A QaF Question

[secretsolitaire]

I have been pondering this for a few days. In narrative terms, why do Lindsay and Mel move to Canada at the end of the show? I know the reasons that are given on the show, ie that they don't feel safe in Pittsburgh any more and want to raise their family in a place where they're accepted -- but in terms of their overall arc as characters, how does

Comments

[rhiannonhero]

I think that their decision to move was more of a device to further Brian's arc. But I'm curious to see what other people have to say about it.

[secretsolitaire]

You know, I deliberately left Brian out of the question because I think that many fans do look at it from his perspective. There's no doubt that it does have a huge effect on him, and you may well be right that that was Cowlip's main intent. But I'm curious as to whether Mel and Lindsay's decision makes sense for them and for their own overall development, outside of how it affects Brian (or Michael).

Of course, I may be giving Cowlip too much credit in hoping that there must be another reason! Sometimes I feel like they weren't quite sure what to do with Melanie and Lindsay during the course of the show.

P.S. What a gorgeous Lindsay icon!

[secretsolitaire]

If you're interested, gmta_nz weighed in with some excellent thoughts here. I'm convinced! :-)

[pinkfriction]

I don't think that it did fit in with their overall development, the move felt forced and 'unrealistic' just like the rest of S5. I don't think that the girls woukld have taken the children away from their fathers when they had all finally developed into an (albeit unconventional) family. They had their friends and a community that they were active and respected in and they chose to jack it all in and move to a completely different country with no ties and no support network?? I don't think so...

[secretsolitaire]

That's kind of why I asked the question. I'm not quite sure the move makes sense to me. Perhaps I am grasping at straws, but I'd like to think that the writers had a reason for it! I agree with you that S5 had some major flaws, but I think that there were a lot of important character developments in it, and I'm just wondering what the thinking was behind this one. Hopefully someone will chime in with some good insights. :-)

[pinkfriction]

Sorry not to have more helpful insights! I agree with waht you said to rhiannohero about Cowlip not knowing quite what to do with the girls at times, and I think that the move was part of that (ie how can we 'wrap up' this crazy lesbian storyline). I don't know if there was any more to it.

[secretsolitaire]

No need to apologize -- hell, clearly I don't have much insight on this myself. ;-) And honestly, for as much Cowlip bashing as there is in fandom, I also think there are times when maybe we give them too much credit, simply because we want to believe they had loftier intentions than they actually had.

That said, I don't think there's anything wrong with taking our own meaning from what the writers and actors gave us, even if it's not exactly what was intended. As xie_xie_xie has said on several occasions, in the end it's the show that lives on beyond all the writer/actor interviews, etc., and that's how it should be judged.

Rambling now, oy. Anyway, thanks for weighing in! The fact that Mel and Lindsay's decision didn't work for you is just as important as an opinion on why it does work.

[justinlovesart]

Their move to Canada is part of Cowlip's political statement about America. It feels forced to me, because - unlike what happens with Justin, for example - never in the five seasons we've seen them express desire to leave, although Lindsay is tempted by Sam and she maybe regrets not having given art (New York?) a try when she was younger.

Their decision to move is sudden. But, within the context of QAF it makes sense, because the S5 world Cowlip describe is very dark and dangerous, with very overt homophobia: bombs kills queers, prop 14 is very likely to be passed, gay sportsmen lose their jobs just for being gay, kids like Hunter are harassed at school for being HIV positive, homophobic fathers have their children arrested, etc.etc.

Mel and Linds put the safety of their children first and decide to leave for the children. It breaks their hearts and they suffer in doing so, because they know they're losing their extended family. But, they, like Michael, Brian and Debbie ultimately accept that it's for the good of the children

[justinlovesart]

I want to add one thing. In strictly narrative terms, their departure balances Justin's departure.

Cowlip have very clearly written an ending that recalls and mirros the opening episode. In 101 the QAF world is shaken to the core by two new arrivals: Gus and Justin, that, in different ways, force all the changes, developments, growth, etc. we will see in the next 5 seasons. And not only for Brian.

By having these two catalysts for change leave the QAF narrative world at the same time, Cowlip are effectively saying that that specific growth and change arc has been completed. That their narrative has reached its conclusion.

[flashfly]

By having these two catalysts for change leave the QAF narrative world at the same time, Cowlip are effectively saying that that specific growth and change arc has been completed. That their narrative has reached its conclusion.

I love this to bits. You inspire me to write bad poetry:

One went north, and one went east
leaving behind a near-tamed beast

It wasn’t long, a mere half year
'fore Brian Kinney saw it clear

He went north first, to see his son
spent days and nights and when was done

He traveled south, he traveled east
toward home, and heart, and golden feast

[justinlovesart]

Oh, Jude, this is not bad poetry. It's beautiful, funny and romantic.

Justin is Brian's golden feast! :)

[flashfly]

I am so glad you wrote this post because it prompted gmta_nz to explain the Gus/Justin arc which makes me so fucking happy!

*smooches you*

[secretsolitaire]

It made me happy too, not least because it inspired you to write poetry! :-D A "near-tamed beast" indeed. ♥