Queer as Folk
The American remake: Pittsburgh, five seasons, no straight leads.
Reviewed by The Jibbi Editors
Soapy and often silly, but for a lot of people it was the first time.
- 2000–2005
- 8.5 on IMDb
- #nostalgic
- #drama
Our take
Showtime took the British eight-parter and stretched it into five seasons, adding a lesbian couple, a proper political spine and a great deal more sex. It is soap opera — the melodrama in later seasons is considerable — and it ran long enough to cover coming out, HIV, marriage, parenting and a bombing.
Its real significance is scale. This was a weekly American drama with an entirely queer ensemble at a time when most shows were rationing one gay character per network, and for a generation watching it on illicit DVDs it was the first sustained look at a life that included them.
Where to watch Queer as Folk
Stream
fuboTV
Paramount Plus Premium
Paramount Plus Apple TV channel
Paramount+ Amazon Channel
Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
Free
Philo
Pluto TV
Buy
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
Fandango At Home
Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch. Availability changes often and is checked daily — confirm on the provider before paying for anything.
Scores
Ours
- Jibbi Score — 4 out of 5 rainbows. Soapy and often silly, but for a lot of people it was the first time.
Everyone else’s
- IMDb — 8.5 out of 10 from 24,302 votes, via OMDb.
- TMDB — 8.3 out of 10 from 551 votes, refreshed daily.
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The plot, officially
Brash humor and genuine emotion make up this original series revolving around the lives, loves, ambitions, careers and friendships of a group of gay men and women living on Liberty Avenue in contemporary Pittsburgh, PA. The show offers an unapologetic look at modern, urban gay and lesbian lives while addressing the most critical health and political issues affecting the community. Sometimes racy, sometimes sensitive and always straight to the heart.
Synopsis and poster via TMDB.