seperis | review: QaF, season four, episode five

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review: QaF, season four, episode five

There is so much I could say about this episode, but I have coffee and have mellowed out my HORRIBLE RAGE quite a bit. Now I'm just cheerful.

To make this fun, we'll split this into two categories--Things Jenn Likes, and Things She Doesn't. To cement my newfound irrational hatred of Ben, we shall just automatically place him under Things She Doesn't from now on, whether or not it is appropriate. Also, see icon! Courtesey of the marvelous

tboy. Who rocks.

Everyone with me? Good. Right then. Onto the--whatever this is. Spoiler-safe through current episode.

In no order whatsoever.

Things Jenn Likes

Well, that's a lie, Brian first, obviously.

1.) Brian should forevermore be required to walk around armed. This is just a given. I'm not entirely sure why it took Cowlip so long to understand that Brian holding weaponry is pretty much a visual wet dream. In technicolor, even. But there it is. My fantasy of Brian and Justin becoming psychotic serial killers now has a great visual to go along with it. They shall start in Maine.

You know, sadly, I might have been a lot more supportive of Justin getting in touch with his gangsta side if he'd invited his boyfriend to come play with him.

I'm very interested in how Justin has been playing this one since Brian first voiced his protest. He knows how to kill a conversation, an argument, or a disagreement dead. Because Brian *wasn't* bashed, he can't understand. You protest? You're insensitive to his feelings. Brian's really dumb because he's in love and harbors some really extraordinary guilt and so falls for it. Every. Time. I'm guessing that Justin doesnt' try this tack on anyone else, because they'd slap his ass down. Yes, you were bashed, and you were hurt, and I'm sympathetic. But thinking you shouldn't carry *fucking heavy weapons* around for the fun of it isn't being insensitive to you. It's being, what's the word here--hold on, let me think--right. RATIONAL.

2.) Justin with a gun, while not quite hitting every single one of my erogenous zones, did some good things with my imagination. See "serial killer fantasy" above. Also, there is no surprise here that Justin and guns are this close to being an OTP. Not since Justin got his ass fucked the first time has that boy fallen in love so fast. You kinda saw it in his eyes last week, but this week, he was pre-orgasmic every time he looked at one. Which actually brings that entire handjob in the alley into amazing perspective. He was fucking the gun, and it was pretty, and disturbing, but disturbing, see above? Very hot. Our sociopathic old buddy Chris Hobbes, however, who seriously lacks some decent self-preservation skills (Chris, when people shave their heads? That's a sign they are Getting In Touch With Their Dark Sides. You don't watch a lot of TV, do you?), was the one that actually got to blow it. It's not like this wasn't pretty obvious going in. Pretty sexual phallic object? Meet Chris, who is repressed and needs humiliation. Justin pulling that trigger might have been less about being mad at Hobbs for all that beating stuff, but because he was getting jealous that Chris got all that gun's attention.

I'm a sick, sick girl.

It's just a curious thing. When your finger's that close to the trigger, when you've cocked it, when you have it shoved down someone's throat, that's about a second beyond the point where you should be thinking, okay, do I want to wear orange for the rest of my life? I kind of saw a lot of things going on there, but Justin freezing down like that was not expected. I expected him be enraged, beyond thought, beyond control, but Justin wasn't. He didn't pull the trigger, and I'm not sure he didn't for the right reasons.

Work with me on this one.

Justin *wasn't* enraged beyond thought, Chris *was* actually showing some kind of sense and *not* being an idiot spouting empty defiance, Chris was *submitting*, and that's when Justin cocked the gun, and that's when I stopped breathing. Because you can shoot someone in the heat of the moment, it happens all the time. Entire sections of the *law* are devoted to that. It could happen. Fingers slip on the trigger, rage goes out of control, blah blah blah. But it's another thing entirely to watch him humiliate himself while sucking off your gun and still think that shooting him is a good idea.

Right, Cody of the pithy phrases was screaming out his encouragement, but in the end, while Justin didn't pull the trigger, I can honestly say I started breathing again only when he walked away. Because that's the first time I actually believe he could have. And that it might not have bothered him all that much.

So hmm.

3.) Deb and Emmett are the Cutest Thing Ever. Yes, Emmett, your loft bears a disturbing resemblance to say, another loft we all know and love, but scarily enough, even more exhibitionistic. I had no idea that was possible. Yes, it must be lonely these days, and I am totally with you, what with Ted being an *utter coward* and Michael and Ben being creepy and well, you're not exactly a hanging out with Brian and ice cream kind of guy, are you? So Debbie, and it was cute. I love how they curled up together with the ice cream and the cuteness never ended there.

4.) Daphne makes us happy. She is against the guns, and really doens't like Cody, and Justin, really, think about this. You pick lousy friends. You will notice that Daphne is a pretty damn good radar, right? Okay, *pay attention*. You may no longer pick your own friends, I'm taking a vote tonight. Also, Cody giving all those superior and annoyed looks was *so not* the cute, and I am enternally amazed she did not kick his ass. Then again, she might know he's armed. And you know, sociopathic. So yay for self-preservation skills! Unlike a certain homophobic asshole mentioned in 2.).

Going to Brian was kind of cute. Brian's blank look was just funny. I'm guessing Young Women do not often wander around looking for him. Well, not straight ones, anyway, which is, in fact, still a shock to me, since I would be glued to his windows just to stare at him, but hey, that's just me.

5.) Brian's comments in Babylon are still making me hurt. He's justifying Justin before Justin does anything, because he believes Justin's going to do something incredibly stupid. The thing is, I was with him on that. He was going to. He didn't, but that was a hair fine line there. Brian always justifies whatever Justin does, and saying that three times fast is hard but doable. He would have. He would have justified and protected and probably lied through his teeth if that's what it took, and he always has, and owies. Owies, owies, owies.

I wonder, I mean, I *seriously* wonder now, what would have happened if the trigger had been pulled.

5.) I love watching Brian and Michael together. I'm actually kind of scared by it, since, well, OTP, but it's actually hitting me, that Michael is *fun* around Brian. Most of the time. I like them when they're playing together.

Things That Jenn Didnt' Like

1.) Here it is. Here's what I've been waiting for. My irrational hatred has *rationale*. Oh, Mr. You-Didn't-Go-To-Harvard-or-Yale and Don't-Know-Great-Literature, Mr. Oh-Comic-Books-Are-Juvenile, see? SEE? I AM A PROPHET IN MY OWN TIME! HATE HATE HATE!

Okay, let's step back.

That annoyed me on a lot of levels, not just because of the slapped look on Michael's face, though that was a really good start. I am not a Michael cheerleader, so actually getting me to feel bad for him isn't easy, but I did feel bad.

Michael writes comic books. Granted. To some, they are the lowest of the low, one step, perhaps, above fanfic. Let me look at you, Ben, and growl. But. He *is* a writer. And also, comic books require a certain clarity of plot and development of character or they wouldn't sell, no matter how many blowjobs we are talking about. If Michael says your story lacks plot, take a second and look at his comic sales, then take a second and think, hmm. Because auto-dismissive on the point of *education* just pisses me off in so many ways. Michael's sad little puppy in the apartment thing just ground my teeth together.

I have my eye on you, Ben. Oh yes, I do.

2.) Cody, if you could be more annoying, I would have you killed. Your hysteria, your weirdness, your sheer inability to get along in normal society--how is it that you are still alive? I am boggled. But I forgive a lot, because you gave Justin a gun, and Brian got to cuddle it, and really, I thank you. I still hate you, because you are nasty to Daphne creep me out in entirely non-hot ways, but still. Thank you.

3.) It's not that I don't understand how Mel feels. I'd be bitter too. I would be angry and bitter and resentful and probably react just as dramatically. But you know what I wouldn't do? Act like a fucking five year old. Yes, the world sucks. Yes, being female sucks. But that's their *kid* on the line, it's not just your ego's landmark court case. Being pissed at Lindsay because she gets that, understands that this is a hell of a lot bigger than just you--that's annoying. Get over it.

4.) Vic. Rodney? You made me unhappy. That was very not nice. I think I kinda know where you are coming from, but really, you had to know this would happen. Ask anyone. People always find out about the things you don't want them to find out about at the worst possible times. Refer to Justin in season two, with Ethan, and Michael, and ponder. Seriously. She's loud and brash and sometimes annoying, but she would sell her soul for you in a heartbeat, so consideration would *not* have killed you at all.

Ted didn't make any list. He wasn't around all that much.

I want more Ted and Brian. I want more Michael and Brian. Hell, I want more Brian. More Brian, Brian, Brian.

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I'd defend Ben, but uh... assy. Yes.

There is no way Ben could have phrased that to not piss me off, especially to Michael, who is so freaking insecure anyway. It just really hit in the apartment, with Michael apologizing for having a differing opinion. Just. Ouch.

Grrr. And I don't even *like* Michael that much, but damn. Putting down your boyfriend's education is just...ack.

Putting down your boyfriend's education is just...ack.
Esp when last week those same traits were "adorable"

*grrrrrrrrrrr*

Maybe Mikey should have taken a hint from the dancers and did a little capoira move (http://www.shockwave.com/sw/content/capoeirafighter) on his rude behind.

That was great!!! I agree with most of what you said!!! Especially this:

2.) Cody, if you could be more annoying, I would have you killed. Your hysteria, your weirdness, your sheer inability to get along in normal society--how is it that you are still alive? I am boggled. But I forgive a lot, because you gave Justin a gun, and Brian got to cuddle it, and really, I thank you. I still hate you, because you are nasty to Daphne creep me out in entirely non-hot ways, but still. Thank you.

LMAO!!!

That gun makes up for a lot of things. Mmm. Brian/guns. Yummy.

Really good point about Justin's timing. I need to think about that for a while, and possibly get scared.

Also:
He *is* a writer. And also, comic books require a certain clarity of plot and development of character or they wouldn't sell, no matter how many blowjobs we are talking about. If Michael says your story lacks plot, take a second and look at his comic sales, then take a second and think, hmm. Because auto-dismissive on the point of *education* just pisses me off in so many ways.

YES. Oh my god. Yes. Totally.

(Coherency is not my friend at the moment.)

Really good point about Justin's timing. I need to think about that for a while, and possibly get scared.

I was ready for everything but the way Justin just instantly calmed down, and *then* cocking it. That just scared me. I don't think right or wrong had anything to do with that moment, and I dont' think he decided not to because of pity or because he realized he had *lost his mind*. He knew exactly what he was doing, it was in his face.

See, now I'm not sure *why* he didn't do it. I though I knew, and now, I don't.

Regarding Ben:

GRRRRR. That just pissed. Me. Off.

Ben: even I felt that slap on the dance floor at babylon.
Cold baby, cold.

Cody: Like Jiminiy Crickett on crack after he's made a pact with the devil. _{"Be bad Justin. Straight people are evil so you must shoot Chris."}

Ben: even I felt that slap on the dance floor at babylon.
Cold baby, cold.

Grrr. And so damn *condescending*. Grrr.

Cody: Like Jiminiy Crickett on crack after he's made a pact with the devil. "Be bad Justin. Straight people are evil so you must shoot Chris."

HEE!

*imagines Cody as an evil cricket*

Could you have put it any better? I don't think so.
Let me just say that I was catching up reading LJ's about an hour before the show, and then when I saw the show and Ben did his whole hurt-by-the-constructive-criticism thing I said to my friend E. who watches the show with me, who has *no* idea who you are "Jenn is going to have a lot to say about this" and she just said "Hm." But anyway, yes. I *love* Ben, but your hatred is so amusing that I'm glad it was fed!
And Brian. Brian. Brian. There should definitely be more. And more. And more. And, oh, did I mention *more*??
Um, yes. That's all. Just felt like commenting.
<3

Let me just say that I was catching up reading LJ's about an hour before the show, and then when I saw the show and Ben did his whole hurt-by-the-constructive-criticism thing I said to my friend E. who watches the show with me, who has *no* idea who you are "Jenn is going to have a lot to say about this" and she just said "Hm." But anyway, yes. I *love* Ben, but your hatred is so amusing that I'm glad it was fed!

*starts laughing*

God, I am predictible. But still. It just hurt. Grrr to Ben and his education, dammit. GRRR I say!

And Brian. Brian. Brian. There should definitely be more. And more. And more. And, oh, did I mention *more*??
Um, yes. That's all. Just felt like commenting.

Brian, Brian, Brian, the axis on which I turn, or wish I did, metaphorically speaking, and yes, we need more. It scares me I look forward to SCARY FUTURE EPS because it means more Brian.

*cuddles Brian hard*

And thanks for stopping by to comment! *hugs you as well*

*hugs you back*

Jenn, your summaries always make me laugh, and smile, and think, and I really enjoy reading them.

I'm kind of wondering what happened to some of the major players' characters this season. First Emmett went totally OOC with his whole holding-a-grudge-against-Ted thing (which I'm still not sure he's over), and now Ben and his insecurity thing? WTF is up with that? Ben is the most secure character we know, as of S3 - what happened? Did he have a personality meltdown somewhere along the way? I'm just waiting for Brian to don a pretty lacey pink bra and panties and go skipping along Liberty Avenue singing I Feel Pretty. *smirk*

Anyway, thanks for the summary. Very nicely done. :D

I'm kind of wondering what happened to some of the major players' characters this season. First Emmett went totally OOC with his whole holding-a-grudge-against-Ted thing (which I'm still not sure he's over), and now Ben and his insecurity thing? WTF is up with that? Ben is the most secure character we know, as of S3 - what happened? Did he have a personality meltdown somewhere along the way?

They are Coming of Age. Or something. Actually, Ben kind of needs a good--er, problem in his life, if for no other reason than to spare me too many disturbing domesticy Father Knows Best things going on.

I'm just waiting for Brian to don a pretty lacey pink bra and panties and go skipping along Liberty Avenue singing I Feel Pretty. *smirk*

Wow. IT's like you entered my brain, took the single most terrifying possible image, and then wrote it out.

The worst of the horror comes from the fact that somehow, he would *still* be hot. *sighs*

Is this what Coming of Age looks like? Well, if that's the case, can they please NOT? I preferred them when they weren't Of Age. Or some of them, at least. I definitely like the new Brian and Justin, but I think Ben just needs his old personality back, nothing more than that. His new one freaks me out. Disturbing, in a Brady Bunch kind of way. Or yeah, like you said, Father Knows Best. *shudder*

Brian - hot in a pretty, lacey, pink bra and panties? Hm. Scary. I don't think I want to take this part of our discussion any further, though. I do have to sleep tonight and waking up in a cold sweat isn't on my 'to do' list. ;)

Justin pulling that trigger might have been less about being mad at Hobbs for all that beating stuff, but because he was getting jealous that Chris got all that gun's attention.

I'm a sick, sick girl.

Oh but we so love you for that. :)))

Well, not straight ones, anyway, which is, in fact, still a shock to me, since I would be glued to his windows just to stare at him, but hey, that's just me.

OMG! I suddenly got an image of you with those suction cups(you the kind those stuff toys have that people have stuck on a window of their cars) stuck on your hands and feet, and hanging outside one of Brian huge windows. Too funny.

You're so right about Daphne being a good judge of character when it comes to Justin friends. From now on he should have all of his friends vetted by Daphne.

If Michael says your story lacks plot, take a second and look at his comic sales, then take a second and think, hmm

Rages sells because of the art, and because it's the next thing to porn. I doubt that the storylines have much to do with it. But then again, that's JMO. I used to read XMen and and a bunch of other X comics(you know, X Factor, EXcalibur, eXtc.) years ago, and at the time I thought it was for the stories. And then the art work went to shit. I mean I really REALLY hated the art work. And I stopped reading and buying comic books. A couple of years later, I bought a special issue XMen. Still hated the art work. Never read a comic since. So. Just saying.

Mel and the incubating spawn could dropped down a rabbit hole and never reappear, and I would consider that a good thing.

Awww, go easy on Vic and Rodney. They're just trying to enjoy having a life where they don't have to worry about having to share their bed with her. Of course, since I won't see this episode until tonight, I might change my mind then.

More Brian is good......as long as there is more Justin to go with it. :D

P.S. re. you're icon. Does Bert know that Ernie is cheating on him with Guy Smiley? Awwww, puppet love. =))

We talked Bert off the ledge earlier. I explained how this is *completely* like Justin and Ethan and that he just needs to remain calm and give it a few eps. He's picked up a piece of felt that resembles Ernie.

Yes, we're being very supportive.

OMG! I suddenly got an image of you with those suction cups(you the kind those stuff toys have that people have stuck on a window of their cars) stuck on your hands and feet, and hanging outside one of Brian huge windows. Too funny.

And there's a great window convenient to his desk, too.

Strange, that I'm wondering if I could *get* suction cups that big. *G*

Rages sells because of the art, and because it's the next thing to porn. I doubt that the storylines have much to do with it. But then again, that's JMO. I used to read XMen and and a bunch of other X comics(you know, X Factor, EXcalibur, eXtc.) years ago, and at the time I thought it was for the stories. And then the art work went to shit. I mean I really REALLY hated the art work. And I stopped reading and buying comic books. A couple of years later, I bought a special issue XMen. Still hated the art work. Never read a comic since. So. Just saying.

No, I know what you mean in that--the combination visual/textual medium is different, and even if it wasn't, Dean Koontz is still a bestseller in text-only.

That education jab just *hurt*, though. Grrr.

Mel and the incubating spawn could dropped down a rabbit hole and never reappear, and I would consider that a good thing.

Less airtime makes me happy. I like Lindz so much, but Mel always rubs me the wrong way. It's not just her hostility to Brian, either--I used to think it was simply that, but she bothers me outside of that, and I can't finger why.

Awww, go easy on Vic and Rodney. They're just trying to enjoy having a life where they don't have to worry about having to share their bed with her. Of course, since I won't see this episode until tonight, I might change my mind then.

*GRRR* It wasn't, I don't think, spiteful, just inconsiderate, and frankly, if one of my friends pulled that on me, my reaction probably wouldn't have been much better, even with logic applied.

More Brian is good......as long as there is more Justin to go with it. :D

More Brian, more Justin, more B/J, it's just not the show with less of them. *sighs dreamily*

I'm a sick, sick girl.

Well, admitting it is always a good first step to take. :)

5.) I love watching Brian and Michael together. I'm actually kind of scared by it, since, well, OTP, but it's actually hitting me, that Michael is *fun* around Brian. Most of the time. I like them when they're playing together.

Please tell me no fic is going to come featuring Brian and Michael 'playing' together. Please.

Please tell me no fic is going to come featuring Brian and Michael 'playing' together. Please.

I actually have a feeling that I could break smutblock with them. I can't seem to write B/J, what with all the canonicity, but B/M might actually be doable.

That's probably a really bad reason to write it. *g* I can't OTP them. Theya re too cute as friends. Just. So. Cute.

I totally understand your reason. I have this unholy dislike for Mulder/Krycek fic. I'm a Skinner gal, but I think if I were a writer, M/K would be my pairing of choice. But the fics wouldn't be cute fics. They would be all hurt and heartbroken and just fucked up together.

Ever since Cody threatened someone with a gun and later showed Justin that it wasn't loaded, I expected Justin to kill hobbes accidently because he thought the gun wasn't loaded.

RH gave *great* sex face in the scene with Cody and the gun in the ep before this one!

Cody, if you could be more annoying, I would have you killed. Your hysteria, your weirdness, your sheer inability to get along in normal society--how is it that you are still alive?

Once Cody told Justin what had happened to him while they were at the shooting range, I was able to forgive him for a lot. Not condone it, but forgive it. After Justin was attacked, he had an incredibly supportive group of people to help him recover. Not only did Cody not have that, the important people in his life agreed with and supported his attackers. If that had happened to me, I might behave the same way.

Ever since Cody threatened someone with a gun and later showed Justin that it wasn't loaded, I expected Justin to kill hobbes accidently because he thought the gun wasn't loaded.

I want to *see* that episode *so much*.

Not only did Cody not have that, the important people in his life agreed with and supported his attackers. If that had happened to me, I might behave the same way.

I understand it, don't get me wrong, that was just horrible behavior. He's just--beyond that. Especially when one starts collecting weaponry with the possibility of using it.

But yeah, I felt bad for him.

Me - Ever since Cody threatened someone with a gun and later showed Justin that it wasn't loaded, I expected Justin to kill hobbes accidently because he thought the gun wasn't loaded.

You - I want to *see* that episode *so much*.

Any chance of you writing that? I could totally see Brian helping him cover it up. :)

Michael is *fun* around Brian.

There is a reason they are best friends, you know. :D

*sticks out tongue* I always forget Brian *can* be fun, not just snarky and moody or snarky and sexy or snarky and bizarre, but *fun*.

*g*

I meant to add--I liked the Ted/Mel friendship scene.
In previous seasons, one reason I liked Mel was how she and Ted got along so well. And Ted was the one who made Mel look at her behavior regarding the loss of her case.

They do good friendship together. I remember noticing that in season one, with how well Mel and Ted got along.

OMG! YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO GO SEE URBANIA IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY!

GO! NOW! RENT!

-Silverkyst, hypercaffinated

......

*backs slowly toward door*

Okayyyy. Give me--er, details? Killer mutants? Giant regicidal cabbages? Brian's mother in drag?

hypercaffinated

My God.

*runs*

*waves* Hey! Come back here! (My new job required me to taste two new types of coffee today - I was so overcaffinated I couldn't remember where I parked my car. Yeah, alright, I don't usually remember where I park my car.).
*g* It's a movie with similar themes to this episode (as you describe it, I haven't seen it). It's very well done, it's about homophobia, and how different gay men respond to it, among other things, although really, it can be applied to any minority group. It's very powerful. I can't tell you too much more without ruining it. The main character is a journalist exploring urban legends, and that's how it starts.

-Silverkyst

there is nothing i can say about this episode that you didn't say already :))

*LOVES*

*glows*

Brian and Justin are *pretty*.

Sometimes, I forget everything else, except, well, also, weapons in bed, and think, ooh, they are *pretty*.

It makes me happy.

GUNS. i have such a love-hate relationship with the guns in this ep. also, i want to discuss 405 with you. my head is going to explode :/

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review: QaF, season four, episode five

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OMG, Jenn, this is why I friended you . . .

Re: OMG, Jenn, this is why I friended you . . .

Re: OMG, Jenn, this is why I friended you . . .

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