Dr.David or Ben?

Definitely David, couldn't stand Ben much.

Definitely Ben. I found QAF on Netflix binge watched it a few weeks ago. Watched like all 5 seasons in two weeks, so I didn't process everything like I should have.

I'm finally on my second viewing of the show, and watching it much slower. On my first go around, I really liked David (and Ben, too) even though I had some issues with his treatment of Mike.

However, on this second go around on the series, I really came to dislike David with a passion for much of the season. He was good in a few episodes, but most of the time, I saw him for what he really was -- a control freak who had no respect or concern for Michael's feelings.

But the ultimate undoing for me on David was when Michael asked David that if the situation was reversed, would he drop everything and move across the country with Michael, and David told him probably not. Even though he expected Michael to do just that. That is a hypocrisy I can not stand.

They really wrote Dr. David well. He had to fight for Michael and won, but he wasn't for Michael, and he lost. Ben on the other hand had Michael fighting for him. Ben was rational and endearing. And just when you wanted to make him a saint, they made him real by having him be jealous of Michael's success, not Michael. So I choose Ben.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

Very pragmatic reasoning for why Ben was so permissible about Michael and Brian. But don't agree Ben was so desperate to get anyone that he'd tolerate such behavior unless he was at least somewhat okay with it.

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What I liked about David:

He was a gentleman, he liked Michael and he wanted to make sure he did things right when they started dating.

He wanted to show Michael there was a world outside Liberty Avenue

He was confident and knew enough about himself, but still was flawed

What I didn't like:

Molding him to be a trophy wife, not allowing Michael's personality to be in "their house"

Not allowing Michael to be a man on his own terms (paying for things, cashing checks to cover expenses)

Not knowing if David would sacrifice his livelihood if Michael were ever to decide to move out of Pittsburgh

The fact that he was for all intents and purposes willing to date a client....that kind of gets to me

The main thing I wonder is: Had he ever been around Liberty Avenue before Michael? It seems like they just threw him into the story in order to give Michael a love interest. Also, it's unlikely that Michael would've met him if he never even hurt his back. I wonder if that kind of thing happens in real life

What I liked about Ben

He was bookish, smart, always trying to do the right thing.

Knew himself, took life one day at a time

Defended Michael and was up front about his HIV status

What I didn't like about Ben

He was so fixated on being HIV positive that he pushed Michael away

Flaunted his education to Michael, even when Michael was right

Snapping at Michael when he wanted to throw Ben a surprise bday party

Steroids

Comic book envy, though rightly warning Justin and Michael that Brett Keller could botch the spirit of the Comic Book Character


So if I really were to take the two I would say Ben is the stronger of the pair though liked David more, especially since we get to see more about Ben than we get to see David.

My biggest ? is how else would they have met? Michael was more at home in a comic book shop than a college campus and meeting Ben was more or less a fluke, I wonder if they'd have ever seen each other otherwise. My guess is no, as Michael was unlikely to be in the circles that Ben would've been in so that they could actually meet consistently

I'd have seen him better with another person that might have been the opposite of him, educated maybe but a little more down to Earth and having something in common along the lines of comic books.

Just my thoughts