414 - ohhhh my!
Jul. 20th, 2004 02:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
castalieHow sweeter can it get? No really, I'm asking!
Damn this episode was just too sweet and I thought it also had some powerful scenes.
Let's try to be organised :
Lindsay/Mel : Well things still aren't looking so good but they're about to improve apparently. What made me laugh is how polite they are - you'd think they're drinking tea together, not being in the middle of a painful breakup! But everyone knows women are polite and gentle, right? I liked how they still stuck together when Mel was having the baby though, and Mel's 'don't leave, stay that sounded like it meant so much more all of a sudden. Don't know what Cowlip has/have in store for them in S5, but they're not going to break up for real, anyway, right? Doesn't sound like it after all.
Ted/Emmett : I actually don't know whether to write Ted/Emmett or Ted-Emmett to be honest. Sometimes it feels like they're still so in love with each other and on the verge of going back together, then it feels like maybe they're just another Brian-Michael: they love each other more than you could imagine but not that way. Those two still confuse me. I never was able to figure their relationship out, I swear.
Emmett is one hell of a guy really, and Ted... it's impressive how much I love Ted. I mean, right at the beginning of the show I liked him well enough but more because he was the US version of Phil from the UK one and I always liked Phil because he was in love with Vince (ie Michael here) which I thought was really sweet. I sorta liked Ted by association if you will, but as episodes went, he really grew on me and I can safely say I love Ted more than I do Em --oh boy, talk about an interesting phrasing lol-- and I love Em really much already. Back to Ted now, his little speech to the cows? Both funny and really moving. He was great in that episode.
Oh wait, a last thing about Em. During the Liberty Ride - with his little bike? Man he cracked me up so much! I didn't remember seeing the bike in last week's episode but I sure didn't miss it this time and boy it was sooooo Emmett! lol
Debbie : Okay, I have a shall we say 'interesting' relationship with Debbie. I started loving her to death then I ended up thinking she was too much sometimes, too overwhelming, too interfering and everything. She's still a wonderful character because she has such a fucking huge heart, but sometimes her even bigger mouth gets a bit on my nerves. Well 414 wasn't one of those times! Debbie you rocked my world tonight! I cheered like mad when she gave a piece of her mind to the Customs Jerk and I would have married her myself right at this moment - only I wouldn't have because, you know... but I would have definitely worshipped her! What was so fucking great is how she used real life facts to give weight to her arguments. I mean, obviously everything that happens in a show is reality within the limits of said show but sometimes it gets more than that and it was the case in 414. The Britney Spears reference was spot on and exactly what a lot of us thought at the time when we heard about her Las Vegas marriage and the annulment that followed right afterward, and the reference to TV reality was also a streak of genius! As was the whole you-have-to-fill-separate-forms-because-we-don't-recognise-your-wedding-in-the-US thing of course. I still remember the story of this Canadian couple coming to the US for their honeymoon and going through exactly the same thing. When I realised it was exactly what was going to happen to Ben and Michael, well let me tell you that I was damn impressed with Cowlip!
And Debbie's last political stand at the end of the episode when she explains to Charl that she can't marry him, not because she doesn't love him but because how could she get married when her own son isn't allowed to was such a beautiful scene! As was the even-a-single-person-can-change-things line. Man, there were lots of really incredible moments in that episode! I think it's one of the reasons why I love QAF so much too - I adore the way this show seems to be so much 'in the now'. We can recognise events that happened recently and events that are happening right now. It seems so much more real, and we as an audience --gay or not-- can relate to it so much more, too.
Brian : My my, the guy astounds me! S4 brought so many changes to the Brian Kinney we knew. I think it was a given, really - going through cancer can only change someone, or change the view they have on certain things in their lives. Brian sure followed that pattern! When he brought the wedding cake, the bottle of champagne *and* the band to organise an impromptu wedding party? Oh.my.God, the cuteness of the whole wedding reception - it almost killed me! lol I hadn't seen anything yet, mind you. Brian really threw me with that one, I have to admit - I mean, he was really acknowledging Ben and Michael's union... it was really moving - can you tell this episode moved me lot? lol Of course, Brian Kinney is still Brian Kinney and damn but what a stubborn little bitch *shakes head* I really liked his explanation as to why he needed to finish the ride, no matter the poor state he was in at the time.
Brian-Michael : So yeah, the last miles of the ride - I say miles but I have no idea about what I'm talking about actually, I just loved how it was Justin who Brian 'saw' but it was Michael who was there for him. I know, I know Michael was physically there whereas Justin was having fun in L.A, that's not the point - the point is, I loved the little symbolism of the scene, is all *g* Because Michael is always there, right? I adored the moment when we realised he'd gone back to stay by Brian's side.
So the finish of Liberty Ride now? When Brian and Michael arrive? Sorta brought tears to my eyes. I don't care how mushy it might have looked, or how predictable it was - it still was beautiful! And considering what Brian had told Michael before they resumed the ride, about the whole if I survived this I can survive everything it was just so very touching and symbolic. Speaking of symbolic, when Brian tells the Cancer People at Boot Camp story, wasn't he in front of a cemetery or something? Since I decided he was turning his back to Death, I hope it wasn't a hint for something else concerning someone else. The problem with all those fan speculations is that we tend to over think things... sometimes an image is just an image, not a harbinger of doom - but often it's not. So yeah.
And damn but how many times wa this episode going to make me all teary btw! The Vic Grassi House, that was too much for little me! Such a beautiful tribute to the man that Vic was! Also look, Rodney was there, they didn't forget him after all - oh and we even got to see Vic as well! Love me some induced-by-pain dreams!
Michael : Well, what can I say about Michael? If I let myself do it, I'd write a whole essay about the guy, that's how much I love him. As it turns out, it's going to be ridiculously short because what I'm going to say is fairly simple - Michael was perfect in this episode. No seriously lol I got two of my favourite sides of him - two of the ones that make him such an endearing character to me :
- the lover with Ben, sweet and loving and also very hot, thank you very much. I love him with Ben because he can be his sweet and sometimes childlike self without ever really looking stupid or childish. A lot of people agree to say that he's one of the characters who grew up the most the past seasons and his becoming both a husband *and* a father (well he was already that with Hunter, but he went through the whole shebang with his daughter, know what I mean?) at the very end of S4 seemed like a sort of closure of sorts.
- the best friend with Brian, but then again was there any doubt that the one to stay by his side would be him?? Michael is always there, no matter what. And he showed he loved and respected Brian by accepting him to finish the ride when I'm sure every sensible part of him told him it was a bad idea. But he granted Brian's wish and by doing so he allowed Brian to keep his confidence and faith back in a way - Brian finished the ride, he'd 'survived it', he could survive everything else.
Don't get me wrong, Michael is a man of his own, and he doesn't exist just through his lover or his best friend, I love Michael the man, period, but those are all sides of him, so that's why I categorised it that way. And seeing I'm doing it :
Michael also became a dad - as in, it finally became real and concrete this time. And honestly, how fucking cute was he when he met his daughter for the first time lol I thought his face would split in two! Yeah, he was a proud dad, all right. I loved how Ben looked at him fondly btw - that is cute too, how Ben seems to be moved by Michael's gentle and/or enthusiastic nature all the time *happy sigh at the thought of the happy couple*
The scene of plain happiness held a nice contrast with the scene of doubt right at the end, when Michael wonders about the legitimacy of his marriage with Ben. The whole scene has to be one of my favourite scenes in the show btw - I just decided that. I love my needing-to-be-reassured Mikey too, because Michael is a sum of so many things... Oh boy how I love him *hugs Michael to death*
I love him and I also fear for him as a matter of fact. I mean, here it goes : Michael has now pretty much everything one could wish for. A husband, a family, he just got a daughter, he has faithful friends, a job he loves... when a character achieves such happiness, it sometimes means something bad is going to happen, so yeah, I'm afraid for Michael all right *pets him*
Now Ben? Okay see, I liked David because of the wrongness of his relationship with Michael - yes, I'm mean *eg* He was controlling, he didn't respect Michael as he was supposed to, didn't treat him right, and in the end it made for one twisted and sorta fucked up relationship - now Ben... well Ben is good for Michael. Don't get me wrong, he can be and unfortunately was a shit to him sometimes, and Cowlip could bring back the mean!lover if they wanted to, we would know where it's coming from, but Ben/Michael really *is* my OTP because I do believe Ben is made for Michael - and not so sekrit message to whomever it may concern, it doesn't mean two people can't be made for Michael either *g* He's so very understanding for one thing. Where David would have burst a fuse at Michael leaving him to stay by Brian's side, Ben understood how much it meant to both of them. He understands the love shared by Brian and Michael and he knows the bond can't be destroyed, that he would in the end destroy his and Michael's own relationship. That alone is recommendable. I think he brought stability to Michael too, and when he wasn't busy having a superior complex on Michael, he was actually good for him in the sense that he showed Mikey he was worthy of love, and considering the habit of Michael to put himself down all the time, well it wasn't an easy task.
I just hope we officially saw the end of jealous!Ben and shitty!Ben because I love this pairing very much. Let Ben be a mean shit to Michael in fanfic, I'll keep the happy couple in the show. Now of course... if something had to happen to him.. well, it's another story.
Anyway, speaking of my OTP *g*
Ben/Michael : You know, should I sometimes venture in the Brian/Michael's pastures, episodes like 413 or 414 remind me why my QAF OTP is Ben/Michael all the way after all. Oh man!
Since I already more or less spoke about Ben and Michael's relationship above, and I already mentioned the customs incident and the baby-is-born moment, I think I'm going to concentrate on the last scene, because this scene? Yes, so.fucking.beautiful.
The whole part about marriage being one day legal in the US - or by extension every other place where it's not legal yet, really spoke to me as a lesbian, as you can imagine. Like I said in some of my last entries, I know that even some gays and lesbians share Brian's view on marriage, well I happen to share Ben and Michael's. I'd like to get married one day - I'm not saying I won't ever change my mind in the future, I'm just saying that so far, I always dreamt of getting married. So yes, Ben's speech was pretty powerful to me. His It's all beginning and we're part of it gave me goosebumps somehow. Might be one of my favourite quotes in the show even, because it holds so many promises - and so much hope too, yes. I loved how Ben reassured Michael and made his doubts fade away. Ben's Even if it was real for just a day, was it worth it? and Michael's reply So worth it also became a favourite dialog *g*
Which now brings me to the love scene at the end. Ben/Michael in all their tender and loving glory. It.killed.me! The image with their hands entangled with the rings firmly in place? One of the most beautiful image ever - no really! It wasn't rough sex, it wasn't angry sex, it was pure love, it was sensual and I thought it was exquisite and so very tender it hurt - but yeah hot too, because please Ben and Michael loving each other, you know *g*
Actually, how grateful I am that this season ended up on Ben/Michael and with such a fucking sensual scene? Well I couldn't tell you, sorry - suffice to say that I'm a in B/M heaven right now *sigh*
*blink* You know... I have no idea when and where I always seem to lose control of those reviews. I mean, I just want to write a short one - as short as I know how and they always end up being so much longer than planned *wince*
Oh well *shrug*
What are we gonna do now that the season is over? I'm soooo gonna miss my weekly fix of new QAF *sobs*
Btw, GIP.
ETA: Okay so this won't be a 100% QAF post after all, but I just had to share this! Through the years I found tons of different type of yaoi, from very sweet to hard core, but I don't think I'd ever found a comic yaoi until this. Beware it's graphic - I sawbetter worse but I'm warning ya just in case it's not your cup of tea. Just because you belong to my flist... well anyway, I warned you *g* It's also very silly and totally insane and I'm still laughing *is still laughing* Some of you should appreciate it, I think *eg*
Thanks to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mrs_puppethead for sharing the link in the first place. I knew ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
yaoi_daily but not snarky_yaoi and I have the feeling I'm going to join another comm very soon! *nodnod*
Damn this episode was just too sweet and I thought it also had some powerful scenes.
Let's try to be organised :
Lindsay/Mel : Well things still aren't looking so good but they're about to improve apparently. What made me laugh is how polite they are - you'd think they're drinking tea together, not being in the middle of a painful breakup! But everyone knows women are polite and gentle, right? I liked how they still stuck together when Mel was having the baby though, and Mel's 'don't leave, stay that sounded like it meant so much more all of a sudden. Don't know what Cowlip has/have in store for them in S5, but they're not going to break up for real, anyway, right? Doesn't sound like it after all.
Ted/Emmett : I actually don't know whether to write Ted/Emmett or Ted-Emmett to be honest. Sometimes it feels like they're still so in love with each other and on the verge of going back together, then it feels like maybe they're just another Brian-Michael: they love each other more than you could imagine but not that way. Those two still confuse me. I never was able to figure their relationship out, I swear.
Emmett is one hell of a guy really, and Ted... it's impressive how much I love Ted. I mean, right at the beginning of the show I liked him well enough but more because he was the US version of Phil from the UK one and I always liked Phil because he was in love with Vince (ie Michael here) which I thought was really sweet. I sorta liked Ted by association if you will, but as episodes went, he really grew on me and I can safely say I love Ted more than I do Em --oh boy, talk about an interesting phrasing lol-- and I love Em really much already. Back to Ted now, his little speech to the cows? Both funny and really moving. He was great in that episode.
Oh wait, a last thing about Em. During the Liberty Ride - with his little bike? Man he cracked me up so much! I didn't remember seeing the bike in last week's episode but I sure didn't miss it this time and boy it was sooooo Emmett! lol
Debbie : Okay, I have a shall we say 'interesting' relationship with Debbie. I started loving her to death then I ended up thinking she was too much sometimes, too overwhelming, too interfering and everything. She's still a wonderful character because she has such a fucking huge heart, but sometimes her even bigger mouth gets a bit on my nerves. Well 414 wasn't one of those times! Debbie you rocked my world tonight! I cheered like mad when she gave a piece of her mind to the Customs Jerk and I would have married her myself right at this moment - only I wouldn't have because, you know... but I would have definitely worshipped her! What was so fucking great is how she used real life facts to give weight to her arguments. I mean, obviously everything that happens in a show is reality within the limits of said show but sometimes it gets more than that and it was the case in 414. The Britney Spears reference was spot on and exactly what a lot of us thought at the time when we heard about her Las Vegas marriage and the annulment that followed right afterward, and the reference to TV reality was also a streak of genius! As was the whole you-have-to-fill-separate-forms-because-we-don't-recognise-your-wedding-in-the-US thing of course. I still remember the story of this Canadian couple coming to the US for their honeymoon and going through exactly the same thing. When I realised it was exactly what was going to happen to Ben and Michael, well let me tell you that I was damn impressed with Cowlip!
And Debbie's last political stand at the end of the episode when she explains to Charl that she can't marry him, not because she doesn't love him but because how could she get married when her own son isn't allowed to was such a beautiful scene! As was the even-a-single-person-can-change-things line. Man, there were lots of really incredible moments in that episode! I think it's one of the reasons why I love QAF so much too - I adore the way this show seems to be so much 'in the now'. We can recognise events that happened recently and events that are happening right now. It seems so much more real, and we as an audience --gay or not-- can relate to it so much more, too.
Brian : My my, the guy astounds me! S4 brought so many changes to the Brian Kinney we knew. I think it was a given, really - going through cancer can only change someone, or change the view they have on certain things in their lives. Brian sure followed that pattern! When he brought the wedding cake, the bottle of champagne *and* the band to organise an impromptu wedding party? Oh.my.God, the cuteness of the whole wedding reception - it almost killed me! lol I hadn't seen anything yet, mind you. Brian really threw me with that one, I have to admit - I mean, he was really acknowledging Ben and Michael's union... it was really moving - can you tell this episode moved me lot? lol Of course, Brian Kinney is still Brian Kinney and damn but what a stubborn little bitch *shakes head* I really liked his explanation as to why he needed to finish the ride, no matter the poor state he was in at the time.
Brian-Michael : So yeah, the last miles of the ride - I say miles but I have no idea about what I'm talking about actually, I just loved how it was Justin who Brian 'saw' but it was Michael who was there for him. I know, I know Michael was physically there whereas Justin was having fun in L.A, that's not the point - the point is, I loved the little symbolism of the scene, is all *g* Because Michael is always there, right? I adored the moment when we realised he'd gone back to stay by Brian's side.
So the finish of Liberty Ride now? When Brian and Michael arrive? Sorta brought tears to my eyes. I don't care how mushy it might have looked, or how predictable it was - it still was beautiful! And considering what Brian had told Michael before they resumed the ride, about the whole if I survived this I can survive everything it was just so very touching and symbolic. Speaking of symbolic, when Brian tells the Cancer People at Boot Camp story, wasn't he in front of a cemetery or something? Since I decided he was turning his back to Death, I hope it wasn't a hint for something else concerning someone else. The problem with all those fan speculations is that we tend to over think things... sometimes an image is just an image, not a harbinger of doom - but often it's not. So yeah.
And damn but how many times wa this episode going to make me all teary btw! The Vic Grassi House, that was too much for little me! Such a beautiful tribute to the man that Vic was! Also look, Rodney was there, they didn't forget him after all - oh and we even got to see Vic as well! Love me some induced-by-pain dreams!
Michael : Well, what can I say about Michael? If I let myself do it, I'd write a whole essay about the guy, that's how much I love him. As it turns out, it's going to be ridiculously short because what I'm going to say is fairly simple - Michael was perfect in this episode. No seriously lol I got two of my favourite sides of him - two of the ones that make him such an endearing character to me :
- the lover with Ben, sweet and loving and also very hot, thank you very much. I love him with Ben because he can be his sweet and sometimes childlike self without ever really looking stupid or childish. A lot of people agree to say that he's one of the characters who grew up the most the past seasons and his becoming both a husband *and* a father (well he was already that with Hunter, but he went through the whole shebang with his daughter, know what I mean?) at the very end of S4 seemed like a sort of closure of sorts.
- the best friend with Brian, but then again was there any doubt that the one to stay by his side would be him?? Michael is always there, no matter what. And he showed he loved and respected Brian by accepting him to finish the ride when I'm sure every sensible part of him told him it was a bad idea. But he granted Brian's wish and by doing so he allowed Brian to keep his confidence and faith back in a way - Brian finished the ride, he'd 'survived it', he could survive everything else.
Don't get me wrong, Michael is a man of his own, and he doesn't exist just through his lover or his best friend, I love Michael the man, period, but those are all sides of him, so that's why I categorised it that way. And seeing I'm doing it :
Michael also became a dad - as in, it finally became real and concrete this time. And honestly, how fucking cute was he when he met his daughter for the first time lol I thought his face would split in two! Yeah, he was a proud dad, all right. I loved how Ben looked at him fondly btw - that is cute too, how Ben seems to be moved by Michael's gentle and/or enthusiastic nature all the time *happy sigh at the thought of the happy couple*
The scene of plain happiness held a nice contrast with the scene of doubt right at the end, when Michael wonders about the legitimacy of his marriage with Ben. The whole scene has to be one of my favourite scenes in the show btw - I just decided that. I love my needing-to-be-reassured Mikey too, because Michael is a sum of so many things... Oh boy how I love him *hugs Michael to death*
I love him and I also fear for him as a matter of fact. I mean, here it goes : Michael has now pretty much everything one could wish for. A husband, a family, he just got a daughter, he has faithful friends, a job he loves... when a character achieves such happiness, it sometimes means something bad is going to happen, so yeah, I'm afraid for Michael all right *pets him*
Now Ben? Okay see, I liked David because of the wrongness of his relationship with Michael - yes, I'm mean *eg* He was controlling, he didn't respect Michael as he was supposed to, didn't treat him right, and in the end it made for one twisted and sorta fucked up relationship - now Ben... well Ben is good for Michael. Don't get me wrong, he can be and unfortunately was a shit to him sometimes, and Cowlip could bring back the mean!lover if they wanted to, we would know where it's coming from, but Ben/Michael really *is* my OTP because I do believe Ben is made for Michael - and not so sekrit message to whomever it may concern, it doesn't mean two people can't be made for Michael either *g* He's so very understanding for one thing. Where David would have burst a fuse at Michael leaving him to stay by Brian's side, Ben understood how much it meant to both of them. He understands the love shared by Brian and Michael and he knows the bond can't be destroyed, that he would in the end destroy his and Michael's own relationship. That alone is recommendable. I think he brought stability to Michael too, and when he wasn't busy having a superior complex on Michael, he was actually good for him in the sense that he showed Mikey he was worthy of love, and considering the habit of Michael to put himself down all the time, well it wasn't an easy task.
I just hope we officially saw the end of jealous!Ben and shitty!Ben because I love this pairing very much. Let Ben be a mean shit to Michael in fanfic, I'll keep the happy couple in the show. Now of course... if something had to happen to him.. well, it's another story.
Anyway, speaking of my OTP *g*
Ben/Michael : You know, should I sometimes venture in the Brian/Michael's pastures, episodes like 413 or 414 remind me why my QAF OTP is Ben/Michael all the way after all. Oh man!
Since I already more or less spoke about Ben and Michael's relationship above, and I already mentioned the customs incident and the baby-is-born moment, I think I'm going to concentrate on the last scene, because this scene? Yes, so.fucking.beautiful.
The whole part about marriage being one day legal in the US - or by extension every other place where it's not legal yet, really spoke to me as a lesbian, as you can imagine. Like I said in some of my last entries, I know that even some gays and lesbians share Brian's view on marriage, well I happen to share Ben and Michael's. I'd like to get married one day - I'm not saying I won't ever change my mind in the future, I'm just saying that so far, I always dreamt of getting married. So yes, Ben's speech was pretty powerful to me. His It's all beginning and we're part of it gave me goosebumps somehow. Might be one of my favourite quotes in the show even, because it holds so many promises - and so much hope too, yes. I loved how Ben reassured Michael and made his doubts fade away. Ben's Even if it was real for just a day, was it worth it? and Michael's reply So worth it also became a favourite dialog *g*
Which now brings me to the love scene at the end. Ben/Michael in all their tender and loving glory. It.killed.me! The image with their hands entangled with the rings firmly in place? One of the most beautiful image ever - no really! It wasn't rough sex, it wasn't angry sex, it was pure love, it was sensual and I thought it was exquisite and so very tender it hurt - but yeah hot too, because please Ben and Michael loving each other, you know *g*
Actually, how grateful I am that this season ended up on Ben/Michael and with such a fucking sensual scene? Well I couldn't tell you, sorry - suffice to say that I'm a in B/M heaven right now *sigh*
*blink* You know... I have no idea when and where I always seem to lose control of those reviews. I mean, I just want to write a short one - as short as I know how and they always end up being so much longer than planned *wince*
Oh well *shrug*
What are we gonna do now that the season is over? I'm soooo gonna miss my weekly fix of new QAF *sobs*
Btw, GIP.
ETA: Okay so this won't be a 100% QAF post after all, but I just had to share this! Through the years I found tons of different type of yaoi, from very sweet to hard core, but I don't think I'd ever found a comic yaoi until this. Beware it's graphic - I saw
Thanks to
mrs_puppethead for sharing the link in the first place. I knew yaoi_daily but not snarky_yaoi and I have the feeling I'm going to join another comm very soon! *nodnod*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-07-19 05:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-20 05:15 am (UTC)And it's gorgeous isn't it? I love how the 'begin' is really clear and can be associated with Ben's line in 414 about how they're just at the beginning. Just seems to fitting somehow *g*
no subject
Date: 2004-07-20 06:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-20 07:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-19 10:26 pm (UTC)I started yelling at my computer monitor when that shit was going down. Ridiculous.
no subject
Date: 2004-07-20 05:17 am (UTC)Did you get my mail?
Date: 2004-07-19 10:55 pm (UTC)Just alerting you to check for mail from me -- your beta'd story. Haven't heard, so not sure it got to you.
Take care,
StarWatcher
Re: Did you get my mail?
Date: 2004-07-20 05:18 am (UTC)Also, just scanned it already and thank you so much for the thorough beta! I really appreciate all your explanations, thanks for taking the time to do this!