November 20, 2010
Lip Service Season 1: highlights and lowlights
They came. We saw. But did it conquer? Lip Service’s
It managed some impressive viewing figures, drawing in a 9% audience share – double the usual for that slot – and more than 500,000 each week, not including repeats and iPlayer downloads. But did people actually like it? And will there be a second series?
Central to the plot of the show has been the love story of Cat and Frankie. Best friends who got together, broke up and now are dealing with the after effects. We’ve grown to know Cat, played perfectly by Laura Fraser, as the woman permanently steeped in worry.
This girl can stress. And fret. So much so in fact, that her only method of de-stressing is uttering the words ‘fuck me’ at random inopportune moments – on a cab home, down the nick, or after a spot of light cooking.
Obedient girlfriend Sam is happy to oblige. She’s probably glad of the time-out from hearing Cat’s self-indulgent misery playing out a loop like a Radiohead album.
But when she isn’t stressing or expressing her desire for fucking, Cat is thinking about the well-spoken, floppy-fringed Frankie, who also likes fucking, just about anytime, anywhere.
And she certainly knows how to find a willing partner – just look at these random scenarios: bloke in bar says ‘you havin’ a bad day? Wanna talk about it?’ Cue some therapeutic toilet cubicle groping. Or how about catching a girl in a bookshop nicking a novel on how to look like Cruella de Vil… next thing you know, she’s getting pounded by a strap-on or shaving her ‘landing strip’ in a random pensioner’s bathtub.
But let’s not forget the defining Frankie fucking moment: the one in the morgue. That was most certainly her most bizarre conquest – shagging the funeral director’s secretary while a stiffy (as in dead body) watched on.
Not that we’re complaining about it. The BBC has come under fire of late for its lack of representation of gay people on TV, particularly its misrepresentation of lesbians on-screen.
So what would we prefer? No sex? More sex? It seems the corporation went for the ‘all sex’ option.
Looking back at six episodes of Lip Service, you can almost imagine the Beeb bosses sitting around the boardroom table imagining ways to address the criticism – and you can practically hear the sounds of dildos being thrown at the script.
But let’s not detract from the show’s real selling points. It has been both witty and gritty, and has tackled some important issues – discrimination at work from Cat’s pin-striped, fat-cat boss; commitment fears for both Jay and Frankie; family crises and adoption; Tess sleeping with a woman who was in a straight relationship; and Ed falling in love with his gay best mate.
Of course, some of these could have been explored more deeply, but there were only six parts to the first series and we can only expect so much.
In the short time that Lip Service has been on our screens, we have been titillated, amused and kept on the edge of our seats. As far as TV entertainment goes, that’s pretty much on the money.
Harriet Braun’s well-paced script was modern and brought to life what were potentially very stereotypical characters. With her direct and bold approach, plus the very capable acting skills of all involved, Lip Service managed to give us a memorable bunch of women and men with whom we could often relate.
It has its faults: the incessant sex attracted people to the show for the wrong reasons and gave the show a reputation for being soft-core porn. Fair criticism, but come on people, we’re making up for lost time here.
The last time the BBC gave us some girl-on-girl it was probably Sonya Jackson getting horny from holding hands with her bezzie ‘lezza’ mate while Marrrrr’in was on the stawl.
Sure, Frankie attracted slack for sporting some ridiculous clichés and being the Scottish (minus the accent) Shane from the L Word. Fair dinkum, but as the show progressed, Frankie became more real, losing the Shane tag and designing her own.
The vulnerability shown by actress Ruta Gedmintas was excellent and helped many to do a u-turn in opinion by the last episode.
And let’s not forget Heather Peace playing DS Waistcoat, Sam.
A fan’s favourite, as proved by our recent Lesbilicious poll, this copper’s love moves were bordering on criminal.
She smooth-talked the implosion of stress that is Cat into bed without so much as a stop and search and her character proved the perfect love rival for the unpredictable and emotionally volatile Frankie.
Aside from probably never even considering a shag in a morgue, Sam was sexy, strong and safe – everything that Cat would want you’d think. She even claims to put up shelves.
As the final episode comes to a close, the audience is left to wonder what will become of the tangled love triangle, setting us up perfectly for a second series (yes please BBC).
Still, it was nice to see Cat smiling at the end, even if it did take a bit of dry-humping from a charcoal-eyed Frankie. Waking up next to girlfriend Sam the next morning as well, she certainly was the Cat that got the cream.
The proof is, however, in the public, so let us know what you thought of the show. What were your Lip Service Season 1 highlights and lowlights?
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April 28, 2012
I thought it was an excellent first attempt from the beeb to give us girls the first bit of decent gay tv since Sugar Rush. The first episode (or two) did give the impression of being an L Word knock-off, but thankfully Frankie’s story developed beyond the i-had-a-troubled-youth-so-i’m-going-to shag-everything-in-sight stereotype. But for me, I have to admit I tuned in every week (and stayed up after to watch the replay at 1am, and the midweek repeat) because of Tess! She added the much needed humour, and in my opinion lifted the show from ok, excellent. Bring on Season 2!!!
Quite impressing !!
This was a big challenge as most of us were dying for another L-Word-type story for a long time. And the level was pretty high. Could have been a real dub but it actually rocked !!
True characters, great actresses and performances, very good management of the story finally ended as an amazing first series that makes us looking forward the second one !
I like the show it was something new the scenes and the camera settings made it feel so new and different. I also, like the acting skills they were really good and I enjoyed the funny parts of the first episode it was funny to me I was laughing a lot with Tess. I like and loved it I hope they keep it coming *fingers crossed*
Personally I thought it was dire! Let’s face facts here – this was another straight man’s fantasy about lesbians. Of course, sex sells but would it have been a move too far to have just one lesbian who was over 35? Heaven forbid that she would be successful without being a stereotypical dyke. It just seems to perpetuate the myth that lesbians start to fade away when they reach 40…
It could have been so much better… A totally missed oppotunity.
Overall I loved the series. I liked the humour, the writing the performances i thought were all excellent. I loved that it was set in Glasgow. Low points: The morgue sex scene and the low number of Lesbians & Scots in it. High points: I know I will sound like I’m contradicting myself here but the performance of Heather Peace was worth the watch alone. She could have made Sam the dull option but because she was so sexy and exciting, Cat’s dialemma was more believable. Also ep 3 the scene in Sam’s office was brilliant and made me go weak-kneed!Would like much more Sam in series 2.
Well i have to say i was tragically disappointed i mean if it didn’t have lesbians in it would any one actually have watched it!!!
I read some great reviews only to see some abysmally pore scrips, mediocre acting and well basically soft porn (best bit sadly)
I have to say im impressed with the Beeb but come on !!!!!!! get some decent script writers in and show us some quality stuff
please
I still feel I made the right decision to turn it off after the first scene of episode one.
So much talent in this country being wasted…
I still feel I made the right decision to turn it off after the first scene of episode one.
So much talent in this country being wasted…
p.s LesBel – your captcha code is incredibly hard to read! And the form resets when you get it wrong… grrrr
I Loved Lip service !!
It became my weekly routine for tuesday night
Never missed an episode
I think it is very influential as it helps young teens see that there are other people who are lesbian and who may be in the same position
It shows people to not be ashamed of your sexuality
Really hope there will be a second series!!!
Must admit i enjoyed it,despite being an older lesbian. Feel that those that switched off did`nt give it a chance(there loss). Well done to the Actresses and Actors also to the Author/writer of which could turn into a cult show given a chance.
My girlfriend and me have just loved this series… we’re looking forward for the next season. Unfortunately, here in Brazil, we don’t have so much freedom to catwalk with our girlfriends, but who knows? Little by little…
the Average teenager would love this.
Compared to interesting script-character driven dramas
i.e the cable Weeds,Six foot Under series’s,Lips was cliche,superficial, predictable& vacuous.
lipstick lesbians -sigh.
the “lesbians” may as well of es.
The script portrayed the same issues as so many mediocre hetero style modern so called “edgy dramas”
The writers obviously think sullen looks, indie music,promiscuity,suits and leather jackets maketh a lesbian.
What a waste of good actors.lift your game Beeb
even the far superior L word
was to prettified.
imagine the Weeds writer-her name escapes me -writing a lesbian drama -would be heaven-and hell!.