Lip Service Episode One Review

The eagerly anticipated first episode of new UK drama Lip Service finally aired last week, at the rather unsociable time of 10:30 on BBC3.

Set in Glasgow the story revolves a set of twenty-something friends of varied sexualities. 

Like most first episodes, it gives us the background to each of the characters. We discover that Frankie  (played by Ruta Gedmintas) is a womanising photographer who badgered Cat (played by Laura Fraser) to leave her girlfriend; only to run off to New York without saying a word.  We find out the aunt that brought her up after her parents died has passed away but that they hadn’t spoken for ten years.  Viewers have drawn parallels with The L Word’s Shane but I think this character is more complex and emotional and one you are either going to love or hate.

Cat comes across as a neurotic, but likable, control freak who still hasn’t moved on from Frankie. Cat’s brother Ed (played by James Antony Pearson) is an unsuccessful writer with an obvious crush on lesbian Tess (played by Fiona Button) who provides the comic elements of the show (the scenes with celebrity Lou (play by Roxanne McKee) were also very cute.

Sam (played by Heather Peace) who we haven’t seen much of so far is the cool butch cop who is interested in Cat.

Jay (played by Emun Elliott) is the male equivalent of Frankie, but has surprisingly settled down with his girlfriend Becky.

Of course a series like this that has been broadcast on one of the minor BBC channels has to draw in viewers and this was secured by including the controversial sex scene in the undertakers next to a dead body.  Weirdly enough that didn’t shock me as much as what I felt was a rather unrealistic simulation of sex (or perhaps I've been doing it wrong all these years!)

I loved the phrase 'Lezzurrection' and Tess description of lesbian dating being sitting there 'looking hungrily at women hoping that they make the first move'. I also liked that they used real elements of the culture like GaydarGirls and Diva. I think that the portrayal of lesbians (barring the sex scenes) are pretty realistic so far and they have the clothing and culture down to a tee.  I would love to know how they all afford such nice apartments though!

On the whole I really enjoyed this first episode, and comparisons to The L Word aside, I think that this is a grittier more refreshing take on the lives of lesbians in the UK.

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