Five Years Ago: HBO Premieres Pioneering Series 'LOOKING'

The cast of HBO's LOOKING

Five years ago this weekend, HBO premiered LOOKING, it's pioneering dramedy about a group of 30-something friend making their way through the exciting, and sometimes challenging, options available to contemporary gay men living in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The year was 2014, and the fight for marriage equality was quickly gaining momentum in the courts. The LGBTQ community was making progress in social and legal arenas, often on a near-daily basis.

The series explored that progress of acceptance through its three leads, as they searched to find their place in a world with ever-shifting ground.

Modern love, professional fulfillment, intimacy, happiness and an appreciation for self-awareness were the goals for 'Patrick' (Jonathan Groff), 'Agustin' (Frankie J. Alvarez), and 'Dom' (Murray Bartlett).

At the time, many in the LGBTQ community complained and criticized the show, unfairly in my opinion.

I saw the series as thoughtful, smart and honest.

I was especially drawn to Jonathan Groff's 'Patrick' for often overthinking his straightjacketed emotions.

And the season 2 addition of Daniel Franzese as lovable bear 'Eddie,' who has no time for self-doubt, was refreshing.

The series also utilized current pop music in clever, subliminal ways.

The first episode of season 2 ended with our heroes searching for, and finally, attending a dance party in the woods, grooving along to the strains of Hercules and Love Affair's "Blind." (Looking/Blind - lost in the forest - get it?)

Check out the promo videos from the two seasons of LOOKING below. You can find the entire series now on HBO NOW.