The poignant and harrowing mini-series 'It's a Sin' is essential viewing, now streaming on Disney+ and Channel 4. Set in 1981 London, the show follows three young gay men—Ritchie Tozer (Olly Alexander), Colin Morris-Jones (Callum Scott Howells), and Roscoe Babatunde (Omari Douglas)—who move to the capital seeking freedom and excitement. They quickly form close bonds with flatmates Jill Baxter (Lydia West) and Ash Mukherjee (Nathaniel Curtis).
A Story of Joy and Tragedy
As the friends revel in London's vibrant culture, music, theatre, and carefree casual sex, the HIV/AIDS crisis begins to loom. The early episodes feel like a horror film, as viewers grow attached to the charming characters while knowing the tragedy that awaits. The crisis starts as whispered conversations before drawing ever closer to the group.
When one of their own falls ill, Jill becomes an activist, caretaker, nurse, and researcher, desperately seeking knowledge in a time of widespread ignorance. Despite the devastating subject matter, the show is filled with moments of levity that resonate with those who have lived through tragedy.
Exceptional Cast Chemistry
The cast's chemistry is incredible, making the group feel like people you've met in university halls or at a pub. Their close-knit relationships sustain them through the nightmare. One of the most heartbreaking aspects is the portrayal of the loneliness of AIDS. Due to poor public health response and rampant homophobia, men were often isolated in wards, forbidden from seeing friends or family.
In a particularly poignant scene, Jill speaks to a nurse about a man dying alone with no visitors. The nurse says, 'We've got another lonely Joe, no visitors... He says no and he lies there all day, dying of shame.'
Activism Amidst Pain
Amid the tragedy, the show highlights tireless activism—from street protests to quiet acts of love, like lying next to a friend in a hospital bed or fighting homophobic parents for the right to be with loved ones in their final days.
Viewers have praised the series as 'excellent, unmissable drama.' One IMDB review calls it 'sexy, funny, moving, sad... how can something be so much fun and then turn so bleak?' Another describes it as 'devastatingly beautiful,' noting how it brings home the confusion and mishandling of the crisis.
'It's a Sin' is a tear-jerking, poignant masterpiece that everyone should watch, streaming now on Disney+ and Channel 4.
