Look at the pretty boys in the icon .... Become addicted to the pretty boys in the icon

[allyndra]

I haven't watched soap operas since I was about thirteen, when my sister and I used to spend our summers immersed in Another World. (It was back when Anne Heche was playing Vickie and Marley Love. I think I had a crush on Marley.) Without in any way denigrating the genre, I thought I had outgrown soaps. So imagine my surprise at finding myself, at the age of 29, madly addicted to a soap opera that doesn't even broadcast in my country.

I found Hollyoaks by accident on YouTube. I was looking for the post that used to show all of David Hewlett's part of Century Hotel, but could only find a shorter clip of the kiss. In the comments posted to that clip, there were some very annoying people who insisted that the kiss wasn't hot because the men were "too old" or "not attractive" (are they BLIND?), and pointing to other good kisses. Which led me to Craig and John Paul.

Do you know how much time one can spend watching TV clips on YouTube? It's addictive; one night I got (literally) a half hour of sleep because I didn't pry myself away from the computer until 6:00am. There's so much angst and hotness on this show! Craig is so needy that I feel for him, even if he's a total ass much of the time, and John Paul is adorable without being Mary Sue-ish. I know they won't have a happily ever after, since that doesn't fit the parameters of a soap opera, but I want one for them. 

I have also recently been sucked into the Luke and Noah storyline on As the World Turns (through YouTube, not on TV), and there are some definite similarities. Both involve one boy who accepts himself as gay and one who is in complete denial. Accepting!boy falls for denial!boy and they become friends. Denial!boy wants accepting!boy badly, but tries to hide it with a serious girlfriend and lots of "I'm not gay!" Eventually, denial!boy can't help himself and falls on accepting!boy lips-first.

So, lots of similarities, but I think Hollyoaks does it better. For one thing, it shows the violence and intensity of homophobia as a social problem (rather than a single person's bigotry) much more clearly. For another thing, the acting is, on the whole, better. And finally, where ATWT has allowed Luke and Noah only a few kisses, Hollyoaks has Craig and John Paul in bed.

If you want to get sucked into the drama of pretty, angsty ,gay English boys and (like me) don't get them on TV, go to YouTube and search for da33431, who has been posting the John Paul and Craig relevant segments.  If you're in the UK and have been watching on TV, feel free to mock me or gloat, whichever you are led to. :o)

Comments

[rasah.livejournal.com]

I KNEW that character would turn out to be gay!!! I haven't watched Holyyoaks for YEARS, but I just had a look at one of those clips (well, the first few seconds anyway - it's taking forever to load) and I KNEW that dark haired one (who I seem to remember is Craig?) would turn out to be gay!!!

Isn't Hollyoaks on BBC America? Or do you have to subscribe to that channel? (I have NO idea how it works ;D) hmmm.. i might have to go try to load a few of those clips... Thanks for the pointer!

[rasah.livejournal.com]

*puts on best Kahn voice* NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

It got right to the bit where Craig was about to kiss the other guy and CRASHED!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I tell you what though, the guy playing Craig has got a hell of a lot better acting-wise - he was a bit rubbish last time I watched... :D

Oh and thanks for getting me addicted to another TV show ;P

[allyndra.livejournal.com]

You poor thing! What a time for it to crash, too.

Oh and thanks for getting me addicted to another TV show *grins evilly* You're welcome!

[allyndra.livejournal.com]

It is on BBC America, but I don't get it. I would have to upgrade to digital cable, which costs far too much. *pouts* So no Hollyoaks and no Torchwood for me.

[kaizoku.livejournal.com]

The one on the bottom kind of looks like a young Al Gore. Or maybe it's just the concerned!environmentalist face.

Anyway, yay for boy-kissing in bed! And tv shows that show homophobia as a social problem!

[allyndra.livejournal.com]

The one on the bottom is John Paul, whom I actually find more attractive of the two. But now I'm imagining them having a deep, passionate discussion about recycling. *snickers*

And tv shows that show homophobia as a social problem! I think ASWT has done a decent job with the Luke and Noah storyline, within the constraints of their format, but the only person who appears to have any problem with homosexuals is the psycho, homicidal father. It makes bigotry into something only unbalanced people feel or express, which means the day to day issues of homophobia are never addressed at all. It bugs me, so I was pleased to see a slightly more realistic portrayal on Hollyoaks.

[ariadne83]

Oh man, what I wouldn't give for a storyline like this on Atlantis

[allyndra.livejournal.com]

Yes! Rodney can be the openly gay John Paul, and John can be the repressed, denial-laden Craig. They keep falling into bed, but then John pretends everything is normal (partly because he's military but partly because he's not ready to admit he's gay). It's very tragic and full of kissing up against walls and in puddlejumpers.