This Close (Web Series)

This is such an interesting 6 part series on Sundance Now. The fact that the two protagonists are deaf is both the whole point and completely beside it at the same time. And to top it, the actors who play the protagonists are actually the writers and stars and deaf in real-life makes it even more interesting. Sadly, I also fall in the category of people, like when our protagonist says “You focus on our disability, but not who we are.”

Michael and Kate are best friends. Michael is a graphic book writer, who is trying to get over his breakup with his boyfriend Ryan. He is on a downward spiral, most often drunk and dealing with the writer's block and hence unable to come up with the idea of next book, there by risking his future and breach of contract. Kate is confident, sparky young girl, who works at a PR firm. Her boyfriend Danny has just proposed her. Michael is not a huge fan of Danny but Kate wants them to work through. We later find out why Michael broke up with Ryan and now Ryan is trying to win him back. At the same time, Kate is struggling with her relationships with Danny and almost calls off the engagement. A lot of what transpires in the six half-hour episodes focuses on the things people fail to tell each other, either on purpose or because their communication systems are too flawed to function properly.

Kate And Michael being deaf is just one aspect, because the friendship they share and the romance and break-up they are dealing with is universal to all. But then this specific aspect also makes it important because Kate and Michael's relationship with others and with each other depends a lot on what and how much is communicated amongst all of them. Kate fights and reconciles with Danny, Michael does the same with Ryan, and Kate and Michael do the same thing with each other. The series thankfully has a comical touch to it and is not all serious. The ability to say nasty, smutty things about hearing people right in front of them using sign language, which is always good for a laugh. Its an interesting experience since there are very few dialogues and a lot of focus is on hands and mouths. The production quality if very high, the acting is brilliant by both main and supporting actors and this is an engaging watch. Having said this, the cliches of gays always have drinking and sex on mind and the PR workplace dynamics, sort of slide the series slightly downwards.

This is not strictly a gay series, but 50% focus on gay character and his life; and so definitely deserves to be reviewed her. Six episodes, each of 25 minutes is not much investment and trust me it will be worth it. (7/10)