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Queer as Folk - The Complete Second Season (Showtime)

Queer as Folk - The Complete Second Season (Showtime)

List Price: $119.98
Your Price: $95.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: MUST SEE TV SERIES - DON'T MISS THIS ONE !!!!
Review: Thanks to Amazon[.com], I was able to get the second season of QAF. I simply love it. Caracters have grown up into more mature lifestyles and you will definitely fall in love with all of them. Don't hesitate buy a copy. You'll just keep watching episodes and can never stop. Frustration may appear when you reach final episode as you wish you could keep watching more. Can't wait to see season 3, but I guess I'll have to wait quite a long time as QAF may never reach Swiss television .. Too bad !

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Still cutting edge queer television....
Review: After enjoying season 1 of Queer As Folk, I was elated to learn that a second series was about to air here in Australia. Further elation came from discovering that the second season had been released on DVD - there is a wonderful feeling to owning your favourite TV shows on DVD. They are always available to watch and they don't degrade in quality. In the case of QAF, they also come with an amazing array of extras!

After the shock tactics of season 1 (with graphic gay sex, and the extreme end of the gay lifestyle, portrayed on TV for the first time), how could the writers keep the momentum going?

In season 2 there is still a large amount of gay sex (and other activities that are bound to upset the moral crusaders), but the main focus is the development of the characters within well-written and thought provoking storylines.

Whilst some of the storylines tend to border on 'soap opera,' with QAF seemingly in danger of becoming a 'Days of our Queers' type serial, there are also some wonderful themes explored like the issues faced when dating a HIV+ guy, or when someone you love dies. So we have a lovely contrast of the light and comedic and the harsh realities of being an urban gay or lesbian.

QAF is a character driven show, so in this season we see them all take journeys that lead them down various paths. We get to see a (slightly) more emotional Brian dealing with his developing relationship with Justin. After the turbulent romance with Dr Dave in season 1, Michael finally finds a fulfilling job and what seems to be a fulfilling relationship with Ben. We see some wonderful moments between Michael and his Mom Debbie over the issue (my favourite scenes), and Debbie herself finds romance with someone who seems very unsuited to her world. Emmett not only finds an unexpected job but he finds unexpected love as well. Ted finally finds a fulfilling career as well as unexpected love. All of the gay men are nicely contrasted with the lesbian couple Melanie and Lindsay, who have some wonderful storylines this season.

If you're a fan of QAF, make sure you pick up a copy. Having all 20 episodes on DVD is very convenient and you will be enthralled with an amazing set of extras. Can't wait to see what they have in store for the season three DVD!!!!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Still fun and festive, but ....
Review: After viewing all the glowing praises for both seasons, I fear I am about to commit gay social suicide. I found Season Two dull and uninteresting from a cinematic point of view (and not a gay point of view). Season One was well paced and all the plot lines were smoothly fleshed out and came to a conclusion. Season Two on the other hand was jerky in pace, loaded with too many plot lines running concurrently, some which were never concluded (no doubt allot of that was due to the many different directors used). While there were several "goofs" in Season One like Ted's mirror on his frig being there during the drug overdose incident, then gone when the "boys" came to clear out his home of all porn. In Season Two, of the many errors, the most outlandish had to be the whole "gay pride parade" stuff regarding Michael. In Season One, we know Michael has been gay and out since his early teens, his mom understands and supports him, he has been to "every PFLAG Bar B Q," and has came out to his friends at work and work in general. His whole world is spent between home, the bars and work ... and now he is out to them all. Suddenly, in Season Two we are expected to believe he has never been to a single Gay Pride Parade and he is afraid of being seen by co-workers. That was just too much to swallow.

Fortunately, Season Two did tend to slow down and become more coherent, less choppy, in the latter episodes. It is still a good show and I will watch it, buy it and replay it. But I still find myself enjoying Season One over and over again, while Season Two has been relegated to the upper shelf. I hope Season Three learns from these mistakes and uses only a couple of directors to maintain continuity.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Falls a little short of season one.
Review: Queer as folk, is the best show on TV nowadays. Season two is still fresh and still a great show but it doesn't have the same feel as season one. I feel for Justin the most because I am a 19 year old gay male. I think I've been in almost all of his situations from his parents, to an older romance. I think this show does show how for the most part how the gay & lesbian community is. The downside to season two is that they solve things to easily, it seems like they start a new juicy story and it ends at the end of the episode. Unlike season one where all the stories seem to come together and take a little while until they were commpletely sloved. Season three has the same problem. The show still rocks and is still great.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: great, though season 1 was better
Review: first, go buy season 1. full of stereotypes, yet funny and dynamic. i think my preference for season 1 may be due to the originality of the series's concept. the characters continue to develop, and in this season we see most of the main characters evolve in new somewhat suprising ways.
as for the DVDs themselves, i was dissapointed that subtitles are not available on season 2 as they are on season 1. though both english and spanish audio streams are still available. even though i didn't rate 5 stars, i can't wait until season 3 is available. i preordered season 2, and will do the same with season 3.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Amazing...Always Getting Better
Review: I am continually amazed at the quality of this show. The acting is excellent and the characters just get better and better. The second season was very powerful and introduced many important topics, such as Justin getting over his gaybashing, Emmett meeting a nice older man, and Brian trying to define (or rather not define) his relationships.
The DVDs are fantastic and I'm glad that this season all the extras are on one DVD. That makes it so much easier to watch all at once.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Strong season...
Review: I just finished watching the second season of "Queer As Folk" and was thoroughly impressed. For one thing, the show sustains itself though a 20 episode season, not like the mere 13 episodes of the other, more acclaimed cable dramas. For another, this is a relationship drama that takes calculated risks, and some of the results are delightful.

I can't watch this show without thinking of the "Tales of the City" books by Armistead Maupin; for one thing, Sharon Gless's mother hen character bears a certain resemblance to Anna Madrigal, the landlady that centers the Maupin stories. Then there's Michael (Hal Sparks) a slightly too nice guy not unlike Michael Tolliver in the books, and the adventures of the characters take on the delightfully absurd twists and turns of the "Tales" book.

But, "Queer" is certainly no copycat. Many of the characters are original, especially Gale Harold's delightfully narcissistic Brian Kinney, Peter Paige's endearingly gentle Emmett Honeycutt and Michelle Clunie's tough and tender Mel Marcus. The gift of this show is that it can take stock characters and situations and reveal layer after layer of hidden depth. Although Brian shows few redeeming characteristics, at rare moments he comes through for his friends, especially Michael, even when doing so is potentially harmful to him. Their friendship and unconsumated attraction is fascinating, and for me is one of the things that keeps me watching. Is Michael just a glutton for punishment, or is there real potential there? At times Brian just seems to be stringing Michael along because he can, and at others he seems to care for him. I am very curious to see where the show goes with that. I think more of the audience is entranced by Brian and Justin (Randy Harrison), but for hidden depth, I go for Brian and Michael.

Season two introduces a spate of interesting short term stories, including Emmett's relationship with a retirement age billionare, Mel and Lindsay's (Thea Gill) touching efforts to get married in spite of homophobic parents and money problems (and Mel's ex biker girlfriend sleeping on their couch), and a twist in the Brian-Justin romance in the form of sensitive violinist Ethan. This is typical of the intriguing twists on the show -- many are torn between wanting to see Brian redeem himself for Justin, and others probably wish Justin would just find some happiness with the more obvious match of Ethan.

Season Two really hooked me. I was particuarly impressed with the nuanced portayals of Gale Harold and Peter Paige, and the hidden depths their characters showed toward the end of the season. The final episodes with these two, when Brian seemed caught between jealousy and indifference over Justin's new relationship with Ethan, and Emmett dealt with an unexpected love interest in the form of sad sack Ted, were suprisingly gripping and touching.

Unlike many shows, which seem to decline after a few seasons, "Queer As Folk" seems to be hitting its stride as it goes into season 3. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A look at the extras on disk 6
Review: A lot of the reviews here have said that season two started off slowly. I would have to disagree. The characters all grow up a bit and the season flows along at a nice pace.

Just before I move onto reviewing the extras, I would like to say that Mel and Lindsay have come on in leaps and bounds since season one, where I felt that they were often superfluous to the plot. Here, for the first time, they seem to feel part of the show.

There are a multitude of extras on disk 6:

folks on the road: a backstage pass just under 15 minutes
Follow the cast as they promote the series. Entertaining but could be more in depth.

a day in the life of QAF just under 25 minutes
A look at what it takes to put the show together, looking at sets, costumes, music amd more. Very good.

what is it about babylon just under 14 minutes
A look at the Babylon set. Good.

wrap party real just under 7 minutes
Bloopers. Sadly, most are not that funny.

the unexpurgated lady in pearls (aka The Attic) just under 4 minutes
When Mel and Lyndsey start to turn the attic into a studio they watch this D.I.Y. video. If you are in the right mood this is quite funny. Double entendre anyone?

rage gay crusader just over half an hour
A look at the comic Michael and Justin put together as well as a behind the scenes look at how the season 2 climax was put together. Very good.

2002 QAF summer pride tour just under 9 minutes
Clips of the cast taking part in Pride events and promoting Showtime and QAF. Good.

the folks under 5 minutes
This is awful. We get a brief description of the main characters and an 'interview' with the actor/actress playing the part. The 'interview's are for the most part 30 second soundbites taken from what was probably a good solid interview. Why they couldn't have put the complete interviews on the DVD is a mystery that will probably never be solved, like who the murderer was of the guy found by Debbie in the dumpster on Liberty Avenue.

animated photo gallery
OK.

tv spots and trailers
Gay themed adverts and an advert for Showtime featuring the cast of QAF. It would have been nice if all adverts featuring the cast could have been used.

season 3 sneak preview
Can't wait. Living in England, I will have to wait for the DVD release. Bummer!

queer duck preview
You either like him or you don't. Personally I don't.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: As powerful as the first season.
Review: I enjoyed the second season as much as the first. An excellent investment. Shocking, graphic and inspiring. Nothing less than you have come to expect from QAF.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Brilliant~!
Review: This has got to be one of the best series ever!... right up there with Friends and Buffy!
I bought this dvd just out of curosity as I happened to catch one episode overseas.
I have watched up till the 10th episode in Season 1 and I have definitely fallen in love with it!
You will just feel so much for the characters.... will laugh, cry, smile....
The stories are so engaging and fresh....
Everyone (gay or straight) should watch this amazing show!


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