Rating: 
Summary: Queer as Folk: Season of the Queen
Review: First off, let me say that this show is not for everyone. All political Right Wing nutcases should not watch this show. Even some queers will, and do, find this show full of sterotypes. Which it does, but guess what, go to any gay bar in any major city in the US alone, and you'll find that this show really hits the bullseye on many things. The current gay scene is very narcisistic, like it or not. And if anyone ever goes to a Pride Parade, or to Halsted Market Days here in Chicago, you'll see that it's a time for the buffed boys to strip half naked and show off their bodies -plus what they do every Friday and Saturday night. So Queer As Folk focuses on this a bit too much, but their is not much drama in showing a bunch of queens sitting around watching E! Entertainments Oscar coverage. The acting ranges from the brilliant -Sharon Gless, Gale Harold, Peter Page -to the pedantic -it's good Randy Harrison is pretty, cause he can't act- but overall the show represents a fair slice of gay life. But like a true soap opera it is, some of some its story lines are not perfect, such as the much talked about "gay conversion" Emmet goes through. While I like David and Michael, the whole relationship was doomed from the beginning, mostly because the writers made it very obvious, thus no real drama. But the things that do work -only because it is true, is the way the characters obsession with working out. Do I think the show sends a negative message? Perhaps, but like Ted, I'm a bit cynical and see people as they really are, which is shallow. I may have low self-esteem, but there is a lot of truth about the gay community in Ted's rants. But I digress. QAF is next stage in TV drama. What the major networks have to do, is watch what cable is doing. Oz, Sex and the City, The Sapranos, Resurrection Blvd, StarGate SG 1 -drama and comedy that may stretch the envelope, but break up the image of the same cop shows the networks have been putting out since Dragnet and the same comedy we've seen since Lucy. The networks claim that they need to reach a large group of people, that these cable shows have an ambition that is too lofty for a broad-based audience. I disagree. These shows can work, if given the time to grow, and if networks won't back away from the Right. QAF represents a right step in the direction (though it's not perfect) for all gay men and to a lesser extent, lesbian women.
Rating: 
Summary: A Truly Wonderful Show for All to Enjoy
Review: I had only seen one episode prior to purchasing the full First Season DVDs, and it wasn't until a close friend came to stay with me for awhile that I really got into it, and watched them all. We both LOVED the show! Over the course of a week, we watched all 22 episodes, often curled up on the couch. Sometimes laughing hysterically, sometimes on the verge of tears, many times yelling with indignation at what was happening onscreen. But through it all, just enjoying the show.It's definitely nothing like my life, or anyone I know for that matter. So it was quite interesting to see the boys spend night after night at Babylon, cruising for the latest trick, or partaking of the latest drug of choice. Despite that, what makes the show truly enjoyable is the fact that these guys and girls are a group of close friends who know all about each other. Michael is constantly waiting around for Brian, literally and emotionally, much to everyone's disgust. But every once in awhile their "best friends" love for each other does come out. Emmett is definitely a flamer (and looks great in pink by the way), and is just a truly caring friend to everyone. Debbie, Michael's PFLAG mom, is probably my favorite, as she loves her son and his friends unconditionally and completely . . . even if it embarasses them all. All the others just create a real family, and following their many, many ups and downs is just awesome. I personally know many people who will be turned off by the blatant showing of sex, drugs, and flaunting of the "gay lifestyle." But those make this "real life", as it was intended. And there is so much more to the show, demonstrating true friendship through thick and thin. I highly recommend taking the chance and viewing it for yourself; you won't be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Uneven, Underwhelming and Chock-full of Stereotypes
Review: I may be in the minority here, but I find the US version of "Queer as Folk" offensive in its portrayals of gay men as drug addicted dancing queens. Unlike its British counterpart, which at least balanced such characters out with other less stereotypical elements... the US version seems to focus almost solely on the sexual prowess of its characters, many of whom are ill defined and selfish. Sure, they've tried to balance some of this out with the lesbian couple, but by and large, the first season is simply a way of introducing these illogical characters, none of whom seem very appealing on any level. I give it three stars because the acting is uniformly fine, and the music is terrific, but on the whole, "Queer as Folk's" US cousins fall flat week in and week out. To be sure, there are gay men who spend their entire lives chasing sex, drugs and Donna Summer, but in this day and age, wouldn't it be nice to finally see some normal gay men and women who live full, ordinary lives like the rest of the world does? As a series, this one does a great disservice to the community.
Rating:
Summary: MUST SEE GAY TV
Review: As we may never get QAF in Switzerland, I HAD to buy this DVD set. NO REGRETS ! I was already a fan of the English series but I prefer the characters in the US version. It simply has everything for every gay : love, sex, life, music ...all put in a normal way of life. Finish to be locked up in the closet. Lets enjoy gay TV. Thank you Showtime for giving us a show that relates to us.
Rating:
Summary: A perfect DVD package!
Review: I love this show! I haven't seen Season 2 and from what I hear, it's a little harder to take. The plot is a little more complex and the character development is a lot slower than season one. But since I am writing about "Queer as Folk, The Complete First Season," let me say first that I have rarely enjoyed TV shows....until Queer as Folk! Whenever I watch them it's mostly sporadic and rarely do I ever "buy" the DVD to them...until Queer as Folk! Simply put, this is the way a TV show needs to be! It's got great characters, smart camera work, outstanding actors and actresses and a great soundtrack that I still listen to long after season one is over! The DVD product is nothing short of brilliant! With 6 discs, you are given a plethora of entertainment including interviews with the cast, special edition episodes (which aired last summer), a super clean widescreen version of the show which is the way the show is intended to be seen, deleted scenes including a hilarious scene that was unfortunately cut from it's original state involving Michael, a fella he met at Babylon and a snowy park-need I say more? This a great DVD product! Some have mentioned they have had problems with a few episodes pausing in the middle. I will concur! What customers need to do is reply to the phone number listed inside the package. If you're disc defective, they will instruct you to send the disc in for a new one. I did this and my new one works just fine. They even paid for the shipping and handling! So, there ya go! As you can see from previous reviews, this is a great show! With all the features and content, it's plenty of stuff to keep you busy on a rainy day! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Look closer - you'll see the 70's
Review: Ok, I was hooked from the start, and I started out in the middle of the 2nd season, and I had to find out where it all started. The 1st season is slick, fun, sizzling with everything you would expect and hope for in a gay serial. HOWEVER, if you really follow this closely, you suddenly realize that you are in a time warp! You are living the wonderful sexy, druggy 70's in a 2001 setting. It it a wonderful release - it makes me want to go find Babylon and go out dancing and get ... But seriously, when I think of straight people watching this or young gay men and lesbians, and am often horrified. It's about as true to life as a daytime soap opera. This is NOT what life is all about. I am entertained by this and I watch it every week, and I purchased the first season without hesistation, but hey - this is not reality. It's just entertainment. In addition, I've read some of the reviews by people who are shocked by this series. I wonder if they are "shocked" by The Sopranos?
Rating:
Summary: Great Series
Review: This is one of the best all out there television shows. One of the best series on tv. Has great character development. If you want gritty and compelling this is the show. Showtime finally brought a great series to us. HBO has the Sopranos and Showtime has Queer as Folk. They don't tease around about sex it is all out in the open. No sterotypes in this show. No flaming queens with limp wrists in bright pink cloths. They show the gay communtity just like the strait communtity. Buy it you will find it worth the investment.
Rating:
Summary: From a straight female's point of view....
Review: "Queer As A Folk" is a great show! It shows the life of a gay more realisticly than "Will & Grace", though that is a very funny show, too. I first got hooked on this show when, one Sunday night, I got bored and turned on the TV. Flipping through the channels, I finally came to Showtime--and right there on the screen was a very hot guy! I got interested, and decided to see what this show was. I didn't realize it was a show about gay men until the episode was over--but I actually liked it! Now, I come back every Sunday night to watch "Queer As A Folk". It is a gay Soap Opera, but it doesn't matter if you a straight or gay...because it is still a very enjoyable and entertaining show. And if you are a straight female (like me), then you will love that the cast has some very cute guys, and they take their shirts off a lot! (he, he, he!) There is a lot of nudity and sexual scenes on this show, so I would not recommend it to children or young teenagers. But to anyone 18 and older should watch this show! By seeing "Queer As A Folk", I've been able to treat gay men and lesbian women with more respect, and I've learned not to judge them because that they are gay or lesbians. But the show is not just about gay men having sex...it's much more than that. I think that is why "Queer As A Folk" is so appealing to the public, because of the character development and some of the problems the characters go through in the show. The show is beautifully acted by the entire cast, and it is also wonderfully written by some amazing screenwriters. This DVD is truly a must have for all fans of the show. It comes in 6 discs, and every single episode in the first season. Plus, there are lots of special bonus features like interviews with the cast and crew, the making of "Queer As A Folk", and much more. I have to say that I like "Queer As A Folk" a lot better than HBO's "Sex In The City", which I find to be a totally overrated show because it is not that good. Buy this DVD today! I cannot wait for the second season of "Queer As A Folk" to be released on DVD. Hopefully, it will be just as good as this one!
Rating:
Summary: LETS HEAR IT FOR THE BOYS
Review: I was hooked on this show after the first episode. Witty dialog, engaging characters and storylines that touch the heart and open the mind. Some have complained that the show stereotypes gays, but I disagree. The wide variety of characters show many types of gay men: Brian(the self-absorbed slut), Ted: (Shy and insecure and works in the straight world), Michael: (the -guy-next-door), Emmett: (flashy, out and proud) and Justin: (a teen just coming out of the closet). Underneath the outward apperances are characters with real emotions, flaws and heart. Even Brian isn't as shallow as he wants everyone to believe. In my opinion, there is a little bit of all these characters in most gay men or they represent qualities we wish we had. Who wouldn't want to be as self-assured as Brian or as openly proud as Emmett?
Some have also complained that the show focuses on sex too much. While there is a fair amount of action between the sheets on the show, anyone who thinks that that is all it's about clearly isn't watching carefully. The show has dealt with life and death issues, gay parenting, coming out, self-esteem, friendship and being true to yourself. Sex is just part of it.
After watching this show, I felt like finally there was a show out there for me and about me. It features characters going through many of the same things I face...feeling insecure at a bar, worrying about losing my job if I come out and searching for that special man in a world that does occupy itself all too often with sex and the bar scene. If the show focuses on sex and the bars, it is only a mirror of reality. As a gay man who sometimes wishes the bars and sex wasn't such a big factor, this show was an accurate portrait of the frustration I sometimes feel.
So ignore the negative reviews(espicially the one titled "Couldn't Be More Pathetic" by Aron(bitter,party of one...do you think he could learn to spell???). Buy a copy of this excellent series and you'll be singing "Let's Hear For the Boy" by the end of the first episode.
Rating:
Summary: I Love QAF
Review: I didnt plan on enjoying Queer As Folk as much as I thought I would. A friend showed me a few episodes 20-22 and after the first one I thought yeah right but then came the last episode and I thought YEAH RIGHT I was hooked and knew I had to get the DVD as soon as it came out.
Living in Pennsylvania I find these characters are dead on accurate. What I enjoy most is the characters are there for each other in good times and bad.
I think Brian is a great character-strong and outspoken.
This is a Great series and I hope it doesnt end anytime soon
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