Doesn't it seem like an eternity since there was a network TV show totally dedicated to LGBT characters? I mean Queer as Folk blazed new territory on Showtime way back in 2000-2005, and The L Word ended in 2009. So when HBO's Looking made it's debut Jan. 19, the question lurked in the air: How far have gay TV characters evolved? Will this be a shoddy, scripted version of Logo's The A List, honing in on the most inane stereotypes, or will it be (as many have predicted) the gay Girls? The first look seems promising...
Episode one started (cringingly so) with a horrifically stereotypical sex in the woods (hey, we all do that, don't we?) scene, which introduced us to sweet-faced Patrick (Jonathan Groff), the emotional center of the show.
Soon we meet his friends, 30-somethings Agustin (Frankie J. Alvarez), an aspiring artist, and Dom (Murray Bartlett), a waiter who's hung up on an ex. They smoke joints, snark and banter, go to work, bars and parties (just like normal people!) and seem likable and interesting enough to give Looking a few more looks on Sunday nights (after Sherlock, of course).
Best Scene: Patrick's OKCupid interrogation-style date from hell, featuring such get-to-know-you' lines such as when his not-so-dreamy doctor blunty ask, "How old are you? Are you drug and disease free?" and highlighted with poor, shellshocked Patrick immediately downing a glass of wine, then another, before he gets dumped ("this obviously isn't working," says the doc) and is reduced to haggling over the bill. Now that's what we call TV imitating real life!
Best line: "I'm so sick of all these annoying, overachieved, twenty-something cunts." -- Dom, after getting rejectd by an annoying, overachieving, 20-something cunt.
Now it's your turn. What was your favorite part of the debut episode? Is Looking going to do the LGBT community proud, or drift into inane cliche-land? Have you missed having a high-profile gay-centric series on television? Leave your comments and take our poll!
My first impression, I like it, its funny and not too many cliches or stereotypes, these guys seem like normal guys, lets hope it keeps going this way, and keeps the substance...
Posted by: Sam | 01/20/2014 at 06:02 AM
I liked the show and Id watch it again, its less cringe worthy than QUeer as Folk!
Posted by: Tim | 01/20/2014 at 02:54 PM