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From Amazon.co.uk
Gay has rarely been so glamorous as in the American version of Queer as Folk. But the show's success rests on more than hard bodies and glossy, picture-perfect sex (though there's an abundance of that); this series gave its characters a multidimensional richness that rivals more high-profile programs like Six Feet Under or The Sopranos, while tackling an impressive breadth of social and political issues without ever (well, almost never) feeling preachy. The fifth and final season lays out its themes with authority: Alpha-gay Brian (Gale Howard) buys and revamps the Babylon, declaring promiscuity and independence as a gay birthright, while Brian's oldest friend Michael (Hal Sparks) embraces domesticity with his partner Ben (Robert Gant). The flamboyant Emmett (Peter Paige) finds success as a TV personality, only to find his persona may trap him in a stereotype, and Ted (Scott Lowell) grapples with body prejudices within the gay community. Meanwhile, the crumbling relationship of Mel (Michelle Clunie) and Lindsay (Thea Gill) takes a more troubling turn when Michael demands more rights as the father of their daughter. Most TV series would take a topic like this last legal wrangle and stretch it over an entire season, but Queer as Folk is more ambitious. The writers recognise that the resolution of one problem is rarely the end of the story, that muddy consequences can be as dramatically compelling as head-to-head conflict. This aggressive and effective plotting, combined with the show's willingness to explore the complexities of every issue--be it assimilation or the coming out of a celebrity--results in an increasing emotional power as the series steamrolls towards its final episode. Some subplots can be silly (Brian has a ridiculous stud-off with a new hot guy in town), the dialogue can sometimes veer from wit to camp clichés, and the omnipresence of sculpted, muscular physiques is absurd and even a little alienating for some viewers, but Queer as Folk's strengths--the compassion and intelligence of the writers, the commitment and nuance of the acting--make this show a true television landmark and a pleasure to watch. Rosie O'Donnell and Cyndi Lauper make guest appearances, and Sharon Gless (Cagney & Lacey) continues her much-loved performance as Michael's mother, Debbie. --Bret Fetzer
Product Description
never watched - just a little dog eared on outer jacket - otherwise perfect.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Dee Tee
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The UK version was ground breaking but the USA QAF deserves a lot of additional credit beause they took the idea and ran with it for 5 equally important series. The characters were more developed, given more time to breathe and were ultimately a lot more appealling and identifiable for it.
This is basically a high quality gay related TV drama - after years of countless 'straight' ones. Issues, relationships and life in general is explored and represented in the same way, regardless of sexuality and its about time.
Strong ensemble work - Sharon Gless is a dynamo as the matriarch - and engrossing storylines make this a show you can watch from start to finish and never get bored. After 5 series, they had told their stories and this finale wraps everything up pretty satisfactorally. Sad to see them go though...
This is basically a high quality gay related TV drama - after years of countless 'straight' ones. Issues, relationships and life in general is explored and represented in the same way, regardless of sexuality and its about time.
Strong ensemble work - Sharon Gless is a dynamo as the matriarch - and engrossing storylines make this a show you can watch from start to finish and never get bored. After 5 series, they had told their stories and this finale wraps everything up pretty satisfactorally. Sad to see them go though...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Clinty
Format:DVD
Well here it is. The end of QAF as we know it. I immensely enjoyed the UK version - though it did veer off a bit towards the end. And I must say the same thing kinda happened with this series.
The one shocking event that happens halfway through changes everything, for everybody in this series. I did not see it coming and it actually shook up my sensibilities and made me take stock (a little bit anyway) of who, and what, is important in my own life. This is the power Queer As Folk has on (gay) people. It takes contentious issues, raises them, makes fun out of them, turns them on their heads, turns them inside out, personalises them. There are such a colourful array of characters to fall in love with too. And this is what kept us tuning in (well buying the DVDs anyway). We CARED for these people. We identified with them - in a way no other 'straight-laced' show does.
Once the unthinkable happens, more unthinkable things happen - Brian proposes to Justin and wants to settle down! The pivotal relationship that drove the entire premise of every series looked set to destroy everything we thought we ever knew about Brian. Somehow, no matter how much we wanted it, it does not sit right. It feels a little contrived. Everyone else (Mel&Lins, Michael&Ben, Debs&her cop fella - even Emmett and Ted) revert to type. Their fates become all too predictable and the storyline races towards an easily-acceptable conclusion. It finishes on a bitter sweet note for Brian. And indeed leaves it open for us to reach for our Series One discs and start all over again. The circle is complete.
The magical thing in this final season is the emotional intensity between all couples. Almost as if they knew the end was coming.(Of course the actors knew it was coming - you know what I'm saying !... Read more ›
The one shocking event that happens halfway through changes everything, for everybody in this series. I did not see it coming and it actually shook up my sensibilities and made me take stock (a little bit anyway) of who, and what, is important in my own life. This is the power Queer As Folk has on (gay) people. It takes contentious issues, raises them, makes fun out of them, turns them on their heads, turns them inside out, personalises them. There are such a colourful array of characters to fall in love with too. And this is what kept us tuning in (well buying the DVDs anyway). We CARED for these people. We identified with them - in a way no other 'straight-laced' show does.
Once the unthinkable happens, more unthinkable things happen - Brian proposes to Justin and wants to settle down! The pivotal relationship that drove the entire premise of every series looked set to destroy everything we thought we ever knew about Brian. Somehow, no matter how much we wanted it, it does not sit right. It feels a little contrived. Everyone else (Mel&Lins, Michael&Ben, Debs&her cop fella - even Emmett and Ted) revert to type. Their fates become all too predictable and the storyline races towards an easily-acceptable conclusion. It finishes on a bitter sweet note for Brian. And indeed leaves it open for us to reach for our Series One discs and start all over again. The circle is complete.
The magical thing in this final season is the emotional intensity between all couples. Almost as if they knew the end was coming.(Of course the actors knew it was coming - you know what I'm saying !... Read more ›
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By @fairkatrina
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
As a Brit, watching the American version of QAF always felt like a betrayal of sorts, but I must admit I've loved this show. The focus of this series seems at first to be on reunions and setting down. By 3/4 of the way through everyone's happily paired up and seems to be settled, and I must admit there's something a little bit depresing about how neatly it all seems to have been tied up. As Brian is so fond of saying, they're not straight, they're queer, and to have everyone 'married off' at the end doesn't really sit well with the dissident, anti-heteronormative QAF style. All that changes when a bomb goes off, literally shattering the illusion that peaceful protest and hope for the future will make everything alright. Suddenly the end of the show becomes about the resolution of personal and political conflict; the choice every homosexual has to make, of fight or flight. Relationships suddenly break down, and the final message QAF has for its audience is the durability of friendship; which is really why we watched it in the first place.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I love the US version of Queer as Folk and I cant believe it has come to an end! There were a few surprises and the last few minutes were a bit of a let down... I really wanted the wedding to happen for the perfect fairytale ending but lifes not really like that and neither is Brian Kinney!
Its well worth the watch but Im just a little sad that I wont have the excitement of waiting on the next series being available to buy on Amazon!
Its well worth the watch but Im just a little sad that I wont have the excitement of waiting on the next series being available to buy on Amazon!
Format:DVD
The American version of Queer as Folk has turned out to be a soap based on gay people. It is long drawn out and gets rather tedious. However it does cover some very serious issues and hopefully allows non gays to get a better insight into the problems that gay people endure - namely the same problems that straight people have plus a few extra ones! There is nothing special about the final disc in the series.
By Sr Caldwell
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
After many reviews slating this last series i have to think "what did they expect?"
I viewed with a feeling of dread but like all series that come to an end it was slow to start with, picked up halfway through and slowed down before the end, a good ending at that, all loose ends tied up.
The part concerning the burnt out nightclub dragged on a bit but all in all i liked this series, not as much as the previous but likeable.
I viewed with a feeling of dread but like all series that come to an end it was slow to start with, picked up halfway through and slowed down before the end, a good ending at that, all loose ends tied up.
The part concerning the burnt out nightclub dragged on a bit but all in all i liked this series, not as much as the previous but likeable.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Good stories....great Gale Harold...he's so SEXY...and Robert Gant..what a body of WORK!!!!i like the final because it was not so granted...but where are the extras...NONE!!!!
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