did you know that dolphins are just gay sharks?

So which do you prefer, QAF US or UK?

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UK all the way.

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I agree with erilyn's comment below, I think it's quite hard to compare. But there are some things I like a lot better about the UK one.

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I just flat-out didn't like the US one. It was all *plastic*.

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Really? Huh. I thought it took a few episodes to flesh out the characters and feel more real, but I didn't think that made it much different from other shows. And I guess it was kind of 'glossier'.

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The gloss was one thing I strongly objected to, and what I considered to be the use of neon-sign markers to denote the various characters. In the UK version, folks really were just folks - in the US version we had the PFLAG-Mom covered in I LOVE MY GAY SON badges, for example, and the almost cartoonish lesbians. I had real problems with this kind of "branding" of characters, as if the writers couldn't think of any other way to portray their positions, sexual and otherwise.

I know this is not an area where US-QAF is alone, but I think part of the problem was seeing it done so much better to begin with, the Americanisation of it just really rubbed me the wrong way.

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Fair comments. I think I kind of expected the US version to be dumbed down a lot, at least initially, so it didn't bug me as much. The mainstream US media market is so conservative, maybe things have to happen in a certain way in order to break ground? Or I am I being too kind? I don't know.

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That's a tough call, because for me, once US got past simply remaking UK, it became a very different show. I'd probably say that I think UK is the better show, but I liked US a lot too.

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Yeah I think I'd have to agree. I saw them really far apart though, so it's hard to compare.

The one major difference for me is that in the US one I hate the lesbian characters. Hatehatehate. They're just so frustrating. And I don't remember having that reaction at all to the UK one.

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The lesbians were not written well the vast majority of the time in the US version. I applaud the desire to expand their roles, pity how it was done.

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Yeah, pretty much. I think it was underscored for me by living with a lesbian couple while they organised conceiving a child. QAF US was just like a textbook how-not-to run your relationship with your donor. I wanted to throttle them all.

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Hahaha, that would give the storyline so much more dignity, if they actually packaged it as a public service announcement on How Not To Do Things.

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Oh, totally. "Don't worry about discussing circumscision, it will be fine! It doesn't matter if one of you doesn't even like the donor - if the other can talk them into it, I'm sure things will be all right! Choose your donor based on good looks, communications skills and maturity aren't that important!" Gaaaaarrrr!!!!!

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not-nele.livejournal.com

Heh, I was in line at Fall Out Boy and started shouting (she was back in the line) with a random girl about QUAF US, and I have no idea how that topic of conversation came up. It just randomly comes up in conversations apparently.

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QAF - the ice breaker :)

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T: That's an unusual attitude.

Probably because most of us still run up against 2 women=hot but two guys=yuck which is the oh-so-logical stance most muggles take.

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He was just surprised I'd share his interest in some man-on-man action :D He's not exactly a muggle either.

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bossymarmalade.livejournal.com

The character moodswings in Torchwood are dizzying, but I really do love them all; there's something about an ensemble cast that just thrills me to the bones. Also, I agree that QaF US got better once it wasn't rehashing the UK one, but even on those terms the UK one wins all the way. It was just smarter and snappier, man, and I'm saying this as somebody who owns all of the US version and rewatches them constantly. *g*

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Something that colours my love for QAF UK is how I saw the second season (is two eps really a season?) As soon as it aired in the UK, they flew a copy here and it was screened at the tail end (technically after it had ended) of the Mardi Gras Film Festival, a week later at most. We saw the first session (which was like the third that went on sale, couldn't get tickets for them), which was completely full. It was just the most awesome atmosphere.

I really wish I hadn't got so fed up with Gwen by the end of the season. The writers and characters keep going on about how wonderful she is, and how she's the heart of the show/Torchwood, but she's selfish, self-centred and self-righteous to me. So are the other characters at times, but I get the feeling we're supposed to think that about them but not Gwen, but she's the worst offender to me.

I can't wait for more stuff though, the season finale had me shrieking at the tv ;)

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bossymarmalade.livejournal.com

ahahahah! I am probably won over by Gwen's swoopy Welsh accent. *g* It's true, though, that with the "insertion" character writers always go a little overboard with the simultaneous self-righteous/'heart of the show' two-fer. I totally see what you mean.

My sister has already warned me to stay away from Torchwood fandom proper, because she says the woobification of Ianto will be sure to make me hate him. heh!

And speaking of my sister -- I first saw half of QAF UK in a hotel in Edmonton, b/c I drove up there to see my sister when she was doing Reserves training on the army base in Wainwright. *g* Your memory is FAR more glamorous than mine, ahahahahha!

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