thoughts on ep107 pt2
.....................favorite/notable scenes...............
This scene switches back and forth between Craig looking around Justin's room and Brian and Justin having sex on Brian's bed. As in a previous split action scene, the music fits the mood of both settings. But here the selection is only servicable, accompanying rather than enhancing the visuals. Ordinarily, this would be enough, but some of us hold qaf to a higher standard , perhaps unfairly.
The scenes with Brian and Justin are pretty hot. But they would be a lot hotter if you didn't have to view almost all of the action through the window blinds and/or reflections. At various points the view is also obstructed by a windowsill, two different vases, and most irritating of all, a lampshade AND the lampshade's reflection simultaneously. All the body against body longshots are shown this way except for one quick unhindered view at the very end. Not sure what the point of all this voyeurlike camerawork was. Perhaps to do something different, or an attempt to make sex more pleasing to the eye. And it is a terrific visual, with the blue lighting and the peek a boo view. However, philistine/softcore porn fan that I am, I'd have preferrred a straight on, full view love scene. But perhaps this is being greedy because the full view close up shots of Justin against the bed with Brian close behind are both very intimate and highy erotic. At the point where the two interlock fingers, it's downright romantic.
Unfortunately, the camera frequently cuts away from Brian and Justin to the sight of Craig investigating Justin's room for evidence of "gayness". There's not much to recommend the Craig contributions. But there is some cleverness to the opening shot with Craig appearing in Justin's doorway, followed by a slow pan of the room, and continuing with Craig again intering the frame from the right side of the screen. Also like the shot where sounds of Brian and Justin's lovemaking bleed into the scene of Craig's investigation. Realize what was going on with Craig was important to the story. But the sight of someone's dad eyeing nude drawings can't possibly compete with spying on actual nude bodies in action.
Despite constant interruptions by Craig and getting only a peeping tom's eye view, in the bedroom with Brian and Justin is one sexy scene. And even though that lampshade was really, really annoying,( downright infuriating actually), it's one of my favorite sex scenes of the series.
David and Michael reinacting the "Lady and the Tramp" spaghetti scene is not one of my favorites, but it gets a lot of attention and some fans like it. Do like the setting with the homey feel of Deb's kitchen and all the reds and yellows. But the whole thing feels orchestrated by Debbie. With all the talk about the scene, what else was David going to do? See this as an early example of Debbie pushing Michal and David together. Did like the way this was filmed, starting with a frontal view where the two kiss, then a back view where they part and we see Debbie's pleased face. This is only fitting as she seems more into David and Michael than David and Michael are. The whole thing feels so forced and awkward. But it was forced so perhaps it was awkward on purpose.
The ending scene where David confronts Brian in Babylon is an important development in the the season's plotlines. It's also pretty nice to look at. Babylon is always a visual treat. But tonight the eye candy quotient is on overload with blue lazer lights everywhere, multi-colored pulsing lights, and
fast sweeping camera shots. There also seems to be a few more shots of the go go boys than usual. My favorites are the ones with sailor hats and matching tight white shorts. Even the music is set at a faster tempo than normal.
Really like the way the players are introduced here. The first recognizable people are Ted and Emmett, Brian appears by rising up from the bottom of the frame in front of Ted and Emmett, instantly changing the pair from the focus to the background. The action then moves to the right, where Michael awaits. This all appears to be done in one shot with no dramatic changes in camera focusing and it's over in a flash, but it's another example of the work and imagination that is put into this program.
Find David's outfit disturbing. He hasn't been around long, but this gear just doesn't seem like something he would wear. Maybe he's just trying too hard to fit in. The fitting in theory gets some support by the way David helps himself to Brian's drugs. But this could also be David invading Brian's personal space in some sort of mini powerplay. And given the circumstances, this is the more likely explanation.
Michael only says one word in the entire scene, but his face conveys his every emotion. From the look of adoration while sharing drugs with Brian, to confusion when David goes off with his best friend, or despondancy when he apparently fears David wants Brian, Michael's feelings are broadcast in his face with no uncertainty. In the shot where Emmett puts a comforting arm around him, Michael's distress is so clear it could be read across the entirety of the dance floor. No one pulls a sad face like Michael Novotny. But it's both sad and funny that Michael actually seems to fear that Brian is stealing David away from him. Michael knows David and Brian don't like each other, but lack of confidence and the high probability that Brian has taken men from him before, has him fretting.
When David and Brian face each other it's close, combative and unyielding, with neither man about to give in to the other on any level. Such deadlocked defensive posturing shows just how determened these rivals are. And as I've said before, it's great to see two strong willed men go up against each other. Not to mention what a rare treat it is to see someone seriously challenge Brian Kinney.
Enjoy not just the content of this confrontation but the look of it as well. The club lights are constantly flashing on the faces of the adversaries, always red for David, almost always blue for Brian. Not sure if this is supposed to demonstrate something about each man or it's just an interesting effect. Either way it's a total commitment, with David in red and Brian in blue profile up to the very end, as the two continue to face each other in challenge. As we leave, they still stand there unmoving, as the dancing goes on around them.
.........................other things of note.......................
While Ted is explaining "Studs n suds" to Justin, Michael and Brian exchange a look. Not sure what it's about, but suspect it was a warning by Michael that Justin had better not be there and a confirmation from Brian. Might be totally wrong about this but Justin isn't at Babylon that night.
Emmett's refusal to worship at the alter of Brian Kinney continues to impress. Love how supportive he is of Michael against Brian's manipulations.
Brian's blink and you'll miss it performance with an eclair is worth a second look.
Why on earth does Lindsay need two thousand dollars for a near newborn? Mel and Linds are two professional women, yet they are constantly going to Brian for money. And Melanie doesn't even have the decency to be gracious about it. There are families out there who manage, admittedly not comfortably, to raise children on one or two minimum wage paychecks. Yet this pair of salaried women, one of them a lawyer, still need to go begging to Brian. It's disgraceful, and frankly, not very believable.
David stating that he's "comfortable", when asked about his finances is very much what a person in his position would say. In the U.S. almost no one will ever admit to being rich or even having a lot of money. Those with a six figure income say they aren't rich because they still work for a living. People with bigger incomes and a recreational job or no job at all are not rich because they only own one home, even if this home is worth several million. Those with more than one home are not rich because they have less than a million in liquid assets. Anyone that does have said assets isn't rich because they only have a million, and so on. Maybe it's to deflect possible envy or an attempt to create the illusion of egalitarianism, but very few well heeled Americans will ever refer to themselves with the dreaded R word.
Like season one Ted's verbal jabs at Brian. He delivers some excellent and clever lines at the expense of Mr. Kinney. But unlike the case with Emmett, Ted's cander seems to come less from lack of Brian worship and more for defence of Michael.
Justin definitly has big problems dealing with homophobic classmates at school and a completely irrational father at home. But he makes his bad situation worse with his general attitude and smart remarks. Telling his father how he can "take it like a man" would get him a belt in the face from parents of far milder temperment than Craig.
It's a bit of an eyebrow raiser to see Brian making an attempt to keep up with David's dancing.
It is very brief, largely hidden by wildflowers, and not very well choreographed. But David and Michael in the woods is the first sex/nude scene of any regular male cast members outside of Justin and Brian.
Brian has never been in a romantic relationship, nor does he have any interest in being in one. He also makes no secret about his dislike of David. In fact, it would be difficult to find someone among this group less qualified to weigh in on David and Michael's romance. But despite all of this, Michael still chooses to take relationship advice from Brian.
This episode marks the end of Brian's extremely overt and proactive attempts to undermine Michael's romance. But he will continue to work against the new couple. It's baffling that so many viewers forget, or choose to ignore Brian's poor behavior in regard to Michael's love life.
...................................end pt 2
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Golden_Gardenia
11 years ago
However, philistine/softcore porn fan that I am, I'd have preferrred a straight on, full view love scene. But perhaps this is being greedy because the full view close up shots of Justin against the bed with Brian close behind are both very intimate and highy erotic. At the point where the two interlock fingers, it's downright romantic.
I love that scene, very HOT, HOT, HOT . The interlock fingers was the romantic touch they gaveto the scene.
The fitting in theory gets some support by the way David helps himself to Brian's drugs. But this could also be David invading Brian's personal space in some sort of mini powerplay.
And I think David wanted to show Brian that "anything you can do, I can do better". Two male alpha dogs. David is not afraid of Brian. I like that. David and Brian could never be a couple.
Why on earth does Lindsay need two thousand dollars for a near newborn? Mel and Linds are two professional women, yet they are constantly going to Brian for money. And Melanie doesn't even have the decency to be gracious about it.
This is what I hate about these two women, who have salaries of their own. In the hospital Lindsay refused Brian's financial assistance, but now keeps asking for money. WTF?
It is very brief, largely hidden by wildflowers, and not very well choreographed. But David and Michael in the woods is the first sex/nude scene of any regular male cast members outside of Justin and Brian.
Yes, it was. But honestly, that scene didn't do anything for me. I still think that the best couples in the show are those with one straight actor + one gay actor. Two straight actors play the less hot scenes .
Brian has never been in a romantic relationship, nor does he have any interest in being in one.
You know, this is what is hard for me to believe. This is what Brian says, and Michael thinks. I think he had at least a crush on his gym teacher, the one he had sex with.
"I'm not antisocial, I just can't stand people." Justin Taylor
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dergil27
11 years ago
That love scene was"HOT,HOT,HOT" indeed. Brian and Justin at their best.
Could never invision David and Brian as a couple. But hear there is, or at least used to be, a fanfiction story out there where the two have sex, with Brian on the bottom. Even the thought of that is funny.
Will never stop wondering why these women needed any money from Brian. Let alone why they needed so much.
David and Michael's outdoor sex scene didn't do anything for me either. And that comes from someone who actually appreciates everyone's love scenes. But it was a first, so I thought it was worth mentioning. Totally agree that one gay and one straight actor gave the best results as far as on screen lovemaking goes. Often wonder if the creators went for the gay/ straight combination deliberately. Also wonder if the experience with Chris Potter and Sparks had anything to do with it.
Don't think Brian secretly wanted to be in relationship. Do think he had a crush on his gym teacher. But a crush does not always mean you want to get involved on a long term basis.
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Golden_Gardenia
11 years ago
Could never invision David and Brian as a couple. But hear there is, or at least used to be, a fanfiction story out there where the two have sex, with Brian on the bottom. Even the thought of that is funny.
I can't even imagine that. But I couldn't imagine [spoiler] Brian and Ben having sex and they did; with Bem on the bottom. [spoiler]
Often wonder if the creators went for the gay/ straight combination deliberately.
This is something that I wanted to know. When they had the reunion (the one that is in the DVD in the box set) Bob Gant talked about his love scenes with Hal Sparks. It's like the gay actor helps the straight actor in the love scenes, showing that it's no big deal. At one point Bob said Hal was terrified when Ben and Michael had sex for the first time. Then Bob said to Hal (at the moment of teh scene): " I know this feels weird, especially because if you were gay you'd probably be the top. Apparently that calmed hal's nerves.
As for Mel and Lindsay, Thea is bissexual (she told a long story in a radio show about being in love with a female teacher when she was a teenager. Michelle is apparently straight, but in the same radioshow she said she is "heteroflexible", whatever that means...
"I'm not antisocial, I just can't stand people." Justin Taylor
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