People Like Us: Seasons 1 & 2 (Singapore)

People Like Us is a poignant reflection and insightful look at being gay in Singapore, following the lives of four gay men in Singapore as they navigate life and relationships. The series is raw and telling, never shying away from controversial topics while being respectful of the subjects addressed. There are 2 seasons, each with 6 episodes of about 7-8 minutes each. Singapore does have a weird standing where legally gay men have no rights, yet the city-state does have a very active, gay community. 

We meet 4 gay men based in Singapore. Joel has been looking for love but somehow all his ex's left him after sometime. He meets Ridzwan, a Malay origin muslim guy who is in closet. Something about. Him attracts Joel and he pursues him relentlessly till he agrees to go out. Before you realize they begin to like each other, but the conflict arises mostly due to Ridzwan not being out. We then have a 20-something old Indian origin army recruit who is constantly on Grindr looking for Mr. Right until he meets 45-year-old banker Isaac, whom he likes but Isaac friend zones him. Isaac is a late bloomer, was married and wants to enjoy and have sexual fulfillment. Rai meanwhile Haniff, they have chemistry, but something keeps Haniff away. Turns out he is positive and despite him liking Rai, he was afraid he will be snubbed. They talk and things start to look better. Meanwhile Isaac has ben having orgies and sexual relationships leading him to STI's and a bit of loneliness in the process.

While the first season was more focused on the men trying to find a partner, either sexually or romantically, this season focuses on the men having found someone now trying to navigate issues as they get to know each other better. By fleshing out each of their stories, we get a glimpse of their lives, their daily struggles, and their motivations. The respectful and realistic portrayals help us empathize with the plight and struggles of characters example Rai being hopeless romantic but realizing that finding love is not going to be easy. This portrayal sees gay men not as the caricatures we are used to but as real living people, humanizing them and allowing watchers to fully empathize with them. This series is affiliated some local foundations trying to also educate people  about sexually-transmitted diseases, particularly when it comes to HIV. The show tries to use the snippets of lives of these 4 men to not only entertain us but also educate the audience. The show makes you think that homophobia probably doesn't exist in Singapore but in season 2 , some elements of it are shown. We also get to see parents of these individuals and how these guys are balancing being out and open while their parents being ok about this fact. Overall, the show is an easy breezy watch. With its short episodes, it goes by quick. It won't be memorable but it's not bad either. An easy filler watch when you wanna see something that will not ask for too much time commitment from you. (5/10)