Looking is one of those shows that represents what is rarely represented. To begin with, the main cast is a group of friends in their prime. No teenage angst or high school melodrama here. These characters are well into their 30s, out of college, and at advanced stages in their careers. Already the show presents itself as much more mature than most other programming, especially those of LGBT representation. That is what initially brought me to the show; the unlikelihood of typical coming out drama or underage woes. Much like Queer as Folk, these characters were (mostly) unapologetic of their lifestyles and much of their storylines had nothing to do with actually being gay. They were just human stories of people entering new stages in life, some good and others bad. In the beginning, each cast member provided brilliant balance to the others, and even some of the lesser, more clichè storylines were never overwhelming to the overall feel of the show. Perhaps the downfall of the show stemmed from veering away from this balance.
The character of Patrick, whom I never considered the main character of the show until his immense spotlight in season 2, was unfortunate in that he had the most juvenile and predictable storylines. The usual pining after what you can't have while losing what's right in front of you, only to realize once you have it that it's not all you hoped it would be. In the end, desperate to get back what you lost. We've seen it countless times, and still do. This was fine during season one, because screen time was shared fairly among all of the main characters. Dom's character was tired of working for other people, and finally pushing to open his own restaurant. Agustin was searching for a new calling after he no longer felt like he could even call himself an artist after years of inactivity and lack of inspiration. All the while, they just happened to be gay and that made for an honest and realistic look at gay life. They struggled with normal issues we all face at different points in our lives. It was a fantastic, low-key show that never shoved any sort of political or social agenda. It was what it was, and simply that.
Once season 2 hit, Patrick's storyline went into overdrive. Suddenly, he took about 70% of screen time and the remaining was shared amongst all other cast members. The focus was suddenly on him which, given his storyline, brought the show down to that of something on the CW or ABC Family. We were forced to watch Patrick struggle with his rather hypocritical relationship issues while his friends took a back seat to character development. That magical balance was lost and the show just felt juvenile, especially considering how predictable it had now become. Across countless forums, social media pages, and blogs, it became all too clear everyone was simply waiting for the outcome we all knew was coming. Unfortunately, it didn't happen until the very end of the season, so we never got the chance to move on and focus on the stronger elements of the show. We were left wanting as Dom and Agustin's underdeveloped stories faded away with the credits.
The show is being given a wrap-up movie to tie up all loose ends and give some sort of closure. Here's to hoping that applies to all characters.
*Side note.* I have been keeping track of diversity and representation in film since I was a kid. I've always hoped to one day find a character on tv that I identify with entirely. This is one of the closest I have come across. Patrick's character works as a level designer for a game company in San Francisco. A gay video game level designer! Ha! If he was black and an animator, the role may as well have gone to me. Maybe on the next show. Here's hoping.
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