Hey all at SHOE, last week it was annouced on SHOE that the first ever online British lesbian drama show will debut shortly. The show called "Far Out" is a drama set around 9 ordinary lesbian women aged between 20 and 35, in Soho England and follows their average lives, love and experiences. The show which is already drawing comparisons to The L Word, debuts in October and continues the strong production of british shows with a lesbian theme or subplot. The British television industry many would argue have been the fore runners in Lesbian dramas and is continuing to lead the way. Before diving into the new world of "Far Out" I propose we tear ourselves away from The L Word and widen our horizons to some of these smaller little British lesbian gems.
The 2005 channel four show "Sugar rush" is undoubtedly one of my personal favourites. It's a heart warming, bitingly funny and outrageous teenage coming of age story about a young girl called Kim whose life is thrown into turmoil by a chance encounter with Sugar. The sweet and addictive Sugar raises many questions for Kim and ensures life in rainy Brighton, England is never dull. Sadly the show only has two seasons showing the developing of Kim's new identity as a young lesbian woman and it was axed amongst much criticism to make room for the cheaper reality show big brother on the channel. Yet again showing how undervalued and ignored our community is.
The BBC's well known Victorian period drama "Fingersmith" is a sprawling drama of wonderful costumes, treachery, lies, intrigue and forbidden love. Sue and Maud are two women born on opposite sides of the tracks. This is a popular show because although having a lesbian subplot it is also an emotive drama looking at social questions and the wider identity of its characters outside of their sexuality. However don't be fooled, the show although slow to start as some would claim, is like a fine wine: it grows finer with age and every passing episode, passing from moments of secret glances, quick caresses to the final union of the two women. But will love prevail or will treachery and greed kill this fragile love set against by circumstance and era? A drama with something for lesbians and everyone else.
For the many lesbians (admittedly like myself in my former years) who fawned over Buffy or the girls of Charmed there is "Hex." The supernatural drama follows the young, blond and beautiful Cassie Hughes as she comes into her magical abilities and fights the dark forces which follow her. Cassie and the ghost of her dead lesbian best friend Thelma try to get through school, fight the forces of a fallen angel and fight their own raging desires. Thelma's daydreams give light relief and steamy scenes while the dark, knife sharp humour keeps the viewer laughing, crying and reaching for an "afters cigarette."
For those who like drama, prison politics and their women tough as nails, the British series "bad girls" which follows the lives of the women in a British prison should be right up your street. The show has lesbian relationships scattered like sugar on a bun. The show deals with drugs, suicide, escape attempts, love, loss, violence and many other issues. If your a viewer who likes an intriguing, nail biting TV show with a lesbian side or subplot then this is the show for you.
These shows are the past, "Far Out" is the online future and the BBC has just announced this week that they will commission yet another Lesbian TV drama series cunningly called "Lip service" which will follow the sex lives of a number of 20-something lesbians in Glasgow. So that’s yet another British lesbian drama to look out for in the not so distant future.
I hope this has enlighten everyone to the Lesbian TV world outside of The L word and has given you a few ideas of things to watch while waiting for "Far out" and something to look forward to in the future. Most titles are for sale online so now all you have to do is watch them ! xox
kindest regards,
SHOE User News from » catholicclosetcase
Calling all SHOE Members!
Do you have News that should not be missed? Write to the SHOE-Team