TV Review - People Like Us: Season 2

Two years ago, writer-director Leon Cheo introduced us to his short-form series about four gay men in Singapore. It was Singapore's first gay web series. It's brief glimpses into the dating lives of these men. As I said in my review of the first season of this program, it's very much akin to Showtime's Queer As Folk and HBO's Looking, yet it puts four Asian men in the lead, which is something that American audiences don't normally get. While the first season was more focused on the men trying to find a partner, either sexually or romantically, this season focuses on the men having found someone now trying to navigate issues as they get to know each other better. The series continues to be beautifully filmed, utilizing great locations in Singapore like Taboo Cafe & Bar and real-life places like the tenth anniversary of Pink Dot SG. Not being a resident of Singapore, I can't speak too much to its authenticity, but the whole thing feels genuine, particularly genuine to what is modern-day relationships.

Josh Crowe stars as Joel, pronounced JO-EL. He's Chinese. He works at a boutique PR firm. Of all the four guys, he's the most openly gay. He's the one who isn't hiding anything at all. Of the four guys, he's probably the most effeminate. Yet, he's very comfortable being himself anywhere. He dreams of getting married in a gay wedding in front of all his friends and family. His only problem is that his boyfriend is very much opposite and very much stubborn. For him, it's a question of how far he can get his boyfriend to go.

Irfan Kasban also stars as Ridzwan, the aforementioned boyfriend to Joel. He's Malay and a Muslim. He works in accounting. He wanted to be a pastry chef, but now he has a more steady, office job. Of all the four guys, he's the least openly gay. He's still very much closeted. His family doesn't know he's homosexual and his co-workers don't know either. He only is known to a few people who are themselves gay. He's otherwise quiet and keeps to himself. He obviously has feelings for Joel, but Joel's dream of getting married in front of everyone is one that is probably a nightmare for Ridzwan. However, Ridzwan does take steps to give Joel what he wants.

Hemont Ashoka co-stars as Rai, a friend to Joel. He's Indian. He's only 20 years-old. He might be the youngest of the four guys. Unlike Joel, he doesn't seem like he's ever had a boyfriend. He's more immersed in the dating world, particularly the online dating world. In the first season, he did a lot of dating using Grindr. He is a member though of the Singapore Army and the person he's currently dating is another member of the Singapore Army. He meets Haniff, played by Syaheeran Othman. Rai likes Haniff who seems to be Indian as well, but Rai is very awkward and anxious about getting closer to him.

Steven Lim plays Isaac, the last of the four guys. He's probably Korean or maybe Chinese. He's the oldest of the four guys. He's 45. He works as a banker or as an executive at a financial company. He's also the wealthiest of the four. He lives by himself in a very nice apartment. He has the most, casual sexual encounters of anyone. He's friends with the other guys like Rai, but there's also an air of loneliness about him as well. This season, Isaac has to deal with a health scare, given that it's obvious he's in some kind of urological pain.

To that point, this series is affiliated with Gayhealth SG and Action AIDS Singapore (AFA). Gayhealth and AFA are organizations that raise public awareness about sexually-transmitted diseases, particularly when it comes to HIV. The organizations also provide services to the LGBT community. American gay web series like In the Moment (2008) and Daddyhunt: The Serial (2016) also have an undercurrent that infuses their stories with situations or characters that resonate or puts a spotlight on sexual health and people who are HIV-positive.

In that regard, Cheo does a better of job of resonating and putting a spotlight on those things with this season than even in the last, mainly because this season directly addresses those things. This season, wee see an overabundance of condoms. The prophylactic is underlined a lot here. We actually hear from characters dealing expressly with STI's. In probably the best scene, we see real-life drag performer NORIStar aka Norisman Mustafa give advice about anal sex.

What I also thought was more intriguing in this second season than in the first is the spotlighting of the homophobia that exists. The first season would have you believe that there is no homophobia in Singapore. Homophobia from external sources wasn't really referenced in the first season. While LGBT people do live openly and things like Pink Dot SG do occur, there is homophobia in Singapore and this season really exposes it more. It's never violent or confrontational, but Cheo does show how homophobia is present here in a way that I thought was appropriate.

Not Rated but contains sexuality, nudity and language.
Running Time: 8 mins. / 6 eps.

Available on Here TV, Amazon Prime and the Gayhealth YouTube page.