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jengrout-95364
Reviews
Queer as Folk (2000)
Late to the party
I found this series 20 years after it aired, so I had the pleasure of binging it over a few weeks. I was hooked from S1E1! Absolutely loved loved loved this show! Until the last episode.
I figured out Brian's MO pretty early, and was rooting for Justin the entire time. Not to "tame" Brian, but to help make Brian him realize his worth and what he had to offer despite his insistence he wanted nothing from anyone. It was both beautiful and frustrating watching this not-couple fall in love and navigate all the bumps and bruises life tossed their way.
I streamed this via Paramount+/Showtime and cheated by reading the episode guides to future episodes, so was so thrilled to learn this couple would eventually find their HEA. Only to be bitterly crushed when the last episode aired, and they didn't. At least according to the traditional sense of HEA.
I was so upset, literally crying, so went online to read why the show ended the way it did. And while I understand it, and okay, fine, kudos to them for making B&J so sacrificial, I really wanted to see them get married! Now that I'm kind of over being upset, I can appreciate why Justin did what he did, but I'm still heartbroken for him.
It's been almost 20 years, so when is the remake coming out???
Élite (2018)
Started out smart but went downhill w/Season 4
I normally hate these kinds of shows, where arrogant, narcissistic rich, spoiled kids get whatever they want, and get away with it, but this one was actually decent. At first, the producers make it seem like the series is actually about life in secondary school with all the normal hangup, including wanting to get good grades to go on to university. Until most of the original cast left, and the new principal and his 3 little terrors were introduced.
It all went downhill from there.
Since then, it was a jumble of orgies, drugs, sleeping with everyone including your partner's sibling or parent...and it got disgusting and way too over the top. There was no longer a pretense of this being about high school, b/c the school simply faded into the background. It was all about who could get higher, sleep with more people, experiment and outdo everyone else. It basically jumped the shark.
I absolutely hated the new characters...except Patrick and Ivan. After figuring out Patrick's issues, he became a little predictable but still kinda loveable. His siblings, however, had no redeeming qualities whatsoever and I wanted them to disappear. Everyone was too selfish and refused to take any accountability for their actions to make them even slightly likeable.
I struggled to finish Season 5 and am struggling to get through Season 6.
Complete Strangers (2020)
Horrifically bad
This movie was so painful to watch. I hate dnf'ing anything but I almost didn't finish this. The script was horrible and the acting not much bettter. I can't even be bothered to remember the director/main character's name, he was so bad. He wore the same perpetually sad hangdog expression the entire movie. The creepily sick manipulative possessive a**hat of a boyfriend had no inflection is his voice, which made all the psychotic crap and "I love you's" he spewed painful to listen to. By the first morning of their cabin stay, I was ready to call it quits, but really wanted to see what the fuss about the last 10 minutes was all about, so only half paid attention.
In from the Side (2022)
Broke my heart
I had a hunch this movie was going to break my heart, and it did. Only not for the reason I expected. Better than I expected in some ways, and worse in the one that mattered...Warren must have been battling some serious demons to be able to walk away from the man he supposedly loved, but kudos to Mark for standing up for what he wanted and deserved, and being the bigger hero. I'm glad Mark and Richard did not get back together. They seemed like an odd couple, and I wish there had been more backstory as to why they stayed together for so long. Same for Warren and John...what was it that John helped Warren with and why couldn't Warren leave him? If themivie had answered those questions, maybe I'd have ranked it higher.