Queer as Finale Fiasco

Last night the series finale of Queer as Folk aired in Canada and I think it may have topped Seinfeld in any disaster-finale competition. For a series that began as a thought provoking, boundary pushing, sexy as hell show, it ended with the cheesiest whimper you can imagine. Suddenly serious artist Justin saying to the suddenly boring old man Brian: "We don't need vows or rings to prove our love." I'm sorry, what happened to the ecstasy fuelled, fist pumping, no regard for societal rules or expectations attitude? It was replaced by one big, fat lame cliche.

It was as if the FCC suddenly mattered and it turned into a nice, family show. Michael and Ben adopt Hunter, the Human Rights coalition performs a press conference to make us feel warm and fuzzy and they ship the lesbians off to Canada. Or the writers couldn't figure out what the hell to do with other characters, so suddenly at Gay Ski Week, an old flame of Ted's turns up and some high school crush of Emmett's from whichever hick Southern state he's from magically appears and is, also magically, gay.

But don't take it from me. Take it from the lovely voiceover that plagued this episode, closing with the final words:
"So the "thumpa thumpa" continues. It always will. No matter what happens. No matter who's president. As our lady of Disco, the divine Miss Gloria Gaynor has always sung to us: We will survive.