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In this week’s Gays Of Our Lives, we take a look at Skam, a Norwegian drama that features the love story of two teenage boys, Isak and Even. There’s the typical coming out tale, but a main complication goes deeper than one would assume. I managed to watch the last two episodes and have some thoughts. Plus, Days of our Lives was actually enjoyable this past week, but not because of Sonny and/or Paul, of course. Also the latest on Emmerdale, EastEnders, Rownd a Rownd, Eyewitness and lots more.
PICKS AND PANS
I haven’t watched this show since Jamie left with the cute Iranian refugee who held him hostage and then they fell in love. Only in television! I think that might have been this show’s last gay regular character. I remember Ric Makarem when he was on Emmerdale and he is still as hot as ever.
I don’t know where this story is going, but I doubt anything will happen between Dylan and Seb. I assume Dylan has been on for awhile and has had romantic relationships with women? Let’s just hope Seb moves on from his crush and finds a new guy soon. But Dylan and Seb do have chemistry and Dylan definitely has that gruff daddy thing going on. Who wouldn’t like that? LOL….
Days of Our Lives (U.S.)
I actually found all this drama watchable mostly because of Judi Evans’ strong performances. I’ve watched her in soaps for about 30 years and she’s always delivered. Adrienne’s confusion over which man she wants is juicy drama. I just wish the storytelling before all this had been as solid. So much of this story happened off screen — or not at all. Still, a classic soap triangle complicated by Adrienne’s cancer could make for powerful soap opera. I just hope this show is able to deliver.
The show’s handling of Paul and Sonny continues to be disappointing. The Adrienne storyline is full of drama, angst, heartbreak, love and history. They could be playing all of that in the Paul/Sonny story, but they’re choosing not to. That backrub scene was a reminder of the chaste nonsense we used to get from Luke and Noah back on As The World Turns. It was dumb then, and Luke and Noah were teenagers. Paul and Sonny certainly are not. These are grown men who have had a long term serious relationship, but you couldn’t tell by any of their scenes. You’d think we’ve come so far in depicting gay storylines, but Days is here to remind us we haven’t. And in our current political climate, it’s only going to get worse.
Clearly Lee set up that robbery. He’s been wanting to get his hands on some money. He was desperate to get out of the house with Whitney (showing very little concern to what could have happened to his family) and hid what the robber dropped when they get away. Of all the dumb things he’s done, this was the dumbest. And it’s really cruel given his parents have done everything to support and be there for him. We know the actor is leaving the show, this must be his exit story. I just wonder how it’s all going to play out. Does the truth get revealed and he goes on the run or goes to jail? Personally I hope his family turns him in. Idiot.
Poor Johnny was only there to get hit. He still has no story, despite the show’s promises. Maybe once Lee leaves? He’ll be the only Carter child left then.
Emmerdale (U.K.)
This was a pretty good week.
So Emmerdale can tell the romantic lives of three different gay couples. Some shows can’t even do one. Amazing.
Though it is unrealistic to have that many queers in a little village with only one road. LOL…
I really did enjoy the Lawrence/Ronnie scenes. Ronnie is just what Lawrence needs in his life. I know they’ve got a long and difficult road ahead and there will be lots of drama, but I really want them to work it out. You never see gay storylines involving old folks and I credit the show for telling this story. We all need love when we get older and it only gets harder as the years go by. This is one I’m really looking forward to watching play out.
But, it is kind of a silly that there are constant dramatic reveals played out in the local pub where everybody can see. I mean it happens on this show at least two or three times a week.
The hypocrisy of these characters is astounding. Usually it’s Chrissie and Lawrence that have me shaking my head, but Robert and Aaron need to have a seat as well. Robert saying that Lachlan deserves prison for shooting Lawrence is rich given that Robert (accidentally) killed Katie, covered it up and got away with it. Not to mention attempted murder, hiring hitmen, kidnapping and a list of crimes. Oh about that kidnapping, Aaron judging Finn for his obsession over Kasim is a bit much given that Aaron is marrying his kidnapper/abuser. Please!
Robert and Aaron do need to move out though. Aaron’s stance on not using that money is ridiculous. Using it to make your life better is a good thing. Not using it and hurting yourself gives Gordon control IMO.
Robert agreeing to help Rebecca bust Lachlan out of jail rather than tell Aaron he kissed her is just stupid. I’m glad he didn’t go through with it, but after everything they’ve been through he should have known Aaron would be mad about that kiss, but get over it. He’s forgiven much, much worse. Rebecca is not going to give up on Robert though. She wants him bad.
I loved that scene with Finn, Pete and Ross where they teased him about his getting ready for a date. I’ve always loved how they have supported Finn and have always wanted him to meet the right guy and be happy. On the other hand, that was a really crappy thing to do for Pete to embarrass Finn like that in front of the nurse. Pete has done worse for love. It’s pretty obvious that part of Finn’s attachment to Kasim is because of his father’s death and Finn’s being unable to accept that it was suicide. No, he shouldn’t be so into a man in a coma, but it does make a weird sense.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICKS AND PANS!
YESSSS re. Skam!!! I’m fully obsessed.
You must go back and watch all of season 3. The acting is beautiful, along with subtle and brilliant use of music. The drip feed via the website of clips, social media updates and texts is so so clever. Currently awaiting an update and can’t stop checking the site!!
That was a change made by the editor not me. My stance remains the same.
I dunno… i found those scenes with Oliver and the paramedic to be kind of weird. Oliver’s mother just died and the paramedic is clearly hitting on him at the scene. And then, hours later, with Oliver’s sister in the hospital having emergency surgery, Oliver sees the guy and they flirt and make a date? I’m like, really? Will they have their first kiss at Mom’s funeral? LOL….
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B2fUjgXqU1aKY2xScWM1QTJWTFE
Google Drive of clips and episodes with English subtitles^
They’re usually pretty quick and consistent with the uploads. If you have trouble (because the site sometimes gets overwhelmed with all the sudden traffic) ..if you have a Google Drive account, i.e a Google account, you can just right click the file and copy it, then play it. Hope this helps .. if you have Twitter, there’s a community of much smarter people than me.
https://twitter.com/ISAKxEVEN
Happy Skamming and Enjoy!
How are you watching Skam? I’m having a difficult time finding all of the episodes with Eng Subs.
Regarding Casualty – Dylan has been on the show for a while (he even left and came back a couple of years ago if I remember correctly) and there hasn’t really been a focus on his love-life for a long while. When he was first on the show he was revealed to have been previously married to another one of the (female) doctors (Sam, who left a couple of years ago after marrying Tom Kent) but they didn’t get back together and since then I don’t think he’s been involved romantically with anyone at all. So if the show does go there then it won’t be totally unbelievable but maybe a bit unexpected! I think it actually be quite interesting, as Dylan’s storylines have focused more on his mental health (he has OCD).
I really get the impression with the character of Seb that it was written with a younger actor in mind? I know that medical students don’t all have to be in their early 20’s but Seb’s issues with his father and the crush on his mentor seem a bit ‘young’. Rik Makarem is quite hunky though, so I shouldn’t be complaining!
Oh and speaking of the cute Iranian refugee that Jamie left with – well the actor has been in Eastenders for a year or two now, playing Kush, and he is looking extra beefy this days I must say :D haha.
*snaps fingers* .. I knew I recognized that guy from Causality from somewhere. Emmerdale. I completely agree, they had some nice chemistry brewing. I wouldn’t be at all upset if the older doctor was uncomfortable due to some attraction for the younger guy.
Speaking of Emmerdale, I’m happy they’re telling such diverse gay inclined stories, but with Lawrence, I just end up feeling bad for Ronnie. While I don’t know what their life was like back in the “olden days” .. I can’t imagine that Lawrence lives up to some rose-colored glasses version of whatever they had previously, but then again, maybe he was always awful and Ronnie likes that about him.
It kind of reads like an different version of Aaron and Robert’s story .. you know you’re probably not great together, but there are only so many gays out there…so …Eh, you’ll put up with whatever.
But Anthony, I’m glad you finally drank the Skam Kool-aid. lol. Welcome on board, we’re glad to have you.
Now that you have that out of the way, you can get caught up on “Merli”. The main ones to watch are season 1, episode 9; season 2, episodes 4 and 10. The rest is interesting, but can be seen as filler and fallout. All in all, it’s good, if you like philosophy.
http://www.dailymotion.com/RK_Fanvidder.
(Just a suggestion for when things die down. I know you have a full plate).
Anywho, have a great rest of the week and take care of yourself!
Once again I agree with you about how awful the Sonny and Paul story is I’m about to fast forward them with those god awful teens. I also ageee that Helen and kamila are morons on eyewitness. And even though I love Robron even I was like oh please when Robert said Lachlan should go down for gunning down Lawrence. Keep up the good work. It’s always a highlight for me to read your column.
Oh, it’s changed. I think it’s better to whet the appetite of readers like it does now. Especially if it’s meant as a positive review also for people who haven’t already watched these shows
Ridiculous, isn’t it? And it’s only going to get worse, unfortunately.
Is the theme of the week guys so scared of being honest with their partners that they’d rather risk going to jail?
I haven’t read your other reviews, but I know that reviews in general are vague about the details while still getting across the themes that a show or movie are about. You’re just blurting out the biggest revelation that the season spent 8 episodes building up towards.
By your statement, every review in this column (and every column I’ve written for the past 10 years) is ‘ruining’ the show as many folks haven’t watched the shows discussed here. I can’t control when people watch whatever they watch. I only saw it myself last week and went in knowing the story, which has been playing out for weeks. If i don’t discuss what happens on the shows as they air in detail and with specifics, then I’m not doing my job. But I appreciate your thoughts.
Call it what you want, you’re ruining the show for those who haven’t seen it, but will soon
It’s not considered a spoiler if it’s already aired.
Here’s hoping that people who have yet to watch Skam doesn’t read this article only to get half the build up of the plot spoiled.