There are very few shows involving queer personalities that crawl outside of the (largely) sexual aspects of the character's life and motivate an understanding behind their growth. Accurately screening conflicts and current struggles of queer teens is incredibly difficult and can often times can go wrong if it does not capture its targeted audience. Most of the time, the entire depiction of a gay relationship is highly sexualised, dramatic, and far from realistic struggles, but I think Eyewitness maintains its quality interpretation of what it means to be a queer teen.
Philip and Lukas are but two, rather awkward, teenage boys in love who have to go beyond battling the trauma of witnessing a homicide, but also to put their little secret relationship until lock and key. The series shows the transformation of several characters and explores several key themes that are often ignored when it comes to family relationships, careers, and LGBT struggles. The most prominent of these elements are:
1) The correct and honest visualisation of internalised homophobia and anxiety. Eyewitness succeeds in creating a fascinating and heartbreaking perspective of a boy who struggles with accepting himself, and battles the presumptions of many people in his town. They show the fear, the discouragement, quick panic attacks, sweat, and suicidal tendencies that come with it. They show the rash anger, uncertain feelings, and regretful mistakes that can be a result of it. It is something that has touched the hearts of many fans.
2) The brave development of Helen, from her life onwards from the city and into the small tow of Buffalo where she is forced to juggle her career as well as her relationship with her husband and foster son Philip. It is a unique representation of a woman who is fierce and utterly determined, and strives to empower her stance as a female in charge, as a mother, as a wife, and as a friend.
3) Diversity in the cast is outstanding. It's wonderful to see not only new faces on screen, but to see POC representation as well.
4) An honest and rather innocent perspective of a teenage queer relationship. Not quite as risqué as other shows would have it, Eyewitness shows two boys in love, but in the most realistic way possible. It's nothing certain, never rushed, hardly exaggerated. This is the story of two hesitant, shy, embarrassed, awkward boys who do not understand how to convey their feelings, and in trying to, often fail or struggle in the heat of the moment. It shows the confidence Philip has in his identity, his patience and demand for respect with the closeted mind of his partner Lukas, and the hesitancy that Lukas has to face in trying to accept who he is.
For critique, the series is brilliant with much of their work, but a mutually identified flaw distinguished by the audience would have to do with: 1) the lighting and colouring of the show. As beautiful as the screen play is, the colours are simply too dull at times. 2) The timing of the show, although is a grand total 42 minutes typically, seems to be unsatisfactory at times, almost making the episodes and each individual story progressing within the show appears rushed.
Nonetheless, a fantastic watch! Incredibly funny at times, full of suspense and warm teenage love. Surely anticipating a second season. Thank you Eyewitness Team!
