Yar, you be here: Queer as Folk - The Complete Third Season (Showtime) > Customer Reviews
Queer as Folk - The Complete Third Season (Showtime) Customer Reviews (25 - 27 of 33 Reviews)
As potent and sexy as ever!!
QUEER AS FOLK [Season Three] (USA 2003): Justin's relationship with Ethan is compromised by his continued feelings for Brian, despite the fact that Brian is now working for a right-wing mayoral candidate whose 'family-friendly' policies have begun to affect the lives of everyone on Liberty Avenue. A brush with the law brings Ted's world crashing down, leading to a rift in his romance with Emmett, while Michael and Ben take responsibility for young street hustler Hunter, who complicates their lives. Mel and Lindsay decide to have another child, and Debbie struggles to gain justice for a gay teenager whose murder wasn't properly investigated or resolved.
Still potent and sexy, and still fired by a nice line in sarcastic wit, the third season of "Queer as Folk" is a marked improvement over the rudderless Season Two, with a greater emphasis on drama and social issues than ever before. There's still plenty of comedy (Hunter's first encounter with Brian is as funny as it is profane), and the raunch factor is as strong as always, but the stories are no longer dependent on mere shock value, and are linked by the machinations of a corrupt former cop whose political ambitions have a direct bearing on the lives of the central characters. With only 14 episodes this time out (as opposed to 22 in Season One and 20 in Season Two), the narrative turns darker as it progresses, as various characters reach a crossroads in their relationships, and an unsolved murder leads to a series of dramatic revelations. Gale Harold still dominates proceedings as Brian, an ambiguous character whose contempt for the world is matched only by his love for the friends with whom he shares it, but the entire cast is given room to shine, and they seize the opportunity with a vengeance. In such a strong ensemble, Harris Allan (Hunter) stands out as the hardened hustler whose abrasive personality masks a profound desire for companionship and acceptance, while ultra-sexy Fabrizio Filippo - whose character (Ethan) demonstrated the greatest potential for recurrent storylines - is sadly wasted in a minor role which concludes rather too abruptly (still, you get to see him naked in Episode One!!). Elsewhere, Jack Wetherall (Vic), Makyla Smith (Daphne) and Sherry Miller (Justin's mom) make strong but fleeting appearances, and there are brief cameos from several other QAF alumni, including Dean Armstrong (Blake) and John Furey (Justin's dad). The scripts are stronger, tighter, and more focused than ever before, and the whole thing culminates in a glorious finale that's VERY different from previous seasons. A triumph.
Showtime's 5-disc DVD presentation comes in fancy, sturdy packaging and contains a ton of extras which focus more on the technical crew than the cast members (three seasons into this show, and there are still no definitive on-camera interviews with the main actors!). Picture quality is a little grainy in places, and the surround soundtrack is fairly subdued for the most part, though used aggressively during nightclub sequences. Executive producers/co-writers Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman are joined by principal cast members for a picture-in-picture audio commentary on the final episode, a joyous gathering which provides a very real sense of the easy attitude and familial bonds these talented individuals have clearly cultivated amongst themselves. As with the Season Two box-set, viewers are advised that the 'Next on QAF' sections in each episode's sub-menu contain spoilers, particularly the one for the season finale, which just about gives away the entire plot!!
664m 38s (14 episodes)
1.78:1 / Anamorphically enhanced
Dolby 5.1
Closed captions
Region 1
QAF (Growing Up)
I was pleased to purchase season three and even more pleased to watch all fourteen hours in one sitting (leaving me late for work the next morning.)
The third season is all about growing up. I have read the reviews and I see people are upset by the "dullness" of the season when in reality it is the most exciting.
Season three shows every character growing and rounding out their characteristics and behaviors.
The character Brian begins to take a stand on what is important and though most people do not like him, I admit he and Melanie are my favorites.
Justin also takes a stand and this time he stands up to someone who hurts him. And as he says, "Brian never made me promises, you did." I think people have been forgetting that broken promises can be as heartbreaking as anything else.
Melanie and Lindsay this season take a very interesting turn. Lindsay becomes much more dominant and Melanie seems to have a new respect for her partner that shows in her decision making.
Onto Ted and Emmit. I adore Ted's character (he is most like the gay men I know, insecure but wonderful.) His dark fall into the world of drugs should be seen as acting gold. And Emmit's support of a lover and his own heartbreak (and career moves) are thrilling. Though he does seem to play the abused housewife.
Michael and Ben. Oh, what to say. This relationship grows the most this season. We see a loving couple grapple with issues from work to home and overcome them all. I adore both characters and this season shows their personalities in sync.
One thing I miss and of course thank you womever for mentioning it... Michael and Brian's friendship has been pushed to just three or four scenes out of the entire season. I am hoping season four will pick their friendship back up.
QAF Season 3
There is only one word to describe season 3--fabulous. The cast definitely comes of age during the 14 episodes. It also brings to the forefront social issues that confront our community on a daily basis. Season 3 is successful in making two points about life that is universal whether you are gay or straight. They are: 1) Stand up for what you really believe in. 2) Without taking risks, you will never accomplish anything worthwhile. And who can forget Debbie's classic line in the last episode--"mourn the losses for they are many, but also celebrate the victories for they are few". Fabulous.
| Previous Page | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 | Next Page |