This docuseries is a lively and personal look at what it’s like to be queer in New Zealand today. Hosted by the really charming Aniwa Whaiapu Koloamatangi, it feels like you're being invited into all these different parts of the rainbow community that usually don't get much time on TV. The first season is made up of six episodes, each about 30 minutes long, and they all dive into different topics like family, faith, and the specific experience of being Takatāpui, which is the Māori queer identity. It does a really nice job of balancing the tough history of the LGBTQ+ community with a lot of modern-day happiness and pride. The show starts with Aniwa traveling all over the place to meet folks from every walk of life to see how their background and identity mix together. In the first episode, Aniwa actually takes his first HIV test, works through some stuff from his childhood by playing rugby with the NZ Falcons—one of the country’s gay teams—and checks out what Rainbow Youth is d...
Beau proposes to his girlfriend Lily (who we are told could be bisexual) and they soon get married. Their life goes on a spiral when Lily is diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and it seems like she will really not survive for long. Lily's twin brother Caden then movies in with them to help out and take some burden off Beau. There are moments of frustration as Lily fights through cancer and Beau is very unsure of what his life would be without Lily. But what Lily notices is that the two men who once shared a tense relationship and slowly getting used to one another and maybe even fond of each other. This is when Lily individually proposes to both guys that nothing would make her happier than for her brother and her husband to be together as a couple when she is gone. They are both surprised to hear this but not shocked. They even laugh about it on how this is possible. Caden then tell Beau that he has had some experience with men before, so he is willing to try but this is completely new territory for Beau. They kiss but they stop right there. Eventually, Lily dies and the two men end up having sex. While Caden is ok with everything, Beau completely freaks out and doesn't know what's happening. Eventually, he asks Caden to stay with him. He know he likes him and is willing to try but he will need time.
The primary three actors all do a good job of their character. They all have good chemistry and the whole premise is slightly unbelievable. Also, for some outgoing people, not seeing any friends or family is a very weird thing. Lily's parents are so cold on her news of cancer, that you wonder if they are even humans! They have absolutely no empathy. And the doctor whom Lily sees is the weirdest ever. All she paints is a gloomy picture for Lily without a single ray of hope. I really hope no doctor in real life is so blunt and odd. Coming back to story, I am not sure why Lily would suddenly want Beau to be with Caden. It is an odd idea to begin with, but the fact that a straight man would actually consider it is bizarre. I understand people do all kinds of things for love, but this is stretching a bit. Yes, maybe we all fall somewhere in middle on Kinsey scale, but still a straight man doing a 360 turn is highly unlikely. I mean why would Lily even come up with such an idea when neither man has shown any same sex inclination is beyond me and then someone actually going ahead with the idea is even weirder. Also the two of them having sex right after Lily does was uncalled for. I don't buy into that sort of grieving.
An interesting thought and a film with heart but the premise IMO is a bit absurd for anyone to actually believe in it. (5/10)
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