[Daniel-X]

I haven’t stopped thinking about this since I finished it. Just haunting from start to finish

The poor gays of the 1980s it just makes me feel so lucky to be born in a different time, but so angry too at the hardships they had to face. The scary thing it is it was only relatively recent too

[smudgie]

I can’t bring myself to watch this, too many painful memories.
But I am so pleased this series has been aired.

[Black Dagger]

Episode 3 just completly broke me.

This needs to be up for every single award in the 2022 season. If it doesn't win a BAFTA or Emmy I will be furious.

[Jake.]

Episode 3 broke me. Genuinely the most upsetting piece of television I’ve watched in a long time.

[Jarrod]

I'd already watched this in full a couple of weeks ago but I know Episode 3 aired tonight and it's the hardest out of them all. Completely unexpected as well, which made it worse.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Jarrod

I'd already watched this in full a couple of weeks ago but I know Episode 3 aired tonight and it's the hardest out of them all. Completely unexpected as well, which made it worse.

.

[joeysteele]

Really heavy going tonight.
Excellently acted out however.
Very strong series.

[Jake.]

Honestly can’t get over that episode

[Jack_]

La!

I want that to become a thing in my life

[Jack_]

This was great but (understandably) miserable

Pissing in Thatcher’s tea was quality content though <3

[Parmy]

It dont even have a decent soundtrack.

[Black Dagger]

ok if that's all you're taking from the show that's thought provoking, captivating, heart warming and heart breaking all at the same time x

[Parmy]

No provocation from me, I'm still watching it atm even though there are no songs from the 80s interludes.

[Shaun]

Just binged the first three episodes and... well... I've been needing a good cry all week so that was a hell of a smack of catharsis.

Spoiler:

I actually curled up into a ball lmao... obviously Colin's death is heartbreaking in and of itself, but the way his mother was subject to abuse (the **** through the letterbox), the legal rigamarole, and just 100% supportive even when he was going senile and masturbating in the hospital bed (bye )... ugh my heart broke specifically for her, and so many other mums and sisters out there (and, dare I say, even the occasional dad or brother) who weren't judgmental, weren't burning their dead sons' possessions out of shame and disgust, or fear of contagion... weren't calling them dirty queers, but just... loved their sons.

Ugh... the AIDS crisis just absolutely breaks my heart whatever the manner of media I digest it through is. So, so many bright and talented and beautiful people just... gone, in their prime. I can't think about it for too long without crying but it's just so important to commemorate these people.

I was thinking "...that guy Colin's moved in with, bet they're gonna shag " and then nothing happened... so to see that all play back was a moment of "I bloody knew it " at least

LOVE Roscoe and Jill... loved Henry too, especially since I actually find Neil Patrick Harris a little insufferable, but he was fantastic in this even if only for a brief episode. Soundtrack is fantastic, naturally, but the acting is superb from pretty much everyone.

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Shaun

Just binged the first three episodes and... well... I've been needing a good cry all week so that was a hell of a smack of catharsis.

Spoiler:

I actually curled up into a ball lmao... obviously Colin's death is heartbreaking in and of itself, but the way his mother was subject to abuse (the **** through the letterbox), the legal rigamarole, and just 100% supportive even when he was going senile and masturbating in the hospital bed (bye )... ugh my heart broke specifically for her, and so many other mums and sisters out there (and, dare I say, even the occasional dad or brother) who weren't judgmental, weren't burning their dead sons' possessions out of shame and disgust, or fear of contagion... weren't calling them dirty queers, but just... loved their sons.

Ugh... the AIDS crisis just absolutely breaks my heart whatever the manner of media I digest it through is. So, so many bright and talented and beautiful people just... gone, in their prime. I can't think about it for too long without crying but it's just so important to commemorate these people.

I was thinking "...that guy Colin's moved in with, bet they're gonna shag " and then nothing happened... so to see that all play back was a moment of "I bloody knew it " at least

LOVE Roscoe and Jill... loved Henry too, especially since I actually find Neil Patrick Harris a little insufferable, but he was fantastic in this even if only for a brief episode. Soundtrack is fantastic, naturally, but the acting is superb from pretty much everyone.

....Jill’s mum was such a wonderful lady as well...she was played by the ‘real life’ Jill as well, which is pretty lovely.....


...yeah, you would have needed that cry....I often find that I’m drawn to sad things when I’m feeling low because they do give release as well...

[UserSince2005]

I always did wonder what happened to years and years

[joeysteele]

This was really a powerful and heartbreaking series.
Superbly acted.
One of the best things on TV for ages.

Just so sad.

[Jack_]

Oh also why is Ritchie Tozer like the perfect gay

[Black Dagger]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Oh also why is Ritchie Tozer like the perfect gay

I mean he's extremely flawed.

[Jack_]

Originally Posted by Black Dagger

I mean he's extremely flawed.

Not aesthetically m’love!

[Shaun]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Not aesthetically m’love!

Meh! He's no Nathaniel Hall

[Jarrod]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Oh also why is Ritchie Tozer like the perfect gay

I mean, I'd probably say he's more the "stereotypical" and accepted gay image, which sucks to say.

[Glenn.]

Well I’ve just done all 5 episodes the last couple of days. It broke me tbh

[Rob!]

I binged the whole lot in a night when it dropped on All 4 which probably wasn't the wisest move psychologically, but my God, what a series. Broke me. Amazing. Russel T Davies is a genius.

[Shaun]

Finished the other two episodes

Spoiler:

I knew it was coming because I'm an idiot who likes to read spoilers before I watch TV shows and films... but whew that was a heavy watch.

I am now in a predicament where I feel like if I ever saw Keeley Hawes I would smack her in the face

Episode four was done a little better IMO... the fifth had a lot of loose ends to tie up, whereas 4 was all about Ritchie going home, getting the diagnosis, finally owning up to his behaviour and shame, reliving his past and going through the stages of grief (that scene where he breaks down in that boy's car, and then gets out and performs some ballet moves in the headlights... absolutely stunning).

And then obviously the fifth episode was inevitable... I've already said in here about how heartbreaking and difficult it was for families of the deceased to come to terms with, but even small details like Ritchie's sister crying with Roscoe & Jill in the B&B just... really well done. And the final scenes with Jill just stopping in on lonely strangers because she never got to say goodbye to Ritchie... yeah that ruined me lol.

I need to read up on Jill herself... she was based on this woman (who makes a cameo herself, as 'Jill's mum' in the final two episodes): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55937944 She seems like an absolute hero.