Queer as Folk - Season 2 (1 Viewer)

[Mark-W]

I like where this thread is going, and I am glad to see
Mr Allred in here.
So far, I pretty much agree with the issues touched on.
--Story arcs are resolved too quickly
--Stories are overblown and overly simplified,
lacking ANY sense of reality
--JerkAtWork.net needs to GO!
--Emmett is back at "Torso," but he seems to be the
solitary employee, and no one mentions that he was on
a porno website at work???
--Brian at work...this was good, but too too brief
--Justin at school...this was good, but again,
gone back in the abyss once he met Ethan.
--Too muck fucking time spent in that bar.
--"Rage" Comic Book...this could be something
if they don't oversimplify it or exaggerate it.
--Ethan and Ben: the only men on the show I can relate
to on any level.
--Boy in Dumpster...this is where this last seasons writers
should be.
(Micheal's drag queen dad and Debbie still lying about
it...what the fuck was that shit?)
Tony Jonas should fire CowLip and get writers who can
write well. There was too much schlock and not enough
quality to this season. Well, at least I have season
3 of Sex in The City on DVD.
Warm regards to you all, especially Michael Allred,
Mark

 

[John Berggren]

You know, as someone who owns far to many comic books for my own good, I could NOT beleive Rage would fly as a comic book. However, I kept reminding myself that self-publishing and indy title wouldn't be that difficult, though I don't imagine terribly profitable. Although comic books are now primarily an adult audience (unfortunately kids are not interested these days) I just cannot imagine an adult themed book having that much impact. Not to say that "mature readers" lines don't but no Vertigo or Max book I've read has gay men fucking every third page.

When Michael and Justin were going to create a gay comic hero, I thought that he might be accessible and a character that could breaktrhough to mainstream... instead they chose Brian Kinney for their Clark Kent and got SuperHo. Another wasted opportunity.

 

[Michael Allred]

Warm regards to you all, especially Michael Allred

Well hello to you too Marky-poo.

 

[DeeF]

Although I'm not very happy with the general quality of this season of Queer as Folk, I'm generally pleased with how next season has been set up.

I like putting Brian on the defensive: he's going to have to figure out if he really wants Justin or not. I like Justin's new love interest, who seems like a more real character than anybody else on the show (shown doing his work: i.e., practicing the violin, more than anybody else does their work, they're all too busy dancing) and I think he makes Justin more interesting.

I like Ben and I hope he can make Michael a tinge more developed next year.

Ted and Emmett? Well, their characters jumped through so many hoops this year I'm not surprised how they turned to each other, but really, they should have been lovers the whole time.

Debbie needs to be more attractive, and get a better job. The lesbians could disappear, for all I care about them. I don't suppose we could bring George back, but stranger things have happened. Maybe it was all Emmett's dream.

 

[Jeff Savage]

I like everyting Trace said above. Now those would be some great plot lines
I do enjoy watching the show and just take it at face value. Ok so it could be more developed and polished but I am just glad that out of all the shows on TV there is one that is "all gay". I couldn't care less about story arcs etc.. Humm I guess guys like me are why they don't feel the need to improve the show:b

 

[Chuck L]

I agree with what everyone has said above.

While I know that this show is about a small group of friends, I really hate think that everyone that they know is in Adonis shape. It would be great to see a guy with a little meat on his bones, or hell, get a bear friend. But this is such a nit-pick thing. We all know that not all us gay guys have a waist size of 32 or below.

I want the series to slow down and let things develop. Life doesn't go that fast for us, why for them. The first season was an idication that they had no concept in time when Brian's court case was fixed in one show. Let the bastard squim a little for pete's sake.

I still don't like the fact the first season ended and the new season picked up six weeks (I believe) later. They could have really made people feel sorry for Justin if we had gotten to see him in the hospital thereafter, or Brian actually showing some emotion. Instead, we got "well six weeks ago....." that really cheapend the whole second season for me. It kinda also pisses me off that Justin was hurt so badly that he had a hard time even drawing, but had no problem jacking off I am sure.

I like Melanie and Lindsay still, but being the fact that they are the only two lesbians featured on the show, get a little more real. I have a hard time believing that Lindsay would have ever let the ex move in...no way in hell I would do that.

As far as Deb...it was one time so nice to have that in your face attitude toward people in reference to homosexuality. But when it bit her in the ass this season, and even she couldn't get herself to face up to her beliefs, I had a problem. The cop...don't care.

Emmett. Loved the story with George in it's all to short story. They should have let George live first and foremost, but then again, the writers would have had to carry on a story line.

Ted. I can put up with Jerk at Work stuff, but not a sole line of income. Living off of Emmett alone, that would die after two days. Getting together with Em though, I can see it, one time. Not a repeat performance though or anything long term.

Mike...still boring. Brian...still an asshole. After his little tyraid of messing up Justin and Michael's work, I would have been so through with him. Please the fact of what all he did to the art, and basically everything looked fine the next day. No creases or stains or nothing...utter bull.

What I would like to see next season? Emmett get involved with someone other than white. They still have yet to deal with any racial issues. It is bad enough the body image stuff, but with how many interracial relationships there are, this is a area not touched on. I wouldn't mind the girls having another child. But not with Brian this time. With someone from a sperm bank. Ted...get a real job, keep the other stuff as a side. Deb, get a make over and a life. Vic, get out on his own and underneath Deb. She will never have a life having to look after him, the way he looks after her. Brian, him to get hurt in some sort of car accident or something happen to him, where he realizes that he has to be more than his looks (which I don't find him that great to begin with). Michael, stay with Ben. Ben, pardon me on this, do some frontal man, you are the best thing about the show right now. Bringing him on has brought a touch of reality about the show that I love. I just hope the writers don't chicken out and simply kill him off or something.

The other thing I would like...writers that won't be scared. My partner and I have just started watching Six Feet Under and I can't believe the narration on the show. Simply wonderful and refreshing and enjoying the simple disfunction in this wonderful people's lives. The show has balls and I really appreciate that. It is what I would love to love about Queer as Folks.

 

[Trace Downing]

First this...

Ben, pardon me on this, do some frontal man, you are the best thing about the show right now. Bringing him on has brought a touch of reality about the show that I love.

Oh' the irony.
Ben is a product of the body fascism. Shaved chest, abs from Hell, and a perfect tan. The actor just might be steroidal to achieve this look. It's nice to read that you want more variety in you're characters on the show, but it seems that you agree with Mark, and John that only this one should be naked.

 

[John Berggren]

I consider myself to have a wide variety of "types" but Ben certainly does fit within that range. I'd be more than happy to see "imperfect" guys on there as it's generally the imperfections that I find attractive.

Although I wouldn't be itching to see a guy who's obese in the altogether, I'd certainly be pleased to see a guy who's stocky or overweight. Justin on the other hand gets less and less attractive to me, and Brian never was. Emmett is attractive at times, and Mikey is adorable. Last season David was my favorite.

Although I don't rule out the possibility that the actor who plays Ben has enhanced his frame chemically, I would be hesitant to suggest that it could be true. It could well be a combination of good genes, hard work, and boring diet. I myself prefer ice cream & chocolate, never find time to work out, and even when I did, don't have the perfection genes.

If we could swap the actor who played David (sans personality) with the actor who plays Brian, I'd be that much happier.

I think it would be important to have racial representation that is accurate to Pittsburgh on the show. I've always been somewhat disturbed that we have all-white programs, and all black programs, but we don't tend to have diverse programs which mix the two along with hispanic, asian, and other.

Of course they haven't really touched on bisexuality either, though having not had that experience myself, I don't know for sure if it exists or it's a way of dealing with being gay. It would be interesting to see them deal with it, and other facets of our community that don't get attention.

 

[Chuck L]

Trace believe me, just cause I want some reality don't mean I don't want a peak. :b He is simply hot...of course, I find my husband better in every way (hope he reads that).

On that same note, it is funny to hear the actors on the show in the chorus makes remarks about the size of Brian's manhood, and yet, we still haven't seen it except for a slight appearance between the cheeks or quick at the side. Even if they used a double, it would be nice at least to find out the only reason why it seems Brian would be atttractive. (And don't take that as a size queen statement, learned the hard way no pun intended, that it ain't everything!)

 

[Trace Downing]

Although I don't rule out the possibility that the actor who plays Ben has enhanced his frame chemically, I would be hesitant to suggest that it could be true. It could well be a combination of good genes, hard work, and boring diet.

John, you would be awfully suprised as to how many gay men (and actors too, especially Falcon Stars) use steroids. It's not as rare as any of them would like you to believe. Of course in a bar, that porn looker isn't going to tell you that he's chemically enhanced. He just says things like "hard work, and good genes, and proper diet."...Sound familiar?
Really, do you really think that there are THIS many gay people out there who have the perfect genetic makeup, to look like this?

 

[John Berggren]

I don't beleive there are as many gay or straight men with perfect genes & workout regimens as we see parading around. From what I hear pro baseball is riddled with steroid use to the point where non users feel like outcasts. Of course everybody loves broken home run records.
My point was not that it was not possible or even likely, just that I won't be the one to point the finger .
Unless they've made great strides with performance/appearance enhancing steroids, it's certainly not a trade-off that I would make. I'd far prefer to be fat and potent than hot and impotent .
And I honestly wouldn't know if the bar queen would tell me they use steroids or not. I haven't cared for the bar in quite some time, nor the bar-goers. I used to enjoy it in my late teens/twentyish times in Boston, but it seemed people were out to have fun and enjoy the company of others. Moving to Raleigh, it seemed to be stand and model, while sharpenning the bitch-claws. Not my scene.
I'm perfectly happy with my own Doctor David at home. On Friday nights we prefer to watch DVDs or go to movies to going out for the 12-4am "party". Of course we each weigh more than 150, so there wouldn't much be a point in that either .

 

[Trace Downing]

Trace: 7 years.

Buzz: Instant revelation? As mirrored EXACTLY like the two queens did on the show?

 

[Chuck L]

My partner and I were talking about the show last night, while folding laundry...how romantic right...

Anyway...

We have all talked about the fact that it annoys the hell out of us that they can't seem to make a story line go past two shows. Could it because of the mainstream population has the thought process that we in the gay and lesbian lives can't have a long stream of commitment? Most seem to think that we go in and out of relationships as often as what the moon changes. Could some of this thinking come into play when they are writing storylines.

My partner and I have been together nearly 5 years, and have not sought another throughout the entire time of the relationship nor do we plan to. I do know others though, that have moved on very quickly from we are in love the first hour, to moving in together on the fourth hour, to 'divorce' twelve hours later.

NOW...granted...this same thing goes on in the hetro world as well. But, in that life, it isn't used a stay point o whether you are true or not as to whether you can love and stay committed for something other than...say as Queer as Folk...two of three shows? What are your thoughts?

 

[DeeF]

To be clear, I am 44, and I have never had a long-term relationship, gay or straight. So perhaps I'm not the best judge of these.

I have said before: Queer as Folk could be improved (IMHO) by making it more of a "Love, American Style" structure: new characters, each with a "gay" point, introduced each week.

The one with the guy who wants love more than sex.

The one with the guy who thinks he's ugly, but he's just the swan waiting to emerge.

The one with the married woman who looks like a baseball player, having trouble with her husband and not understanding why.

The one with the drugged-out boytoy who ends up in a dumpster.

etc.

Sex and the City seems to pull off these variables on a theme with more aplomb than Queer as Folk, but there is a price: the 4 women must all seem like huge sluts, because the sexual points have to be told through them.

Why not make the dance club, Babylon, into a structural device: at the beginning of each episode, we're at Babylon and we meet a new character there, who then has a story which lasts one or two episodes. These brief stories could be intertwined with Brian and Michael, or Debbie, or other continuing characters which would give stability and continuity to the series, but they wouldn't have to seem so shallow, because not everything happens to them.

 

[DeeF]

Hey, thanks Buzz.

P.S. I'm the guy who spent some of my childhood in Albuquerque.

 

[Will K]

Ok, my 3 cents...
Season 1 was passable. It was fascinating at first because it was unlike anything that had ever been on American TV. Admittedly, I was hooked on it until the season finale, but I couldn't shake the just-add-water subplots that came and went faster than Kevin Costner's The Postman. The writing began uneven then eventually segued into a combination of uneven and ridiculous.
Still, I picked up with Season 2 because I did like some of the characters. However, for a variety of reasons, it lost me about 4 or 5 episodes before the finale. Personally, I think it's pretty much disintegrated into total crap.
1) Brian - I'm probably not saying anything that hasn't already been said, but I cannot believe this unbelievable prick has as many friends as he does. He treats people terribly, does unforgivable things, and he still comes out smelling like a rose. I hate it when I hear people say "Oh, he's just honest." Please, there's a difference between being honest and being a heartless cretin. His consistently deplorable treatment of Ted is a prime example("Sure, I'll get you a job but don't tell anybody you know me"). Please. Series finale: Brian is finally nasty and insulting to the wrong person and gets beaten with his own severed arms before his castration by blow torch.
2) Although nowhere near as bad as Brian, I'm sick and annoyed by behavior issues on this show. Nearly every character on this show has been rude and horrible to each other at one point or another. I don't consider myself to be sheltered or naive, but do people really act this way...and then not even apologise? Justin pretty much topped it off when he tore into the trick he met at the party. Inexcusable. This twink needs to be shaved way too close from head to toe with a well-used disposable razor and dipped in a vat of rubbing alcohol.
3) Lesbian threesome. Zzzzzzzz
4) The issue of Michael's father and the resolution to keep pretending. Phony baloney melodramatic BS.
5) Do platonic friends always kiss on the mouth??? This has bugged me since the show began.
6) Not enough homophobes got their just desserts. Ted's ex-boss, George's rich hag of an ex-wife, and Chris Hobbs pretty much got away scott free. However unconventional, this is still essentially a nighttime soap. Some revenge needs to be thrown in for entertainment value.
7) None of these gay people have pets. What's up with that?
I think this will conclude my QAF rant for today.

 

[Chuck L]

From Will: Series finale: Brian is finally nasty and insulting to the wrong person and gets beaten with his own severed arms before his castration by blow torch.

That would be nice!

7) None of these gay people have pets. What's up with that?

I can answer that one...they take very little care of themselves and very little commitment to anything other than a hairdo...would you want see them with a puppy or kitty? Brian would try to **** it!

 

[John Berggren]

Queer as Folk Season 2 will arrive on DVD on February 25th 2003.

6 disc set

3 Hours of special features including:

Inside Babylon

A Week in the life of QAF

Sneak Preview of Season 3

More specs to come.