The romantic comedy show Kissing Walls is back with season two. Created by independent filmmaker Zak Payne, the show features queer characters of colour and provides a look through a unique lens on romance and friendship. Continuing to show their struggles and successes as they navigate their life in Chicago, this season develops and expands the stories of Cameron (Zak Payne) and James (Nathaniel Tenebaum).
Season two of Kissing Walls brings back the two characters and expands even further on their story. Image Source: OTV
The two main characters are back in season two, but now with greater detail and greater development. Cameron is an aspiring writer, currently in a friends-with-benefits relationship with Guy (Cole Doman). In this season, he is invited for a three-way with Guy’s boyfriend, Mike (Patriac Coakley). As Cameron struggles to catch a publisher’s attention as a writer, he is also shown to be having difficulties with the emotional implications of being a third-wheel in Guy and Mike’s relationship.
James, who decides to focus more on his career as a performer, is promoting his upcoming show. In an encounter at a flower shop, he meets Benjamin (Peter Giessel) with whom a relationship blossoms, but due to his anxieties about himself and his body image, it is hard for James to believe that he is genuinely loved. Although Kissing Walls is mostly a comedy, it still manages to touch upon several significant issues beneath the surface, such as jealousy and the importance of talking to your partner in a relationship.
There is no doubt that Kissing Walls is a show that is one of its kind. Bringing characters that are often considered “secondary” to its forefront, it tells unique stories about the two queer men of colour. Moreover, something that can be praised is how organically these characters are embedded onscreen; contrasting the numerous examples where queer or characters of colour are placed just to satisfy the viewers’ yearning for representation, without developing them or making them realistic.
Kissing Walls bring queer people of colour to its forefront, which makes it a show with a unique perspective on the comedy genre. Image courtesy of Witch House Public Relations
Accompanied by sharp dialogue and numerous comically-awkward scenes, Kissing Walls is not afraid to seem weird — on the contrary, this is what makes it so realistic and likeable. The irony, the sarcasm and the wit help enrich the show with amusing moments, which in turn brings the viewer into the lives of the two main characters. For example, when meeting Benjamin’s ex, James’ sarcastic remarks point to the jealousy he is experiencing, as he fears being abandoned by his new lover. In Kissing Walls, comedy is used not only to relieve some of the serious moments but also to allude to the issues that stand behind it.
Despite the show being heavily focused on the romantic aspect of both characters’ lives, it also shows the close bond that James and Cameron have as friends. This is something that season two has excelled at. Kissing Walls features numerous moments onscreen, which show the way these two characters support each other, such as when James opens up about his worries about Benjamin’s ex to Cameron. The true love story is, in fact, the two characters’ friendship.
Kissing Walls is a well-developed series, that has a perspective on romance that is not often (if not, never) shown on TV. With likeable and relatable characters, it is a show that is amusing to watch and easy to binge.
Seasons One and Two can be watched on OTV.
Featured Image courtesy of Witch House Public Relations
