Looking (2014–2015) User Reviews

It grows on you

[Maverick2014 · 9/10 · 7 March 2014]

Three quarters of the reviews here are based on the pilot alone. Every TV lover knows pilots are not the way to judge the overall quality of a series. This is a series that grows on you slowly and by episode 6 (the best of the season) you will be rewarded! Everyone who's seen Weekend (2011) by the same Andrew Haigh knows what to expect in terms of plot and pacing.

Someone commented how the amount of (alluded) sex annoyed them, how yet another series about gay men portrays them as nothing more than nymphomaniacs. While I can understand why one would form such an opinion when the very first scene in the pilot starts with a handjob in a park, that scene was chosen not (just) for the shock value but more to immediately present the character of Patrick as this boyish man too prude for his looks. After all, his first thoughts in those moments send him to his mother, a theme that is revisited in later episodes. Furthermore, the sex scenes are cooled down from episode 2 onwards.

Someone commented how the banality of the plot makes this series pale in comparison to the mighty Queer as Folk, often regarded as the magnum opus of all TV series about gays. While that series was groundbreaking in more ways than one, it hatched caricatures and does not stand the test of time. It was a show that allowed the creators and the viewers to unleash all of their fantasies and play out their frustrations. That is therapeutic but it does not make for quality TV.

I won't even start comparing Looking to Girls or Sex and the City. If you want to relive the glory of the latter look elsewhere; if you are afraid it stretches out the former by being shown right after it, have no fear!

Bottom line: this is a slow paced show that requires multiple episodes to fully get it but looking at only 8 episodes of 22 minutes each, the creators are not asking for much. Give it a chance!

Your gay friend.

Fantastic series

[nigel49 · 9/10 · 4 March 2014]

Interesting to read some of the reviews of this show.Personally I find it a very entertaining,very watchable show, certainly not slow, and as one reviewer commented its nothing but sex,sex, sex! I think he completely misses the point of what the the writers and producers of this show have given us. I find the show has a wonderful sense of time and place, like Maupins Tales of the City which was so evocative of San Francisco in the seventies, the TV shows from those books were also great,this new show is expressive not just of present day gay life San Francisco,but of many cities in North America. Its a funny,heartwarming and very real series,reflective of many sides of peoples lives, and insightful as to how many of us think and behave. I find the dialogue extremely effective, the acting A1, and am happy to see that there will be a season two. Keep it going!!!

Straight or gay, Looking is worth a look

[ericj871 · 9/10 · 5 February 2014]

Lighten up: Looking is not a documentary and its characters may not be instantly relatable (or even terribly likable). But those are not necessarily shortcomings.

Viewers who relax and just let the show unfold will find they'll enjoy it more than if they spend every moment trying to find themselves on screen or divine some higher purpose from watching it.

It's well known that in gay online culture, "looking" means "I'm available for sex - now." Here, however, it means so much more.

These characters are really looking for fulfillment: through relationships, careers, self-expression, entrepreneurship, family and friendship. (Oh, yeah -- if that hot guy over there is down to play, so are they). But hooking up is not the central theme of this show despite the sexy come-on of the title.

This show is not Queer as Folk, Part II. While QaF's characters spent a lot of time wringing their hands over equality, acceptance and pride, Looking's whole approach to being gay has matured along with society and the audience. These characters are fully realized, assimilated and don't dwell on whether society accepts them.

The men of Looking are just too busy fiddling with their smart phones (cruising Grindr or Scruff, perhaps?) to waste any time navel-gazing over their sexual orientation. There's a post-gay sensibility about these characters (Yup; I'm a homo - so, what?) that is very refreshing. QaF often just waved a rainbow flag when its stories ran out of steam. Don't expect that to happen here.

Looking also avoids a pitfall about which gays have long griped: the over-use of stereotypical, "fem-acting" gay characters. Looking's guys range from pretty masculine to downright butch. Finally, here's a show that celebrates the fact that intimacy between men can be a hyper-masculine experience and deserves to be showcased as such. These dudes just enjoy getting frisky with other dudes. There's nothing sissy 'bout that.

It's also refreshing to see characters of different ages relating socially even though some might say this happens infrequently in the real world. Older characters may sheepishly refer to the "old days" while the younger characters pretend not to notice that their friends are, well, older.

As the series unfolds, I hope the show will explore inter-generational dating, open relationships, monogamy, celibacy, and also how many of these things can also take place within a marriage.

I also hope it will delve into the still-surprising "ordinariness" of what it is to be gay today, especially in a major city. Despite the good word of mouth, leading a gay life can often be less than fabulous. There's a fair amount of slogging away at work, paying taxes, taking out the trash, tending to family and mowing the lawn. Just ask around.

It would be easy to pigeonhole this as a "gay" show, but I hope heterosexual viewers will fall in love with its quirky characters and insights.

They'll discover that whether gay or straight, we're all more alike than many of us realize: People are generally horny, driven to succeed and need to feel loved. In short, we're all Looking.

Ahead of its time!

[abrahamjmr · 10/10 · 3 June 2019]

This series was ahead of its time; there is no other way to describe such this amazing show that could have given way more that it was given the chance to. HBO shouldn't have let it go that easily, even though they gave it a proper ending it feels like you want to watch more and more. Patrick and all the characters are well played and every single taboo among the gay community is discussed or mentioned in a very smart, classy and way we all can learn about them.

Perfectly Paced!

[asevbro1 · 10/10 · 20 February 2014]

Some folks are complaining that the show seems "too slow" or "is boring". I disagree completely. I'm much more invested in the characters precisely BECAUSE it's not "Hollywood slick". The lines are utterly natural and real to me. Nothing seems "forced" or "acted". The sex-scenes are frank, but very tasteful and more is implied than ever shown, anyway. The humor is genuine and seems completely spontaneous. I really appreciate this more methodical approach. No, it doesn't represent every single facet of the gay community, but it isn't trying to either. Just the lives and loves of a few guys in San Francisco...that's all. It can't be everything to everyone...and shouldn't try. I love it so far. Hoping it's renewed!!!

We need more LGBTQ series like this

[kstathakiss · 10/10 · 27 June 2019]

I have just recently finished watching Looking the series and the movie and I cannot find words to describe how realistically beautiful and emotional it was!! I must say I did not like Patrick as a character but he more than enough made up for it by the end of the movie. Seriously, we need more awesome quality series like this!! Too bad is was discontinued.

A magic little gem of a series look at gay life and love in the Obama era

[gentelg · 10/10 · 6 July 2014]

The show spoke to me in a way that QUEER AS FOLK never did. As a early 30 something I saw something in it that I could relate to. I know many did not and were hoping to see another campy gay soap opera filmed in Canada with guys who looked like Andrew Christian models that spent 8 hours a day at the gym. This was the first gay series that I ever watched that didn't feel the need to dumb itself down so the airhead club queens would get it. Nor did it feel as if it had to be political to the point of coming across like an ABC After-School Special. It just wants to tell a story about 3 (now 6) people living and loving in the magical city by the bay.

Best gay TV show I have ever seen

[guipacker · 10/10 · 4 February 2014]

For the very first time, I feel like there's something on TV oriented for the gay public worth of my time. I immediately became hooked up on this show because the characters are not shallow or mechanical (as it usually happens in gay movies and TV shows), but deep, alive and fun - in great part due to the amazing actors. Also, the stories in every episode are incredibly compelling and don't make me feel ashamed of the "gay world" as it usually happened when I watched Queer as Folk or many other shows where characters only preocupation is to have sex. The three main actors certainly are doing a great job and I couldn't have chosen better ones to impersonate each character. Thirty minutes episodes are way too short. I absolutely love the show.

Good job HBO!

[mario-kingfire · 10/10 · 25 January 2014]

Even though many say that this show isn't good, i must disagree. For the first time I'm able to see a show that is presenting the normal life of the gay people without many erotic scenes (I mean if you are looking for porn, then go watch porn..). So I think that this show is even better than QaF because it is much lighter, the characters are much more real (I mean Brian.. really? -.-)and grounded, also they are not feminine and finally, Looking is a show that presents us in a not stereotypical manner. I loved the thing that i didn't notice how the time flied while i watched the show, and at the end i felt like aw.. it ended.. :(. So I still can't understand why is there that much hate for this show. I have been looking for a show with gay main characters for a while now and i didn't like any of them as much as i liked the first episode of this show. Everything about this show is satisfying: The acting is very well, the plot is quite good (for a pilot at least), the characters are pretty likable, they are not like extremely hot nor ugly but quite normal looking and it makes you to connect with them so easily. I will definitely continue to watch this show and I sure hope that it will last long.

The best so far

[jm10701 · 16 January 2015]

This is by far the best gay television ever produced, and far better than all but one or two gay movies. Its greatness is owed to only two of the many talented people involved, without whom it would be merely good: Andrew Haigh, the creative genius behind it, and Jonathan Groff, its spectacularly versatile, gifted and delightful star.

The episodes written and directed by Haigh are so perfect they make me want to sing (I can't sing); the episodes written and directed by others are all right, but more tedious than fascinating.

The very, very best episodes are the ones featuring Groff (Patrick) and Raúl Castillo, who plays Patrick's boyfriend Richie. They're the sweetest, sexiest, and yet most thoroughly believable romantic scenes I've ever seen anywhere. No melodrama, lots and lots of truth and intelligence. An American never could have created such a program as Looking; very few from anywhere could have either, which is why I call Haigh a genius.

The first season follows an arc, but a quality arc, not a story arc. They get consistently better through Episode Five, then gradually fall off after that. But even at its worst, Looking is the very best there is.

Two of the lead actors (Groff and Murray Bartlett) are openly gay, which helps A LOT. Not only does it increase Looking's credibility, but it minimizes the number of stupid, insulting but evidently obligatory "How was it kissing a man?" interviews with straight actors.

A flip look at a topic that some people think you should only approach seriously...

[Howlin Wolf · 7/10 · 29 January 2014]

The show is called "Looking", therefore, they are 'looking' for encounters. It's not pretending to be any different than what it is.

People may say that it's an unflattering representation - but it's still a highly pushed gay show... When the market is flooded with examples of such, then you can choose the one that's the most ennobling, but for now, it's still a small step in the right direction... We've had serious programs like "Queer as Folk" before, but never something so conventional and light hearted, whose only difference from similar shows with straight leads is that it's told from an alternative point of view. It may focus on a minority of a minority, but so what? I think that's only because it's trying to be less 'pro-advancement', and more casual.

It's getting so much attention because programs that are perceived to be 'flagship' in some way often have the most difficulty bedding in. They're expected to carry the can for everything, and you can't please all of the people, all of the time. That's why it's getting a fair amount of criticism, I think, because it's not weightier, given the subject it takes on.

Wow 10/10

[charlotteadams-93024 · 10/10 · 4 December 2019]

Wow. I never give things 10/10 but Looking has to be an exception.

The writing, acting and directing are first class, and it's very funny. The characters are rounded and flawed - you care about them, but they aren't perfect - just like real human beings! They are forced to confront themselves at various points, and find out who they are, which isn't always what they thought they were. Uncomfortable though that is, these are experiences we all have in our lives, and are rendered with integrity and humour here.

All three of the (very different) main characters were beautifully cast. Jonathan Groff was immediately relatable as the anxious, rather naive, nice-looking white boy Patrick. Dom played by Murray Bartlett looked (presumably intentionally) like something straight out of Tales of the City with his tache, a guy on the cusp of early middle age, realising that he needs to take a leap into doing something more solid with his life (workwise as well as sex/relationship wise). And Frankie Alvarez - diminutive in stature but not charisma - was stunning as Agustin, a seemingly confident guy sliding down the path into self-negating oblivion, before trying to rebuild himself.

I really liked that the main parts weren't too Hollywoody. They didn't look like Instagram models. OK, so none of them are exactly ugly, but there wasn't any of that Tom Daley abs stuff that is (at least to me as a straight woman) really off-putting and unrealistic. They had soft bits and hairy bits just like real dudes!

The sex scenes were not overly graphic, but they seemed fairly realistic, and were often romantic and tender as well as funny (just like real-life sex). There were also lots of nice views of the male body and attractive boys making out. (Despite being half the population, women don't often get the chance to view storytelling through eyes other than the "straight male gaze" and it's always a breath of fresh air to have men/male beauty objectified on film. That women can often only find this approach in gay male-themed films is telling, but another story.)

The other characters were also well cast and, as a Brit, it was nice to see British actors such as O-T Fagbenle and Russell Tovey in there (as well as British director Andrew Haigh). I've never been a huge fan of Russell Tovey (didn't like him at all in recent BBC drama Years and Years) but the part of Kevin works for him. Is it because the role he plays is similar to his own character, a working-class gay bloke with a bit of an attitude problem? Not sure.

As a female viewer, I would've personally liked to see a few more fully fledged female characters. However Lauren Weedman was very funny and relatable as Doris, the ballsy and acerbic kind of woman gay men tend to love, and had an amazing chemistry with Dom. You really believed they'd known each other for years.

Otherwise, perfection. Even with Russell Tovey in the mix ;)

Interesting - But a little like cotton candy

[selwocm · 7/10 · 8 March 2014]

While "Looking" does attempt to address some of the many situations of the average gay, it falls a little short on the reality. A bit fluffy and with so many stereotypes in the line up of characters, it comes across as a bit too Hollywood. I suppose that this is necessary in order to catch the attentions of the "Non gay" audience… after all most of the straight people out there who turn on the t.v. to watch this series on a regular basis, must have quite a bit of curiosity about us. It's almost like a bad accident: You simply can't turn away, you have to look just one more time and see what's going on. Well, "Looking" is much the same way. I remember when watching "Brokeback Mountain" for the first time. I was more interested in the audience's reaction to the first deep mouth to mouth kiss and also when the belt came off and the action started in the tent. The audience gasped and then went silent. I watched as the people in the theater began to squirm in their seats and turn away - it was uncomfortable for them. The little whispers in the theater were of disgust and revulsion. Oh well… life goes on and this scene gave a hint of it - like it or not! This series has some really great potential, if the producers and writers decide to get down to some serious creativity. I hope that by the time the story gets started, the public can see that we gay people have a lot more in common with the straights than simply "Looking!" We are real people who live our lives in a heterosexual world all the while fitting into society in our own way. I'm going to continue following this story just because there is so little on the tele. anymore to keep a person from falling asleep with the remote. Hopefully, there will be some really memorable moments before the series ends and it will provide some insight for the curious out there in t.v. land. I'm glad I live in the 21st century… we have come a long way and it's nice to see something gay on t.v.

Unremarkable and Not Memorable

[rhearob · 3/10 · 20 January 2014]

I was initially excited to see this show. I even set my DVR for it. I was excited by the promised "realness" of the series.

First, the format. 30 minutes is WAY too short an episode length for a story of this pace. These are characters you need time to get to know and develop an interest in. The first episode should have been a double episode if you are going to keep it at 30 minutes.

Second - this isn't a comedy. At its best it is a dramedy. Is angst-edy a word? If not this show should trademark it. Thats what this show really seems to be, an executive summary of gay angst. I didn't expect it to be Big Bang Theory or Will & Grace. I didn't expect it to be boring and barely make me crack a smile either.

Jonathon Groff oozes a boyish charm off the screen almost effortlessly. It makes you want to know more about his character, like a fleeting eye contact with someone you find interesting. Unfortunaltely at the end of the episode I didn't even remember his characters name until I came here.

Dom I found interesting by reference. He reminded me very much of Michael Tolliver from Tales of the City. He seemed like where Michael may have been if I didn't have all of those other Tales of the City books to already complete Michaels story arc. That was really the only reason at the end of the episode that I remembered Dom.

The other one - Agustin? He's just parsley to the other two characters Protein and Side dish so far. You could take him completely away from the story and it wouldn't matter one bit. Oh yeah, he had some milquetoast threesome and the most sex of anyone on the show. So what?

To follow on a previous posters comments and compare to QaF. At the end of the first episode of that show, I had some sort of investment in the characters - love them or hate them. I wanted to see what happens next to them. Right now with Looking, not so much.

With only 7 episodes left if there's not some major developments, I see a one season run. Right now this is not "must see TV". Its not a show that I will care whether or not the DVR is set for. Its good background noise if I am working on something else. I was hoping for more.

I hardly write reviews

[fsfigge · 10/10 · 10 March 2021]

And I'm not one to go out of my way to watch gay shows either (I am gay), but this one really hit me, just an overall good feeling show about love for gays without hardships or discrimination. The characters are lovely, I personally am in love with Dom, but I really enjoy how they've all played out. Really unfortunate that HBO decided to cancel it and all we got was a movie to finish it off. I need more!! To sum it up it's a great show with a very nice atmosphere and decently emotional writing. 9/10

Looking was ahead of the time

[farkasmatej · 10/10 · 18 February 2021]

Looking is my favorite LGBT show. It is very nicely done, very real with characters you can relate to.

It was way ahead of the time, I believe it would be more popular now, maybe on a streaming service would get more seasons.

The show is nice and very realistic. As a part of the LGBT community, I found their problems and stories very relatable and true.

It is no Hollywood BS, just real guys, no posh word or anything.

I wish it would have more seasons, I miss it.

I've never felt so connected

[valeriobotello · 10/10 · 22 March 2018]

This was honestly the best TV series I've ever seen, it just felt real. I think that's why was so drawn to it watch it!!!

Watch out for the must-see Looking! (See what I did there?)

[svanlijnden · 8/10 · 30 June 2014]

Looking follows a trio of friends in San Francisco as they deal with various dating conundrums and relationship drama. The first season consists of just eight, 30-minute episodes – which sucks, because this series is great and addictive.

Some people have called Looking the gay(er) version of Sex and the City, although that doesn't do the newcomer justice. There are funny bits, sure, but these flow naturally from everyday, believable situations. The tone is more documentary, far less exaggerated, and there isn't a new hook or theme each week. It's just a continuing story that is soap-like without getting soapy. The series doesn't rush, giving intimate scenes – with engaging, natural dialogue – room to breathe. Andrew Haigh's influence as a director is clear. He previously made the well-received movie Weekend, which has the same style. (Though not he but Michael Lannan is the main writer and creator of Looking.)

The cast is charming and convincing. And fairly hot, which doesn't hurt, as there is some not-too-crude nudeness. The three main players are Patrick Murray (Jonathan Groff) a twinky game designer who has awkward sexual tension with his boss, Agustín (Frankie J. Alvarez) a scruffy artist who has trouble finding his inspiration and Dom (Murray Bartlett) a mustached, beefcake waiter with ambitions of opening his own restaurant. Supporting are the scruffy artist's boyfriend (O.T. Fagbenle), Dom's business partner and potential love interest Lynn (Quantum Leap and Enterprise's Scott Bakula), Patrick's aforementioned boss (Russell Tovey of Being Human), Dom's best girl-friend Doris (Lauren Weedman) and last but not least; Richie (Raúl Castillo), Patrick's hot and sincere love interest. An entire, sweet and sexy episode simply follows Richie and Patrick on their first date.

It's great to see a group of characters who are representative of gay life without trying too hard. They aren't caricatures and the series doesn't strain something trying to check all the boxes of all the sub-scenes within the gay scene. It doesn't run screaming from gay stereotypes but also doesn't overly sashay towards them. The Big Gay Issues have yet to take center stage – marriage, adoption, discrimination – the show being less militant than something like Queer as Folk. (Opinions may differ on that being good or bad for the gay cause.) Though there is barely a straight person in sight, and only one recurring woman in the cast, anybody watching the series could easily relate to the emotional turmoil these characters go through, regardless of their own orientation.

I generally prefer quality over quantity, but Looking is too high- quality for me to not want more quantity. So it's good that a second season is in the works, due late 2014 / early 2015. I guess that it will feature a love-triangle (or two) and I hope that it will show a bit more of the origin of the 'main three'. You don't see them together a lot and their dynamic with each other hasn't really been explored. As long as it stays this good, I will certainly keep Looking.

More reviews at: www.popcultjunk.com / Twitter: @PopCultJunk

Fantastic

[elizabethstaurland · 8/10 · 23 April 2019]

Have watched this show multiple times, and still love it. It's very natural and entertaining, was happy when it at least was a movie to be seen regarding the ending. I really enjoy that it's about the gay scene, which I don't think there is enough good series and movies about.

So good!! Why the hell did this get cancelled.

[mstudor · 10/10 · 15 January 2021]

After 2 seasons I just wanted more and more of this show. Such a shame it was cancelled!! Bring it back!!!

kinda liked

[g-us · 20 January 2014]

I think looking was a nice add on hbo's viewers (mostly the ones already used with girls as my case). Well, i liked the fact of not oversexualizing it as it was queer as folk and not glamourise as well, in my opinion made it way less kitsch than the first one mentioned. For the pilot episode was kinda of expectation breaking. Would be expected to see tones of penises and sexuality.Though i thought they were portrayed very minimalistically and in a more human being way than just "gay appealing". Other positive point i liked was the fact that they let much more for your imagination lead you than just throwing it at your face to impress in a pretentious way. I hope they can improve the lines and achieve a bit of girls acid writing which id say is my favourite show on TV now. I hope people open their minds to accept and the gay crowd finally unlink themselves of the QAF remake. Lokking forward to see what happens

Not perfect but should not have been cancelled

[qui_j · 7/10 · 27 March 2021]

The series wasn't an absolutely stellar one, but didn't deserve early cancellation. The problem was more with the quality of writing and superficiality of the script. There was no deep exploration of the characters and that made it seem as if they were people who just went from day to day without a plan. There were too many scenes where the dialog in the group resulted in babbling, unfinished sentences and talking over one another. That became annoying early on. It could have had a long run like "Queer as Folk" (US version) did if the writing had been more thoughtful and focused. Despite all the failings, it really did not merit cancellation as it could have been easily salvaged, had the shortcomings been appropriately addressed. It is far better than the current series "Generation" which is really over the top with all the non-binary, gender fluid stuff....without any story attached!

Because the sudden cancellation by HBO must have come as as a surprise to the series creators, S2 ended without closure. The movie made a year later was an attempt to tie up loose ends and bring closure to the story arc. As such, it is done very mechanically and hurriedly, with a very trite script and a "happily ever after" ending. Not a great end for a series that started with such a lot of promise and potential!

Looking Natural

[derrickluciano · 10/10 · 10 July 2014]

One of the best gay themed TV series I've seen. A splice of gay life of 30's-40's men in SF, showing their loves and insecurities.

The story focuses on three gay friends: Patrick an efficient game designer who has issues with his Mexican boyfriend Richie, and later develops some tension with his British boss Patrick; Agustin, an artist testing the boundaries with his bf Frank; Dom a 40's guy who is eager to start his restaurant business and then maybe finding something more than just a business relationship with partner, the older guy Lynn.

I am not sure why the other commentators find the series boring or slow. Probably they only watched the first episodes. I suggest watch it in full. It is moderately paced. It takes time to get to know the characters but you will get involved in the end. That's how I experienced it.

The acting is quite natural and their conversations feel like ad-libs. Kudos to Jonathan Groff as Patrick, who seems not to be acting at all. Get perked with Kevin with his British sways and accent. Sympathize with romantic Richie or feel the nervousness of Dom as he prepares for the pop-up. You can feel Agustin's loneliness at the train scene. And I wouldn't mind having Doris as a friend.

Now I'm looking forward to Looking Season 2!

Looking Makes You Feel Better About Yourself

[southfljb · 7/10 · 28 January 2015]

Looking has turned out to be the best therapy ever!

The writers on Looking have done an excellent job flushing out three personalities, all of which have major issues when it comes to finding "the one".

Patrick (The Star)lives under a velvet curtain of shame. Shame about sex, shame about being gay, shame about the men he is attracted to (Richie). He makes bad choices in order to please his overbearing mother and he has no confidence in his ability to make choices, usually he screws up.

Agustin is a self destructive narcissist who makes one bad choice after another, usually ending up in another dirty gutter in the Tenderloin. Addicted to everything, he uses his friends for a place to stay and food while he spends his money on drugs and booze. I guess he gets it from his wealthy family, because he has been unemployed pretty much since the start of the show. His friends enable him and he seems to like it that way. He is a manipulator who will sabotage his friends relationships to ensure his own survival. He is my least favorite character.

Dom is a dreamer, he wants big things, but I think in the end he is to lazy to actually achieve anything. He is easily prone to anger and there are times I think he could get violent. His interest in Linn seems to be more opportunistic than anything else. He is also a sex addict with skin as thin as rice paper.

Patrick's boss, Kevin is a total DB. A cheating liar who only has two years to find a yank to marry so he does not get shipped back to the council flats in London. Kevin's boyfriend is a mean drunk and it's obvious he does not really love him. I think Kevin is using Patrick for both his needs in the present and the future.

Richie and Linn are the only decent guys on the show. Honest and with big hearts, they have been hurt in the past and they tread lightly. Linn is very self protective and I don't think he really trusts Dom, he does not let him in and until Dom can prove himself I don't think he will.

Richie is a man with integrity and is true BF material. Patrick is to caught up in his own crap to realize it and I don't think Patrick loves Richie anyway. I think he feels bad that he has hurt Richie but he is afraid of what his family will think so he destroyed the relationship, which sounds like its been a pattern.

Besides the aforementioned emotional problems, their apartments are horrible. Linn is the only one with a nice place, the other apartments are nasty old places that I would never live in. I can't imagine wanting to live in SF if that is the only place you can afford. Even Frank's (less expensive) apartment in Oakland looked like a crime scene from COPS.

So if you want to feel better about your own place in life, check out Looking, it is a good show and I like it, but it is also one big pot of mess.

Finally TV that's safe to watch with your grandmother!

[writemcowboy-38-612824 · 2/10 · 25 January 2014]

Ever have one of those times with the family when you flip on the TV, it's tuned to HBO and there is something really sexual and graphic going on? Awkward! But rest assured that with HBO's new show "Looking" you will be spared from anything like that. Yes, the show is about gay men in San Francisco but the show insists that they are not "those kind of gays."

Yes, the pilot opened with the lead character, Patrick, having a sexual encounter in the bushes. But don't worry Grandma, it was only the briefest of hand jobs? (It was hard to tell what was going on, because the camera started to pan down and then quickly bounced back up to a safe shoulder level.) And then the character spent the rest of the episode apologizing for the lapse even saying something to the effect that he's not one of "those kind of gays."

And yes, later in the episode, Patrick's room mate, Agustin and his boyfriend have only the most polite of three-ways. But nothing for MeMaw to look askance at, because apparently sex for these guys means getting on one's knees and breathing on someone's zipper. Afterward they ask themselves if "We're those guys now?" Which assures us that no, they can't be. Who would want to watch a show about "those kind of gays?"

Then there was Dom, the third character in their storyline. (although I'm not sure if storyline is the right word for the meandering non-events which comprised the pilot.) He is (gasp!) pushing 40 and knows that means the end of his sexual viability. Apparently this show takes place in some alternative universe version of San Francisco in which they have never heard the term "hot daddy." For while in the real world there are gay boys who hit 40, grow the 'eff' up and become MEN the guys on this show are not "those kind of gays."

Perhaps your Nana is the racy type who even watched "Sex and The City." You can assure her that "Looking" is exactly like SATC except without all the pesky humor, poignancy, nudity, sex positive messaging or compelling story lines. And yes there have been other series and movies which would have us believe that tired stereotype that gay men are witty, daring and lead lives that are even remotely interesting, but you and your Grandma can watch without worrying about encountering any of that because the guys on "Looking" are definitely NOT "those kind of gays."