Will & Grace

As I mentioned previously, Will & Grace was given its own separate category on this page because it was just too complex to simply deem 'good' or 'bad'.  It is an amazing show with wonderfully funny and quirky characters, and yet, the actual 'gay' part of the show's two homosexual characters, Will Truman and Jack McFarland, is still being forced mainly to the sidelines.

That being said, one of the best parts of this          show is that the 'gay' thing was never made an          issue.  They never had the 'coming out' baggage      that the characters in Ellen, ER, and Buffy had       to deal with, nor the question of 'are they or          aren't they' that existed for the whole of Xena's run. Both Will and Jack had been out for years when the series started, and both are quite open about it...at least with their friends (in Will's case, anyway).  The plot of the show isn't about gay men in New York as much as it is about four friends dealing with the various things life throws at them (or doesn't, as far as their lovelives go).

Which brings me to one of the show's low points. While Will and Jack have both 'dated' during the course of the show (never each other, though), their 'dates' rarely go further than dinner and never blossom into long-term relationships.  In fact, the longest relationship Will has ever had is with Grace.  Sure, there was Michael, his lover for seven years, but that one had ended before the show even aired.  Now I do understand that part of the show's premise involves Will and Grace leaning on each other because they don't have romantic relationships, but that doesn't change the fact that Grace is allowed to get in bed with her dates (including Will's brother), and even get married (a short-term one that ended because her husband cheated); and yet Will can't even kiss another man unless it is in jest.

Not that there hasn't been any same sex kisses on the show.  Karen, Grace's non-working socialite assistant, may very well be the first bisexual character on network TV.  After all, she has reportedly had female lovers in the past, not to mention that she seems to find a reason to                kiss Grace at least once a season.  However, Karen does seem to fit the stereotype of the 'Bisexual Straight Woman'.  While she does admit being attracted to other woman and occasionally has flings with them, she will back off from the possibility of a real, romantic relationship.  Karen is, for the most part, heterosexual.  She's married to an older rich man, who we never see, and seems to be somewhat attracted to Jack, who is flamboyantly gay.

That's another thing that kind of bothers me about the show, as far as their portrayal of homosexuality goes.  Both Will, the straight-acting gay man, and Jack, the 'flamer' (for lack of a better term), have been 'coupled' with a straight (or mostly straight) woman.  And the chemistry between these couples is so amazing, the audience can't help but think 'if Will/Jack weren't gay, he'd be perfect for Grace/Karen.'  Not that there's anything particularly wrong with speculating, but it just makes me feel like the writers have little confidence in the permanency of Will and Jack's sexual orientation.  Like Will and/or Jack might just wake up one day and decide 'hey, I like girls.  I'm gonna date...'  Which is kind of ironic, considering that Max Mutchnick is, himself, gay.

Still, I do consider Will & Grace to be one of the most progressive shows on TV, because, for the most part, it does portray Will and Jack like real people instead of just overblown stereotypes.  Their sexuality may be joked about, particularly in Jack's case, but never with malicious intent.  So even though Will and Jack may never be allowed to have a fully realized relationship on-screen with another man, I do feel that this show is very respectful to them as people and as gay men. Interesting Links: Partial Transcript for cast interview on Season One dvd set The Advocate:  Will Power (9/15/98) Rob Durfees Will & Grace Page Where There's a Will... Karen Walker and the Bisexual Straight Woman (afterellen.com)

Addendum (4/22/06):  Over the last 4 seasons of the show, it appears that much more leeway has been given to Will as far as the portrayal of his sexuality goes.  At the end of season five, he was seen waking up next to Jack (though it later turned out that nothing had happened between them), and has not only been allowed to have drawn out story arcs involving relationships with other men, but has been able to kiss those men as openly as Grace has always been.  Kudos to NBC!

Back to Main