+ Best LGBT Movie/TV-series of the Year
+ Best San Francisco Movie/TV-series of the Year
+ Most Under-Appreciated Movie/TV-series of the Year
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| The sun-glazed, happy poster for the second season of Michael Lannan's Looking |
Looking is the probably most exciting and best new TV-series out recently; an original HBO series based on its creator Michael Lannan's 2011 short Lorimer, its first season ran in 2014. The show has build its audience, but, regrettably, HBO still decided to cancel it earlier this year. Fortunately, they will at least round it off with a 2-hour TV movie special, set to shoot later this year, which I can't wait to see, although after 2 great seasons, it already makes me sad to (probably) part ways with the characters of Looking so soon.
The totally reality-based drama/romance/comedy show continues to revolve around the three great gay friends Patrick (Jonathan Groff (Glee (2010-15))), Augustín (Frankie J. Alvarez (The Good Wife (2015), TV-series)) and Dom (Murray Bartlett (Guiding Light (2007-09))), who live their lives in San Francisco, dealing with different aspects of modern life.
Here's an ultra-short recap of the 10 episodes (the second season is two episodes bigger than the first):
1. The friends are on a short vacation to Lynn's (Dom's open-relationship boyfriend, played by Scott Bakula (Behind the Candelabra (2013))) summerhouse, where they attend a forest party, and Augustín meets his new love-interest Eddie (Daniel Franzese (Mean Girls (2004))).
2. Patrick's relationship with his British boss Kevin (Russell Tovey (Pride (2014))) develops, while he undergoes an HIV-panic.
3. Doris (Lauren Weedman (Hung (2009-10))) meets her new love-interest Malik (Bashir Salahuddin (Nailed (2006))), and the friends attend Dom's gay rugby game.
4. Dom breaks up with Lynn; Eddie gives Augustín a job at the help center for transsexual teenagers, and Patrick's project of getting Kevin out of his old relationship drags out.
5. Augustín's outlook improves from being with Eddie, while Kevin still can't tell his Jon that it's over. Patrick helps past lover Richie (yummy Raúl Castillo (Bless Me, Ultima (2013))) retrieve an ice-truck, and they patch up their friendship.
6. Patrick makes the horrible decision of throwing a Halloween party and invite his lovers past and present, with partners. Doris and Malik, adorably, dress up as Sonny & Cher.
7. Doris, Dom and Patrick make a trip to Modesto for Doris' father's funeral and SPOILER get into an accident. Home again, Patrick is ready to be with Kevin 100 %.
8. Kevin and Patrick attend the Gaymer X video games conference that shows some less flattering sides of the gay community. Doris decides to help Dom purchase his dream, a 'chicken window' (a Portuguese chicken take-away place.)
9. Dom and Doris' friendship suffers a crisis, while Patrick presents Kevin to his mother, who has shocking news.
10. Patrick and Kevin move in together and are instantly invited to a big party in the building, where a small thing gets them into a big argument. Augustín celebrates an art opening with Eddie at the center, and Dom mends things with Doris and returns to his new business.
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| From left to right, Lauren Weedman, Russell Tovey, Frankie J. Alvarez, Jonathan Groff and Daniel Franzese as Doris, Kevin, Augustín, Patrick and Eddie attending Dom's rugby game in episode 3 of the second season of Michael Lannan's Looking |
- What can be so great about that, you might think, if you read the recap above without having seen a minute of the show.
Looking is very real and the friendship, relationship, and sex mechanics it presents are often recognizable and always both well-written and astonishingly played to a fault by the stellar cast, who seem to revel in the chance to shine with the reality-grounded, funny, human, three-dimensional characters that this show gives them.
While the first season successfully established the characters and the dynamics of the show, the second season here elaborates on them all, presents more issues, more funny 'catastrophes', more sex and drama played out in the inviting San Francisco locations with more great music. It grows from an astonishing first season into a colorful, uplifting, poignant rendition of modern life in one of the most exciting cities in the world. A real gift, pulsating with true zeitgeist.
All the more reason to scratch one's head that HBO, supposedly the home for quality TV-series, has decided to pull its plug so soon.
Best episodes:
5: Looking for Truth
Written by Lannan, Tanya Saracho (Devious Maids (2013), TV-series)
Directed by Andrew Haigh (Weekend (2011))
10: Looking for Home
Written by Haigh, Lannan, John Hoffman (Good Boy! (2003))
Directed by Haigh
Related posts:
Top 10: Best gay-themed titles
2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED IV]
2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2015 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
Looking - season 1 (2014) - Look for something real with your new Frisco friends
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| Stars dressed up for Halloween in Michael Lannan's Looking |
Cost: Unknown
Box office: None
= Unknown
[Looking has been nominated and won countless awards. Its ratings seem to have been in the neighborhood of 300k-700k viewers. It is available with HBO streaming now.]
What do you think of Looking's second season?
How do you feel about its canceling and coming TV movie special?
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