I first watched Husbands because I am a tremendous fan of Jane Espenson and everything she does. I was positively aglow at the thought that she had waded into the territory of such a topical and close-to-my-heart issue as gay marriage. I had no idea before I started to watch it how completely in love I would fall with these characters.
Cheeks presses right up against the stereotype of what a flamboyant gay man is and both embraces the idea that stereotypes come from somewhere and the idea that we are more than just the stereotype. Played with a comfortable ease by series co-creator Brad Bell, Cheeks is a delightfully funny and unabashedly smart character who does not shy away from himself and his opinions.
His husband, Brady, is instantly lovable and relateable. He comes from a place much closer to where most people resonate than does Cheeks and we look to him to understand how we're supposed to feel in any given moment. Sean Hemeon is a revelation, somehow managing to play the character with a sense of open-heartedness that never comes close to the hokeyness a lesser actor would bring to the role. He also has the distinction of being one of the most charming actors I've ever seen.
The pair together are as real as real gets. I know guys like these in my life and I love them both there and on this show. The chemistry between Bell and Hemeon is so great, in fact, that I almost wonder if they are telling a story about some version of themselves together.
Alessandra Torresani is the perfect hag for this duo. She is simultaneously able to capture the complete ridiculousness that comes from the soul of a person who begins drinking as soon as the sun comes up in the morning and steals the fruit out of the hotel fruit bowl and the unwavering heart required to be Cheeks's best friend.
The dialogue, in characteristic Espenson style, is witty beyond belief. The story is current without verging on feeling stale. And, perhaps more importantly, it never once wades into the territory of the traditional gay fare populated by bad actors reading terrible lines in front of people who don't know how to make a movie. Which is saying something, considering the fact that the first season was produced on a shoe-string budget.
This show is truly a remarkable piece of storytelling. It is beyond relateable, which is why it is beyond effective. It does all it does without ever once being preachy. And oh yeah, if that wasn't enough already, it's funny as hell. Anyone who hasn't yet seen this show is doing themselves a disservice.
Cheeks presses right up against the stereotype of what a flamboyant gay man is and both embraces the idea that stereotypes come from somewhere and the idea that we are more than just the stereotype. Played with a comfortable ease by series co-creator Brad Bell, Cheeks is a delightfully funny and unabashedly smart character who does not shy away from himself and his opinions.
His husband, Brady, is instantly lovable and relateable. He comes from a place much closer to where most people resonate than does Cheeks and we look to him to understand how we're supposed to feel in any given moment. Sean Hemeon is a revelation, somehow managing to play the character with a sense of open-heartedness that never comes close to the hokeyness a lesser actor would bring to the role. He also has the distinction of being one of the most charming actors I've ever seen.
The pair together are as real as real gets. I know guys like these in my life and I love them both there and on this show. The chemistry between Bell and Hemeon is so great, in fact, that I almost wonder if they are telling a story about some version of themselves together.
Alessandra Torresani is the perfect hag for this duo. She is simultaneously able to capture the complete ridiculousness that comes from the soul of a person who begins drinking as soon as the sun comes up in the morning and steals the fruit out of the hotel fruit bowl and the unwavering heart required to be Cheeks's best friend.
The dialogue, in characteristic Espenson style, is witty beyond belief. The story is current without verging on feeling stale. And, perhaps more importantly, it never once wades into the territory of the traditional gay fare populated by bad actors reading terrible lines in front of people who don't know how to make a movie. Which is saying something, considering the fact that the first season was produced on a shoe-string budget.
This show is truly a remarkable piece of storytelling. It is beyond relateable, which is why it is beyond effective. It does all it does without ever once being preachy. And oh yeah, if that wasn't enough already, it's funny as hell. Anyone who hasn't yet seen this show is doing themselves a disservice.