Director: Brandon Kirby
Running Time: 31 mins
Certificate: NR
Release Date: April 19th 2017
The online LGBT-centred streaming service Dekkoo extends it range of exclusive online series with I’m Fine, which has just released its first four episodes. The show focuses on gay guy Nate (Perry Powell). He’s relatively recently split up with boyfriend Joey and is still in the process of negotiating life without him.
That involves exploring the possibilities of hook-up apps and whether a bit of meaningless sex is what he wants. There’s also a best friend who may secretly be in love with him, friends who have a tendency towards saying the wrong thing and a hope that maybe there’s still a spark with Joey. Nate may also have to start realising that perhaps there are other people out there for him.
First off the bad news – there’s not enough of I’m Fine. The first part of Season 1 consists of four episodes that total just over half-an-hour of entertainment. However, each episode is pretty short and it’s difficult not to feel it would have been better to release the whole of the season at once.
That is both criticism and praise, as I’m Fine is nicely observed, sometimes funny and quickly gets you to care about Nate – helped by a charming performance from Perry Powell – but it does feel that just as you’re starting to fully get into who he is and what’s going on in his life, it’s over. It certainly leaving you wanting more though!
Many will be able to relate to Nate, a basically good person wanting to be happy, but not really knowing how to find that after his life has been turned upside-down by splitting up with this boyfriend. Some gay-themed shows/films set after the end of a relationship have fallen down by making their protagonist whiny and self-obsessed, but thankfully Nate isn’t like that, he’s just a bit lost.
His adventures certainly offer humour, often centred around the confusions and uncertainties of life. That includes the awkwardness of a profession of love being leavened by a bout of drunken vomiting, and a half-hearted hook-up becoming increasingly difficult when the wrong thing is said and the sexiness starts feeling forced (and pretty much absent). In amongst this the show manages to engage with various issues such as whether or not someone is on Prep, the uncertainty of figuring out someone’s intentions and the need for closure.
Although there’s definitely not enough I’m Fine so far, luckily the second half of Season 1 isn’t too far away, as it’s due on Dekkoo on June 21st. It’ll certainly be worth tuning in when those four extra episode are released.
Overall Verdict: I’m Fine has a sweetness and a desire to reflect the issues of modern gay relationship and friendship with humour and compassion that make it easy to like.
You can take a look at the first episode of I’m Fine below.
Reviewer: Tim Isaac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxuBucNCqOs
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