So...

[elisi]

Did anyone else watch London Spy (Yesterday, 9th November, 9pm, BBC2).

Basically it's a romance/thriller type thing starring Ben Whishaw. (Don't look it up, all the reviews give everything away.) ETA: Found the article that made me want to watch! Ben Whishaw and Jim Broadbent on London Spy: ‘It’s not a gay story. It’s about guys who happen to be gay’ Part romance, part chilly thriller, the new BBC espionage drama is taking the genre into bold new territory. We go on set with its stars.

(Word of advice: Do not watch it with a) your husband, how doesn't cope well with gay love scenes or b) your 14 year old daughter who happens to be doing her homework in the same room...)

5 parts altogether, I think. Looking forward to the rest. :)

ETA: Daily Mail TV Review Of 'London Spy' Laments The Number Of BBC 'Gay Dramas', Sparks Reader Backlash!

Srsly. When Daily Mail readers tell you you're too homophobic, you need to re-evaluate your priorities. :D

Comments

[sea_thoughts]

OH GOD, DRAMAS WITH A GAY RELATIONSHIP AS THE MAIN RELATIONSHIP ON PRIMETIME MAINSTREAM TELLY, WHERE WILL IT END, OH THE HUMANITY-*sob*

Never mind all the straight relationships that get rammed down our throats and that often appear out of nowhere *cough*Cass/Lunn*cough*

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

OH GOD, DRAMAS WITH A GAY RELATIONSHIP AS THE MAIN RELATIONSHIP ON PRIMETIME MAINSTREAM TELLY, WHERE WILL IT END, OH THE HUMANITY-*sob*

Never mind all the straight relationships that get rammed down our throats and that often appear out of nowhere

When I first heard of this, this was my exact reaction! *Grins* From what I gather, the relationship is PART OF THE DRAMA...which is more than can be said for a lot of het relationships that detract (in some cases) from the drama, rather than being a part of it. Something that has long annoyed me, but I've gotten used to. Why can't we have ALL relationships - though preferrably more as PART of the show, instead of a 'well it is THERE' or as a titillating distraction...

[elisi]

V quickly - yes, the relationship is... vital. Without it, there is no story!! (See article I linked above.) <3

[elisi]

OH GOD, DRAMAS WITH A GAY RELATIONSHIP AS THE MAIN RELATIONSHIP ON PRIMETIME MAINSTREAM TELLY, WHERE WILL IT END, OH THE HUMANITY-*sob*
It will end in gorgeous gorgeous blokes kissing a lot. :D

Never mind all the straight relationships that get rammed down our throats and that often appear out of nowhere *cough*Cass/Lunn*cough*
Heeeee! Although this one is a completely different thing. It all turns around the relationship. :)

[sea_thoughts]

Although this one is a completely different thing. It all turns around the relationship. :)

Oh yes, I know. But you know what I meant! ;)

[elisi]

Oh yes!

But I love how making the relationship m/m it changes stuff that could otherwise have been very clichéd into something new. Fun-loving girl meets uptight, secretive, mysterious man is... not new. Fun-loving guy meets uptight, secretive, mysterious man is... different.

[sea_thoughts]

Oh yes, I definitely agree that making it same sex really stirs things up :)

[elisi]

The story I'm writing at the moment is m/m and I love how the dynamic is different. :)

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

I heard it was good...I also heard about the Daily Fail kerfluffle *chuckles*

[elisi]

Well, it IS good. If it ever comes your way, check it out.

And the Daily Fail can make a kerfuffle out of ANYTHING.

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

I've heard that show was good, and oh my gosh, the Daily Mail should check themselves DX

[elisi]

The show is VERY good, and the Daily Mail wouldn't know how to check themselves if they had the procedure shown to them on a Power Point.

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for the tip! Seeing that you also set me successfully onto Poldark, I don't see why I shouldn't trust your judgement here ;) What I hear from others so far sounds great, but I heard it here first. It's a true story even one said? Even better.

The Daily Mail reactions are great!

On a complete sidenote - you may enjoy this. Do you know it? I'll make an official post yet once it is nearer to Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pasgHh4gBOI&feature=youtu.be

(apparently the singer is an old college friend of John Barrowman and he shared the video with us)

[elisi]

Thank you very much for the tip! Seeing that you also set me successfully onto Poldark, I don't see why I shouldn't trust your judgement here ;)
Yay! I have earned your trust - I hope it will not prove misplaced. (It's about as far from Poldark as you can get... But very compelling.)

On a complete sidenote - you may enjoy this. Do you know it?
Oh my god! That is the most adorable thing!!! Thank you. <3

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Okay, I watched. Too stunned to say much. While I knew about the real life case, I certainly hadn't expected it to happen so soon? And in general I had expected more "spy" stuff but the relationship stuff was cute and great and well done! When's the next episode?

As for the Christmas video - only AFTER giving you the link I realized it said in the description it is actually her real life spouse and kid in that video. How cool / cute is that? And the song is great too, actually.

[elisi]

While I knew about the real life case
There was a real life case? (Don't tell me anything!!!!) Obviously my reading didn't extend that far.

nd in general I had expected more "spy" stuff but the relationship stuff was cute and great and well done!
Spy stuff is beginning now - but it's very slow. I like it very very much though. <3

When's the next episode?
Already out! It's shown every Monday at 9pm. :)

As for the Christmas video - only AFTER giving you the link I realized it said in the description it is actually her real life spouse and kid in that video. How cool / cute is that? And the song is great too, actually.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I don't think you need to be afraid of spoilers when googling the name Gareth Williams. Apparently this series was only inspired by his death (I remember it making the news back then), it's surely not an exact re-telling. It can't be as they still don't know what happened to him, and it was 5 years ago already.

Here's the Wikipedia link I read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Gareth_Williams

If you like, keep it till the series is over.

Yeah, I've seen the second episode now! Still more questions than answers.
Although, if I was Danny, I would have not travelled there at all. I mean, anything could have happened? I guess "trust nobody" should be applied here!

(Have you ever seen "Traveler"? It's up completely on youtube, sadly only 8 parts exist, but it is awesome. With Matt Bomer in his first role, and great twists and turns all the times. You never know whom to trust. Great storytelling, great actors. A shame it got cancelled. But there is a file that was written by the guy who made it, where he at least tells how it was supposed to go on)

[imyril.livejournal.com]

I finally saw a trailer for this and OH MY MUST WATCH NOW.

Not that you hadn't already persuaded me (you had, I just hadn't got around to going looking yet...)

[elisi]

I finally saw a trailer for this and OH MY MUST WATCH NOW.
I don't think I ever saw the trailer... Basically the words 'Ben Whishaw' and 'love story [gay]' sold me! :)

Not that you hadn't already persuaded me (you had, I just hadn't got around to going looking yet...)
Oooh enjoy. <3

[yourlibrarian]

"involved smouldering in profile, lying around with their shirts off in sepia light, having baths and mumbling a lot".

Surely that MUST be a joke, especially given that the Daily Mail's stablemate the Sun has had Page Three women on display forever. They're hardly anti-nudity or titillation.

Hopefully this series will come to BBC America or another network here as it sounds interesting and I loved Ben Whishaw's work in The Hour.

[elisi]

Surely that MUST be a joke, especially given that the Daily Mail's stablemate the Sun has had Page Three women on display forever. They're hardly anti-nudity or titillation.
No, that's completely different. Half-naked WOMEN on display for men's sake is normal. Men being objects of desire and having that gaze turned around is Political Correctness Gone Mad or something.

Hopefully this series will come to BBC America or another network here as it sounds interesting and I loved Ben Whishaw's work in The Hour.
I hope so! Am very much looking forward to the next episode. :)

[yourlibrarian]

::blows rasberries at The Daily Mail::

Apparently it's soooo hard to be living in the 21st century.

[elisi]

There are like, NO naked women in this TV series AT ALL so far. What are they supposed to look at?