It's a Sin Season 1 Episode 1 Episode 1
- TVMA
- January 22, 2021
- 45 min
-
8.3 (1,584)
It's a Sin season 1 episode 1, titled "Episode 1," introduces us to a group of bright-eyed, optimistic young adults in London in the early 1980s. Ritchie, Roscoe, Colin, Jill, and Ash are all coming into their own, exploring their newfound freedom, falling in love, and chasing their dreams.
The episode opens with Ritchie, played by Olly Alexander, arriving in London from the Isle of Wight with dreams of stardom. He quickly meets the others in a shared house in West London and they start to form a tight-knit friendship group. Over the course of the episode, we learn more about each of the characters and their aspirations.
Roscoe, played by Omari Douglas, is a flamboyant, charismatic young man who has left his Nigerian family behind after being disowned for his sexuality. Colin, played by Callum Scott Howells, is a naive Welshman who has moved to London to work at a Savile Row tailor. Jill, played by Lydia West, is a kind-hearted and fiercely loyal friend who dreams of becoming an actress. Ash, played by Nathaniel Curtis, is a New Yorker who has come to London to study law, but is quickly drawn into the queer scene.
As the group navigates their way through early adulthood, we see glimpses of the wider context in which their lives are unfolding. The show is set against the backdrop of the AIDS epidemic, which is beginning to ramp up in the UK. News reports about the mysterious "gay cancer" start to appear on televisions and in newspapers, but the characters initially dismiss it as something that won't affect them.
The episode also takes us to the London gay scene, where the group spends their evenings dancing and partying at clubs like Heaven and The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. This scene is sharply contrasted with the hostility of the outside world, where homophobia and discrimination are rife. We see Roscoe being beaten up by a group of men outside a bar, and Colin being bullied at work for his Welsh accent.
Despite the challenges they face, the group's bond grows stronger. They support each other through breakups and difficult job interviews, and they rally together to attend a protest against Section 28, the UK law that banned "promoting homosexuality" in schools.
Overall, "Episode 1" sets up the characters and world of It's a Sin with warmth and joy. The dialogue crackles with wit and the soundtrack is packed with classic 80s hits. But there's an underlying sense of foreboding, as we know that the AIDS epidemic will soon come crashing into the characters' lives.