Pick a QAF episode (“Or two or three,” as Em said in 117), give it a title, and tell why you gave it that title.
QAF famously doesn’t have titles for the episodes. We fans refer to the episodes by number and happenings/quotes. “Chapter and verse” as it were—like The Bible. How ironically, deliciously appropriate.
I never gave that a single thought until today. At least twice a year, I watch the series all the way through. Today, I watched 205. Although I don’t have favorite episodes per se (I’m more a favorite moments kinda broad), this is one of those episodes that contains so much of what I love about this show as a whole.
Unoriginally, I’d title 205 “Follow That Dream.” The Gang is all getting along. Lindsay and Mel are living their dream (ok, Lindsay’s dream, but Lindsay IS Mel’s dream, so therefore). Michael doesn’t even know what his dream is and then it suddenly presents itself and he tells Q‑Mart to fuck off and acts on achieving his dream. (You cannot believe how I cheered and whooped and hollered for him! That last scene where Michael opens his comic store had me on my feet clapping and dancing with pure joy.) Justin gets discouraged at PIFA and is basically threatened with being thrown out because he’s disabled (my first response was “Call Mel and file a discrimination lawsuit!”). As far as I can tell, Justin doesn’t tell anyone what happened with the dean, he just quits PIFA because he can’t draw any more. (WHY do these people not tell each other the whole story??) Debbie doesn’t tell Justin any bullshit platitudes to make him feel better after he lashes out at the diner, but also lets him know she won’t put up with his disrespectful behavior (YAY, Debbie!!). Lindsay takes Justin to meet Adrian Bennett (which was WAY too bullshit platitude “where there’s a will, there’s a way” for me), but it makes an impact on Justin. Mel and Ted are hanging out again (I love their friendship; I’d be friends with Mel and Ted, too) and Ted shocked the shit out of me and The Gang with HIS dream. (Go, Teddy! I know from personal experience that it’s the quiet, conservative ones that are the most sexually aggressive and uninhibited.)
Finally, it bears repeating here that I’m not a Brian Kinney fan. Like Mel (she of the much‑maligned reputation in fandom and fanfic), I’m not in love with Brian, or attracted to him, or charmed by him, and I never excuse his behavior. Everyone’s been hurt at some time—some more than others—but people who take their pain out on other people I avoid like The Plague. I’ll give Brian that he worked hard for and achieved His Dream: education, power, control, prestige, money, luxury, sexual prowess, professional success. In this episode, I’m given some of those brief, rare moments where I could actually see a tiny glimpse of real human being underneath Brian’s narcissistic, predatory, manipulative psychopath. Brian recommends Ted for a job. Brian gets the graphic arts computer and software for Justin. But the best thing was Brian helping Michael achieve his dream with no thought of himself. The Conflicted Mother (Debbie) and her complicated Two Sons/Best Friend Brothers (Michael and Brian) with all their ancient shit raging among the three of them working together towards one goal: getting Michael his dream. When the comic sold on Ebay for $10K, it was Michael who kissed Brian and rocked him back. It reminded me so much of two young boys at a bowling alley who grew into two men at a bowling alley. Only this time, it was Michael in charge: in charge of his life, his dream, and The Kiss of Dominance and Triumph.
Also for the very first time today, I realized I don’t know what my beloved Emmett’s dream is. Unless it’s seeing his friends happy and fulfilled. Yeah, but what about a dream for himself?