IMHO: "The Real World: Brooklyn" a return to form ... so far

The Real World returned for it's 21st season last night. The groundbreaking reality series started out as a serious show that dealt with issues like race relations, AIDS and homelessness. However, as many of the series' original fans will tell you in rants that go one for at least 2,500 words, the series quickly became about hot tub hookups, alcohol abuse and laying the foundation for future appearances on The Real World/Road Rules Challenge.

But buzz for this season held more promise than usual. For the first time in years, the produces weren't giving the cast a job to ensure they would do more with their days than sleep off their hangovers, and decided to let them pursue their ambitions independently.

Did this promise, and the most gay-inclusive cast in the series' history, pay off? Find out why I'm giving the series an up arrow after the break.

Okay, before we talk about the LGBT roommates, lets discuss the pink elephant in the room: Chet. When we meet Chet, he's sewing what turns out to be a blazer with bright pink accents. I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering if there was a fourth LGBT roommate we hadn't heard about. Chet, it turns out, has to come out as not gay twice during the episode. Apparently, wearing a lot of lavender and pink sets off the gaydar.

The many colors of Chet

It doesn't help that Chet is a Mormon and saving himself for marriage, which I'm sure will sound like an excuse to avoid dealing with his sexuality to some ears ... or that he's in the midst of a major bromance with Ryan. At the very least, Chet's sexual naivete sounds like it'll provide plenty of entertaining TV.

Chet and Ryan make beautiful music together

Two of The Real World's gays get to meet on the way to the house and they quickly boost my confidence in this season. JD is a dolphin trainer while Sarah is studying to be an art therapist. Happily, my Real World: Las Vegas fears are fading.

JD and Sarah

JD, it turns out, left an abusive home with a violent father at the age of 13, grew up in foster homes and put himself through college. At first glance, he's looking like the "reasonable and responsible" one. When the roommates have a their first night out, he's the one to let Ryan know that it's time to stop drinking. However, JD is also the guy who we saw break the table in all the previews, so there's probably some tension buried beneath his calm demeanor.

Meanwhile, The Real World's first transgender cast member, Katelynn, seems pretty put together and comes off fairly smart. When she discusses her rather colorful sexual history, she doesn't have that tawdry, "Pay attention to me!" feel I'd expect out of The Real World. Katelynn comes off even better in the After Show where she discusses being a transwoman in more depth and how she tried to be considerate of her roommates in deciding when to come out to them.

Katelynn

Coming out is a theme of the episode, as Iraq vet Ryan also debates about when to let his roommates know about his military history. What's clear from the beginning, however, is that Ryan is this season's jerk. He tells us early on that he "can figure out any person within the first five minutes of knowing them" which turns out to mean he's judgmental and doesn't stop himself from saying stupid things.

Chet's hits include asking Sarah (who is bisexual and currently in a relationship with a man), "I just want to know how you converted back," and refers to Katelynn as "it". Still, as obnoxious as he may be, he comes off as smart and introspective enough to learn from the people he's living with, which would make this season feel like the "classic" Real World.

Ryan

So far, so good, though it looks like they attend some pole dancing classes later in the season, so there's still a chance to for things to fall apart. What did you think? Am I alone in worrying that the show will devolve into screaming and excessive drinking, despite a promising start? What's your first impression of these roommates?