'History' - Season 2

Out now on YouTube and Vimeo!

Once upon a time, there was a distinct divide between movies and television. Often actors and directors and such would work in one medium or the other, and never the twain would meet. Of the two, television was often looked down upon like the cliched red-headed step-child. In the recent decade, with the golden age of television emerging from behind that particular cloud, that has become increasingly less so, with more and more people venturing back and forth across the river. Unfortunately, nature abhors a vaccuum, and so does entertainment. With the emergence of Youtube and Vimeo as almost television channels of their own, more and more web-based content is being produced. As a result, web series have assumed the unenviable position, usually dismissed as inferior and oft-dismissed. But, venture into the world and it's easy to see that isn't truly the case.

'History' - written, directed, edited by, and starring Jack Tracy - is a six-part series that explores the (pun very much intended) ins and outs of a group of gay friends living and working and playing in New York. So far, so familiar, with numerous parallels immediately able to be made. With the more realistic, frequently awkward, down-to-earth tone of Girls and the brunches and gossip-y social get-togethers of 'Sex and the City', this could very well have been named Sex with Boys in the City. And this is a sex-heavy show meant strictly for mature audiences. But at the same time 'History' is very much a more nuanced story-piece than it first appears, and those above comparisons would suggest.

Picking up a year later, in terms of the story and the production, the start to season 2 is a rocky one, with the actors struggling to re-inhabit their roles. The delivery is stilted and their movements stuttery, but once they find their groove again, things really improve drastically and then continue to do so right through to the emotional conclusions. There are great lines and references from the beginning, but it's not until episode three, You and Me, that 'History' really begins to excel, both comedically and emotionally. As the dynamics between the characters becomes both more natural and authentic in their interactions and some of the emotional beats become more keenly felt.

From episode three onwards, there is clearly a lot more confidence and comfort in both the writing and direction and, even more so, in the performances. 'History' is a very talkative piece, but there comes some moments when words are no longer needed, and Jack Tracy - both as a writer, director, and as an actor - is unafraid to let things play out almost silently. This is most visible and profound in the moment's when he is confronted by stark truths and realisations. In one of the episodes, the character of Jamie is taking a selfie with a friend who insists that they show no teeth, prompting him to (as far as I'm aware) to invent something called 'Smising' wherein his face remains stoic whilst his eyes smile. He really needs to come up for a term for the dramatic version of this phenomenon, because - whether it's a friend highlighting how pain exists outside of his own or when he's receiving a voicemail that serves to convey just how much pain he himself is on the verge of inflicting upon others - It's all in his eyes, and it's beautifully done.

Similarly this can be extended to the other characters, such as Gio (Connor Lounsbury) and Matthew (Jacob Seidman) who, on the surface, seem like cliched gay characters but each get their chance to peel back the layers and convey multiple dimensions. Rounding out the "Core Four" is William (played by William Cohen) who adds a likeable, selfless element to a seemingly "will they, won't they" scenario with Jamie (Jack Tracy) but which thankfully values the friendship element over the romance - a message that lingers over the series as a whole, but is especially pleasant here as Jamie's numerous romantic entanglements with others serves to undercut the potential build-up this show is trying to achieve. And, in other words, would have made any thing more seem a tad unbelievable at this point in the series.

What 'History' presents, and quite well, is that this is a journey. One that explores the history of a man and how it informs his present and, inevitably, his future. Though some of the flashbacks work and others generate confusion, they are always thematically or emotionally linked, either highlighting flaws or adding context to some present decisions. And Jack Tracy does a great job of making the character of Jamie at different points in his life seem physically and emotionally distinct.

Much like it's sex scenes, 'History' isn't afraid to venture deep into some resonant themes. Over the course of the series, they tackle everything from social media, to relationships with HIV-positive partners, to loneliness. And that is the greatest accomplishment of the web series. Whilst it's a tale of a gay man and his gay friends, it's never truly about being gay. None of the drama or tension or angst comes from being gay. It comes from being human, from experiences and decisions rather than who the characters are at their core, it comes from their relationships. And whilst the dialogue is occasionally monologue-y and the music can be extremely overwrought, the writing and performances are sharp enough to cut through such things and offer a heartfelt and realistic view of a life, and how that life can affect and impact upon others.

Review by Jay Thomas.

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