Reimagining Babylon: Why the New Queer as Folk Series Better Understood the Modern LGBTQ+ Experience
When the Peacock streaming network announced a reimagined version of the seminal LGBTQ+ drama Queer as Folk , it faced an immediate wall of skepticism. The franchise carried a monumental legacy. Russell T Davies created the groundbreaking 1999 British original, and Showtime followed with a massive, culture-defining five-season American adaptation in 2000.
The 2022 reboot of Queer as Folk was widely considered a "better" or at least more evolved series than its predecessors because it moved beyond the narrow focus on cisgender white gay men queer as folk new series better
The Peacock series treated transness as a lived-in, multi-dimensional reality. Ruthie and Shar’s relationship is arguably the emotional anchor of the new series. We see Ruthie deal with the anxiety of transitioning, but we also see her mess up as a friend, succeed as a teacher, and grapple with the standard existential dread of turning 30.
The debate over whether the "new" Queer as Folk (the 2022 Peacock reboot) is better than its predecessors (the 1999 UK original or the 2000 US version) typically centers on its approach to diversity, realism, and modern storytelling. While the 2022 series was cancelled after one season Reimagining Babylon: Why the New Queer as Folk
By allowing queer characters—especially marginalized ones—to be deeply flawed, the show grants them full humanity. They are allowed to be bad partners, make mistakes, and grow at their own pace. 4. Deconstructing the Toxic Tropes of the Past
The new series features trans women, non-binary characters, and queer people of color in leading roles, including Brody, Ruthie, and Mingus Video. The 2022 reboot of Queer as Folk was
Is the series perfect? No. Some argue it tries to tackle too many issues, and its breakneck pace can be exhausting. But its imperfections are part of its charm. This is a show that was created with a burning urgency to speak for a new generation with its own stories to tell. It is a defiant, sexy, and deeply moving love letter to a community that has been through hell and continues to dance anyway. For its radical inclusivity, its fearless engagement with the present, and its chaotic, glitter-strewn heart, the new Queer as Folk is not just a worthy successor—it is the superior series, and the one that queer audiences in the 2020s deserve.
By dismantling the monolithic view of gay culture, centering intersectionality, and reframing trauma through the lens of community resilience, the 2022 series evolved Queer as Folk from a foundational period piece into a vital, modern masterclass. 1. Shattering the "White, Cis-Gay" Monolith
The landscape of LGBTQ+ television has changed dramatically since Russell T. Davies first brought Queer as Folk to British screens in 1999, followed shortly by the iconic American remake in 2000. For over two decades, those original versions served as foundational texts for queer media, offering unfiltered looks into gay life, friendship, and trauma. However, when Peacock announced a new reimagining of Queer as Folk in 2022, led by Stephen Dunn, skeptics questioned the need to retread familiar ground.
Perhaps most critically, the 2022 Queer as Folk understands that for a new generation, the most revolutionary act is claiming one's own identity without apology—including its right to messiness, selfishness, and joy. The characters can be self-absorbed and make bad choices, and the show lets them, refusing to soften their edges or homogenize their experiences for broader appeal. At the same time, it captures the "defiant hedonism" and "delirious ways" of living a full life. With fabulous supporting turns from icons like Kim Cattrall and Juliette Lewis, the show continues the franchise's tradition of honoring its elders while centering the messy, beautiful reality of its young core cast.