I have to tell you that I was addicted to HBO's "Oz" from the start. I still have to buy the entire DVD collection.
Normally I would avoid subject matter that have to do with prisons. However,I was such a fan of Truman Capote (and I still think Philip Seymour Hoffman didn't do him enough justice to win an Oscar over Heath Ledger), and read "In Cold Blood", which totally freaked me out, I developed a repulsion/attraction to the subject. Hint: it might have had something to do with gay sex. Okay, sometimes, male on male rape. I'm not condoning "prison rape fantasies", but...
The relationship that develops over the seasons between Keller (played by hunk Chris Meloni) and Beecher (Lee Tergesen - Cher's new bf) was really engrossing, sexually charged, frank and honest all the while set amongst a brutal and twisted prison backdrop.
If Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar had been outlaws and thrown into the hoosegow, they would be Keller & Beecher. Keller is Ennis, who kills anyone who is interested in Beecher. Beecher, of course, would be Jack, who falls deeply and irrationally in love with Keller.
During the period of time I was frustrated with "Will & Grace" because Will didn't have a bf, and angry with the American version of "Queer As Folk" for being superficial, badly written and completely cliche, there was a lot of satisfaction to be found in every week's episode of "Oz". I couldn't convince my friends to watch it because of the senseless violence. But wow, the progression of the relationship between B&K really did it for me.
And amazingly the series ended and their relationship closed with Keller sacrificing and redeeming himself for Beecher to show his unconditional love.
Neither of them dies BTW.
So, if I were a Gay Roger Ebert, this would be my thumbs up recommendation for "Oz" the Complete DVD set.
***Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the TONS OF FULL FRONTAL MALE NUDITY - including Chris Meloni!