Queer As Folk - Season 3 (1 Viewer)

Season 3 of Queer as Folk is starting now. Discuss your thoughts here.

10pm Sunday March 2nd 2003.

Showtime.

The first episode of season 3 was far and away better than any episode that came before it. This is what the show always should have been since the beginning.

I honestly think the best thing Showtime ever did for this show was cut it's episode-per-season order to 14.

Even the music was dramatically better. I loved the use of Sigur Ros in the last scene.

John,

I loved that song in the final scene. What is the title of the song?

I don't know if the song has a title. It's a great album. It's track 1 on (). The first line on their lyric page for the song is "You're so far away", so that's as good a title as any. You can check it out, and the whole cd over at http://www.sigurros.com under lyrics. The songs will play over the lyrics.

I heard Sigur Ros first on the first leg of Tori Amos' tour. I'm glad I bugged the sound guys about what it was.

I thought it was a fine episode, though nothing particularly great. I still think that Emmett and Ted are completely wasted, and the girls are simple foils. Tell me the girls don't have a lot of other friends, lesbian friends.

Justin has become a tad, hateful, and Brian is Brian. Brian being Brian wouldn't pay for sex, I'm sorry, but he just wouldn't.

And Mikey's sudden fierce turn to Justin rings pretty false. The show continues to ring false to me.

I don't know how to improve it, either. More penises?

I was so glad to see that whiny child brat Michael get put down for the count. Can't that happen each week?

I actually decided not to upgrade my DirectTV to include
Showtime until I heard from some of you what your thoughts
were on the Season 3.

I almost didn't buy season 2 on DVD because while I loved
about 1/3 of the show, 2/3 of it just left me wanting
better storylines and less ridiculous storylines like
Emmet as a star of internet porn.

Still, by buying season 2, I do still get Robert Gant
as Ben, and I forget (Alzeheimer's at my age!) that
violinist that seems pulled straight from Nicholas
from The Vampire Lestat book.

Looking forward to all of your thoughts on episode 2,
because, based on those, I'll either resubscribe to
showtime, or just wait, save my money, and get the boxed
DVD next year at this time, and bypass all the episodes
that never should've been made.

I never wanted to like a show more, but felt so dissappointed, again, about 2/3 of the time.

Speaking of that...The 14 episodes per season idea does
sound like a better aragement for getting more quality
and less quantity into the show.

Anyone know what has happened with the writing team?
Is Karen Walton still there? (Her episodes seemed the
worst written last season.)

I read parts of the story (cover story no less!) from
TV Guide, and Cowan makes it sound like the show will
be more focused on couples this season.

That could either be bad or good.

Anyway, I look forward to all of your thoughts.

Regards,

Mark

I thought the season opener was, dull. The characters seem to be exactly the same when the series started.

and really, are we supposed to feel pity for *Brian*?????????? Michael's overly agressive reaction to Justin was not only comical but completely without merit or justification. "After all Brian has done for you..", like..sleeping with other men, treating him so coldly, without love or compassion, etc. Yeah, I can't imagine why someone would leave sweet, innocent Brian. Gimme a break.

I felt episode 2 was just as good as episode 1. Melanie and Lindsay have perhaps the most compelling storyline. Even Brian showed a bit of his humanity, continuing to help Justin, and encouraging him to work with Michael.

Ben even took a stand to Michael hanging out with Brian too much. I really don't understand why anyone would go out with Brian when they can have Ben at home.

I think if QAF had been this good through season 1 and 2, there would be a lot more faces in this thread, and a lot fewer people complaining about the quality of the show.

my wife likes brian :frowning:

Hey Dave-
Well, there are women (and men) who like "bad boys."
No one said sex appel is logical.

I keep hoping wisdom comes with age, but I see a lot
of older people making the same mistakes as their younger
counterparts.

Though, having said this, I hope, at 35 I am not one
of them, because 10 years ago I probably would've been
attracted to the Brian type. Now, it is all about the
Ben's of the world, and, specifically, where to find
them, if they're single.

Mark

Should I read anything into the lack of posting
in this thread? Wow. Starting to think that decision
not to upgrade to include Showtime in my DirectTV was
really wise.

mw

Mark,
Personally I think QAF has improved by leaps and bounds. I don't get to post on every episode as our internet at work has become more restrictive.
I honestly think the show is everything it should have been from the beginning. Up until I finally got settled with Six Feet Under this season (in episode 3) I felt QAF season 3 was superior to SFU season 3.
I think most of the lack of discussion comes more from the fact that the creators & writers pissed away two years, and many people gave up on the show before trying season 3 at all.
If you send me a PM, I can try to get you information on how to sample season 3.

Much as I like him, I have to pose the opposite opinion from John Berggren.



The show is as dull as always. There are more penises (on the extras walking by) to enjoy, and the writing is a little more focused. That said, Emmett and Ted are still wasted, and their lines are little more than poor jokes. Brian is still hateful (but with a heart of gold, apparently). Mike is still whiney, and Ben's chest perfect, and Debbie too unrealistic.

Overall, I'd say the show doesn't have anything to say, to express. And it has suffered enormously by being compared to Six Feet Under, which is superior in almost every way, better writing, more ideas, better performers, and a more consistent tone. Sorry, QAF, I wish I liked you more.

I really enjoyed the Debbie storyline from the last episode.

I think this show benefits from having a few "straight" storylines thrown in. Sometimes we feel like these characters live in a "gay fantasy world" where everyone is gay. I think it's more interesting when they show these characters and how their stories fit into a world that is mostly heterosexual.

I think it would be interesting if one of the guys got a straight male friend to hang out with. He'd have to be open-minded, but I think it would be an interesting interaction to watch.

Buzz-

I think that what you have tapped into is part of why I am not subscribing so far this year:

I can handle people being ignorant of their foibles during early episodes, because where is the drama and interest if people don't grow and learn from past mistakes?

But that is the problem with QAF, which became more apparent in season 2: People were making the same mistakes and not really learning from them.

Back when I was in ballet training all those years ago,
I remember my teacher saying, "If you're going to make mistakes with the steps, at least make different ones
each time."

There are plenty of ways these people can still screw up things in new and different ways, so seeing them continue to be oblivious to flaws that have been addressed in some way already is just tiresome.

Cowlip said they were going show these guys growing up
when they launched this series. I didn't see any growth,
barring, as you've stated, a bit in Justin.

I can handle bad scripts, cheesy dialogue, and the occaisional wooden performance, but show me characters that are evolving somehow. Even if they evolve into bigger messes than they were before.

For a show that wanted to show gay life with no apologies or sanitizing, it is too bad they apparently find actual
drama and realistic storylines so dull.

I think one of the greatest weaknesses of QAF is that they resolve long term story arcs in one episode. Things move too quickly.

The Ben story with steroids is moving at an appropriate pace. It's already clear that this will last at least 3 episodes, probably more. They did the same with Blake in season 1, which made him one of the most compelling characters from that season. Perhaps they can only see long term storylines in drug abuse.

The accusation of molestation was resolved overly quickly. I hope at least they continue with Brian's relationship with his mother, sister, and nephew. However, they have reason to have Brian to just tell them to fuck off and never see them again, so this is unlikely. I would have liked to see this played out further. Both times Brian gets into legal hot water, he gets out, not only because of Justin, but exceedingly quickly.

I also think the Ted & Emmett relationship is moving awfully quickly. I can see Ted's stand that they've been friends for several years, but I see a distinct difference between their friends relationship and their lovers relationship. It would be nice to see it work out between them, but it doesn't appear this is in the cards. Perhaps when it doesn't, Blake can return soberred up.

I'm enjoying Michael's storyline at this point. His opportunity to be a father is very interesting. This could cause some serious tension with Ben, since he is now dwelling on his inability to father a child. I'd be interested to see the girls repay the favor and carry a child for Michael & Ben in the future.

I'm still quite enjoying season 3, far more than 1, and especially more than 2. I think this single episode has been the weakest of the lot, but I'll still be back next Sunday.

I would have liked to have seen a better resolution to the Brian/molestation story. I thought it would have been better if they had done something to take advantage of the kid's homophobia. After all, he hates gays, but then he says he sucked a guy's cock (even if it was forced). There would be a lot of shame for a kid that age to admit something like that publicly. So I thought it would have been interesting if Justin or others somehow spread it around the kid's school what he said happened. Then the kid would have been forced to tell the truth that he made it up, as a way to save face. I think that would have been a better way to turn the tables on him, rather than the bracelet thing which just seemed convenient.

Having been in Asia for work the past 4 weeks this was the first epsoide that I could watch this year. I actually liked it. I guess I haven't missed too much. Some of the editing , cutting style drove me crazy though. Looking forward to the ride this season

Laters,
Jeff