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In his first monthly column, Ian Horner flags shows with great gay content. More to come!
GRACE AND FRANKIE, SPECIAL.
GRACE AND FRANKIE
(Season 6) When their husbands Robert and Sol (Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston) announce they’re gay and in love, Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin) have only themselves to cling to. The new season starts with Grace moving out to be with her new, younger husband (Peter Gallagher), leaving Frankie bereft but hiding her true feelings.
They move on from the vibrator business for seniors and Frankie’s lube enterprise to form Rise Up, making spring-loaded toilet seats for easier lift-off after a long sitting. “It’ll cradle those cheeks, it’s the Helen Mirren of plumbing fixtures.”
What’s not to love about this show with four older stars, still at the height of their talents, breaking barriers and pushing boundaries with heart, humanity and irony. It’s so refreshing to see highly-regarded male actors playing gay roles – not as comic relief but as real characters.
Sheen, Waterston and Tomlin are all 80 this year, and Fonda, 82, pulls off the greatest coup – looking half her age.
Season 6 sees Robert and Sol have a prostate scare, Bud now engaged to hypochondriac Allison to everyone’s dismay, Frankie ends up with two men in her life, and Brianna acts as courier when Barry donates sperm to their lesbian friends. “I spilled all your semen on the ground” is a line not often heard on Netflix. Written by Marta Kauffman (Friends), the show runs from nothing and is so sharp, relevant, heartwarming and funny you’ll never want it to end but, sadly, next season is the last.
Last word to Frankie: “Have you ever wondered if Ben and Jerry make more than icecream together?” (Netflix Orignal)
YEARS AND YEARS
This is Russell T Davies’ (Queer As Folk, Dr Who, Torchwood) compelling vision of the near-future in which Emma Thompson is a manipulative, populist PM overseeing a Britain dealing with the fallout of current disastrous policies.
The story is told through various generations of the struggling Lyons family. Russell Tovey continues his extraordinary run, this time as the gay son whose hot refugee lover (Maxim Baldry) is deported with unexpected tragic consequences.
Thompson, great but in the background, cedes centre stage to family matriarch, Anne Reid who defiantly and falteringly tries to rally her family. The only disappointment is the last episode, which takes a misguided turn, seemingly to avoid series renewal. (BBC/HBO) / (SBS On Demand)
SPECIAL
(Season 1)
It really is. In real life, Ryan O’Connell (executive story editor on the Will And Grace reboot) has cerebral palsy and is gay. He created and wrote this short-form series to show gay characters with a disability who also have relationships, love and sex. And he puts all three on screen. He plays the lead role, not his original plan, but he’s amazing.
His mother, sometimes at arm’s length, sometimes way too close, is beautifully played by Jessica Hecht (Ross’ lesbian ex-wife’s partner on Friends).
Each episode is just 15 minutes and you’ll find yourself racing through them all in one or two sittings, they’re that good. We’re waiting for season 2, which Ryan hopes will be long-form. Produced by Australian Anna Dokoza.
(Netflix independent)
It’s refreshing to see highlyregarded actors playing gay roles – not as comic relief but as real characters.