With his first episode, Russell T. Davies ensures that this debut makes an impact; for a show chronicling the devastation AIDS had on the LGBT community in the 80s, his writing does a real service to those he sought to represent - & for that, he deserves our utter respect & commendation.
For such an incomprehensible tragedy decades ago - that we still haven't really recovered from or come to terms with - & the world losing so many individuals who were valuable members of our society (who had so much left to give & so many years of their lives still yet to live) the depiction of people's naive joy, hopefulness for the future & unphased youthfulness is juxtaposed quite brutally with the foreknowledge of what's about to come... Which makes for something quite unexpectedly profound & emotional, filling audiences with a sense of dread & anxiety - especially since Russell guarantees his characters are indescribably sympathetic & lovable... It just makes it all the more grim.
Hence, the launch is undoubtedly a masterful capturing of the LGBT population's oblivious innocence, contrasting it against the system's wilful ignorance - in suppressing the information that could've potentially informed those who were in danger that they were in fact endangered (rightfully portrayed in a manner of absolute condemnation) - who had no idea they were even under threat at the time.
Thus, "It's A Sin" has a poignancy & leaves a lasting impression; there's so much happiness in Russell's writing - it makes you smile throughout - & yet beneath the surface, the tone is clearly mournful & full of understandable rage & anger. It has depth & a complexity that's quite incredible considering this was all condensed in to a 45 minute run-time.
For such an incomprehensible tragedy decades ago - that we still haven't really recovered from or come to terms with - & the world losing so many individuals who were valuable members of our society (who had so much left to give & so many years of their lives still yet to live) the depiction of people's naive joy, hopefulness for the future & unphased youthfulness is juxtaposed quite brutally with the foreknowledge of what's about to come... Which makes for something quite unexpectedly profound & emotional, filling audiences with a sense of dread & anxiety - especially since Russell guarantees his characters are indescribably sympathetic & lovable... It just makes it all the more grim.
Hence, the launch is undoubtedly a masterful capturing of the LGBT population's oblivious innocence, contrasting it against the system's wilful ignorance - in suppressing the information that could've potentially informed those who were in danger that they were in fact endangered (rightfully portrayed in a manner of absolute condemnation) - who had no idea they were even under threat at the time.
Thus, "It's A Sin" has a poignancy & leaves a lasting impression; there's so much happiness in Russell's writing - it makes you smile throughout - & yet beneath the surface, the tone is clearly mournful & full of understandable rage & anger. It has depth & a complexity that's quite incredible considering this was all condensed in to a 45 minute run-time.
