Queer As Folk - Season 5 Discussion #45 ~ When love grows up

**Giotto** · 07-12-2017, 12:36 PM

The final season!
If there is anything you want to talk about from that season, here is your chance! Whatever it is, just say it and let's have fun!

**Giotto** · 07-12-2017, 12:38 PM

Bringing this over from the last thread

and a warm welcome to our newest member here

hope you feel at home fmaldy24

Quote:

Originally Posted by SojournHeart11 (View Post)

Hello and welcome, Fmaldy24!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmaldy24 (View Post)

I'm brand new here and very excited to be here in the QAF forums

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sia (View Post)

I think writers wanted to leave Brian "alone" in the end intentionnally. Justin and Gus leaving according to me symbolize that by 513 Brian learnt to love, learnt to be both good partner and good father and he loved them both so much that he was able to let them go, knowing it will cause him pain. Its demontration how much Brian grew up, its highest form of love, selfless love, letting Justin and Gus go while being attached to them most than he ever was before. And it was full circle, writers made everything in 513 full circle. Both Justin and Gus came to Brians life on same day in first episode, this day transformed him forever "and thats when it happened", and both left the same day in the last episode. But most importantly Brian is alone only physically, emotionally he is more connected and alive than ever because for first time he is opened fully to love, to his feelings, embraces them. Before his heart was closed, under control - he was refusing any sort of deep emotional attachement and there is nothing more isolating in this world than empty or closed heart, feeling unloved and not loving. He managed to live sucessfully but was surviving rather than fully living, was in state of limbo. So although he is now physically alone, his heart is full, overflowing with love and it will keep him going. And I believe he is even more happy than in first episode because he is fullfilled. Yes his heart is bleeding and he is in pain but thats part of love and he needed to embrace this phase in his journey of self-discovery also. He did not lose neither Justin nor Gus, their love endures no matter what, time does not matter and distance does not matter and as we all know they will see each other again.

fmaldy24 · 07-13-2017, 02:51 AM

Thank you for the welcome

. I read somewhere (not sure whether it was here or somewhere else) that Brian dancing by himself at the end on the podium showed that he didn't need another trick. I like that idea - that he didn't need tricks anymore and was ok by himself.

I also found it interesting that he kept the rings. I felt he kept the rings because as he said to Justin he had no second thoughts and really wanted the wedding. He was doing everything he could to make Justin happy with the wedding like flowers and seating plans and everything and not once did he ever seem to complain or not want the wedding. So him keeping the rings showed me he still loved him and still wanted Justin and wanted that life with him.

I feel that they would've been in each other's lives somehow - I don't think they would've been able to let go of the love they had for each other

.

♥ Gale's Fragile Beauty ♥ · 07-13-2017, 05:38 AM

TFTNT Daggi

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmaldy24 (View Post)

Thank you for the welcome

. I read somewhere (not sure whether it was here or somewhere else) that Brian dancing by himself at the end on the podium showed that he didn't need another trick. I like that idea - that he didn't need tricks anymore and was ok by himself.

I also found it interesting that he kept the rings. I felt he kept the rings because as he said to Justin he had no second thoughts and really wanted the wedding. He was doing everything he could to make Justin happy with the wedding like flowers and seating plans and everything and not once did he ever seem to complain or not want the wedding. So him keeping the rings showed me he still loved him and still wanted Justin and wanted that life with him.

I feel that they would've been in each other's lives somehow - I don't think they would've been able to let go of the love they had for each other

.

I too, believe Brian was serious about marrying Justin. I also believe that he wasn't sacrificing himself to make Justin happy. I don't sacrifice when I want to make my husband happy. That's all part of a relationship...wanting our partners to be happy. Giving up on the relationship under the guise of being selfless...that's sacrifice. I'm still not happy about that, but believe they were together though all of that.

**SojournHeart11** · 07-13-2017, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmaldy24 (View Post)

Thank you for the welcome

. I read somewhere (not sure whether it was here or somewhere else) that Brian dancing by himself at the end on the podium showed that he didn't need another trick. I like that idea - that he didn't need tricks anymore and was ok by himself.

I also found it interesting that he kept the rings. I felt he kept the rings because as he said to Justin he had no second thoughts and really wanted the wedding. He was doing everything he could to make Justin happy with the wedding like flowers and seating plans and everything and not once did he ever seem to complain or not want the wedding. So him keeping the rings showed me he still loved him and still wanted Justin and wanted that life with him.

I feel that they would've been in each other's lives somehow - I don't think they would've been able to let go of the love they had for each other

.

I LOVE that idea, too. What's astonishing is that there are so many ways to interpret that last moment, and there has not been ONE that hasn't made me (or all of us)break it into pieces and really ponder it. This is certainly something to think about, considering he seemed to have reached his tricking peak with Brandon, IMO. I suppose we could take this as him being faithful to Justin, and waiting for him until the next time he's back in town or Brian goes to visit Justin in NY.

I've maintained for the most part that Brian did want to marry Justin, too. It just had to be under the right circumstances. He obviously began feeling second thoughts about the entire thing, because he probably knew the proposal was his emotional response to the prospect that, yet again, he could lose Justin. The bombing scared everybody into making drastic decisions/moves.

**Giotto** · 07-13-2017, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SojournHeart11 (View Post)

I LOVE that idea, too. What's astonishing is that there are so many ways to interpret that last moment, and there has not been ONE that hasn't made me (or all of us)break it into pieces and really ponder it. This is certainly something to think about, considering he seemed to have reached his tricking peak with Brandon, IMO. I suppose we could take this as him being faithful to Justin, and waiting for him until the next time he's back in town or Brian goes to visit Justin in NY.

I've maintained for the most part that Brian did want to marry Justin, too. It just had to be under the right circumstances. He obviously began feeling second thoughts about the entire thing, because he probably knew the proposal was his emotional response to the prospect that, yet again, he could lose Justin. The bombing scared everybody into making drastic decisions/moves.

I love that thought

although I'm pretty sure that Justin no longer expected that from him at that point.. wasn't that something that he meant when he told Brian that he wanted the guy back he fell in love? Right after Brian anted to cuddle insted of getting a BJ?

Star11 · 07-13-2017, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmaldy24 (View Post)

Thank you for the welcome

. I read somewhere (not sure whether it was here or somewhere else) that Brian dancing by himself at the end on the podium showed that he didn't need another trick. I like that idea - that he didn't need tricks anymore and was ok by himself.

I also found it interesting that he kept the rings. I felt he kept the rings because as he said to Justin he had no second thoughts and really wanted the wedding. He was doing everything he could to make Justin happy with the wedding like flowers and seating plans and everything and not once did he ever seem to complain or not want the wedding. So him keeping the rings showed me he still loved him and still wanted Justin and wanted that life with him.

I feel that they would've been in each other's lives somehow - I don't think they would've been able to let go of the love they had for each other

.

Hi fmaldy24. So nice to read your posts. I have a much different opinion of Season 5 than most people on the board here. I'll have to dig out some of my old Season 5 posts to share with you one day.

I agree Brian and Justin were in love! Brian loved Justin. Of course, Justin loved Brian. I love them together more than anything. BUT. Them getting married was completely out of character in my opinion. I was happy they called off the wedding. I was never comfortable with that direction for their characters.

I do agree with everyone else that I am SURE they stayed together... maybe Brian would have moved to New York, too. It's the "getting married" part I didn't like. I'm thrilled to meet another QAF fan. I'm still obsessed... how long has it been... going on three years soon.

fmaldy24 · 07-14-2017, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ♥ Gale's Fragile Beauty ♥ (View Post)

TFTNT Daggi

I too, believe Brian was serious about marrying Justin. I also believe that he wasn't sacrificing himself to make Justin happy. I don't sacrifice when I want to make my husband happy. That's all part of a relationship...wanting our partners to be happy. Giving up on the relationship under the guise of being selfless...that's sacrifice. I'm still not happy about that, but believe they were together though all of that.

I thought that too - when you love someone you do sacrifice things for them because you love them. I found it interesting that Justin said that's not love that's sacrifice and then they both seem to sacrifice getting married and other things cause of their love.

I'm not sure what the Brandon storyline was about but Justin had left him by then and I think maybe he just wanted to prove to himself that he was still young and desirable maybe? At the end Lyndsay talks to him and says get over it and he lets Brandon back into Babylon and says it's all inevitable - getting older and being too old to be a club boy.

I think Justin getting married was too out of character cause even when Mel and Lyndsay get married he says to Brian maybe one day it'll be you and me but i also think they would've been happy the way they were for a lot longer than they were in the show storyline. I don't think there was a rush to get married and I also think they would'v been able to talk about things and compromise or work out exactly what they wanted - not just seeming to totally change for each other. They could've sorted out how to act and behave after the I love you and proposal without everything else

.

I don't know - I think about it often and change my mind or think about new things or see things in new ways when I see something or read something else

♥ Gale's Fragile Beauty ♥ · 07-14-2017, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmaldy24 (View Post)

I don't know - I think about it often and change my mind or think about new things or see things in new ways when I see something or read something else

That's the great thing about rewatching episodes and bouncing ideas and differences of opinions and views off other people...you gain something new each time.

**Giotto** · 07-14-2017, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ♥ Gale's Fragile Beauty ♥ (View Post)

That's the great thing about rewatching episodes and bouncing ideas and differences of opinions and views off other people...you gain something new each time.

And it again gives you new points of views to think about

**SojournHeart11** · 07-14-2017, 08:29 AM

The discussions we're are having are refreshing and enlightening. I hope we can keep this up.

fmaldy24 · 07-15-2017, 02:24 AM

It's a little hard coming in so long after the show aired and being such a new fan because I do wonder if what I am saying has already been said a number of times. Thank you for listening to all my comments about the show

.

I liked Justin's art work at the end - it certainly showed a different style to what he had worked on. I have a hard time still understanding why he had to go to New York though. Obviously he was creating these beautiful works in Pittsburg and could continue to do so - especially now he had studio space in the room he rented and in the house Brian bought. He could travel there for shows or to see people about his work if he needed to. I get the experience would be different but he was still creative in Pittsburg. So yeah I have a hard time with this concept.

I'm guessing it was the only way to get him and Brian to be apart without 'breaking up' again?

♥ Gale's Fragile Beauty ♥ · 07-15-2017, 05:33 AM

Don't worry about coming into the show late. I actually didn't find it until 2013. It's people like you who keep the fandom going. So what if things may have been said before? There will be someone, like you who is hearing/seeing it for the first time. We can see through you with "fresh eyes".

Please Please Please...keep sharing your feelings/POV with us. We will undoubtedly share back.

Justin going to NY: I also don't understand why Justin would go. Not necessarily because of Brian, although that's a BIG factor...but usually Justin thinks things through and going to NY based on one single review by someone Justin thought of as a "c

t and was looking at his A$$, was definitely not in character. He had only been to NY once...when he "ran away", had no friends there. He would be leaving his mom, friends, Debbie...BRIAN...as well as many other things.

I cannot believe that ONE PERSON wouldn't have tried to reason with him to take his time. I agree that he could have worked on his art in Pittsburgh and went to NY to show. If he started to take off, perhaps arrange to move eventually, but just to take off like that.

Lindsay told Justin he should go. Melanie made Brian feel that he was ruining Justin's life by asking him to stay, hence the ridiculousness of Brian saying they should stay in and cuddle and the "Bachelor Party", where Brian decided to act over the top. Oh...while I'm at it, why didn't Justin have a bachelor party? That made no sense. He's a guy too.

Anyway...here I am ranting away...again.

**SojournHeart11** · 07-15-2017, 08:38 AM

Not ranting at all. I, too, am very flabbergasted by the behavior exhibited by the characters this season, and I do not get why most of them behaved so OOC.

fmaldy24 · 07-15-2017, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ♥ Gale's Fragile Beauty ♥ (View Post)

Don't worry about coming into the show late. I actually didn't find it until 2013. It's people like you who keep the fandom going. So what if things may have been said before? There will be someone, like you who is hearing/seeing it for the first time. We can see through you with "fresh eyes".

Please Please Please...keep sharing your feelings/POV with us. We will undoubtedly share back.

Justin going to NY: I also don't understand why Justin would go. Not necessarily because of Brian, although that's a BIG factor...but usually Justin thinks things through and going to NY based on one single review by someone J. He would be leaving his mom, friends, Debbie...BRIAN...as well as many other things.

I cannot believe that ONE PERSON wouldn't have tried to reason with him to take his time. I agree that he could have worked on his art in Pittsburgh and went to NY to show.

Lindsay told Justin he should go. Melanie made Brian feel that he was ruining Justin's life by asking him to stay, . Oh...while I'm at it, why didn't Justin have a bachelor party? That made no sense. He's a guy too.

Anyway...here I am ranting away...again.

Thanks for listening to my point of view

I appreciate it

I feel this crazy need to talk about it a lot

I agree - you can't imagine that his mother wouldn't have said something or anyone else. And you're right about Justin not getting a bachelor party - he was the one that was doing seating arrangements and flowers and everything. Were they trying to make Justin out to be more 'feminine' and Brian the 'masculine' one who was getting the bachelor party?

I've read some people blame Mel and Lindsay partly for their break up and they do seem to contribute to it - Lyndsay showed him the magazine and Mel told him about how much Justin was 'sacrificing' which we both think he wasn't really - so they certainly seemed to be giving a lot of comments and pushing Justin towards a different direction.

Not ranting at all. I, too, am very flabbergasted by the behavior exhibited by the characters this season, and I do not get why most of them behaved so OOC

I have heard this said a bit too - I agree sometimes they did seem OOC but sometimes they seemed totally in character as well. It was a little all over the place. Like Brian went off about being a queer in the empty Babylon but really he was living with Justin in a happy relationship and loving each other which is very similar to what his friends were doing just without the rings and paperwork. I don't know - did he just not see it or not want to see it because he didn't want to be in a 'heteronorm' relationship?


Fan Forum > TV Shows - Past > Queer As Folk > Season 5 Discussion #45 ~ When love grows up