MovieChat Forums > Queer as Folk (1999) Discussion > I was really suprised...

I was really suprised...

posted 18 years ago by mkeezel
12 replies | jump to latest

I was just on the Gale Harold message board and read a thread about the UK version of Queer as Folk, and I was shocked to learn that the UK version only lasted, what is it? One season and a follow up season to wrap up the storylines? I figured it had more success, though I have seen a few clips from the show and am not sure I wouldn't developed feelings for the characters like I did with the US version of the show. Why was the series cancelled in the UK? Were the ratings just not there or what?

"The only unbearable thing is that nothing is unbearable."

[–] Rosemary_Black 18 years ago

If I remember rightly it wasn't cancelled, it was just never the intentions of the writer or producers to make a 3rd series.

Infact I've just found a quote from the writer Russel T Davies who said 'Channel 4 commisioned a second series of 10 hour-long episodes, and we stopped...right from the start my heart wasn't in it, I didn't want to continue. A story should tell the one, special time in a characters life. Invent new stories and you're saying that all their times are special and I don't believe that.'- so thats basically the reason as to why the second series was so short and as to why they never continued with a third series.

Hope that helps.

'I want to sing. I want to dance. I want to fiddle on the roof.'

[–] mkeezel 18 years ago

That's just weird, a series is supposed to follow the characters' lives. Sounds like a cop out out to me.

"The only unbearable thing is that nothing is unbearable."

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] garikster 18 years ago

I think there's a bit of an atlantic divide here. With a few exceptions, British series tend not to last into as many seasons as American ones. This is partly because a lot of American shows use teams of writers, while British ones tend to rely on individuals or duos. But as well as that, it seems much more common here for a writer to decide that enough's enough after just one or two series, instead of just dragging it out until all the good stuff's been milked out of it.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] catterix 17 years ago

That's just weird, a series is supposed to follow the characters' lives. Sounds like a cop out out to me.

I'm guessing... You're American?

LOL

As far as I can tell, US TV seems to be the only one where the number of seasons is a representative of its popularity. Its a UK TV drama, its a story, and that's it. Like people have said, it was never meant to last for any longer, it told its story and that was that, sometimes it may have a sequel, sometimes not. There was no need to carry on the show, we met the characters and saw what they did, lived their story. It was the length of the US Version that made it so terrible in comparison, for example: Stretching out the BrianXJustin relationship. The whole point of the story was that those two weren't meant to be together in the end, Nathan was the result of Stuart's promiscuity and thoughtlessness, much like Philip's death was the result of drug usage (A factor the US show failed to hit on properly). And in the end, the US version had people rooting for them, when the point is, you're not supposed to.

The US show, with its 5 seasons because of popularity is pure child's play compared to the genius of Queer as Folk the UK version. Its so clear that the US gay writers didn't pick up on all the subtle hints and irony in Russell T Davies writing and ended up thinking that all this melo-drama about being gay was the right way about it, whereas a part of QAF was: Wake up and stop being a drama queen! *sigh*. I saw the US version first, the first 4 seasons, then the UK one, wow what a difference.

"Love...? ... Is that why he's so strong?"

[–] smeth 18 years ago

The other thing is that a brit a season is often (usually) 6 episodes, not 22. When the writers know they only have 6 scipts a year to write, the quality is much higher. They don't have to invent new neighbors, bring in a chimp, etc.

[–] Suki_Weeks 17 years ago

I'm glad it only lasted 10eps....rather than drag every inch of life out of a drama and it's characters.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] mayflowers8 17 years ago

One of the things I hated about the U.S. version was the fact that they totally dragged out the Brian/Justin relationship while ignoring the more interesting Brian and Michael relationshiop. Let's face it, Brian and Michael (like Stuart and Vince) were best friends and soulmates and were obviously sexually attracted to one another- was it really a stretch for B/M to become lovers at some point during the whole 5 seasons?? I hated that they teased us mercilessly in Season 1 and Season 2, and then basically ignored the B/M factor for the rest of the series and almost destroyed B/M in Season 5.

[–] Suki_Weeks 17 years ago

I agree, the S&V chracters were the center of story (and the most interesting relationship of the series). The Nathan was just another thing altogether...and a little dull.

What I saw of the US version, the 2 characters who were meant to be what the whole story of the show was based on, wasn't as intense. Shame really...:-(

[–] maybunnyamon 8 years ago

I agree. I know it's been a few years, but just letting you know that I agree.