This week, Binge began the next Russel T Davies drama, Tip Toe.
Tip Toe opens with the shattering of the peace in the quiet suburban neighbourhood, a woman’s scream and an event that the media have been asked not to divulge, before propelling viewers back 10 days to unveil exactly how that shock event happened. Leo (Alan Cumming), an out-and-proud gay man who owns the Spit & Polish bar in Manchester’s Canal Street, has just been accidentally locked out of his own home after a hookup goes pearshaped and seeks refuge in his neighbour Clive’s (David Morrissey) home to call and wait for his friend Stephanie (Elizabeth Berrington) to come with his spare key. Clive, an electrician enduring an unhappy marriage to Marie (Pooku Quesnel), is Leo’s polar opposite in every way, and the tension is palpable, poised to explode into a thrilling climax later in the series. Clive’s strict over Leo’s interactions with Clive’s two sons- 25-year-old Saul (Joseph Evans), who assists Clive occasionally at work when his skills are needed, and 116-year-oldGeorge (Jackson Connor), though life refuses to adhere to Clive’s archaic ways.
From the shock, cold opening scene, Tip Toe sets the stage that it’s not shying away from anything, that it’s going to bare all- the good, the bad, and the grey in between- of the life of those in the LGBTQIA+ Community. It’s a series that has a raw honesty, a wild ride of emotions- full of jokes, sass, joy, pride, love, anger and everything in between. It highlights the struggles of older generations adjusting to the younger generation’s ways, the changes within the queer community and the struggles of fitting in with the broader community- be it council laws or facing the phobics, like Leo with Clive, or Zoe (Iz Hesketh), a bullied trans woman who works for Leo, faced with cruelty from her transphobic roommates, which has a delightful moment of comradery- as well as the harsh path of one person’s coming out journey, faced with the turmoil it brings when phobia is far too close to home.
Russell T Davies follows up his much-applauded It’s A Sin with a series that captivates and ensnares you from the very start, and refuses to tiptoe around the good and the bad in the lives of the LGBTQIA+ Community members, both in Britain and globally. It balances perfectly every aspect, seamlessly flowing from one to the next, showcasing that life is never perfect. Cumming and Morrissey excel in their roles, the dynamic is captivating to watch, and with only two episodes previewed, there’s the chance for the younger cast to shine as the series continues.
Tip Toe is one of the most important series of the year.
5 stars
Episodes 1 & 2 of Tip Toe are available to stream on BINGE and Foxtel On Demand now. Episodes 3-5 will be available to stream on June 9th.
