When I first read about Sundance Channel's reality show Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys, I was mad that my cable package didn't include Sundance Channel. Long has it been my desire to live out a Will and Grace fantasy. Since I have yet to find my gay, I have to settle for watching other people act out my dream.
So, I know Comcast is an evil monopoly or whatever, but I can't help but love Ondemand. That's where I found free episodes of GWLBWLB, winner of reality show with the most awkward TV title ever.
Now, I've only seen a few episodes of the show, which follows four "couples," but I have to say, it's not as engaging as I thought. I think it's because there are too many characters to follow and every time I get engrossed in one of the cast's story lines, suddenly there's a transition to another person. I guess this is how reality shows create drama. Each shift leaves me hanging.
The eight people who the show revolves around should make for dynamic characters. Unfortunately, because of the off-putting editing, it's hard to maintain interest in each individual. I hope that as this show enters its next season, the editing will improve. The people GWLBWLB trail are interesting on paper.
In one couple, both are writers and the gay best friend is planning his wedding. Another woman and her bff own a vintage clothing store. The black couple are production partners who attend the NAACP Image Awards in one episode.
And finally... the most dysfunctional couple. A young free spirit type and her closeted gay best friend, an immigrant from India. They might be best friends but they seem to inhabit completely different worlds. At this point, I'm watching this show just for Sahil. Poor Sahil. He's gay, but he's never kissed another man. Rosebud, his well-intentioned best friend, keeps pushing him to come out of the closet to his family.
Now, one would think that agreeing to be a part of this show would out him to his family, but since I can't access Sundance Channel, I doubt his family in India would know about the series. What Rosebud doesn't get, which Sahil tries to explain to her, is that in India, being gay is beyond taboo.
As a foreigner and a gay man in America, Sahil feels a double burden. Yet, if he were back at home, no doubt the psychological effects would be far worse. Up until recently, being homosexual was actually illegal in India. Eventually, I would imagine Sahil would have to entertain some conversation with his parents about his sexual orientation. I don't know how old he is, but I'm sure his parents will be expecting him to get married at some point, and perhaps will even attempt to arrange a match for him. I'm going to keep viewing to see how his journey unfolds.
NOTE: I'm pretty sure Sahil is my gay alter ego. -Di
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2 comments:
I thought episodes 1 and 2 were almost catastrophically shallow, and 3 and 4 weren't much better, but 5-8 were actually pretty good. Though there's not nearly enough of me and Sarah in episode 7.
I will say, I wrote this post without having watched all the episodes. The first few were hard to get into, but the last few were very engaging. By the time I got to the final episode I was upset that the season had ended just as I was developing an affinity for the cast.
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