As some people here know, I'm an unapologetic Russell T. Davies fan (maybe ironically, although I enjoyed the early stuff, the one TV project of his I've lost any interest in is the Who stuff.) Ever since seeing the original Queer as Folk when I spent 6 months in the UK at 18 when it first aired, I've watched basically everything and even the lesser stuff have enjoyed. It sounds weird because he has some writing tropes (every series has at least one long politically minded rant monologue) that I'm not a fan of, and he's not remotely subtle, and yet it doesn't bother me with his works.

Anyway, I don't want to give away any spoilers (although, if you can call it a spoiler, there's a big one in the opening flashforward scene) until I've heard from anyone else watching who wants to discuss. Here's what I wrote on FB

Very brief, NO SPOILERS, first impressions on Russell T. Davies' new show, Tip Toe... I love it, but I admit Davies is one of my favourite TV writers, so no surprise there. Still, he's managed to make me actually like an Alan Cumming performance--no small feat! The first episode does have maybe one too many of Davies' bravura long speeches all of his shows have, but by episode two it has really found its rhythm (a good RTD TV episode always leaves me slightly breathless when it's over.) Unlike most of my favourite writers, Davies is never especially subtle. But, as usual with his projects, that feels very warranted for the story he's telling.

Odd release format for the series--it premiered with two episodes, and next week concludes with the final three. Trailer here. https://youtu.be/SWIR5sGTVjM?si=_kFB2oEPzb05Zmr0

Edited Wednesday at 07:16 AM2 days by EricMontreal22

I'm hesitant to watch because of a lot of the reasons you listed. I watched Years and Years and found it heavy handed, yet people raved about it. And I turned off Cucumber after the first ep.

So far everything I've read about Tip Toe has been so full of praise that cynical me is a bit wary. And the clips I've seen haven't convinced me.

The whole approach seems to have been turned up to 11. The streets are no longer safe, queer people are under threat like never before etc. And if I read one more thing about death threats on social media...

But when I'm in the right mindset I'll try and watch .

Well if you didn't like Years and Years (which TOTALLY was dialed up--that was the point, but I get your reaction even if I didn't share it) or even Cucumber (which... wasn't so much) then I can't say you'll like this.

However, in the first two episodes anyway, except for the jump start to a future tragedy, the elements you mention aren't prevalent. The streets aren't shown to be no longer safe, queer people aren't under attack, etc. I do think they're going for a... hrmm, the attitude that queer people in particular have a false sense of safety, which is something I kinda agree and disagree with. In that instance it actually reminds me of gay playwright Kevin Elyott's very controversial UK tv movie (from 20 years back or so?) Clapham Junction although, being a movie, that made its extreme points basically right from the start, which this show, thankfully, isn't. But even if you hate it, I WILL be interested to hear what you think ;) This show definitely shares more with those other shows than some of Davies' recent writing (like the excellent Nollie which of course was a bio-piece set in the UK soap world.)

Ehhh as much I loved and enjoyed RTD’s earlier work, I really haven’t enjoyed much of his work in the past decade.

I remember mildly enjoying Banana but Cucumber was a MESS.

Years and Years was overrated and overhyped IMO. I was left underwhelmed.

It’s A Sin was pretty solid though.

And of course his return to Doctor Who has been nothing short of a disaster.

I may watch, I may not. Like I said RTD and his work just doesn’t excite me like it use to.