Queer as Folk - Season 2 (1 Viewer)

[Mark-W]

Buzz and Trace-

I am really liking the personalized repsonses you guys

are posting!

As for the guy in the dumpster, I wonder if this

isn't tapping into the storyline from the Brit

show, where the guy who killed the "Ted" of that

show was about to off Stewart when Vince pulled

him away. I never was sure if that guy deliberately

killed the Brit show's Ted character or it was an

accident. The guy seemed a bit unrepentant and

seedy.

It seems familiar to this storyline in Showtime's version.

Mark

 

[Ryan Spaight]

According some spoilers I've seen (before the previews aired, so they correctly predicted the body in the dumpster), at least one ultimate purpose of the dumpster body is:

Debbie gets involved with the investigating cop

Ryan

 

[Trace Downing]

I've got it!
It's Jimmy Hoffa! They were cleaning out Al Capone's vault and found him there. Since he wasn't worth anything on the open market, out to the trash he went.
Jimmy was the only thing in Capone's vault left, after Geraldo stole everything else.
Buzz, regarding you're belief...I just never had the priveledge of being swept off my feet. I did slip on some Pine-Sol once. Is that what it feels like?

 

[Trace Downing]

It's snowing, but it's wet. Nothing is sticking to concrete. Typical Denver March. You shouldn't have any delays.

 

[Alan Light]

DavidF, I agree with your comments about the show nearly 100%.
A bit of QAF trivia: Eric, the "cute boy" virgin in Episode 8, was played by an actor named Jonathan Payne. When the producers of QAF were first casting the roles, Payne was their second choice to play the role of Justin, if Randy Harrison turned it down. Randy didn't turn it down, of course. But that other guy could very well have ended up being Justin.
For a bit more information on the actor:
Link Removed
Click on Guest Registry then Party Like 1999 then Jonathan Payne. That's him. It lists a bunch of plays he's been in.

 

[Mark-W]

David F-

Welcome to the qaf thread. I am not quite as dissappointed

in the show as you are, but I think your points are

accurate. I have heard that the show is going to be

making "big changes," but I confess I have not a clue

what those changes are.

It continues to be "Showtime's biggest hit," according

to Sharon Gless as of her chat last night, so I have

every reason to believe it will be back for another

season.

I have been spending a fair amount of time

over at the queer.sho.com message boards, and

the general consensus is that the show seems

to be lacking some real guidance.

Most blame the production company, CowLip, which

is made up of Rob Cowan, and Dan Lipman.

For me, I am finding that I am liking the development

of some of the characters, while others seem to be

part of some permanent spin cycle and go nowhere.

So, I am finding things to cling to that I like,

and tend to ignore the thing that irritate me.

There is a new protest group called

Queers Against Queer As Folk, and

they are as misguided and tired as the groups

who tried to protest the Brit original.

The funny thing is, some of the anti-QAQAF

people say the show is simply going to fall

apart on its own and doesn't need help form QAQAF.

I do think the writing in general has gone down hill.

I have never exspected the acting to be brilliant,

and it is true, Sex is the City is vastly

superior.

It seems like the show is lazy and thinks if it

shows enough naked men humping eachother, people

will watch.

That seems to be the gist of your message,

so I suppose CowLip is justified in that belief.

I can only hope it gets better, that the characters

do grow up and mature, as Lipman and Cowan always

said was their intention.

I have to say, as far as last night goes, I

really liked the interaction between Emmett

and George. Emmett had some really good comments

regarding why he would prefer a guy like George

over the bar slaves, and none of them were little

sassy remarks.

Emmett gives me hope that the show can get better.

Regards,

Mark

 

[John Berggren]

Has the show lost direction?

I think probably to some extent it had. I was giddy with the potential that the start of this season brought. It seemed that now all the characters had been established, and the real meat of the show could begin. I think they've gotten off course some.

Lindsey's grandmother was a bit cliche, but it's nice for her to have a positive family connection. And how is it that the late-coming letter was saved with Grandma's others? Either mother knows about the letters, and is OK enough to not only keep them, but add to them, or the letter magically appearred as a plot device to encourage Mel.

Next week is the wedding? I didn't get that impression from the wedding planning they were doing this week. But perhaps you choose meals and caterers a week before the event. I'm also sure her 1 week wedding gown will be fabulous.

I _LIKE_ Emmett's relationship with George, and I like George. Surprisingly it didn't seem too heavy handed. Though if I were George I would have given Emmett the boot after his performance at the opera. I needn't see them having sex on a regular basis, but I'm happy with their relationship.

I'm not too thrilled with Michael. He is way more wrapped up in a poorly-written comic book (hello - virus planet on one page and death on the next?) to not be concerned that his mom found a body in her dumpster. Even if they didn't know him, that's just too close for comfort. At the end he seemed to be mourning the kid, but I couldn't decide if it was the boy or the superhero he was mourning.

Nobody seemed to be up in arms about the murder. I guess it wasn't cut and dry whether it was a hate crime (which, being dumpsterred behind a gay cafe would seem to be) or a crime of passion.. but I think the community would respond moreso.

Once again, my perspective is tainted by Six Feet Under. I finally caught up to the end of season 1 this weekend, which included a gay hate crime murder. There was a response to this both by the community and by the characters. It was well played and emotional. I felt there was something there. I know I need to set my expectations differently for QAF - it's my "soap". I just wish I could have the same expectations for it as I do for a well written series.

So much potential.

All my negative comments aside, I'll be watching and taping in two weeks, and I will continue to do so through season 3. Probably even as long as the show goes, I just wish I could rave more.

As a side point, Showtime makes very wise decisions about counter programming. I think a large part of their audience (myself included) is very happy they are not airing opposite the oscars.

 

[PeterB]

Hey all
I'm new to this thread, very fun and intelligent posts. I agree with many of you on the quality of the show and that Season 2 may be going downhill...but given the popularity of the show, it probably has a long lifespan. I expect like any long-running hit, it will have its ups and downs.
Anyway, I have a question. Does anyone know what the song at the end of Episode 19 (first season DVD box set) is? It's not in the end credits nor on the CD soundtrack. Help, I love this song, and I'm desperate to know!!!

 

[Jeff Behlendorf]

Hey Peter, go to the QAF website at Showtimeonline.com. Select the episode you want and when it brings up the episode synopsis in the lower right of the screen you can select to bring up the music list for the episode. Hopefully you'll find what you're looking for.

 

[Judy Y]

The latest episode dealing with Melanie and Lynsdey's wedding was the WORST Queer as Folk episode I have ever seen! The writing, directing and acting were all painful to watch. The only bright points in this show, for me, were George and Emmett. I look forward to this every Sunday night. I hope they will pick it up next Sunday! Were there different writers on this one? Different director? Anyone know what happened?

 

[John Berggren]

I don't know that I'd describe this as the worst episode of QAF (though I can't think of one that I'd put in it's place), but it wasn't great.

Does anything remain that is redeeming about Brian Kinney? It doesn't seem so to me. I've tried to warm up to him when they've shown us his "good side", the intermittent good deeds he does when all else seems to fail. Even his "rescuing" of the wedding seemed as if it was an inconvenience to him. Though I suppose I'd love to have a friend who can miraculously have specific engraved rings made in one day.

That's not entirely true. I'd rather have Emmett for a friend. He seems to be the most consistantly true.

Brian on the other hand listens to Lindsay who tells him to go to the white party when he makes a grand gesture of 1) Giving up his trip and 2) offering to sit for Gus. I don't know if I wanted to smack her for saying it or Brian for doing it.

It's about time he grows up. Either Lindsay needed to let this happen, or he needed to deny her overture as would have been appropriate. Perhaps she just felt he'd hang it over her head if he didn't go and they did.

The wedding was nice enough. Quite fairy tale, but highlighting the importance of friends as family was probably the strongest moment of this episode.

I would be perfectly happy if Brian were to stay in Miami permanently. It'd be better for Justin, and better for most everyone concerned. Debbie had a shining moment telling Justin the truth last night. Hopefully he hears it as such.

 

[Jeff Savage]

Ok so maybe it was not a great episode but wasn't anyone besides me falling out of their chair laughing when Emmett went to pick out his butt? I mean come on that was too funny
About Brian what did you expect him to do? Would you really be convinced if all of a sudden he "gave a shit" Come on. As some cartoon once said...I am not bad I am just drawn that way.
Laters,

 

[John Berggren]

I am not bad I am just drawn that way.

That would be Jessica Rabbit. It's a coin toss on which character is more three dimensional .

 

[Trace Downing]

Maybe I'm missing something you guys aren't, but I don't think Brian is supposed to be likeable. Nobody liked J.R. Ewing.

Being part of the majority of gay people who went to bars in my 20s only to get ignored by the "real gay community", I look at bar queens as the shallow, self absorbed, appearance obsessed children that they are. I've had nelly queens gently place their hands on my chest, only to push me out of their way as they are bothered by walking by. My polite nod and smile was met more than once by rolling eyes, and an Oprah style snap of the fingers. and none of these people were exactly drop dead gorgeous. A drunk friend of mine asked to rub the chest of a topless twink, and the response was "Why should I let you?" Well, duh...You are on display aren't you? My friend was drunk though, so I don't know about that one.

No, to me, Brian Kinney is entirely realistic. The only difference between him and most of the bar-queens I've met, is that Brian actually has a job.

I would be happy to provide more examples of tidbits I'd rather forget if you still don't think Brian is realistic.

 

[Trace Downing]

Buzz;

Go to the HTF Meets page. Look up November 2000 (the one with Peter Staddon on the first page), I'm in there a couple of places.

I'd have to wait to get home to view yours, the firewall slapped down on me here at work.

 

[Mark-W]

Buzz: Break 4 Love CD
Hey Buzz-
I haven't perused this thread for a little while I just
saw your post.
The "Friburn & Urik Tribal Mix" is the fourth track
on the Part 1 of 2 CD.
Amazon screwed up my order and sent two copies of
Part two originally. I have played both CDs together
in shuffle mode, and I have left them both in my office
at school, so I cannot give you a great breakdown here.
I can tell you that my favorite mix is the Tribal Mix.
Mark

 

[Trace Downing]

It's not white...IT'S LIGHT BLUE!!! Designer label...I bought it at Guchie's.
(Actually, I bought it at The Gap, but I'm not telling him that!)

 

[Trace Downing]

Oh' please Buzz, don't.....stop.

 

[John Berggren]

I think this week's episode was more even overall, though I do still have some of the same feelings.
I guess Ted is a "B" character. It seems all of his relationships and storylines (at least this season) get resolved in one episode. I'm glad his porn king business has lasted through the arc, but I'd like to see more long term storylines with him.
I also seriously dislike Brian. I don't even love to hate him, I just am tired of him. I like the other characters so much that I wonder why they put up with his shit.
Ben is definitely (IMHO) the most attractive man on the show. He is hot, particularly in his glasses. He's definitely more even keeled than David, and seems to have it together. I'd love to see their relationship work out. However, I think the show will keep going back to Michael and Brian. I think that relationship is of particular interest to the writers, but I'm fairly done with it. This week it appears that Michael is just as done, but I trust he'll regress.
"My name is Debbie but you can call me Mrs. Cagney". . High time Debbie had more to do. I'm thrilled to see her doing it alongside Jennifer.
I'm thrilled that we will (probably) meet Michael's father next week. I've never wonderred about him, but It'll be very intesting to see more about him. Perhaps it will be the springboard for a father-son relationship. I hope it isn't a one episode dalliance into character development though.
Overall, I was very happy with this week's episode.

 

[John Berggren]

Okay, Also, with regards to A-Gays....

Was that a very nice, well placed, tip of the hat to Armistead Maupin (Tales of the City)? Or is the concept/terminology of A-Gay common?