qafreview: s4e3

I'm insensitive and rude and so not focusing on the issue here.

But. People. It's pink



Brian and Jennifer

That relationship is confusing the hell out of me. I mean, in a good, positive, oh thank God, I'm so tired of the vague hostility way. It was boring. They're cute. They're disturbingly cute. I almost expected Jennifer to pinch Brian's cheek and ask him if he's eating properly.

Seriously. Brian's married.

I love that Brian and Jennifer are bonding via real estate. I love that Jennifer picked out the Baths as a place to show Brian--and again, the mother-in-law feeling here was unreal. I am bewildered that Brian makes amateur photography look like really slow, really good sex. I mean, I shouldn't be surprised--he makes pretty much everything sexy. He made Stockwell sexy, for God's sake. But still. That was good for me. What I'm not entirely clear on is why the faucets needed quite so much attention. That was kind of icky. And I kept worrying that Jennifer would get a heel caught in the drains. But man, has she come a long way in four years.

Just for a second, trace this path for her--from stay-at-home upper-middle class suburban mom of two great kids, to single working parent, who lost her husband, her house, and pretty much most of her familiar life over her son's sexuality, who watched him nearly get killed. Who is now wandering around the Baths with Brian.

I'm endlessly amused at the visual of Jennifer walking around in the same place that just two years ago, Brian was watching Dr Dave get a mediocre handjob. *sighs* Happy memories.

But yeah. That was--different.

Justin

I'll say it up front--Justin kicking ass is pretty much my new kink of choice. Cody is hot. I am okay with Justin fucking him. Once-only.

Rewinding, me and Cody aren't bonding well. Instinctively, I dislike him, but part of it is that entire future-Charles-Manson vibe he's got going on. You really just don't want to think of him armed, you know? Me and Cody, despite my approval of Justin nailing him, got off on the *really* wrong foot with the rudeness to Daphne. Yes, I get it, all gay posse, fine, but you're in her living room, asshole, so tune down the heterophobia there. Also, you're fucking up her floor with all that hair, and I've cleaned up after cutting hair, so I know what a bitch it is. I'm less than impressed with Justin's silence until she leaves, too, which actually, I'm kind of wondering about. It's not like we're with Season Two, I Suffer and Martyr Myself in Silence or Orgasms!Justin. It smacks of a little insecurity with the coolness of the new kids and wanting to fit in. Hmm. Makes this little jaunt into vigiliantism more interesting. And Cody's got some charisma to him.

And canonically, Justin lives with Daphne. I'm sure she was endlessly surprised by hearing this as well.

I have to admit, I'm not entirely used to the hair. I *thought* I was, but I went from God-so-pretty-blond to that entire post-lice-infestation look. For some reason, and this is really unreasonable, he looks more like he did in season one to me--at least, nothing to hide his face. Liken unto Sampson, the hair was the source of his angst or something, and okay, that makes even less sense. Ignore me.

Brian thinks it's hot. Brian would think Justin wearing a minidress and heels hot, though, so at this point, he's no judge whatsoever. Being in love does that to you.

Justin's first night being a defender of the Gayopolis was--strange. If the point is to show the escalation, I see why they started with stripping and humiliating the hecklers. Apparently, this is hot, as shown by the fact that Justin ran, not walked, back to the loft to get himself seriously laid. Brian's worry over Justin's injury was cute, but minimal--I get the feeling he's very aware this is a powder keg that could go really, really bad places if he pushes too hard. And honestly, he's not really all that proactive in stopping Justin when he starts getting Strange Ideas--the Gay Straight Student Alliance, dancing for Sap, living with Ethan. Picking Justin up after, sure, cleaning up later, sure, sarcastic commentary, God I love that, but he tends to let Justin go his own way and let him figure it out for himself.

Also, Justin is kissing people again. Though his back-off moment before giving in was cute, it also kind of makes me think about his reaction to Cody's little chat with Daphne. Hero worship, minor crush, or insecurity? I'm thinking on this one.

And to reinterate--watching Justin knock the shit out of that guy beside the restaurant?

Hot. I'm pretty much going to hell here.

Ted, Emmett, and everyone else

There's really not much to say about them, since Ted still annoys me, but I totally get his need to keep everyone at a distance. He acted horrifyingly bad, he fucked up in epic ways, and now he's humiliated, so he lashes out, believing no one will understand his angst. Cry me a river, sweetie. This isn't exactly new behavior under the sun.

Michael resembles a really sad bloodhound to the point of parody. If I can figure out how to run the wires from the DVR, I'm iconizing that. It's just amazing.

Emmett's in eyeliner, and life's good, though they did some funky lighting thing in Babylon and made his forehead look vaguely Klingon-y. Brian's confrontation with him after he broke one of the Commandments of Brian--thou shall not fuck with The Michael's little feelings--was kind of hot, and I'm still amused that people just *back off* when Brian makes interest plain. I'm pleased to see that Brian's back to recreational drug use, because all the mellowness was scaring me.


Whee! Before I finished this, wrenlet got her episode thoughts up here. Now could the rest of the usual suspects come out and play? I'm kind of itching for discussion.

*bounces impatiently*

Comments

[susanderavish.livejournal.com]

All kinds of love for your thoughts here, but can I just say specifically that the difference between this:

he tends to let Justin go his own way and let him figure it out for himself.

and this:

shall not fuck with The Michael's little feelings

...makes me feel all kinds of love. Would Justin go off and pout in the corner and make puppy dog eyes if MeanMeanEm said some not-so-nice things to him? Um, no. But Mikey does. Mikey needs everyone to be nice all the time and cries when they're not and big brother Brian must tell everyone to Be Nice to Mikey or Else.

Brian doesn't like what Justin is up to, but doesn't go to Cody and tell him to back off because Justin? Would throw a fucking fit. Justin has Brian's respect, not his pity. Brian knows there is nothing he can do to stop Justin once he has his mind set to something and to try to stand in his way would only make him want it more.

Mikey, on the other hand, needs to be tended to and coddled.

Look, I really liked Michael in this episode and how he stood by Ted in spite of Ted assholism? But? The way Brian gives Justin exactly the same respect that he himself would demand in the same situation is one of the main things that makes me B/J all the way.

Also? Chair sex.

Thank you.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

OOh yeah. Mikey always needs defending, protecting, and nurturing. I'm getting the feeling that Brian's never quite absorbed the fact Michael's grown up. I'm pretty sure Michael isn't going to clue him in anytime soon, either.

*sighs*

But dammit, and it's so fangirly of me, I *want* Brian to defend Justin like that. It's not part of their relationship--not that kind of thing, anyway--but just once, I'd like to see it.

Stupid fangirl moment. *g* Carry on.

[lannadelarosa.livejournal.com]

Well, he has protective instincts for Justin when things get physical... seen mostly in Season One: 1) When Chris Hobbs makes a visit to Liberty Avenue, Brian instinctively steps in. 2) When his father low-balled Brian, Brian instinctively went berserk when Justin got involved until Emm stopped him. 3) The Prom. The bat. I'll say no more. :X

Even this season, Brian immediately reacted to the bruise on Justin's back.

So, I think that Brian is quite certain of Justin's emotional maturity (though, again, there were several comforting moments in S1 and S2), but has a rather primal instinct Justin when things get physical.

*shmoops happily*

[wrenlet.livejournal.com]

I dreamed about watching this episode last night. Well. I dreamed about watching ep 403, only in my dream, before the shaving? Justin had had a trim and his hair was perfect and gorgeous before they whacked it all off. My subconscious clearly has it in for me.

*whimper*

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*snickers*

He had such pretty hair!

*sniffles*

[ginaharold.livejournal.com]

I am sooo agreeing with you!!! Daphne should have told Cody to fuck off!!! Justin is NOT allowed to kiss anyone but Brian, EVER! I wanted to slap him! Cody should get naked so I can make sure he doesn't have bad body like Ian so that I can fantasize about him properly!

[seperis.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Yes. For the sake of all fangirls, Cody needs to be naked, dammit.

Ethan's body--*shudders*. Flashbacks are *bad*.

[ginaharold.livejournal.com]

VERY BAD!!!!! *pukes at memory*

[noshootingstars.livejournal.com]

Jennifer was in the baths herself during after Debbie found Jason Kemp's body. She has come a long way. Her presence on the show as the only realtor is also a lot more believable than Mel tackling every kind of court case.

Liken unto Sampson, the hair was the source of his angst or something, and okay, that makes even less sense. Ignore me.

I made that even harder to understand by reading Sampson as Simpson. Homer what?

Justin's hair is a sad transition for me. It's a signal that he's completely giving up his sensitive "artiste" dreams for horrible, ugly, short behavior. Ok, the short is a superficial whine on how much I'm going to miss those locks of hair. We only got to see Brian yank on it once during sex! ::sniff:: Oh long hair, we hardly knew ye.

Hero worship, minor crush, or insecurity? I'm thinking on this one.

I can't figure Justin's feelings out at all. It's clear that Cody's interest in Justin is more than vigilante-rooted. (Justin: The hunting talk, the boasting, the kiss? Is this a date? Cody: A date? Please! Are you completely insane. I mean -do you want it to be?) Someone else around LJ said that Justin was beginning to copy Cody like he had with Brian. Romantic implications aside, I can see him doing that because the Pink Posse (cough) is a new world for him so he imitates the master of that world in order to fit in and learn the rules.

[seperis.livejournal.com]

I made that even harder to understand by reading Sampson as Simpson. Homer what?

Justin's hair is a sad transition for me. It's a signal that he's completely giving up his sensitive "artiste" dreams for horrible, ugly, short behavior. Ok, the short is a superficial whine on how much I'm going to miss those locks of hair. We only got to see Brian yank on it once during sex! ::sniff:: Oh long hair, we hardly knew ye.

It was adorable.

I most worry that people will suspect he had lice and took extreme measures to get rid of it.

Okay, I don't, but dammit, that would be funny.

Someone else around LJ said that Justin was beginning to copy Cody like he had with Brian. Romantic implications aside, I can see him doing that because the Pink Posse (cough) is a new world for him so he imitates the master of that world in order to fit in and learn the rules.

I completely agree on that. He's modeling--getting into character, if you will. Learning his I-Am-a-Bad-Ass role. It's--I mean, it *is* cute, but it's frighteningly typical of him to immerse and crush. He's gay, so he goes out, finds Brian, and wow, that was a role model, wasn't it? He decides he's a romantic, falls in with Ethan. Decides he's angry, boom, we have Cody. I'm beginning to wonder if he even knows who he is anymore.

I'm getting steadily more leary about the possibilty of Justin/Cody sex. They are pretty, and damn, they are pretty together, but. That sociopathic thing just makes me nervous.

And that pink is...no. Just God, *why*. They should have consulted with Emmett or something.

[josselin.livejournal.com]

And canonically, Justin lives with Daphne. I'm sure she was endlessly surprised by hearing this as well.

So I finally got to watch this episode, and I think it's really interesting how Justin chooses to meet with his little friends at Daphne's rather than over at the loft. Because as poorly as it went when Daphne walked in, Brian walking in would have been a lot different. And the loft would have been a lot different of a setting, too. Plus it has no furniture.

*ponders*