 |
|
 |
It's been five years since we were first introduced to the boys of Liberty Avenue. They were as gay as gay could be and wore their pride for the world to see. It's a world that reluctantly looked the other way as long as gays kept their place in the social order and didn't shake the boat. Like any opposed minority, it was only a matter of time before they rose up. They wanted the same rights every heterosexual couple enjoys, which has sparked a nationwide backlash of mammoth proportions. Queer as Folk was one of the pieces bringing us to where we are today. It was the middle finger to all those who said they were an abomination. It was the series that showed heterosexual America what gay life was really like, clearing aside the cluttered stereotypes and misconceptions. Yet it only reached those whose minds were open enough to receive it. It brought its series to a close Sunday night in a fitting tribute to this groundbreaking series. |
Episode: B | Season: B | Genre: DramaNow there is little question that the show's edge had dulled over the years. What started out as visceral, in your face, man on man action that lent a voice to the issues and fears plaguing the gay community had, in recent seasons, grown into a weary soap opera, muzzled of its bite. In its final season, it slowly hoisted itself from the ground, padded itself off and tried to see this series out in the manner and respect it so richly deserved. So let's lay the groundwork. A bomb shattered the tranquil existence of our Folk several episodes back, critically injuring Michael, and shutting the doors on Babylon for good. This shocking episode was the series at its best, and this event would send shockwaves through the fate of our characters. Melanie and Lindsay choose to pick up sticks and high tail it to Canada where everyone is accepting and they don't have to fear for their children's lives.
What I want to know is why none of the characters told them to stay and fight? Change can happen, but only if people stand up and demand their rights in the face of their oppressors. What kind of message is that sending, that instead of being a pillar of strength for their children, they opt for the easy way out, jumping the border? Both Brian and Michael give their blessing even though Brian is given pause when he realizes Gus will grow without a father much like he did. Ted has a new ultra-possessive boyfriend, Tad, who looks eerily like Ted himself. And last but certainly not least; Brian and Justin are getting married. No, that was not a typo. Hell is actually making preparations to freeze over.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
super job as always Mark, very perceptive - thanks!. Please simplify the coding, though. This one was wrapped around itself like a python before I pruned the middle
2 - Mark Runyon
Sorry about that Eric. I was trying to get it to look like this (http://www.pmmediareview.com/archives/2005/08/queer_as_folk_s_1.aspx) for the sake of having a standard format between the two, but something on this page wasn't letting the HTML cooperate as it is supposed to. I'll use the format you've laid out here for future posts. Thanks-
3 - Eric Olsen
your link sure looks great, no doubt. It's the pic and Related Articles in the middle that cause the problems. The beginning with the pic and the stoplight seems to work fine and is certainly a unique identifier
4 - Mark Runyon
Yeah I tried playing with that middle block for a while, but I couldn't figure out what was off. Web development is my day job so it's one of those little things that gets under my skin when a page gets the better of me.
5 - Eric Olsen
fear not, I'm sure it's something on our end - most outside formatting doesnt' work at all, so you're ahead there!
6 - Gina
Great review. I think the final episode definitely made a good end. It finally stopped the craziness of Brian throughout this season, and brought him back full circle, with some changes of course. As a reviewer of this season myself, I found myself shaking my head at some of the storylines this season, but I agree the bombing episode was one of the best episodes of this show, only second to the prom episode in its intensity. I was definitely sad to see this show end.
7 - Mark Runyon
I agree with you completely. The bombing episode gave me chills, and I'd forgotten this show could do that. I almost gave up on the QAF after last season because it had gotten so badly watered down, but I'm glad I stuck with it. Season 5 wasn't anything revolutionary, but it was just enough to find a proper resolution for these characters
8 - Silas Kain
Great review, Mark. I've been a QAF fan since Day One and was gradually let down from seasons 2 - 4. This final season made up for it all. Kudos to all the cast members and behind the scenes folk at QAF. They gave us a show that let it all hang out. Some of what we saw wasn't pretty but it was realistic and made me proud. After five years I asked myself last night if we gays are better off today than we were five years ago. Well, things are better in Massachusetts and Canada!
Michael's monologue about saying 'we're all the same' was quite poignant because in the end he realized that no, we are NOT all the same. Gays are very different from straights and, damn it, there's no need for apologies! In many ways we have lost ground in the last 5 years but all in all it could be worse. I am more comfortable today with my identity than I was five years ago. In fact, I'm more comfortable than I was four weeks ago. I'm ready to take on those who will use the politics of queer fear to carry out their agendas in the next two election cycles. Just as QAF grew up this last season, so has Gay America.
9 - Mark Runyon
It was a poignant speech and one of the best moments of the episode. I don't believe I overlooked that in the review. It was dead on that everyone should be celebrating our differences instead of trying to blend in. Our rich heritage is built on these differences be it cultural, racial, gender or sexual identity.
As far as losing ground goes, I think the climate is certainly more harsh, but there are definitely a lot of positives too. People are talking about this issue and it is in the light of day, which couldn't be said 5 years ago. Granted, it's still not much of a discussion, but I've got to feel it is the beginnings to change. It is extremely positive to see countries like Canada and Spain legalizing gay marriage, setting a precedent for others to look at. I can't speak from first hand experience of course, but from what I've seen in close friends and relatives, I get the feeling that Gay America is more resilient and are finally starting to believe this is a war that can be won even with the political deck stacked against them at the moment.
10 - Jewels
My adult daughter has been a fan from the beginning, she tried several times to get me to sit and watch this show with her, long story short, didn't start watching it until recently and now will have to go back and watch her season DVD's. Basically good writing throughout. The story lines depict issues I have seen personally in dealing with gay/les. friendships in authentic ways. About time.
11 - Silas Kain
Well, Mark, once again, thank you. You summed up a lot of what I felt about QAF. To many it was just a television show but to me it was a milestone. I'm looking forward to attending the QAF Convention in Toronto in February so I can personally thank the folks that brought QAF to life in America. It may be a part of television history now but Brian, Michael, Ben, Ted, Blake, Emmett, Justin, Mel, Lindsay and especially Debbie are all in my heart.
Had they been there when I was 17 I wonder just how different my life would be today. Indeed, it is about time.
12 - LeatherButch
a question not a comment... Im trying to find out who is actually gay in real time on QAF.
Thanks
13 - Doug
Knowing that QAF would be coming to an end, I have struggled for months over the final episode. Your piece was masterful and, for the sake of not sounding too corny, has given me, and I'm sure many, the opportunity for closure. QAF has brought gay America to a new level of awareness and understanding. None of us will ever be the same for having been a part of it.
Thank you.
14 - Silas Kain
I so agree, Doug. Those of us who became part of the QAF fabric will never be the same. I'm proud to be who I am and I am ever so proud of everyone associated with this show. They did the unthinkable and made it work. I can't even begin to imagine how many lives they saved in the process.
15 - Tanya
I will miss them all soooooo much!!! I love them all! Although I know all good things must come to an end I'm sad that it has ended.
16 - John
I thought this show sucked from the beginning. Once I saw the original QAF from Britian, how could anything compare? There was no characters to relate to and "Bryan Kinney" was the epitome of a sleazy fag. I challenge anyone reading this to watch the original and not feel gyped by such pathetic pulp from North America. There was NOTHING original about this series. NOTHING. The actor who portrayed the original "Bryan" made one feel uncomfortable. You wanted to hate him, fuck him, and you couldn't take your eyes off of him. So long pale QAF clone. You won't be missed.
17 - jinx04
living in the uk means we have not yet seen season 5. but i will say this, as im sat at my laptop watching season 2 on dvd and hearing the news that this is the last time we will ever see peter, gale and the rest of liberty av gang i feel sad and scared if this is whot the world has come to were because some people (homo-haters)we have to loos one of the best tv programes in years. i will admit that in season 3&4 i was disapointed but if the network feel the show had hit rock botume then the shuol get new wrighters. i am verry upset because of this news qaf has helped me with my life in so menny ways and i feel it a big lose to all the comming out twinks we need to protes or they could give us a spin off or some thing simerla not the l word
18 - Chelsea
It was a hard moment seeing the whole thing end. they did something wonderful with that show.
19 - James
I must say that QAF has made me such a stronger different person that I was 5 years ago, I't was the stepping stone to who I am today,I grew so close to all the characters and it saddens me to see them go for I feel the stepping stones they laid for me will not be there for the generations to come and feel somewhat left abandoned with QAF departure, One can only hope that this will only be the tip of the iceburg and that there will be followers to QAF legecy!!!!!!!!
20 - matt
I hate to see you guys leave. I loved your shows. But I gues you guys have to move on. You show changed the way that I am. You guys and gals will be missed very much.
21 - Jan Lennartsen
A pal of mine who is from Pittsburgh and an actor[among other things] is not too sad to see the show end, he regards it as a half-decade's-long bashing of Pittsburgh by Canadian self-interest. After hearing his (at length) remarks I tend to agree that this could be a perception with some validity. Aside from the obvious aspects in outdoor shots which make it clear the show is set in Toronto[flat] rather than Pittsburgh[hilly] [Liberty Ave. in Pittsburgh is about 8 blocks long, in the show it is 8 miles], some egregious writing errors make it clear that nothing is known of the physical geography, the cultural milieu, or the political realities of the supposed locale...and the pro-Canadian slant is rather suspicious for a town [Toronto]whose efforts in luring "runaway production" are hurting the other rival town [Pittsburgh] just 4 hours away[example-the recent Romero movie] especially as the aggrieved town is one of just 4 in the US that have had their city governments address the problem by bringing attention to it.
After all, it is hard to muster sympathy for people in agony over the cruel oppressive "Proposition 14" when in the state of Pennsylvania there is no initiative & referendum process--certainly not in Pittsburgh, at either the civic/municipal or county level for that matter.
That such a process exists in California is not an excuse for such stupid transference between two such different states. Although both states are rather progressive...both voted for the losing candidate the past 2 elections.
But comments about "Susquehanna River Water" for Pittsburgh? The country estate horse-stable home of the 2-to-be-"married" being positioned in West Virginia?!?! Come on!
Though it had good casting, writing, and acting and high production quality, it just did not have the verisimilitude to make it a great, rather than a good, show. And-now that the mills are gone, they missed out on some spectacular outdoor scenery.
Yrs.
Jan L.
22 - Tonya
I loved it!!!I want to see more!!
23 - Gloria
What a great start-to-finish review! Thank you so much!! I'll miss QAF too. There's nothing to replace it. I own all the DVD's through the first 1/2 of Season 5. Any idea when the 2nd half will be released for purchase?
24 - Mark Runyon
As of right now, I don't think Showtime has a DVD release date set for QAF season 5 so I guess we'll have to wait patiently and see.
25 - Me
Hi all, I'm french and I'm very disgusting, because in France in our channel tv, we have got queer as folk five season not yet .... rrrrrr so we don't know the final season ...
so I hope really can get the five season in dvd very soon.