During the most turbulent time in your life, you made the bravest decision possible. You declared your orientation, you overcame bigotry, and you carved out a glimmer of wonder as a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Now, start over and do it all again.
That’s the Sisyphean hook of Uncoupled, the new Netflix series about a forty-something gay man facing singlehood and sassiness in the wilds of New York City.
If the terrain sounds familiar, it may be due to the fact that Darren Star co-created the show. He was one of the driving forces behind Sex and the City, nut now he’s upgrading his characters from women who act like gay men to actual gay men.
In a signature scene from Uncoupled, Michael (Neil Patrick Harris) joins Grindr and realizes that he has to market his manhood for potential hookups. As he is staging an impromptu photo sesh in the gym mirror, a locker room attendant enters frame and offers to lend a helping hand.
“Certainly now, more than ever, people are encouraged to be honest with everyone about who they are,” Harris tells NBC News.
“I find it very sexy and titillating that very specific kinks and desires can be overtly traded and discussed and matched up… Back when you just went on a date with someone, it was very uncomfortable to reveal what turns you on, and that was not a first or second date conversation.”
Harris catches himself using a back in my day tone and immediately embraces his maturity.
“I think aging is a very personal thing that probably has to do with how you were raised.”
As we all know, NPH was raised in the spotlight. He flexed his precociousness as Doogie Howser M.D., he smoked the competition in the Harold and Kumar franchise, and he inched out a Tony win for his triumphant turn as Hedwig.
“But now that I’m almost 50,” Harris concludes, “I feel healthier and in better shape and quite frankly more comfortable in my skin than before. I feel like that’s kind of a life goal.”
And it’s our goal to binge every bite of Uncoupled, now streaming on Netflix. Pick up the pieces and join us!
Photo: Instagram @nph
Last modified: August 1, 2022
