UK Series It's a Sin

[Ome]

I've been waiting for this drama for what feels like an eternity and it's finally here tonight.

From Russell T Davies and staring Olly Alexander (Years & Years), the series looks back at the early 80s and follows five guys as they lives are hit by the AIDS crisis

C4 in the UK and later on HBO in the States.

 

[Ome]

 

[Ukdallasfan]

I’m looking forward to this too

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

I've a strong feeling that I will be binging this in one sitting tomorrow. I've a bit of a love/hate relationship with Russell T Davies' dramas. Hate might be a bit of a strong word but I loved Queer As Folk (series one), The Second Coming and A Very English Scandal but I couldn't get into Cucumber and Years & Years. Even though the promo clip above features a variation of something that often puts me off his writing - the soapbox-ish monologue - I think It's A Sin will be a must watch.

 

[Ukdallasfan]

Watched the first episode tonight and the characters got me from the word go. Seems promising. Plus there is a sad resonance to what we are now undergoing in respect of fear and lack of proper information

 

[Alexis]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I will be checking it out!

 

[Canon]

I intended to watch only the first episode but ended up watching it all in one sitting last night. Very good, breezy but still manages to hit hard. The lad who plays Colin is the one to watch going forward me thinks. I thought the idea of having to cast gay actors in gay roles to be a bit silly but maybe there is something to it...

 

[Ome]

Watched the first episode tonight and the characters got me from the word go.

Yes, there was a lot of fun in the first episode, and the music, oh, how the music plays such an important role for me. I think Olly Alexander is doing a great job as the others are too, I think this is a first for all five actors.

My favourite character from that first episode is Colin, I love how he is trying to embrace his new life and he has some wonderful facial expressions.

I intended to watch only the first episode but ended up watching it all in one sitting last night.

Gosh, that's quite a task. I didn't realise it was going to be all available from Friday night, I think we will aim to do an episode a night. We're currently doing all the marvel movies so TV time is limited.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

I watched all of this over the weekend. I know the word "masterpiece" is being thrown around a lot in relation to this show but I truly agree this is Russell T Davies' masterpiece. It's such a great show with such heart. I immediately cared about every one of the characters and my heart was in my mouth fearing what would happen to them.

 

[Alexis Colby Carrington]

I’ve watched the entire thing and it’s gripping and funny and utterly heartbreaking. Great series.

 

[Canon]

I immediately cared about every one of the characters

It shows the strength of the writing and casting, you immediately care because the characters are so well realised, Davies has the characters and relationships set up within the first 20 minutes.

and my heart was in my mouth fearing what would happen to them.

Spoiler

Poor Colin, all he ever wanted was to open up early.

Gosh, that's quite a task. I didn't realise it was going to be all available from Friday night, I think we will aim to do an episode a night.

I don't binge too often, this a great show to enjoy week by week like the good old days but I couldn't help myself.

 

[pete lashmar]

Amazing series. Full of real nostalgia for me, going to those bars and clubs around the same time. RTD's writing was absolutely heartbreaking, but with genius moments of laugh out loud moments. The cast were wonderful, their characters were complety 3 dimensional. I absolutely adored it.

 

[Ome]

We did two episodes last night and by gosh it was emotional.

 

[Angela Channing]

I wasn't planning to binge watch this series but I was beginning to see people talk about it online and I felt it was only a matter of time before I inadvertently read a spoiler. So having watched the first episode on Channel 4 on Friday I watched the rest of the series on All 4 over the last 2 days.

I thought the series was the best thing that Russel T Davies has done. I'm not always a major fan of his work because I often find his programmes start strong but they peter out or go weird towards the end as was the case for Years and Years and Cucumber but this was in a different league. I thought it was gripping from beginning to end. At times it was funny and other times I was fighting back the tears.

I loved all the main characters, especially Colin (never seen the actor before but he was brilliant) and I learnt something about AIDS (I had no idea it could cause epilepsy) and because I was just a little bit too young to fully appreciate what was going on at the time (I was in junior and high school during the time period in which most of the series was set) it was a insight into how HIV/AIDS impacted on people's lives during the 1980s.

I want to say more about the series such as the shame some of the characters felt and how it affected their behaviour but I can't without spoiling it for those who haven't seen it yet. I might return to say more about my thoughts once it's all broadcast on Channel 4.

 

[Ome]

I'm not always a major fan of his work

The stuff I loved from RTD

Queer As Folk
Torchwood
Doctor Who
Sarah Jane Adventures
A Very English Scandal
The Second Coming

I enjoyed Cucumber, but didn't enjoy Banana.

I loved all the main characters, especially Colin (never seen the actor before but he was brilliant)

I believe all five main characters are played by unknown actors, although I guess Olly Alexander is known for Years & Years. The group, not the TV show

 

[pete lashmar]

I think the magic of RTD's writing is that it's language that we all use, it sounds and feels natural.

When bringing back Doctor Who he based the series on Rose, the companion - we saw The Doctor and their travels through her eyes and point of view and it worked brilliantly and helped the show back to the top of the ratings, something that no one thought possible after it's slow and steady death in the 80's.

Oddly I prefer the U.S version of Queer as Folk because the was able to tell the story and expand on it rather than a couple of mini series of the UK original.

Second Coming was brilliant too, and of course Sarah Jane Adventures was magical for me as Liz & Tom were THE Doctor & Companion for me. Torchwood was a great idea but had it's ups and downs, but some episodes were electric.

A very english scandal was a great watch, and also educational in many ways.

But It's A Sin was probably my favourite of his original dramas, it was appointment TV for me, even though I binged it in 5 hours.

 

[Angela Channing]

I believe all five main characters are played by unknown actors, although I guess Olly Alexander is known for Years & Years. The group, not the TV show

Even before I was aware of Olly Alexander being in the band Years and Years, I saw him in the excellent film The Riot Club and as consequence I always think of him as actor who sings rather than a singer who acts even though he is now better known for his music.

The girl (I think the character was called Jill) had a lead role in Years and Years, the TV series, not the band.

 

[Alexis]

I binged it all on Saturday and loved it totally. It was both really funny and utterly heart-breaking. I was surprised by Ollie Alexander and how good he was as an actor. I also thought the actor playing Colin was wonderful, really loved the character. Keeley Hawes was brilliant too, particularly in the last episode. It was amazing to see the character change from some quite benign harmless average mum into something else entirely. The conversation she has at the hospital with the mother of another AIDS victim was brilliantly written. Great, great show. I would put it up there with Angels in America.

 

[JamesF]

Keeley Hawes was brilliant too, particularly in the last episode. It was amazing to see the character change from some quite benign harmless average mum into something else entirely.

I so agree. I unintentionally binged it all on Friday and kept thinking of her character and performance all day on Saturday. I reflected on other characters too but the evolution of hers was so far from what I anticipated when the series started.

 

[Brian Kinney]

That was hard to watch. If I hadn't been four or five years younger than Ritchie (Olly Alexander) and Colin (Callum Scott Howells)... then it was just luck to survive. Can't write much more except that I'm emotionally devastated with what I saw. The anger will never disappear. I'm so glad for Russell T. Davies' work.