Queer As Folk (Season 2) - B+
By Kage Alan

When we last left our group, Justin had been bashed by a fellow student and was in the hospital. If hadn’t been for Brian, the lad would have died. So, Season 2 picks up with Justin attempting to recover, Mel and Linz deciding to get married while a third party/ex-lover of Mel’s enters their lives, Michael contemplating a career and boyfriend change, Ted being forced into a career change (and what a change that is!), Emmett sharing more of himself than ever before…over the internet and Debbie dealing with all the drama the men in her life bring her way.

If it’s drama you crave as well as lots of flesh, sex and humor, then QAF is still the show that won’t disappoint. It’s moved almost entirely away from its British counterpart and been forced to come up with reasons as to why it’s still around. Now, I’ve heard a number of complaints from fans of the show who said Season 2 wasn’t very good. Well, I disagree. It’s good, though not as good as the first season. Why? Quite simply, storylines that had great dramatic potential (like the wedding, Justin’s recovery and the threat of Brian losing his job just to name a few) were handled far too quickly and with little reflection later on. It felt like the writers had a number of wonderful ideas and then rushed to get them all in instead of taking their time. There’s some buildup, the event happens and then we’re off to the next big thing. That’s my biggest complaint anyway, that and not having as riveting a cliffhanger.

The characters in Season 2 took some very unusual turns and while I wasn’t sure they’d always work, the writers somehow found a way to keep things interesting. Many of the quirks and beliefs held by some in the gay community, especially about sex, relationships, monogamy and romance, are explored here and while I don’t always agree with them, I certainly respect their being included as well as their demonstrating that I’ve got something special going that their characters don’t. Stay tuned for Season 3!