Queer As Folk, even if it ridiculously romantic... (a Brian-Justin-centric post)
So, I've been spent my last three weeks watching Queer As Folk and soon it's become my new obsession. Hoorayyyyy
Queer As Folk is tv show aired in 2000 and ended at their 5th season in 2005. The series follows the life of five gay men and a couple of lesbian. Brian, Justin, Michael, Emmet and Ted, those are the gays. And Melanie - Lindsay, the lesbian couple. Taking place on the light of Pittsburg, this series will shocks you with the massive rampant sex scene as well as a heartfelt love story between Brian and Justin
Ok, lets get closer scoop ^^
The Story
Brian, Michael, Emmet and Ted are groups of gays living in Pittsburg. They spent their night in gay club, called Babylon, having breakfast in Liberty Dinner and hang out in Woody. Brian is the most badass of all of them, having successful career in advertising agency and unofficially proclaimed as the hottest gay in Pitssburg. Attract both women and men, straight or gay! He's been friend with Michael since they're 14 and Michael's not-so-secretly in love with him, only God knows why they don't end up as lover.
Justin is only 17 when he met Brian and having sex in their first encounter. Justin then crazy in love with Brian although he knows that Brian didn’t do boyfriend thing, Brian only do fucking. He run away from his home after his father rejection of him being gay. Justin stay at Debby house (Michael’s mother) and part time work as a waiter at Liberty Dinner. After he got bashed from his homophobe friend, Brian taking him into his loft. And instead of going to business college as his parent’s will Justin choose to enroll at Pittsburg Fine Arts. He and Michael then create a comic based on Brian character.
Michael starts a relationship with chiropractor, David, but it doesn't last long due to David's family problem. Later on Michael met and falls in love with Ben, a university professor who HIV positive.
As for Emmet and Ted, they once were having love relationship but end up badly due to Ted’s addiction with drugs. Ted then reunited with Blake, who was a junkie when they were lover in season 1. Blake made it to heal from his addiction and now he’s Ted’s counselor. (Honestly, I can't see Emmet and Ted as a lover, they're good when they're friends)
Melanie and Lindsay, I don’t have much to say about the since they’re not my interest. Lindsay is having Brian’s baby and Melanie have Michael’s. Though their relationship looks the most stable among this group, but I found it the lesbian relationship has more problem than gay’s.
Cast & Characters
Gale Harrold - Brian Kinney
To describe who Brian is, let’s hear what they say:
Michael: he’s my best friend since 14
Justin: god face
Ted: heartless shit
And Brian is all above!
Works at advertising agency but after got fired, he starts his own advertising company. Hiding his concern for others with sarcasm and bad behavior. But he’s the one you’ll come to when you’re in trouble even when all you got is sarcasm. But you know deep down inside, he’s telling the truth and he's the one to rely on.
Randy Harrison - Justin Taylor
Justin is probably the most visible developed character in this story. We could see him when he was such a naïve teenager in season 1, rebel juvenile, until he grown up as a young man with bright future. What I like from Justin is, even when he was 17 he already know who he is, what he want and never stop to pursue his dream, snatch all the chances, and try all the possibility. He's the one that made a curfew for Brian! That persistence little kid!
Hal Sparks - Michael Novotny
Everybody say he's cute and adorable kinda guy, and he is. He's the good-hearted one, but sometimes he just too noisy, naive and I hate him when he starts to clingy with Brian. Works at Q supermarket but then own his own comic store. He's a geek.
Peter Paige - Emmet Honeycutt
The most flamboyant and positive character among them. No matter how bad the situation he had, he always come to survive in 'fabulous' way ('fabulous' is his favorite word). Experience so many different kind of profession; fashion stylist, porn star , party organizer and tv show presenter.
Scott Lowell - Ted Schmidt
He’s the oldest and yet the most vulnerable among them. After got fired from his office where he works as Accountant he starts a porn web company with Emmet as the star. But when the police shut down his company, Ted drowned himself in drug and sex addiction. After his recovery from addiction, Brian took him to work on his advertising agency as accountant.
Thea Gill - Lindsay Peterson
Beautiful blonde working at art gallery. She’s once having affair with man which put her relationship Melanie on the edge.
Michele Clunie - Melanie Marcus
Lindsay partner, work as a Lawyer.
Robert Grant - Ben Bruckner
University professor, no-luck-writer, HIV positive, Michael's partner.
Sharon Gless - Debbie Novotny
Michael’s mother. A very supportive mother for gay community, work as a waiter at Liberty Diner with striking performance and attitude.
Makyla Smith - Daphne
I put her here because she's my fave secoundary character. Justin's best friend, nice, kind and sweet girl.
So…
At first I was thinking, Queer As Folk is just another soap opera with gay sex on top of it. And I was right, especially that sex part. I was feeling like watching porn instead of TV show, but then again, Brian and Justin is better than porn (not that I ever watch one…)
You could see the sex scenes all through the season, and once again gay sex, prepare yourself for that. The only season that has least sex scene is probably the 4th season. Somehow it’s feel weird when there’s no sex scene in it…
The magnet of this show is Brian and Justin. The chemistry between them is just unbearable. And I never found a pair with such strong chemistry like they had before, hetero or gay. Their kisses are so hot, when they make love it just like they’re dancing, beautiful and fit in each other.
My 2nd fave pairing is Ted and Blake. I like that no matter how bad thing going on between them, they always find each other and make them stronger and better.
Michael married with Michael in Canada. Their relationship lasted long maybe because Ben matures enough to put up with sometimes-childish-Michael and his complicated relationship with Brian.
As for Emmet, in season 4 he fall in love closeted American football player, Drew. But, honestly I really can’t see Emmet having romance relationship with anyone. He just…better on his own
I don’t know if what we see here is the real life style of gay life. I mean, they looks like horny pig all the time, fucking different person every night, not to mention that gay club. Is that place could exist in real world?
So, is it GO or NOT GO? If you fine with so many nudity and gay sex, then it is definitely a GO for you. Otherwise, find another hetero romance story. But then again I don't think there would be another heartfelt love story like Brian and Justin.
Memorable Scene, Quote and More....