Queer as Folk for a new generation or an older generation looking at the past. Russell T Davies's new gay drama didn’t disappoint in it's first episode.
It covered all the usual RTD’s bases:
Humour
Sex
Darkness
Imminent tragedy
The story is the rise of the AIDs virus in London during the 1980’s which is very prescient for the 2020’s. It does feature some worrying parallels with 2020/21, even at this early stage of the series.
Olly Alexander didn’t disappoint in his first serious role and it will good to see more of him in future (not that there’s much more left of him to see after the first episode!).
Neil Patrick Harris also delivered an excellent and touching performance in both main aspects of the show with some excellent one liners and comedic moments, but also the darker elements.
Callum Scott-Howells also deserves mention for a very accurate portrayal of Colin. Someone who we've all been at some part of our lives and readily recognise in others. It will be interesting to see how his character develops.
Music wise it is spot on, the direction and photography also spot on. 1981 lives again (thankfully only on TV).
The urge to binge the lot is rising, but I’ll try to resist. Oh well, if you insist, maybe just one more.
The Orville is back! And it looks amazing. Although we maybe spend a little too much time looking at space docks and starships. But they compensated with additional runtime so I take it.
The story is again what this is about. It was great that they picked up on the fact that Isaac was re-instated and what that meant for the crew onboard. Althought I think they are all wrong about him. Yes, it's human to hate and they need a scapegoat. But Isaac did only follow his programming, he did what he was supposed to do just like your PC does what you tell him. But he then overcame his programming, choosing (!) to help defeat the Kaylons. He became more then his program.
The whole story is an analogy about online mobbing and how it can drive people to commit suicide. Claire's words toward Isaac at the end make that clear. It's great to see we still follow that formula and wrap the stories around real problems.
But despite the fact that Burke helped at the end, I still don't like her. That's probably what they wanted to achieve with the character. It would have been easy to make her come around and a part of me is glad the didn't take that road. But for her to get on my good side there will be a lot of redeeming involved.
