Queer As Folk Seasons 4 & 5
Stayed over at _windigo_'s on Saturday night and watched all of Season 4 Queer As Folk :DD We decided not to sleep and stayed up all night... Then went out paintballing (finally!) on Sunday with cocacola_2020.
Paintballing was awesome :DD We played from about 10 to 3.30, and did 6 different games, playing each twice. They were all mission based - having to escort a president to a bus while the other team tried to assassinate him, then switching sides, or trying to move a bomb into a castle while the other team defended it, that kind of thing. I did better in the morning than in the afternoon but it was really fun - I shot a lot of people, none of my own team XDDD I got shot a fair few times - it didn't hurt most of the time (except one on my knee which absoutely fucking killed D:) but I have a bruise on my neck and on each leg. The ninja suits and goggles were really hot and kind of gross to wear for extended periods, but it was really fun. I'd love to go again, if I can afford it...
Then went back to _windigo_'s and watched the entire Season 5 of Queer As Folk XDXD I think given my all-consuming love of QAF and the fact I've now watched all of it, it deserves a comprehensive analysis:
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SEASON FOUR
I loved Season 4 almost as much as Season 3. The two stand-out plots for me were a) Ted's journey and b) the friction between Michael's success and Ben's lack of success.
The Ted/Emmett situation just breaks my heart every time I watch it (;______;) and I liked the way that at first Ted can't deal with trying to ask forgiveness from Emmett, and Emmett can't bring himself to let go, but they eventually become best friends again :DD The episode where Michael and Ben get married (which is so totally totally adorable anyway) has possibly my favourite T/E moment when Ted says "I'm not just crying for them. Maybe if things had been different..." and Emmett replies "At least we're still friends." Aww~~~ I wish they had been different too! I want a T/E marriage XDD BUT I love Blake so I was glad he was in it again, even if he did cause friction.
As for Michael and Ben... The strain put on their relationship by Michael's film deal and Ben's failing novel was really well presented, I think - it was never too much of an obstacle, but just made their relationship really uncomfortable and spikey. Which was upsetting (T^T) The bug-chasing episode was so heart-breaking - I have to wonder; if Anthony hadn't revealed he was a bug-chaser, would Ben have slept with him? I hope not, but it's not clear... The end of the episode, with Ben going back to Michael was really sweet though <333 And of course THE MARRIAGE. Gah. They are so perfect together. They are my happy pairing :D (as opposed to T/E which just makes me cry)
The other good plotline in Season 4 was Brian's cancer and his injury during the bike ride, and him starting to have to accept that he isn't perfect. I felt so sorry for him during the last episode, where he can barely keep riding due to the pain but won't give up. Brian's always been the 'strong' character, and to see him this weak was heart-breaking (;____;) And Ted taking over from him at work and 'nailing the account' was just hilarious and awesome XDDD I love Ted. SUCH A DORK, omg.
SEASON FIVE
Season 5 had less stand-alone episodes than previous seasons,and the first 8 or so episodes aren't as strong as the previous few seasons. Ted's plastic sugery storyline was kinda weird - he'd always been obsessed with appearance and had an addictive personality so I guess it made sense, but it wasn't presented very seriously (especially in comparison to his Season 3 drug use) and so felt just a bit random. Hm. Also, the bleached hair thing was hideous DD: Yeck.
The Hunter story in Season 5 was really good - when Callie's parents revealed his HIV I almost cried (T^T) and when he left home I actually did cry. I love Hunter <333 and Michael and Ben's devastation was so upsetting to watch. But he came back!! Yay for him staying and them being a happy family XDDD And LOL'z at him working as a dwarf in DisneyWorld!! That was so random.
I absolutely loved the Michael/Brian storyline in this season. I think they are so cute together (as best friends, nothing else) and their split in this season was so upsetting, especially when Brian tried to apologise and Michael wouldn't accept it. The contrast between Michael's 'Stepford Fag' lifestyle and Brian's continuing life of debauchery and promiscuity was becoming very clear by Season 4 and I think it was time to explore the impact of that on their friendship. The most upsetting moment had to be when Brian burst in drunk and started blaming Michael for Justin leaving him - it widened the rift between them and showed how much Brian actually loved and missed Justin.
Obviously the most moving part of Season 5 has to be the bomb in Babylon. I knew it was coming and actually was crying even before the explosion XDD Which is so lame, I know. Anyway... I've seen that episode about 5 times now and still cry when I watch it. When Brian sees Michael on the stretcher, with Ben and the other standing there covered in dust and in shock... The way Emmett and Ted go into shock was really moving, I thought, and very realistic. I'm so glad Michael recovers :DD I'm not sure I would have been able to cope with the angst if he died...
I'm not a particularly big fan of Brian/Justin - I like them together and occasionally find them really sweet but I'm not too bothered by them... The end of their relationship was moving though. I'm glad they didn't get married - I don't think it would have worked, given how much Brian was changing himself to try and fit what Justin wanted. But I reckon that Justin will come back from New York in 10 years or something, and then they'll be ready to make a life together. I mean, they're unlikely to find anyone (at least Brian is) who will know and understand them as well as they do each other. In the same way, I reckon Emmett and Drew may well end up toether in 5 or 10 years, and Ted's just found Blake again in the 'better circumstances' they were hoping for. So I thought the ending was really happy and full of hope for the future :D
(There was also this awesome outtake where Emmett and Ted end up together - when Blake and Ted are dancing together at the end, Emmett comes up and pushes Blake out of the way and kisses Ted XDDD Part of me wishes that had really happened...)
I loved the final scene so so so much. Michael and Brian dancing together just like old times, with their friends around them, in the place that made them who they are. And Michael dancing in the place where he almost dead, sending a big 'fuck you' to his attackers XDD Maybe it's just because I'm queer but I found the 'I will survive' speech really moving... I cried. AGAIN.
And then... it was all over! DD: I think it was probably time for it to finish, but still... Gah. I miss you, Queer As Folk~!!
Anyways, by the end I reassessed my QAF favourites:
character: oddly I love pretty much all the characters - one of the only programmes I can say that for... Favourites are probably Ted and Michael, closely followed by Ben, Emmett and Hunter.
pairing: Ben/Michael is my (mostly) happy pairing, Ted/Emmett is my upsetting pairing. I love Ted/Blake too :D
episode: I love the final two-parter of Season 4. They're probably the happiest episodes in the whole thing, apart from the Mel/Lindsay storyline. Brian finally succeeds, Emmett helps Ted (something he couldn't do in Season 3) and Michael and Ben get married. I also love Episode 12 of Season 3, where Ted and Emmett finally split up - even though I love the pairing, their confrontation is one of the best moments of the entire series in terms of emotional impact. Then there's Episode 10 of Season 5 which is the bomb episode. QAF does sad episodes really well XDD Like Episode 17 of Season 2, when Ben is hospitalised. I think this is the first point at which it becomes obvious there is a serious commitment, as Michael doesn't even consider leaving Ben. Also it has Emmett's decision not to keep his relationship with George a secret - even though I'm not bothered about Emmett/George, this scene made me love Emmett so much more <333
I can't believe it's finished!! D: The great thing about QAF in general is that (without often being preachy) it has important messages about the intolerance and injustice in the world. And it's seriously enjoyable to watch XDDD Plus all the smex! 8DD
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Apart from that, I have been shopping for my new university room. I've gotten a fluffy rug and cushions, a kettle, sandwich toaster and normal toaster, a teapot and landline phone, and various other essentials... .I go up next Saturday. I can't believe I'm going to be living somewhere else in less than a week (0__________0) I've lived in this house for 12 years now, and the same village since I was 3. I know I'll be back here for holidays, but... I guess it's time to move on, though. There'll be photos of my room when it's decorated, I promise!! :DD
Now I need to go... Read some of the stuff on my reading list. Which I should have read ages ago. Oops.
Paintballing was awesome :DD We played from about 10 to 3.30, and did 6 different games, playing each twice. They were all mission based - having to escort a president to a bus while the other team tried to assassinate him, then switching sides, or trying to move a bomb into a castle while the other team defended it, that kind of thing. I did better in the morning than in the afternoon but it was really fun - I shot a lot of people, none of my own team XDDD I got shot a fair few times - it didn't hurt most of the time (except one on my knee which absoutely fucking killed D:) but I have a bruise on my neck and on each leg. The ninja suits and goggles were really hot and kind of gross to wear for extended periods, but it was really fun. I'd love to go again, if I can afford it...
Then went back to _windigo_'s and watched the entire Season 5 of Queer As Folk XDXD I think given my all-consuming love of QAF and the fact I've now watched all of it, it deserves a comprehensive analysis:
<<< QUEER AS FOLK FANRAMBLE >>>
SEASON FOUR
I loved Season 4 almost as much as Season 3. The two stand-out plots for me were a) Ted's journey and b) the friction between Michael's success and Ben's lack of success.
The Ted/Emmett situation just breaks my heart every time I watch it (;______;) and I liked the way that at first Ted can't deal with trying to ask forgiveness from Emmett, and Emmett can't bring himself to let go, but they eventually become best friends again :DD The episode where Michael and Ben get married (which is so totally totally adorable anyway) has possibly my favourite T/E moment when Ted says "I'm not just crying for them. Maybe if things had been different..." and Emmett replies "At least we're still friends." Aww~~~ I wish they had been different too! I want a T/E marriage XDD BUT I love Blake so I was glad he was in it again, even if he did cause friction.
As for Michael and Ben... The strain put on their relationship by Michael's film deal and Ben's failing novel was really well presented, I think - it was never too much of an obstacle, but just made their relationship really uncomfortable and spikey. Which was upsetting (T^T) The bug-chasing episode was so heart-breaking - I have to wonder; if Anthony hadn't revealed he was a bug-chaser, would Ben have slept with him? I hope not, but it's not clear... The end of the episode, with Ben going back to Michael was really sweet though <333 And of course THE MARRIAGE. Gah. They are so perfect together. They are my happy pairing :D (as opposed to T/E which just makes me cry)
The other good plotline in Season 4 was Brian's cancer and his injury during the bike ride, and him starting to have to accept that he isn't perfect. I felt so sorry for him during the last episode, where he can barely keep riding due to the pain but won't give up. Brian's always been the 'strong' character, and to see him this weak was heart-breaking (;____;) And Ted taking over from him at work and 'nailing the account' was just hilarious and awesome XDDD I love Ted. SUCH A DORK, omg.
SEASON FIVE
Season 5 had less stand-alone episodes than previous seasons,and the first 8 or so episodes aren't as strong as the previous few seasons. Ted's plastic sugery storyline was kinda weird - he'd always been obsessed with appearance and had an addictive personality so I guess it made sense, but it wasn't presented very seriously (especially in comparison to his Season 3 drug use) and so felt just a bit random. Hm. Also, the bleached hair thing was hideous DD: Yeck.
The Hunter story in Season 5 was really good - when Callie's parents revealed his HIV I almost cried (T^T) and when he left home I actually did cry. I love Hunter <333 and Michael and Ben's devastation was so upsetting to watch. But he came back!! Yay for him staying and them being a happy family XDDD And LOL'z at him working as a dwarf in DisneyWorld!! That was so random.
I absolutely loved the Michael/Brian storyline in this season. I think they are so cute together (as best friends, nothing else) and their split in this season was so upsetting, especially when Brian tried to apologise and Michael wouldn't accept it. The contrast between Michael's 'Stepford Fag' lifestyle and Brian's continuing life of debauchery and promiscuity was becoming very clear by Season 4 and I think it was time to explore the impact of that on their friendship. The most upsetting moment had to be when Brian burst in drunk and started blaming Michael for Justin leaving him - it widened the rift between them and showed how much Brian actually loved and missed Justin.
Obviously the most moving part of Season 5 has to be the bomb in Babylon. I knew it was coming and actually was crying even before the explosion XDD Which is so lame, I know. Anyway... I've seen that episode about 5 times now and still cry when I watch it. When Brian sees Michael on the stretcher, with Ben and the other standing there covered in dust and in shock... The way Emmett and Ted go into shock was really moving, I thought, and very realistic. I'm so glad Michael recovers :DD I'm not sure I would have been able to cope with the angst if he died...
I'm not a particularly big fan of Brian/Justin - I like them together and occasionally find them really sweet but I'm not too bothered by them... The end of their relationship was moving though. I'm glad they didn't get married - I don't think it would have worked, given how much Brian was changing himself to try and fit what Justin wanted. But I reckon that Justin will come back from New York in 10 years or something, and then they'll be ready to make a life together. I mean, they're unlikely to find anyone (at least Brian is) who will know and understand them as well as they do each other. In the same way, I reckon Emmett and Drew may well end up toether in 5 or 10 years, and Ted's just found Blake again in the 'better circumstances' they were hoping for. So I thought the ending was really happy and full of hope for the future :D
(There was also this awesome outtake where Emmett and Ted end up together - when Blake and Ted are dancing together at the end, Emmett comes up and pushes Blake out of the way and kisses Ted XDDD Part of me wishes that had really happened...)
I loved the final scene so so so much. Michael and Brian dancing together just like old times, with their friends around them, in the place that made them who they are. And Michael dancing in the place where he almost dead, sending a big 'fuck you' to his attackers XDD Maybe it's just because I'm queer but I found the 'I will survive' speech really moving... I cried. AGAIN.
And then... it was all over! DD: I think it was probably time for it to finish, but still... Gah. I miss you, Queer As Folk~!!
Anyways, by the end I reassessed my QAF favourites:
character: oddly I love pretty much all the characters - one of the only programmes I can say that for... Favourites are probably Ted and Michael, closely followed by Ben, Emmett and Hunter.
pairing: Ben/Michael is my (mostly) happy pairing, Ted/Emmett is my upsetting pairing. I love Ted/Blake too :D
episode: I love the final two-parter of Season 4. They're probably the happiest episodes in the whole thing, apart from the Mel/Lindsay storyline. Brian finally succeeds, Emmett helps Ted (something he couldn't do in Season 3) and Michael and Ben get married. I also love Episode 12 of Season 3, where Ted and Emmett finally split up - even though I love the pairing, their confrontation is one of the best moments of the entire series in terms of emotional impact. Then there's Episode 10 of Season 5 which is the bomb episode. QAF does sad episodes really well XDD Like Episode 17 of Season 2, when Ben is hospitalised. I think this is the first point at which it becomes obvious there is a serious commitment, as Michael doesn't even consider leaving Ben. Also it has Emmett's decision not to keep his relationship with George a secret - even though I'm not bothered about Emmett/George, this scene made me love Emmett so much more <333
I can't believe it's finished!! D: The great thing about QAF in general is that (without often being preachy) it has important messages about the intolerance and injustice in the world. And it's seriously enjoyable to watch XDDD Plus all the smex! 8DD
<<< QUEER AS FOLK FANRAMBLE >>>
Apart from that, I have been shopping for my new university room. I've gotten a fluffy rug and cushions, a kettle, sandwich toaster and normal toaster, a teapot and landline phone, and various other essentials... .I go up next Saturday. I can't believe I'm going to be living somewhere else in less than a week (0__________0) I've lived in this house for 12 years now, and the same village since I was 3. I know I'll be back here for holidays, but... I guess it's time to move on, though. There'll be photos of my room when it's decorated, I promise!! :DD
Now I need to go... Read some of the stuff on my reading list. Which I should have read ages ago. Oops.