fans of the show who said Season 2 wasn’t very good.  Well, I disagree.  It’s good, though not as good as the first season.  Why?  Quite simply, storylines that had great dramatic potential (like the wedding, Justin’s recovery and the threat of Brian losing his job just to name a few) were handled far too quickly and with little reflection later on.  It felt like the writers had a number of wonderful ideas and then rushed to get them all in instead of taking their time.  There’s some buildup, the event happens and then we’re off to the next big thing.  That’s my biggest complaint anyway, that and not having as riveting a cliffhanger.  It’s also important to note here that the women on the show had much meatier roles this time around, a very solid move!

On the plus side, Showtime has released “Queer As Folk (Season 2)” in an extremely attractive Widescreen transfer.  Video quality is outstanding, especially with the show’s style of editing, while the audio showcases the music of the series quite beautifully.  As for extras, one thing I noticed right off the bat is that there aren’t any audio commentaries included this time around.  While I generally enjoy such a feature, the commentaries included in Season 1 were simply awful, so I didn’t miss them here.  What is included in the box set can all be found on the final disc.  Before I list them, I’d like to say that I enjoyed all but one immensely, though the absence of actor Gale Harold and nothing more than a few minutes with Randy Harrison left me with a question or two regarding their lack of participation.

The extras are as follows: “Folks on the road: a backstage pass” (15min), “a day in the life of qaf” (“our favorite sets and costumes” 12mins and “the challenges” 12 mins), “what is it about Babylon?” (14min), “wrap party reel” (6 ½ min), “the unexpurgated lady in pearls” (3 ½ min), “rage gay crusader” (“rage gay crusader: the comic book” and “the making of rage gay crusader” 31min), “2002 queer as folk summer pride tour” (8 ¾ min), “the folks” (info about the characters and 30 seconds to 1 ½ minute interview with the actor), an animated photo gallery, some trailers, a 2 ½ minute sneak peek at Season 3 and a preview of a cartoon called “Queer Duck” (the only extra I didn’t care for).

The characters in Season 2 took some very unusual turns and while I wasn’t sure they’d always work, the writers somehow found a way to keep things interesting.  Many of the quirks and beliefs held by some in the gay community, especially about sex, relationships, monogamy and romance, are explored here and while I don’t always agree with them, I certainly respect their being included as well as their demonstrating that I’ve got something special going that their characters don’t.  Stay tuned for Season 3!