Why HBO Max’s It’s a Sin is worth all the hype: the 80s LGBT miniseries, with Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander leading the cast, is an evocative take on London’s Aids crisis

Mar 10 , 2021

The performance by It’s a Sin’s cast is just one of the drama’s many high points. Photo: @thepinkpalace/Instagram

From toilet humour (at Margaret Thatcher’s expense) and 80s fashion to struggles with HIV and homophobia, the five-part miniseries has something for everyone

From the creator of Queer as Folk, the British Channel 4 TV show also features masterful performances by Keeley Hawes, Lydia West, Omari Douglas and more

Every now and then a TV series comes along that ticks all the boxes: emotional, inspiring and enlightening all in one. Such is the general sentiment around It’s a Sin, the recently released British show currently wowing audiences and critics alike – airing on Channel 4 in the UK and HBO Max internationally.

Created by Russell T. Davies, the mastermind behind iconic LGBTQ+ show Queer as Folk, It’s a Sin follows a group of friends in London, through their personal and collective ups and downs during the HIV/Aids crisis of the 80s and early 90s.Though its various interwoven storylines focus on a group of primarily gay men, the show’s appeal extends far beyond that demographic.

Here are four reasons why everyone – gay, bi, straight or otherwise inclined – should add the miniseries to their binge-worthy watch list.

Important lessons

The show masterfully tackles many of the Aids crisis’ profound and pressing issues, from conspiracy theories around a new “gay cancer”, as some called it, to appalling government inaction.

One of the most upsetting aspects highlighted by the show is the way countless gay men were shunned by their families and communities, first for being gay, then for contracting a frightful illness, ultimately being left to die in painful isolation. We witness this tragic story arc throughout the show, perhaps most potently through the female lead Jill visiting friends and even strangers on their deathbeds.

Considering the advancements in HIV treatment and LGBTQ+ rights and representation, it could be easy to forget the intense fear and stigma that surrounded both being openly gay as well as living with Aids. Seeing these would-be taboo topics tackled in such a candid manner is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come.

Powerful performances