This is by far the best gay television ever produced, and far better than all but one or two gay movies. Its greatness is owed to only two of the many talented people involved, without whom it would be merely good: Andrew Haigh, the creative genius behind it, and Jonathan Groff, its spectacularly versatile, gifted and delightful star.
The episodes written and directed by Haigh are so perfect they make me want to sing (I can't sing); the episodes written and directed by others are all right, but more tedious than fascinating.
The very, very best episodes are the ones featuring Groff (Patrick) and Raúl Castillo, who plays Patrick's boyfriend Richie. They're the sweetest, sexiest, and yet most thoroughly believable romantic scenes I've ever seen anywhere. No melodrama, lots and lots of truth and intelligence. An American never could have created such a program as Looking; very few from anywhere could have either, which is why I call Haigh a genius.
The first season follows an arc, but a quality arc, not a story arc. They get consistently better through Episode Five, then gradually fall off after that. But even at its worst, Looking is the very best there is.
Two of the lead actors (Groff and Murray Bartlett) are openly gay, which helps A LOT. Not only does it increase Looking's credibility, but it minimizes the number of stupid, insulting but evidently obligatory "How was it kissing a man?" interviews with straight actors.
The episodes written and directed by Haigh are so perfect they make me want to sing (I can't sing); the episodes written and directed by others are all right, but more tedious than fascinating.
The very, very best episodes are the ones featuring Groff (Patrick) and Raúl Castillo, who plays Patrick's boyfriend Richie. They're the sweetest, sexiest, and yet most thoroughly believable romantic scenes I've ever seen anywhere. No melodrama, lots and lots of truth and intelligence. An American never could have created such a program as Looking; very few from anywhere could have either, which is why I call Haigh a genius.
The first season follows an arc, but a quality arc, not a story arc. They get consistently better through Episode Five, then gradually fall off after that. But even at its worst, Looking is the very best there is.
Two of the lead actors (Groff and Murray Bartlett) are openly gay, which helps A LOT. Not only does it increase Looking's credibility, but it minimizes the number of stupid, insulting but evidently obligatory "How was it kissing a man?" interviews with straight actors.