Interesting tonight. Ethan the Romantic is a two-timer. Teddy is a convicted felon (why he didn’t wring little Eddie’s neck I have no idea). Emmet was his usual wise self, connecting Brian to reality. And Michael stood up for himself without seeming whiney (a miracle!).
I have a gut feeling that at some point, Chief Stockwell is going to drop the mask and make a move on Brian…no inside info, just a feeling. That could neatly tie up Brian’s growing uneasiness with his new client and give him a lever to make Stockwell back off. Hell, the man’s threatening Brian’s natural habitat: the backrooms and bathhouses. Even a rat will fight if you back him into a corner.
I worry about what Ted’s going to do for a living now. I can’t imagine that the publicity of the arrest and the fact of his guilty plea wouldn’t cause problems in getting a position of trust (such as accountancy). Will he have to work at the diner, too?
I was pleased with this episode overall. I’ve never been entirely happy with the diabetic-coma-inducing sappy sweetness of Justin/Ethan, so the conflict is working for me. And I was always slightly disappointed that they chose to make Brian/Justin yet another unworkable polyamorous/open relationship instead of giving them a chance. So yay.
QAF is an annoyingly addicitve soap opera that seems to be set in a parallell univers (one where gay pride parades are televised live, as in Season 1). How can the city of Pittsburgh shut down a Web site without having the ACLU up their asses? Melamie must be one crappy lawyer if the best tactic she can come up with is a plea bargain.
I’m with JayJay in thinking that Stockwell has to be a closet case who will eventually make a move on Brian. Look at the way he touched Brian’s leg in the steamroom; str8 boys don’t do that.
I’m sooo glad that (apparently) the Ethan/Justin thing is over. I hated Ethan… hated, hated, HATED Ethan. He was a :wally of a contradiction to Brian. He just made my skin crawl… “You are my muse!” blech
My original thought to Michael’s confrontation was “Oh great, whine central in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…” so I was happy to see how it played out and he actually made his point strongly without whining.
So Ted plead guilty, has a record, and loses his business all in one episode? Talk about fast wrap-ups to a significant event in the character.
Finally, I am getting very tired of the same convention in this show. Character (non-Brian) gets into a jam, friends (non-Brian) attempt to resolve the situation but in the end are forced to ask Brian for help. Brian refuses. Brian helps anyway. Brian disparages their appreciation. This has been played out too many times and I felt it was done again just to close down a storyline about Ted without expanding the story.
Oh, I also second (or third) the thought that Stockwell is a closet-case.
I honestly thought they’d play out the Ted story for at least one more episode to develop the Stockwell/Brian story giving Brian the true leverage he’ll need to help Ted, expose Stockwell, and be a good guy.
You know, Mean Joe, you have a good point. Brian is often treated by the writers of the show as some kind of Lord of the Fags. Was it Emmet in this episode who had a line about “the great god Kinney”? Except it doesn’t work as sarcasm because it’s actually the truth in the QaFiverse.
Why do myQueer As Folk threads sink like a stone but jayjay’s gets responses? It’s not fair!
:: pouts ::
[/Drama Queen]
Once you accept the parallel universe premise - I mean everyone is fabulous at Babylon - the show is really fun.
I’m a little needle-phobic so the scene where Michael was threatening to stab himself with Ben’s used needle really shook me up. I’m glad it affected Ben, too.
I just love Emmett. He is one of a few on the show who aren’t in awe of Brian. When he walked over and shut the door I thought he was going to get medieval on Brian. I hope they explore more the reasons why Brian is willing to help his friends but is such an ass about it; never really acknowledging that he does help. I’m sure it’s related to his homophobic father. Perhaps the detective friend of Debbie’s will serve as a proxy for his dead father at some time to work through those issues.
I was hoping that Ethan leaving with the fanboy at the end of the last episode was a fake-out and that he wasn’t really cheating. But it’s a soap opera, so no dice. I’m not disappointed, however, that their relationship is done. Justin was with Brian and then with Ethan since he came out (although with Brian it wasn’t monogamous). But I think he needs to just be single for awhile and date around without worrying about being in a relationship. A relationship isn’t the be-all and end-all of life. I’m reminded of the line in The Broken Hearts Club when Dennis tells the newbie that he needs to get his kicks out before getting serious.
How can you not mention Vic getting a boyfriend?! I was thrilled about that. And of course Melanie is pregnant, was it just me or did Lindsey not seem as pleased? I also loved Emmet’s strength when he was telling Ted that nothing mattered as long as they had each other.
I hope there will be more of Ethan, I never liked his character but he is just beautiful! The last scene, where Brian and Justin were looking at each other…WOW!
Homebrew: There, there…I get enough threads/posts generally ignored that the occasional one that actually takes off doesn’t really tip the balance away from you, dear.
MamaHen: I realized that I forgot about Uncle Vic getting some after I posted the last time. I think it’s great. It at least breaks the “only amazing-looking people in the QaFiverse get sex” thing, anyway.
And I think that Linz is just a little jealous at how soon Mel “caught”. I think we’re in for an interesting pregnancy. Linz has become used to being the Font of Life and having to fade into the background while Mel glows could be just a little much for her.
You know what I really miss this season, though? The Lindsay/Brian interaction. Brian downplays it, but he and Linz are very good friends, and QaF has portrayed them as having a playful interaction at times throughout the first two seasons (I’m thinking specifically of the scene last season where they posed as husband and wife so Gus could get into that school). I haven’t seen that at all this season. The only time they’ve even talked that I can remember was when they originally asked Brian to donate for this new baby.
There have been a couple of scenes where Brian and Lindsey are in the park with Gus. One that I can remember in particular was when she was admonishing Brian about not admitting that he loved Justin. I think that was in the season premiere. And wasn’t it implied (or was it stated) early on that they had slept together in college?
Vic’s boyfriend was a great addition, and dinner with Debbie had me thinking she would scare the guy right the hell out of there. I’d run… quickly. Let’s hope they keep it in the storyline for awhile longer.
I think jayjay is right, I think Lindsey is a little jealous and I definitely got the vibe that we’ll be seeing some tension as the relationship dynamics change due to Mel’s pregnancy. Oh, and is it just me or is Mel really looking hotter lately? It seems there is a conscious effort to “sex” her up a bit.
Finally, it seems from my previous posts I may have been too negative about the show. That is not the case, I think it is great but some things could be better. Alas, I am not the one in charge so I’ll have to continue to tolerate them.
