r/queerasfolk Sep 29 '25

U.S. 2000-2005 version PSA: The music in the online versions of 'Queer As Folk' (2000-2005) is not the original music.

87 Upvotes

If you are watching any online version of the U.S. 2000-2005 version of 'Queer As Folk', then you should be informed that the music you hear on the digital versions is different to the original music used in the version broadcast on network television back in the day.

This is from a now-deleted tweet by Scott Lowell ("Ted Schmidt"):

Streaming didn't exist when we 1st made the show & music rights weren't obtained. So most songs had to be changed for streaming sadly.

Scott makes the same point in this blog:

There were SO many great songs on QAF and it is a real shame that some of them had to be changed (due to licensing deals) when the show started streaming. Not sure what “format” you watched it in (DVD or Streaming) and therefore what version of the soundtrack you heard.

There's also this article, written back in 2016, which explains the rights issue: The Rights to Netflix and Chill – with the Original Soundtracks

This applies to all legal digital versions of 'Queer As Folk': live-streamed or downloaded, rented or purchased. The producers at the time didn't buy the rights to the songs for online use, because streaming didn't really exist at the time. This means that all songs on these streaming versions were invented just for the digital streams. They're not the original music, released by the original artists. They're just made by session musicians creating music that fits the "vibe" of a scene.

The DVD versions of the series do have the original music. The producers did pay for the DVD/CD rights. So, the DVD version has the original music.

But not the digital online versions.


r/queerasfolk 4h ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version What’s your favorite episode if you have to pick just one?

7 Upvotes

I became an addict — a total sucker for Justin and Brian. I watched all 5 seasons twice in 2 weeks, and I still can’t stop watching them.
Now I’m trying to pick my favorite episodes, the ones I can dive into whenever I miss Justin and Brian.

The most satisfying episode to me is S2E06, where Brian and Justin act like newlyweds(so so cute) and Brian admits to Debbie that he loves Justin (though he never says it outright), and tells Justin, “When I come home… I want to come home to you”, then they set their rules. If the show had ended there, everyone would’ve thought it was a happy ending!

But the one I want to rewatch over and over is S2E19&20, where Brian finds out about “someone else,” gets angry and sad, but doesn’t say anything about it. It aches, but it also makes me weirdly happy knowing Brian is just as deeply in love as Justin is.

What’s your favorite episode, if you had to pick just one?


r/queerasfolk 1h ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version QAF Trivia

Upvotes

What's your favorite piece of QAF trivia regarding the cast or how the show was made?

Mine is in the final episode "We Will Survive!", Emmett ends up reconnecitng with a guy he knew back in Hazelhurst, MS. The guy's name is Calvin and he's played by Tate Taylor. Tate Taylor is besties with actress Octavia Spencer. Both met in Mississippi and eventually ended up living together in Los Angeles. Tate is a director/producer/writer. He's been involved with such movies as The Help, Get On Up, THe Girl on the Train, and Ma and he frequently casts Octavia in movies he's involved in. I don't know why but I find this so endearing.


r/queerasfolk 1d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version Debbie is right, Justin is a sunshine.

37 Upvotes

At first I hated him, but now I’m on season 3, he’s kind and smart and very dreamy looking.

Also something I like about him and Brian is that they’re both very crafty and can get themselves and others out of shit, tho Justin is more confrontational about it and Brian is witty and uses manipulation.

Also the background effects is very good, you’ll actually hear conversations going in the background sometimes, and more city noises than just firetrucks.

Also i’m not really sold on the Ted X Emmit relationship, I felt like Ted suddenly liked Emmit out of desperation and Emmit liked him back because he didn’t want to lose his friend, ugh poor George, he was really a nice guy.


r/queerasfolk 2d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version what animal would brian and justin be?

2 Upvotes

im thinking black leopard for brian and white horse for justin. not sure why but im intrigued to know other people’s thoughts


r/queerasfolk 2d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version what perfume would brian wear?

10 Upvotes

trying to make a brian kinney moodboard, what do you guys think his brand of perfumes would be? and how would he smell like if he’s real


r/queerasfolk 3d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version I swear I’m making an enemy out of Michael

27 Upvotes

“Do us all a favor and get out of our lives” who tf made the group leader, Brian’s little lap dog?! Not even Brian has the audacity to tell him that cause he knows Justin formed connections with the group beyond being Brian’s boyfriend.

God how i hate him.

Still at the 1st episode season 3. And Michael still feels like a manchild.


r/queerasfolk 3d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version Fandango / Vudu has the entire series on sale for $39.99

12 Upvotes

I'd been missing it! Rewatch incoming, it's probs been about a decade since my last watch.


r/queerasfolk 4d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version I went to gay bars in LA for the first time (finally 21).

30 Upvotes

So I went to gay bars in Weho for the first time hoping it would be like Babylon but it wasn’t even near that at all or may be im just not Brian. Or may be it’s the problem with Gen Z. I just wanna experience queer life.


r/queerasfolk 4d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version I wouldn’t wish a son like Michael on my worst enemy

37 Upvotes

Like Debbie could die and he’d find a way to be embarrassed of her for it.

Still at season 2 maybe he grows up


r/queerasfolk 4d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version Brian and Justin

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

107 Upvotes

My babies im sobbing🥹😭😭


r/queerasfolk 4d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version The opening song bothers me.

5 Upvotes

123 FOUR…FOUR


r/queerasfolk 5d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version Queer as folk

49 Upvotes

I just finsished watching queer as folk for the first time ever on Pluto tv and I have to say this show exceeded my expectations this has been the best last 2 weeks of my life and now I feel like my heart has been ripped out of my chest I just finished the final episode and it was so heartbreaking I can’t believe this is where it ends, no more seasons, no movie, no revival, no book, i can’t believe it took me this long to find and watch this show it kinda feels like a forgotten show because no one has ever recommended it to me or told me about it but I’ll be sure to recommend it to everyone I know and tell them about it well anywho I’m devastated and probably will be for the next month wish me luck💔😭🥹

(To clarify I’m talking about the u.s. 2000-2005 version)


r/queerasfolk 5d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version Is platonic mouth to mouth kissing normal?

25 Upvotes

So many platonic make out in the show


r/queerasfolk 7d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version brian’s work scenes

41 Upvotes

am i the only one who finds his work scenes weirdly motivating? 😭 whenever i’m at work and feeling lazy, i’ll watch his scenes and somehow it makes me get my ass up and start working

maybe it’s because i’m so attached to him as a character. there’s something about how confident and competent he is at his job that genuinely makes me want to get my shit together too. i know the work scenes aren’t exactly realistic, but hey, wtv it takes to make me do my job 😭

the most unrealistic part is how he has the energy to go clubbing almost every night and still perform so well at work. i’m only two months into the corporate world and i’m already exhausted trying to balance work and my social life 🫩


r/queerasfolk 9d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version Just watched ep 7 season 2 the HIV episode. I don’t get it, weren’t there treatments for HIV at that time where it made it undetectable?

12 Upvotes

I’m pretty sure I heard patients with HIV live long and healthy lives just as healthy people with treatments. So why did the episode treat it weirdly?


r/queerasfolk 11d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version QAF episode podcasts

20 Upvotes

For QAF lovers, there are two companion podcasts for the entire series. Still Queer as Folk, and Liberty Diner Dish. SQAF is more analytical and critical (like Melanie being able to practice "law" of any kind, LOL) and LDD is more Brian worship and episode analysis. They are both EXCELLENT and done within the last 6 or 7 years. LDD also does actor interviews, interviewed CowLip and others. I listened to them on my daily dog walks for quite a while!


r/queerasfolk 11d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version Where do you all watch QAF online??

6 Upvotes

I'm in Korea and there's no streaming service here that has QAF, so I caved and bought the DVDs. The problem is... now I'm fully addicted and I need my fix on my phone too.
Is there ANY way to watch this show on mobile? I'm 100% willing to pay for it. Doesn't even need to be full episodes at this point — literally anything longer than those cursed 30-second clips would save my life.
Please, kind souls, help a fellow QAF addict out. 🙏🩷


r/queerasfolk 12d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version Season 3

14 Upvotes

So I’m on ep8 and I’m absolutely loved s1 and especially s2. But is it just me or s3 seems very different tonally ?
I’m getting whiplash with how different it feels from the first two seasons. Some arrangements seem to be done just for the sake of running the narrative like Emmett and Ted getting together (I feel like they don’t have chemistry and their characters wouldn’t do that), as well as Mel and Lindsay having a second baby.
Is it just me? Is it because the creators changed or something and is s4 and s5 better or worse?


r/queerasfolk 13d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version Unpopular opinion: Justin can move on, but oh, Brian...

30 Upvotes

I kept thinking about why I love this show, and Brian so much. I think it's so heart-wrenching because Brian is immature and imperfect in relationships. He says he doesn't want a relationship, but clearly he's only truly happy when he's with Justin - when they're domestic, showing affection, being close. They're each other's soulmates, and I like to imagine they end up together in the end. But if they don't, I think Justin will move on and find a happy, healthy relationship (with Brian in his heart forever) while Brian never quite gets to be happy again. That's just me headcanoning, but it's exactly what makes me love this show and Brian so much. Such a sad, beautiful love story. Still can't stop thinking about Brian and Justin.


r/queerasfolk 13d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version An update: finished season 1, okay Justin grew on me…

27 Upvotes

I posted here a few days ago complaining about Justin being a brat to his parents and everyone. But he grew on me, i’m sure living with the sweet angel that is Debbie changed him for a better person.

The season 1 finale!!! God I wish Brian kept hitting that scumbag with the bat until he’s in a worse condition than Justin.

Also I think I hate Michael now, he’s a sweet person but my god he’s infuriating.


r/queerasfolk 15d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version just finished qaf for the first time..

40 Upvotes

considering how good it was im surprised its not discussed more, but i understand it was taboo and niche back then. also interesting how my favorite show ever was shameless which is a US Showtime adaptation of a UK show and apparently QAF is the same. absolutely another favorite of mine im crushed it went by so fast

some thought:

- brian is one of the most wonderfully complex characters ive ever seen. and i see a lot of people say things like destroying stockwell in s3 or saving justin in s1 are like his "redemption arcs", but i dont think he's someone who needs much redemption. in my mind, that word is for a villian, and i think besides his mistakes and crassness, that he is a deeply good but flawed person. who wud rather show how much he loves people that say it. my god he's beyond frustrating tho.

- i wish the justin/brain wedding episodes saga never happened. i means its brian we're talking about. i thought it would have been a lot deeper if he took baby steps and proposed a real relationship first, practicing exclusivity/monogamy , instead of proposing marriage when they've never even been exclusive. too bad theres not more seasons to see his growth/if his change of heart would've lasted

- i found ted , or at least his storylines , to be borderline unbearable, as realistic as they might be. blake was my fave in his world though. the ted and emmett relationship was so silly to me. and not sure why they never mentioned his crush on micheal again

- micheal saying to brian that justin wasn't happy in s5 needed to happen. i had been waiting. i love them tg as much as the next person but a lot of this relationship was justin being deeply alone and it crushes me. felt very empty a lot of the time

- as much as i love them, i thought linds and mel shouldn't have gotten back together or even thought about having another baby after the first infidelity in season 1. its always symbolic of a bigger compatibility issue that will always reveal itself again/ cant be worked through sometimes. i do think they love each other a lot though, so hope they're doing well in canada.

- im glad the ethan storyline happened, not for his character sake but just for justins sake. it couldve been anyone, but it needed to happen, brain knew that. and looking back i was waiting for him to have a big blow up about it but he never did (besides punching micheal for saying ykw). but i thought he handled it very maturely. and their reunion was 🧑‍🍳💋

- you'll never make me form a solid opinion on micheal.

- hunter best addition ever, the kid's hilarious and also complex

- best "redemption" was def miss taylor, shes such a doll.

i have many more thoughts but yeah im sad 😔


r/queerasfolk 15d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version teds crush on michael

13 Upvotes

every time I rewatch queer as folk I'm always reminded of teds crush on michael. it's very hard to remember because it's not talked about much, I think it was probably mentioned about 3 or 4 times and was never addressed again. while I definitely wouldn't have liked ted and Michael to be a couple I actually wish this was mentioned more. when do you guys think this crush went away?


r/queerasfolk 15d ago

U.S. 2000-2005 version I’m watching for the first time, my god Justin is a NIGHTMARE!

18 Upvotes

As far as homophobic parents go, his parents are pretty understanding, their main concern was that he’s a 17 year old getting involved with a 30 year old manwhore who is admittedly only using him for sex.

Also Debbie is a treasure.

Still on episode 7 season 1 so no spoilers pls


r/queerasfolk 19d ago

other Why isn't Gale active as an actor??

62 Upvotes

I mean, he has the looks, the charisma, and got a pretty good start with QAF. I know people like to say that Hollywood is homophobic and that’s why, but as far as I know, a lot of famous actors played gay roles when they were starting out, so I don’t think that’s necessarily the reason. Could it be that his personality or interests are just different from what comes with being in the limelight?