HOOKED from the very first episode, Channel 4 viewers couldn’t help but binge It’s A Sin leaving them “sobbing”.
The new drama by Queer As Folk boss, Russell T Davies charts the early days of the HIV pandemic in Britain.
The first episode dropped on Friday, with new episodes premiering weekly but eager fans could not wait and binged the entire series on Channel 4’s streaming service.
Described as possibly the first British drama dedicated to the impact of HIV in the 1980s and 1990s, It’s A Sin has already made a mark on the cultural landscape with many describing the show as “phenomenal”.
The groundbreaking story follows Ritchie Tozer – played by Years and Year singer Olly Alexander in a star making performance – as he moves to the bright lights of London to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.
Ritchie moves in to the ‘Pink Palace’ with a group of friends who begin to explore their sexuality and the promising optimism of adulthood before the HIV pandemic brings their lives crashing down.
It’s A Sin documents the shocking lack of care, misinformation, discrimination and stigma those at high risk of acquiring HIV faced.
Viewers described “hyperventilating crying” as they wrapped up the emotionally poignant series.
“I finished It’s a Sin last night… bawled my eyes out crying. Beautiful performances from the cast and exceptional writing as usual from Russell T. Davies,” wrote one Twitter user.
Another added: “I finished It’s a Sin last night… balled my eyes out crying. Beautiful performances from the cast and exceptional writing as usual from Russell T. Davies.”
And a third said: “My face hurts from crying so much. I just sobbed through episode 3,4 & 5 of it’s a sin. It’s such an incredible show.”
The drama also stars acclaimed actors Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry and rising stars, Omari Douglas, Nathaniel Curtis, Lydia West and Colin Morris-Jones.
It’s A Sin hit close to home for those who faced the early days of the pandemic, which has been credited for its accuracy and honesty.
The show’s accuracy makes sense given Davies drew on his own experiences as a young man in London to tell the story.
“A lot of it is based on myself, people I know and stories that people have told me from over the decades,” he said.
Others working on the drama who might either be too young or not directly impacted by HIV, got to understand more about the pandemic thanks to the show, according to producer Nicola Shindler.
She remembered the fear-mongering around HIV in the 1980s, including the grim ‘iceberg’ TV advert released by the Department of Health.
But It’s A Sin helped her understand so much more about HIV and how it changed the lives of so many young people.
“Russell’s writing made me understand for the first time, that it’s not the end result which is the tragedy, it’s the lives beforehand,” Shindler explained.
“It’s just the joy of these young kids who are 18 or 19, who had everything to live for, who just wanted fun and this awful event, not event, this awful virus happened to them and happened to lots of their friends and families.”
It’s A Sin is available to stream in full on 4OD now.
