In the Flesh

[kcw1986]

Don't know if anyone has seen this, but there's a new zombie drama on BBC3 and am pretty sure that the lead character is gay and he's a zombie.

Basically there was a zombie uprising where they killed loads of people then a cure was developed, it didn't bring them back to life but made their brains function normally and now their trying to fit into society as PDS suffers (Partially Deceased Syndrome). It's revealed that Kieron committed suicide after his "friend" died in afghanistan. He comes home to a small town where his parents have to hide him because the town hates rotters and has a special army that kills them which his sister belong to.

In ep 2 it's revealed that Kieron's friend rick is also a zombie he comes home and from their scenes is really suggested that they were in love.

Could be wrong but it's heavily implied in the second ep.

[kcw1986]

Heres the trailer there are three episode so one left.

[josean06]

I'm sad that there's only one episode left. But It's obvious that Kieron and Rick were lovers. It's unfortunate that they didn't upon it. The setting is well into the new millennium, but it feels like the 60's. The previews for the 3rd episode makes me think that there's going to be more, but I don't know that for sure.

They'd better address Kieron and Rick in the 3rd episode, some affection please?

[cosmic]

I guess this could be a spoiler? But there is an article that has been online since the first episode aired in which the writer/creator of the show is asked about Kieren and Rick (here) and this is what he says:

Kieran has a close friendship with Amy (introduced in episode two) and an almost romantic one with his friend Ric. Was that ambiguity intentional?

(highlight to read spoilers)
That was totally intentional. He’s not gay but he’s not straight. He’s more in love with the person than the gender. Ric is very uncomfortable with his relationship with Kieran. I don’t think it got to the point of having sex but it was maybe going that way and he couldn’t handle it. What’s so great about horror and fantasy is that you can talk about gender politics and identity freely.

In the Flesh is really story of identity. How do you fit in when you’re completely different and people are labelling you? The Goverment has labelled him a PDS sufferer; the HVF have labelled him as rotter and his family don’t know what he is. He goes through hell.

And, this could be a spoiler too, if you haven't seen the second episode...
(highlight to read spoilers)
After the scenes Kieren and Rick shared in the second episode, I don't understand how anyone could still be in doubt about whether there was something more than just friendship between them. It's completely obvious! But I've still seen people questioning it or getting annoyed when others say they now "ship" Kieren and Rick. Kieren even flat-out says they "messed around"! How much more proof do people need? Even if it wasn't some epic romance with deep feelings (though, clearly, there were deep feelings there—enough for Kieren to take his own life when he found out Rick had died), they definitely had some mutual attraction to each other, and they definitely had at least one instance where they were physically intimate with each other to some degree.

Anyway, I love this show. It's so, so, so good. I've been recommending it to everyone I know. I'm desperately hoping it gets a second season.

[kcw1986]

Mar 25, 2013 0:20:04 GMT -5 cosmic said:

I guess this could be a spoiler? But there is an article that has been online since the first episode aired in which the writer/creator of the show is asked about Kieren and Rick (here) and this is what he says:

Kieran has a close friendship with Amy (introduced in episode two) and an almost romantic one with his friend Ric. Was that ambiguity intentional?

(highlight to read spoilers)
That was totally intentional. He’s not gay but he’s not straight. He’s more in love with the person than the gender. Ric is very uncomfortable with his relationship with Kieran. I don’t think it got to the point of having sex but it was maybe going that way and he couldn’t handle it. What’s so great about horror and fantasy is that you can talk about gender politics and identity freely.

In the Flesh is really story of identity. How do you fit in when you’re completely different and people are labelling you? The Goverment has labelled him a PDS sufferer; the HVF have labelled him as rotter and his family don’t know what he is. He goes through hell.

And, this could be a spoiler too, if you haven't seen the second episode...
(highlight to read spoilers)
After the scenes Kieren and Rick shared in the second episode, I don't understand how anyone could still be in doubt about whether there was something more than just friendship between them. It's completely obvious! But I've still seen people questioning it or getting annoyed when others say they now "ship" Kieren and Rick. Kieren even flat-out says they "messed around"! How much more proof do people need? Even if it wasn't some epic romance with deep feelings (though, clearly, there were deep feelings there—enough for Kieren to take his own life when he found out Rick had died), they definitely had some mutual attraction to each other, and they definitely had at least one instance where they were physically intimate with each other to some degree.

Anyway, I love this show. It's so, so, so good. I've been recommending it to everyone I know. I'm desperately hoping it gets a second season.

I think when Kieron was telling Rick that he was trying to keep them alive and going in his head was pretty telling to be honest. They just seem to be soooooo close way more than friends would be.

[moonstruck-me]

Mar 24, 2013 20:43:42 GMT -5 kcw1986 said:

Heres the trailer there are three episode so one left.

The trailer is great!
I think I will check it out.

[josean06]

Has anyone seen the 3rd episode? I know that the ratings took a huge dip in the second episode, making me feel less optimistic about a second series.

A lot of people(reviews, viewers), are seeing this series as alluding to gays and how they are sometimes treated because they are different.

But I understand Rick and his reservations about his relationship with Kieron. His father needs to be taught a lesson. If his father wants to keep his son, he'll let him live his life.

[josean06]

Now that's it's over. I'm sad

But it truly was a good drama. I really liked it. Unfortunately the ending was bittersweet.

In my opinion, it really was about homophobia and in general non-acceptance.

[dalia]

really enjoyed it- even though every episode was pretty sad.

i wonder if it will be getting a 2nd series. if it doesn't i felt the ending of the 3rd episode was a good place to end it.

[kcw1986]

Even though I was expecting it the finale was really depressing, hope it does come back BBC3 doesn't have any supernatural shows anymore so theres a chance but I suppose the last episode did wrap up most of the things.

I did hate that they made the relationship between Rick and Kieron so ambigious though.

[dalia]

and apparently the writer wanted it to be ambiguous. he also stated that Kieren wasn't gay nor was he straight.

but in my mind he and Rick were both gay. the carving in the cave pretty much solidified my thoughts on it.

[kevvoi]

If you are in the states and have BBC America -- they are airing In the flesh starting August 3

Source: www.deadline.com/2013/04/bbc-america-sets-being-human-in-the-flesh-premiere-dates/

[cosmic]

Apr 2, 2013 12:30:59 GMT -5 kcw1986 said:

I did hate that they made the relationship between Rick and Kieron so ambigious though.

The scripts for episode 1 and 2 are up on the BBC website. Reading over the scripts, there are several lines (and a few scenes) that ended up being cut from the final version of the episodes (if they were even filmed at all). In regards to the ambiguity of Kieren and Rick's relationship, the scene where Kieren and Rick are talking alone in the truck, this exchange was cut:

RICK
You were gonna have such a brilliant life. I’d have slowed you down.

KIEREN
Is that why yer never wrote? Is that why yer never told yer Dad about us?

I think if the bolded line had been kept in the episode, it would have been crystal clear that they were more than just friends. I mean, referring to them as "us" in the context of the conversation they were having, I can't see any other way to interpret that. "Us" = "romantic couple".

I really wonder whose final decision it was to cut that line, and if the scene was even filmed with that line or if it was axed before they shot the scene.

[overtherainbow]

Lets face it guys, it was a good show, but in the end it didn't quite deliver on the gay part.

I was disgusted by the double standard of the straight zombie girl having sex (implied sex anyway), while the main gay couple weren't even allowed to kiss. I don't understand why more people haven't reacted to this.

In the end I feel like they used the excuse of being ambiguous to try to be "edgy" or whatever, and at the same time it gave them an opportunity not to develop Kieron into a fully fledged gay character, with sexual desires and all. But he ended up being just another sexless gay character on our tv screens.

Lastly I just want to say that I really did like the show, the script was good, the acting was good, and it was something new and refreshing. It just didn't quite deliver on the gay part, I expected more, that's all.

[kcw1986]

Well it been renewed for a second season

Hopefully they will go more in depth with Kierons character and we could get another cute guy zombie for him

[kevvoi]

Series 2 trailer.

www.blastr.com/2014-4-18/1st-trailer-s2-bbcs-anti-walking-dead-zombie-series-flesh

[moonstruck-me]

Anyone watching season 2?? Our favorite partially deceased are back - with a new addition!

[Deleted]

I've been watching (at US pace) and enjoying this season a lot. I'm generally not much of a commenter, but was surprised that no one else was talking about it, especially since it's much clearer this season that Kieren is gay.

[dalia]

yeah not so ambiguous this season, is it?

i just marathoned the first 4 episodes and i want more. i haven't done much research so i wonder how many episodes this season will have.

[Deleted]

May 27, 2014 0:04:37 GMT -5 dalia said:

so i wonder how many episodes this season will have.

Six, I think.

[dalia]

it's getting a third season, right?

that cliffhanger was killer!

[kevvoi]

calea139 is right that there are 6 episodes in series 2. Here is an interview with Dominic Mitchell show creator:

www.denofgeek.com/tv/in-the-flesh/30076/in-the-flesh-series-2-dominic-mitchell-interview

He certainly wants a third series (and so I do -- have been watching the series on Amazon and am quite enjoying this season). The ratings weren't as good unfortunately (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Flesh_(TV_series))

[cheerios]

I hope it gets a third series, from what I seen it's really good. I just can't do zombies, they freak me out.

[moonstruck-me]

I really hope for a season 3 as well!! They can't leave it on that cliffhanger!

[kevvoi]

I just finished the fifth episode of season 2 -- I had no idea until now that Simon is played by Emmett Scanlan!