Queer as Folk Marathon - Season 1 - Episode 11

Poor Tracy! I loved her character; she was so sweet, and I felt so badly for her. I know Michael was paranoid about being out at work, but how could he not tell she was a sincere person, and wouldn't do anything to jeopardize things at work for him? Mikey didn't ever seem to get a good read on people, including his friends at times.

And yeah, Brian was a jerk for outing Michael to Tracy that way. We, as the viewer, knew why he was doing it, but Debbie was right. He never does things halfway.

No one ever blames (or at least advises) Michael for being indecisive, for sexually pining for Brian, for waiting for Brian to be something other than a best friend.

Clofa, it's understandable that people tend to blame Brian because he has the power in the B/M relationship. With power comes responsibility, which Brian finally took in this episode. He finally realized that he had to do something. Something big that could free Michael from his power. Michael is the vulnerable part of the duo at this point. After his experience with David, Michael will mature a lot, enough to become emotionally independent from Brian, and finally to find a new love and be in an adult relationship in Season 2. And, of course, put Brian in his place: a best friend and nothing else.

What Deb, Vic, Emmett and Ted mean when they try to convince Michael to move in with David is not that they think David is the perfet guy and their relationship would be perfect. But it would be a necessary first step to break free from a dysfunctional friendship.









"If Justin wants golden gardenias, he should have golden gardenias!" Brian Kinney

...........Thoughts on ep111.........

...........Part one of two...........







...........Main Points...........................




Rarely have occasion to say this, but found Emmett kind of irritating at the top of this story. His flirting with the tongue depresser and dancing with the skeleton was cute, But Emmett's chastisment of Ted, no matter how friendly and concerned, was uncalled for as his friend sat in a state of incredible worry. Ted's "Alright already.", was more than warrranted.

Like the contrast of Emmett's friendly flippant flirtatious demeanor before, and his panicked, dazed stare after he gets the dreaded "Come into the office" call. Know well how it is to get unwelcome news on a Friday and have to wait til Monday to deal with it. The verdict Emmett is waiting for could effect the rest of his life, and the gravity of this shows just how ridiculous his roomates wailing about turning thirty really is. But Emmett, considerate friend that he often is, keeps his troubles to himself for Michael's sake.

Emmett's situation nets a rare chance to hear Vic interact with someone outside his family. Vic gives Emmett sound advice about HIV not just being a disease for the careless. But his comment about ageism in gay culture was more intriguing, and is a topic that should have been touched on a little more.

Have to admit all the candles in the bathroom are beautiful, and give the room a special glow only a flame can produce as Emmett prays at the toilet. But it's so obvious the candles are there to give the room a churchlike look and feel, it takes you out of the show for a minute. And all that open flame around all those drunk partiers seems asking for trouble. Liked how quiet it was in the bathroom scene. It wasn't very realistic that such thin walls could filter out that much sound. But this was one of those cases where realism is rightfully sacrificed to create a certain mood. Wasn't in the least surprized when Emmett's praying was interrupted by a vomiting Melanie. The only surprize was that at a party that size with only one bathroom, Emmett got as much time to himself as he did.

Liked the idea of a bounced check, it's in keeping with the need to come into the office, yet allows Emmett to be okay in a realistic way. But didn't like the apparent belief that only gay men have to worry about the AIDS virus. It's a flawed assumption that qaf will unfortunately continue with for seasons to come.




Melanie's decision to give into Lindsay's desire to stay home with Gus doesn't seem to be working out to Mel's satisfation. As we all learn during a shopping trip with Ted. Have no idea why Mel and Ted would be in a sex shop together, but it's something we won't get to see on most programs so, okay. Like seeing Ted and Mel together. And as both have professional careers, this should make for slightly different conversation. But while it does, it is alas, less interesting conversation, as the talk today runs toward insurance covered therapy and the unexplained revelation that talking to your friends about their relationship is the beginning of the end. But whether it's the beginning of the end of the friendship or the relationship is not made clear. But as nice as it is to see these two together, the scene doesn't reveal as much information as one would think, given the amount of screentime it takes up. What little we do learn is that, according to Mel, Lindsay is shutting her out emotionally and sexually.

At Michael's party the situation is more clear that things between Mel and Linds are strained as Lindsay gives Melanie angry looks , and Mel snidely mentiones the money she's putting out for Lindsay to stay home and, presumably, ignore Mel. Seems Melanie's not happy with how her money is spent, as she gets to pay but not get any of Gus or Lindsay. And in a bit of overkill this show does all too often, the point is driven home by Linds and Deb talking about motherhood while Mel stands on the sidelines. Perhaps it's insensitive, but I found it entertaining to watch Mel try to get as drunk as she can, as fast as she can. Love her interactions with Justin, who at seventeen is tending bar, as the two drink and smoke the night away. But Mel's night ends as it often does when too much alcohol is involved. Sort of liked, even if it was a tad obvious, that Mel and Emmett were both kneeling over the toilet at the same time, but for very different reasons.




To the certain relief of Brian, Michael is single again. But his contentmant is short lived as accusations from Michael's loved ones, and possibly Brian's own conscience, get the better of him. So he sets about fixing things, as only Brian can.

There are times in this series when Brian is wonderful to Michael. But often, seemingly much more often, Brian treats his best friend with total disregard. This outing has one of the worse cases of the latter, wherin Brian is a total creep to Michael. Not talking about the party, there his actions had purpose. But not in the steam room, where Brian now tells Michael he should have stayed with David and that the two of them " can't spend the rest of our !*#king lives hanging out together". Brian has the nerve to say this after doing all he could to set in play this very thing happening. Seems Brian cannot be content just to manipulate Michael into staying around, but must also make his friend regret this decision. See no reason for this kind of cruelty.

Brian has a certain special rapport with Debbie. And the dynamic he has with his friend's mother is quite unique, making their scenes together always an event. It says something about the closeness of their connection when Debbie can ask for a drink seconds after accussing Brian of ruining her son's life when he ruined his chances with David. Brian's "He wasn't having any fun.", serves both to admit the truth of this and and as Brian's defence of his actions. In Debbie's challenge to Brian about the "tidbits of affection" Brian gave Michael, always wondered how she knew about this. Did Brian do this right in front of her, or did someone else clue her in? In some exposition that actually seems to work in their conversation, rather than just clunky necessity to let viewers know the score, Debbie recounts Brian and Michael's first schoolboy days together. It's nothing we couldn't have guessed, but it does reveal just how far back and how deep Michael's Brian worship goes. It's interesting that Brian is intimidated enough by Debbie to try throwing her a bone by suggesting he and Michael might end up together as two old queens in Palm Springs. But Debbie doesn't buy it. And when Brian's surrender is the promise of a party Michael will never forget, Debbie just looks at him, probably wondering , as do a lot of first time viewers, how a party could possibly fix things.

Continue to enjoy any and all interactions between Brian andd David. This time Brian actually comes out to David's home. And even while going out of his way to make sure David comes to Michael's party, Brian still manages to be insulting to the man. Like that Brian is still Brian, even when he is attempting to be pursuasive. Also like this outdoor scene, because we get a better look at the exterior of David's house and the surrounding neighborhood. Had previousely thought David would live somewhere a little more remote. It's also another scene with David in the rain. Had this happened a third time, I'd have suspected a theme.

It's no surprize when Brian pulls out all the stops for Michael's birthday party. The elaborate set designs are the definition of overdone but still wonderful to behold. The set pieces even light up, so you can see them in the usual dark of an adults only, (except for Gus, ) party. The centerpiece of this ostentatious display are several huge pictures of Michael , some with Brian and some alone. Adding to the overkill are random costumed dancing boys and even more random shiny baloons. The enormous bar, though expected, was still mildly amusing and contributed to the prettiness of the scene. Brian has even provided the party guests. Brian may tease Michael about only knowing six people. But as Brian's aquaintances are all former sex partners, this says as much about Brian's limited social life as it does about Michael's.

On first viewing it really does appear that Brian is just continuing to string Michael along and showing David up for good measure. Even the timing of the gifts was deliberate, with David's solid but impersonal watch followed by Brian's first edition comic book, a gift that to quote Ted, "couldn't be more perfect". This seems like a jerk thing to do even for Brian, but events move to fast to wonder if there's more to what you're seeing. But as soon as you start to suspect this is part of a plan, the plan in question reveals itself with the arrival of Tracy. This was unexpected, by me anyway. Love it when the writers manage to surprize. So after making Michael really, really happy, Brian knocks him down hard with the huge betrayal of outing him to a workmate. To rub salt in the wound, or maybe just to make Tracy fully understand, Brian takes things a step further with some tactless sexual exposition. When David hits him, Brian seems to be expecting it, with no attempts at retailiation. If David hadn't punched him at this time, one wonders if Brian would have continued until he did. After the dust settles, Brian stands as if in a receiveing line, but in this case it's to be berated by all of Michael's friends and family. Noticed that the departure of Michael's friends was not the end of the party. Liked this. And it makes sense as most of the guests didn't even know him. Why waste all that liquor and other party favors?

Next morning, Brian is only slightly taken aback at seeing Debbie in his place. He must be familiar with this woman indeed to show so little reaction to Deb letting herself in. Presumably she used Michael's key, but she could have her own. Debbie's come to collect Michael's presents and Justin. It's notable that Justin gets up from the bed fully clothed. Seems Justin has managed to spend the entire night with Brian without trying to elicit sex from him. This is a new step forward in their relationship, and a development to which neither the characters nor the writers seem to attach much importance. But personally see this as a red letter day for this pair, and I'm not even a big B/J fan.

In Debbie and Brian part two, anyone who didn't connect the dots already, gets the benefit of another exposition. And as before, though the purpose is obvious, it flows well because it's couched in Deb's thank you to Brian and her concurrence that such extreme measures were needed. But while there will be fallout for both sides, the greater cost is to Brian, who's incredible pain at giving up his best friend shows so clearly in his face. In fact, Brian is quite visably an emotional wreck. And when Debbie thanks him for what he's done and tells Brian to "Take care.", you realize he's not just losing Michael, but Debbie as well. Brian is utterly distraught, and one can't help but feel great sadness for him.

Such candid vulnerability can't last of course, and when Brian next appears he's reading Michael's comic book on his floor. Fortified with whiskey and cigarettes, Brian's casual manner seems like an exaggeration, as if he's trying to convince someone he's fine, even when he's alone. As we leave Brian in this scene, character study gives way to impressive visuals as the camera pulls back and tracks low, giving a rolling bug's eye view of the loft floor still littered with party decorations. So much for Justin helping to clean up the mess.

Clearly everyone in his circle places the blame on the demise of Michael's relationship soley with Brian. Think all three had a hand in it, but believe David is the most responsible for the actual breakup. Insisting someone you've known for a short time move in with you, and then dumping them when they don't? How reasonable is that? One wouldn't even have to be hung up on their best friend to balk at this offer. But as it's made clear that Brian's actions led to Michael's refusal, Michael is at fault for allowing his best friend to tell him how to think. Yet Brian is still more at fault because what he's done remains the trigger for David's overreaction. Really can't blame Michael much here. This may be partly because I can't get past the idea that his moving in with David this early is such an asinine undertaking. And the picture Brian paints for Michael, where he is separated from his best friend and thrust into David's still unfamiliar world does seem rather scarry. Also, though he may have wanted it, Michael never actually asked Brian for his advice. Brian manipulated his friend without prompting, and with a clear intent to discourage him from getting closer to David. David breaking up with Michael may have seemed an unexpected benefit for Brian, but it's very possible that Michael completely cutting David loose was what Brian was really after. It just happened to be David that did the honors. So even though David actually ended it, Brian was almost equally instrumental in the breakup of this romance due to his actions as well as his likely intentions.


...........end part one of two.................

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