This made me laugh, because. When I was first told about the US version of QAF, I snorted, despised and went on and on about how they'd obviously never reach the quality level of the British version. The Brits were first, they did a helluva damn good job with the subject, most certainly had more British understated humour than the US version would ever have...
Yes, I generally moaned about quality.
Then, I watched the first ep of the first US season. And ooo boy. I didn't like it. It reinforced my beliefs that the Brits had done it better, and that this US version was simply crap. On top of it all, it was also carbon copy of original Brit eps, and yes, the blond kid did look like a monkey. Ugh.
But I kept watching. And after a while, it really did improve. I always try and give more than a couple of eps to a series to mature, because from experience, not many shows are tremendously good from the start. But a lot of them improve with popularity, and hence means. They get more money, more time, more people... they get better. The US QAF sure did.
Now, I really couldn't tell which of the two versions I like best. Despite their obvious similarities (same story, yo, lol), they're too different from one another to really compare. The Brits got humour and snark, and personalities hard to match. At least for the main characters. But that's for the short run.
And also, so far, the US version hasn't had as horrible a thing as the British QAF sequel. Ugh. Though that might come, too, in the end. I just hope not.
So yes, I love them all. One was love at first sight (the British one), and one grew on me (The US one), but I now love them both dearly. :-)
That said, I can totally see where you're coming from. I'd say that if you haven't made it past the first half of the first season (and I'd understand why you wouldn't have, coming from the British version), it's hard to get to love Brian and Justin and Michael as much as Stuart, Vince and Nathan from the start. But in the long run, I think it's totally worth the effort. lol.
And no, I'm not obsessed with the two shows... What would make you think that?
And Jules said I could ramble about QAF, so... but I think I might have overdone it a bit. Sorry! Just wanted to share my love for both QAF worlds! lol. Hope I wasn't completely out of line! :-)
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Date: February 7th, 2003 11:32 am (UTC)Yes, I generally moaned about quality.
Then, I watched the first ep of the first US season. And ooo boy. I didn't like it. It reinforced my beliefs that the Brits had done it better, and that this US version was simply crap. On top of it all, it was also carbon copy of original Brit eps, and yes, the blond kid did look like a monkey. Ugh.
But I kept watching. And after a while, it really did improve. I always try and give more than a couple of eps to a series to mature, because from experience, not many shows are tremendously good from the start. But a lot of them improve with popularity, and hence means. They get more money, more time, more people... they get better. The US QAF sure did.
Now, I really couldn't tell which of the two versions I like best. Despite their obvious similarities (same story, yo, lol), they're too different from one another to really compare. The Brits got humour and snark, and personalities hard to match. At least for the main characters. But that's for the short run.
The US have a few serious issues besides just homosexuality, they give a wider range of side stories, and certainly more wonderfully painted secondary characters. Like Jules says, Emmett is a fine example of where the Americans improved from the British show. It's not just about the main three characters anymore. We get to learn to know and love their friends, which really were mere superficial cliches in the British version. I always felt that Alex (Emmett's British counterpart, if I'm not mistaken) was a bit too much and not enough. Too much of a walking-talking cliché, and not enough of an in-depth character. So yes, that's where the US version finds quality.
And also, so far, the US version hasn't had as horrible a thing as the British QAF sequel. Ugh. Though that might come, too, in the end. I just hope not.
So yes, I love them all. One was love at first sight (the British one), and one grew on me (The US one), but I now love them both dearly. :-)
That said, I can totally see where you're coming from. I'd say that if you haven't made it past the first half of the first season (and I'd understand why you wouldn't have, coming from the British version), it's hard to get to love Brian and Justin and Michael as much as Stuart, Vince and Nathan from the start. But in the long run, I think it's totally worth the effort. lol.
And no, I'm not obsessed with the two shows... What would make you think that?
And Jules said I could ramble about QAF, so... but I think I might have overdone it a bit. Sorry! Just wanted to share my love for both QAF worlds! lol. Hope I wasn't completely out of line! :-)