Best moment: When Vince brings home an Anonymous Nerdy Guy and tries to teach him how to kiss properly:
*sloppy kissing*
Vince: You know kissing is better if you close your mouth a bit.
ANG: Yeah
*more sloppy kissing*
Vince: No, really, it's much better if you close your mouth more when you kiss.
ANG: Yeah
*sloppy kissing resumes*
ANG then spots Vince's Dr Who videos and kissing stops altogether so they can watch DR Who instead.
Poor Vince, I was convinced he was never going to get laid at all during the series as a close second to this one in best moments was the guy just back from Brazil with burrowing parasites in his bum.
Worst moment: Phil *sob*
It would be interesting to compare the Brit version to the US version. I have to wonder whether Stuart's US counterpart is as selfish and vile as Stuart. Honestly what DOES Nathan see in him? I've no idea, I'm sure.
Finally, will someone PLEASE reassure me that Charlie Hunnam wasn't really 15 when this was made. PLEASE. Otherwise I fear I'm turning into the worst cougar for lusting after that chest.
Anyway big hugs for Ingrid for loaning me the DVD. Series 1 & 2 are already on order from Amazon. The rest of you, if you haven't seen this series yet, you must. It's funny, sexy, embarrassing, dramatic and just downright marvellous.
Lalalalalalalalala, I can't read you.
ReplyDeleteChris: Heh, heh. Give in, you know it's inevitable. :)
ReplyDeleteI believe he was 18 or 19 at the time Jen. So relax. LOL
ReplyDeleteI have only seen the UK version so far thanks to YouTube. I love you can just fast forward through the boring bit like the lesbian story-line. Must get on the US, but I suppose I'd have to watching Season 1 again to get a feel for the new actors.
Tam: Phew! Cos, you know lusting after the chest of an 18 or 19 is sooooooo much better given my age ;).
ReplyDeleteI quite liked the lesbian sub-plot, especially when Stuart and the lesbian lady get together to stop the other lesbian marrying the immigrant - enemies united in a common cause and all that.
CH was born in 1980, so yeah, he'd have been about 18 or 19 when it came out in 1999.
ReplyDeleteI can remember watching that show when it was first transmitted. It was gob-smacking! The first sex scene is a real "is this really happening? Are they actually really broadcasting this?" moment.
One of my top ten memorable telly moments.
Hi JFM
ReplyDeleteI didn't watch it when it was first aired - I don't remember much of 1999 since I had eldest son in January of that year and everything's a bit of a blur after that point :) - but I do remember the total furore in the media when it came out. I think it was even debated on Question Time!
That first sex scene is pretty shocking/thrilling considering that it was the first gay sex shown on mainstream TV, plus Nathan is underage. The sex in the rest of the series is pretty tame in comparison - even the menage wasn't as explicit as that first scene.
Yeah, Kris got me hooked too. I watch QAF at YouTube, just like a few of the other shows she mentioned!
ReplyDeleteHi Janna
ReplyDeleteThat Kris is definitely a bad influence :)
I've watched the UK and US versions, and have all five seasons of the US version on DVD. I don't watch TV normally, but loved these shows.
ReplyDeleteStuart and his American counterpart, Brian Kinney are both so amazingly self-centered. Both actors did a fine job with their roles.
Hi Eden
ReplyDeleteI'm very tempted with the US version, but at £70 for the box set that's a lot of money to put out for it.
I wanted to kick Stuart. Hard. In the nuts. On several occasions. Yet both Nathan and Vince think the sun shines out of his arse. *scratches head* I just don't get it.
It's the same way with Vince's equivalent, Micheal, and Nathan's counterpart, Justin.
ReplyDeleteWatched it when it was on Channel 4 the first time round, and was blown away.
ReplyDeleteIt was the first thing by Russell T Davies I ever saw, and I watched/bought a number of things after that simply because they were Rusty's babies. But in hindsight -- yeah, right there in the original QAF you can see that Rusty does a brilliant show up until the last half hour, and then it all goes to pot. Man still hasn't learnt to write an ending...
If you like QAF, you should try Bob and Rose. It's very different (notably it's about a gay man and straight woman falling in love, and how they deal with the fallout from that), but it has the same quality of just letting the characters get on with their lives in a way that's interesting to watch. And for once he managed to write a coherent ending.
STOP BLAMING ME FOR YOUR LACK OF WILLPOWER!!!
ReplyDelete*ahem*
I'm thrilled that you liked this, Jen. It's such an awesome concept and series.
Eden: It's nice to know that they made an effort to keep the characterisation similar.
ReplyDeleteHi Jules
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched anything else by Russell T Davies except the Dr Who stuff. I agree though, the end of series one was a little weak, especially when compared to some of the high dramatic moments in the series.
Hi Kris
ReplyDeleteIf you hadn't pimped this to the world then I may never have watched it. It's all your fault :).
I LOVED that series, I nabbed it on DVD as soon as I could. I think what I loved was that it was a damned good drama - which happened to have gay characters starring in it! I remember being really taken with that: that it *could* work that way. I think that's what RTD is and has been v good at. I adored Vince :).
ReplyDeleteI keep hovering in 2 minds over the US series. I don't know if I'd like it in the same way. I adore the fact our version is set in my country and with characters and voices I can see and hear anywhere around me. And it has the British sense of humour LOL.
Gosh, I wish I could see the whole series. In the US, I think it's only available on one of the "premium" satellite channels (Showtime). We don't get it and, considering JLA couldn't care less about a gay series, probably never will. *sniff*
ReplyDeleteBut there's hope if it's available on DVD.
"Otherwise I fear I'm turning into the worst cougar..."
ReplyDeleteIt won't happen. Tam already holds that title. :-)
I never liked the US version. You like the UK characters despite their flaws, whereas I never warmed to the American ones.
ReplyDeleteQAF US Version was shown here in Germany on TV a couple of years ago and although I had not intended to watch it, I stumbled upon the second episode of Season 1 while channel surfing late one evening - it was the scene with Justin sitting on the springboard at his BFF´s house and talking about his hook-up and following rejection by Brian with the words " I was just a fu**". Watched the rest of this episode and was hooked. Ordered the first season DVDs the next day and now own all five seasons ( and I dare you to watch the ending of the US Season 1 and not be on tenderhooks to see how it works out).
ReplyDeleteI since watched the British version, too and maybe because I have seen the US one first, unlike Sean did not enjoy it quite as much as the US version. I never got emotionally invested in the British protagonists. Maybe that is because the British version to me at least has a more dark comedy, surreal story-telling approach or maybe just because I never quite got the supposed appeal of the British Brian counterpart ( I can be shallow that way) . I admit, the US version turns rather soapy in the later seasons but to me it was like crack. I could not stop watching. And it even managed to cure me of my previous aversion to techno music, which was also quite a feat.
Tamkin
Hi Clare
ReplyDeleteI liked the drama in it as much as the relationship stuff. I especially liked how it followed the three men in their very different lives and yet still managed to keep the ensemble piece feel to it.
Hi KZ
ReplyDeleteYou can get both the UK and US series on DVD. The UK one is quite cheap from Amazon - or at least it is at Amazon UK, not sure whether it will as cheap for you.
Hi Sean
ReplyDeleteThe UK characters have a real 'cheeky chappie' feel to them which I'm not sure the US version has. US drama characters always seem to take themselves very seriously.
Hi Tamkin
ReplyDeleteThe UK version does have a dark edge to its humour, especially in scenes such as the funeral. I happen to like black comedy so this appealed to me, but I can see why some viewers might prefer the straighter US version.
You are very welcome Jen :)
ReplyDeleteBrit comedy is the best! That first sex scene is indeed memorable :)
I do remember being a bit disappointed with the ending but the whole idea of the series made up for it.
Hi Ingrid
ReplyDeleteThe DVD is back in the post to you.
I agree the series as a whole was a fantastic idea and completely groundbreaking for its time.
Since your comment tag line says, "Don't be shy now...tell me what you really think." I'll tell you my QAF Fantasy Version: Charlie Hunnam's Nathan meets up with Gale Harold's Brian Kinney and *click*spark*BOOM*.
ReplyDeleteI was never a big fan of Justin (the "Nathan" character in the US version), or of Stuart in the UK version, but oooooh, I love me some Brian Kinney (the US version of Stuart), and Charlie Hunnam as Nathan made me want to do BAD THINGS to him. ;)
Hi Janey
ReplyDeleteOh yeah. That's a great fantasy. I'm with you on Justin. He's a bit too toothy for my liking but Nathan is *rowr*.