it's a sin [C4 Russel T Davies]
Discussion
A500leroy said:
The worst of it for me was this was in the year 2000! It should have been stamped out by then. I remember one boy copied 50 sheets of A4 with ' (my name) is gay and put them up all down the corridor .
TBH I have a 17 year old and 20 year old and it's still a thing with a certain section of youth.In our case entitled posh rugby boy pricks who still think racism and homophobia is acceptable banter.
So whilst I'd say things are better in general I'd lay good money ther all over the country there are gay people having their life made a living hell right now.
gregs656 said:
A500leroy said:
The worst of it for me was this was in the year 2000! It should have been stamped out by then. I remember one boy copied 50 sheets of A4 with ' (my name) is gay and put them up all down the corridor .
I suppose we are a similar age and I can totally believe it. But then, the children of the late 80s and early 90s are born to parents who had just witnessed the AIDS crisis. There was still a lot of prejudice there. On the other hand a lot of those people are now 30 something and have moved on from the prejudice they didn't really understand when they were 10.
Unfortunately I don't think the recipients of that prejudice have been able to move on as quickly in a lot of cases.
I count myself as lucky, although lucky by lack of bad luck: lucky my Mum and Dad didn't find out (very old-fashioned - I'd have been kicked out), lucky no-one at school found out, and lucky in that I sort of liked having this secret. I'm sure it added to the excitement of sex - taboo-breaking and all that.
(And, of course, lucky that fate didn't find me back in the '80s.)
Just read an article where it says the series was supposed to have extra episodes, which show the group in the future, but ended up being shortened.
Explains amongst other things why Richie’s sister’s character existed, as she would be used as a hook in a future episode, because she didn’t add anything to the 5 part series
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/its-a-sin-e...
Explains amongst other things why Richie’s sister’s character existed, as she would be used as a hook in a future episode, because she didn’t add anything to the 5 part series
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/its-a-sin-e...
SlimJim16v said:
Am I the only one who lost any sympathy I had for Richie after he admitted to sleeping with people after he found out he had aids?
Only because you are looking at this now with all we know about HIV in 2021.If you consider the public perception and the treatment of gays in the 80s, you might see it differently.
I thought the idea was that Richie was conflicted by his upbringing, from which he had been taught that homosexuality was sinful and wrong, so even though he is himself was homosexual he had a sense of sense of self loathing about it all. Hence the bit at the end when Jill tells Richie's mum that she is culpable for her son's self destructive behaviour.
Greshamst said:
Just read an article where it says the series was supposed to have extra episodes, which show the group in the future, but ended up being shortened.
Explains amongst other things why Richie’s sister’s character existed, as she would be used as a hook in a future episode, because she didn’t add anything to the 5 part series
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/its-a-sin-e...
I speculated the sister would be used in the cut episodes a few pages back.Explains amongst other things why Richie’s sister’s character existed, as she would be used as a hook in a future episode, because she didn’t add anything to the 5 part series
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/its-a-sin-e...
I also think there would have been more of Ritchie post infection to make him a more sympathetic character regarding his continued sexual endeavours, as all of that was sort of handled the scene between Jill and his mum but it didn't completely work IMO.
Maybe we will see a bit more now. It's been a massive success and there is clearly things left on the cutting room floor that could still work.
SlimJim16v said:
We knew enough about it to tell people that it was passed on through unprotected sex.
Not initially. But yes, despite that it still went on. Like smoking now, yes it will kill you, but people still do it. Back then, high profile stars were still catching and dying from it. Freddie Mercury being the most obvious. Tyre Smoke said:
SlimJim16v said:
We knew enough about it to tell people that it was passed on through unprotected sex.
Not initially. But yes, despite that it still went on. Like smoking now, yes it will kill you, but people still do it. Back then, high profile stars were still catching and dying from it. Freddie Mercury being the most obvious. SlimJim16v said:
Am I the only one who lost any sympathy I had for Richie after he admitted to sleeping with people after he found out he had aids?
I thought it was quite brave to write Ritchie's character as they did. He was in equal parts charming and infuriating. That made him a rounded person, for whom, his sexuality was only part. It added depth and acknowledged that some people, no matter how likeable they are, can be selfish and self destructing. I never lost sympathy for him, but I did feel angry at him, however people good people can be destructive.
On that basis, it didn't present gay men as on the side of the angels, they were just as flawed as everyone else, and that, I think, made it real and human and avoided being a lecture.
The Small Axe series managed to walk this line well also, especially the John Boyega episode. Hopefully this is a new trend in filmmaking, that we avoid lecturing pantomime and write rounded, balanced characters that people can understand and engage, with without losing sight of the message.
Edited by Castrol for a knave on Thursday 4th March 07:24
Castrol for a knave said:
SlimJim16v said:
Am I the only one who lost any sympathy I had for Richie after he admitted to sleeping with people after he found out he had aids?
I thought it was quite brave to write Ritchie's character as they did. He was in equal parts charming and infuriating. That made him a rounded person, for whom, his sexuality was only part. It added depth and acknowledged that some people, no matter how likeable they are, can be selfish and self destructing. I never lost sympathy for him, but I did feel angry at him, however people good people can be destructive.
On that basis, it didn't present gay men as on the side of the angels, they were just as flawed as everyone else, and that, I think, made it real and human and avoided being a lecture.
The Small Axe series managed to walk this line well also, especially the John Boyega episode. Hopefully this is a new trend in filmmaking, that we avoid lecturing pantomime and write rounded, balanced characters that people can understand and engage, with without losing sight of the message.
Edited by Castrol for a knave on Thursday 4th March 07:24
It certainly captured the attitudes of the time. Ritchie's parents being of a generation where 'shirtlifters' and 'woofters' were sub human species. Yet the Welsh lad's mum, while not talking about it, took it all in her stride. I think his and her story was probably the saddest of all.
There was certainly a huge stigma to being gay after HIV came about. People actively avoiding any friend of Dorothy for fear of catching 'it'. 'It' being something undefined and very nasty, from HIV right down to a sudden craving for fairy cakes.
There was certainly a huge stigma to being gay after HIV came about. People actively avoiding any friend of Dorothy for fear of catching 'it'. 'It' being something undefined and very nasty, from HIV right down to a sudden craving for fairy cakes.
Castrol for a knave said:
I thought it was quite brave to write Ritchie's character as they did. He was in equal parts charming and infuriating. That made him a rounded person, for whom, his sexuality was only part. It added depth and acknowledged that some people, no matter how likeable they are, can be selfish and self destructing.
I never lost sympathy for him, but I did feel angry at him, however people good people can be destructive.
On that basis, it didn't present gay men as on the side of the angels, they were just as flawed as everyone else, and that, I think, made it real and human and avoided being a lecture.
The Small Axe series managed to walk this line well also, especially the John Boyega episode. Hopefully this is a new trend in filmmaking, that we avoid lecturing pantomime and write rounded, balanced characters that people can understand and engage, with without losing sight of the message.
Great post. We ALL know that our sex drive can lead us into making some pretty stupid decisions 'in the moment'. Rational brain takes a back seat + temporary self-delusion = reckless behaviour. Even for otherwise good people. I never lost sympathy for him, but I did feel angry at him, however people good people can be destructive.
On that basis, it didn't present gay men as on the side of the angels, they were just as flawed as everyone else, and that, I think, made it real and human and avoided being a lecture.
The Small Axe series managed to walk this line well also, especially the John Boyega episode. Hopefully this is a new trend in filmmaking, that we avoid lecturing pantomime and write rounded, balanced characters that people can understand and engage, with without losing sight of the message.
Edited by Castrol for a knave on Thursday 4th March 07:24
I believe the kids call it 'YOLO' these days.
Castrol for a knave said:
SlimJim16v said:
Am I the only one who lost any sympathy I had for Richie after he admitted to sleeping with people after he found out he had aids?
I thought it was quite brave to write Ritchie's character as they did. He was in equal parts charming and infuriating. That made him a rounded person, for whom, his sexuality was only part. It added depth and acknowledged that some people, no matter how likeable they are, can be selfish and self destructing. I never lost sympathy for him, but I did feel angry at him, however people good people can be destructive.
On that basis, it didn't present gay men as on the side of the angels, they were just as flawed as everyone else, and that, I think, made it real and human and avoided being a lecture.
The Small Axe series managed to walk this line well also, especially the John Boyega episode. Hopefully this is a new trend in filmmaking, that we avoid lecturing pantomime and write rounded, balanced characters that people can understand and engage, with without losing sight of the message.
Edited by Castrol for a knave on Thursday 4th March 07:24
warch said:
I thought the idea was that Richie was conflicted by his upbringing, from which he had been taught that homosexuality was sinful and wrong, so even though he is himself was homosexual he had a sense of sense of self loathing about it all. Hence the bit at the end when Jill tells Richie's mum that she is culpable for her son's self destructive behaviour.
HI, This is me in 2021I was only aware of the series due to this post. I thought if Pistonheads says a series about HIV and gay men is good then it must be worth a watch. I'm so glad I did thanks to this thread. It's incredibly well written, well cast and well made. Best series for some time!
The cast was brilliant, with the Welsh lad being especially good.
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