Russel T. Davies's new drama, It's A Sin opens in September 1981, following the lives of three young gay
men, Roscoe, and Colin who move to the big city: London. They form into a logical (some would say chosen) family along with Jill, and they experience every enjoyment of every freedom the city has to offer.
As the series moves through the decade, the subject matter darkens but never loses its funniness or joy of life. We see how HIV and AIDS affected the individuals themselves, their social circle, and even families who discover their son's sexuality through the most haunting circumstances. No spoilers, but keep your box of tissues close to hand.
The soundtrack especially gets an honorable mention – it features some of the biggest smash hits of the decade, including Blondie, Wham!, Erasure, and Queen. Paired with the impeccable acting by actors, many of whom weren't even alive in the 1980s, I was transported back in time.
The series is five one hour episodes and easily binged in an afternoon or evening. I recommend watching this, even if you didn't live through the 80's. Even now, in the time of Covid, this takes on a sort of resonance. We can empathize a bit more with the fear and uncertainty of the emergence of a new disease and crisis.
