This article was published on November 18th, 2019
EastSiders, the award-winning, Emmy-nominated series, returns for its fourth and final season on Netflix on December 1. Created by Kit Williamson, the former YouTube show sensation is headed into into its fourth and last season.
Since debuting, the popular LGBTQ series has garnered critical praise across the border, snagging 8 Emmy nominations, as well as winning the ‘Best Web Drama’ in 2013 at the LA Weekly Awards, ‘Best Ensemble’ at the Indie Series Awards and a nomination at the International Press Academy for the Satellite Award. It has also picked up several nominations at the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Executive produced by Williamson alongside her husband John Halbach, the show began humbly through a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $140,000 from fans. The final season of EastSiders follows the gang one year later after last season’s finale. For the upcoming season, there are some notable additions to the cast, including Jake Choi (Single Parents), Hailee Sahar (Pose), Tom Lenk (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Daniel Newman (The Walking Dead), Lin Shaye (Insidious), Bryan Batt (Mad Men), and Traci Lords (Crybaby). Other performers in the cast include Drag Race contestants Marta Beatchu, Biqtch Puddin, Manila Luzon, Katya Zomoldova, and Queer Eye original guru Jai Rodriguez, and many more.
The first season of the show, set in Silver Lake, Los Angeles, followed Cal and Thom, a couple struggling with substance abuse and infidelity. It also covered Cal’s best friend Kathy, whose relationship with her boyfriend Ian is closing in on their six month anniversary.
After premiering on YouTube on December 14, 2012 for two episodes, the show was quickly picked up by LogoTV network, where it began streaming on April 23, 2013. The second season made its debut on September 15, 2015 via the demand service Vimeo. Then, after its second season, the EastSiders was purchased by Netflix, with the third season premiering on November 28, 2017. Now, its fourth and final episode this upcoming December 1.
Clearly a critical darling with a devoted following, EastSiders has received warm praise from several media publications, including The Daily Dot, which noted that the series was “charming, sharply written, and well-acted”, particularly pointing out the chemistry between Stephen Guarino’s Quincy and Constance Wu’s Kathy. The publication viewed the series as “promising”, and so far, it has lived up to that summation. Next Magazine also reviewed the initial episodes, commenting that they were “top-notch” and that “the demographic is still pretty unrepresented when it comes to well-produced series”. Also, IndieWire sang the series’ praises, saying that it is “giving Logo the kind of soap opera they should have on-air. NewMediaRockstars positively reviewed the show as well, saying that fans “were eager for a quality series that portrayed realistic LGBT relationships without making sexual orientation the characters’ defining feature.”
With so many relationships to delve into and relationships to untangle, a lot is in store for the upcoming season and viewers are eager for the due date to arrive. Fans and those interested in checking out the series can go to Netflix and catch up on all seasons here: //www.netflix.com/
