happier_bunny (happier_bunny) wrote in qaf_coffeeclub, @ 2008-09-15 20:51:00 |
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Current mood: | moody |
the more things change, the more they stay the same
I was discussing the end of 509 with my new friend, hoegh, the other day and it got me thinking.
Character growth on Queer as Folk is often showcased very cleverly and Brian's growth as well as Michael's in this scene is no exception. Two times in canon, we see Michael and Brian fight to the point of not speaking. The first instance is 112. In 112, we're told by Michael that Brian never apologizes and that he loves no one. Yet, Brian is so lost that he has hallucinations or daydreams about Michael he misses him so much.
Brian's at Woody's listening to Michael regale him with tales of his day at work:
OR...is he?
We quickly come to realize that he's daydreaming about Michael but in reality it's Ted he's sitting at Woody's with...
It isn't until Justin intervenes and makes Michael listen to the truth that Michael goes to Babylon to find Brian. There's no apology, just 2 friends putting an argument behind them without much fanfare or discussion. Michael forgives Brian anything at this point in their friendship without holding Brian accountable for his actions.
However, when we move to mid-season five, we've got a different story. Brian has apologized for things (pissing on Rage) and he's told Michael he loves him (always have...always will) so when they fight, Michael expects more from Brian now. He doesn't realize that Brian is giving him all he can at that point, an acknowledgment of his behavior, short of an apology. He doesn't realize that Brian is scared.
Instead, we have Michael quoting Brian's words to Justin in 112, "We don't have anything in common..." as he rejects Brian. Then, later at Babylon, Brian is hallucinating again.
He imagines Michael coming to Babylon (as he did in 112).
He imagines that Michael understood that he was apologizing, that he loved Michael. He imagines forgiveness and acceptance, except this time there is no Justin to make Michael listen.
He's happy until he is confused when he realizes it's Ted with him at Babylon and that Michael is nowhere to be found.
So what do you think? Do you see the character growth in Michael? In Brian? Did you see Brian's apology? What did you think of the change in his reaction to Ted from 112 to 509? What do you think the hallucinations are telling us?
caps by happier_bunny