Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
It’s a Sin is about a group of friends dealing with the AIDS epidemic in London between 1981 and 1991.
The series opens in 1981, with Ritchie Tover (Olly Alexander) leaving his small-town home to go to college in London. While in college, he comes out of the closet and begins having sex various men, some of whom he becomes close friends with. There is Roscoe (Omari Douglas), a black man who fled to London to escape his religious, homophobic parents; Jill Baxter (Lydia West), a fellow student; and Ash Mukherjee (Nathaniel Curtis), who he meets through Jill.
While Ritchie is partying and making new friends, Colin Morris-Jones (Callum Scott Howells) gets a job in London as a clerk in a high scale men’s fashion shop. He rents a room from a family and adheres to their strict rules. At work he becomes friendly with Henry Coltrane (Neil Patrick Harris), who comes out to him and introduces him to his partner, Juan Pablo (Tatsu Carvalho). The three become close until when Henry falls ill and is hospitalized, leaving Colin alone.
One night, Colin goes to a gay bar, where he meets Roscoe, and is introduced to Ritchie and his friends. He gets invited to a party at Roscoe’s apartment, which he’s sharing with Ritchie, Ash, and Jill. Colin, who is the only person there in a suit and tie, wanders the party amazed. He overhears Jill saying that they still have a spare room to rent out. When Colin’s alone with Roscoe, he asks if he can rent the space, which he finds out he would have to share with Roscoe. Colin is fine with that, and with all the central characters together, the story begins.
Some Thoughts:
It’s a Sin is a realistic portrayal of what it was like to be part of the LGBT community back the 1980s. The acting, writing, and direction make for an engrossing and emotional roller coaster of a series. Have a box of tissues nearby, because you’re going to cry.
This film captures the fear, anger, and discouragement that came with being a gay man in the 1980s. Of all the films I’ve seen that deal with this dark period in LGBT history, It’s a Sin does the best in capturing the highs and lows of that decade. Nothing is sugar coated or glossed over.
As for the acting, cinematography, and production values, it’s all exceptional. Nothing about this series feels false or overstated. All of the characters are multidimensional, so there are no purely rotten people.
If I had to criticize one thing, it’s that the series should be longer. It would have been nice to know more about Colin and Jill, but this is a very minor gripe.
The Final Verdict:
It’s a Sin is an exceptional series that should not be missed. Its depiction of the AIDS crisis is honest, with characters and stories that ring true. Each episode heightens the emotional impact, leaving the viewer reaching for the tissues by the end.