The sex scenes were more flashy and music video-ish, one of my biggest gripes with the show.
Hmm, I respectfully beg to differ. There were many different variations of love/sex scenes on this show, and the Brian/Justin scenes especially ran the gamut. I think, throughout the run of the show, they pretty much had every type of sex together that two men can have; from the hot, steamy and sweaty writhing on Brian's bed (their first sex after Justin returns from California after the studio pulls the plug on the Rage movie), to the sweet, tender and romantic slow undressing, kissing and caressing in Brian's office (after they get back together after the violinist fiasco, S3, Ep 8). Blow jobs in alleys (one of my favorite moments in the whole series is when Justin has just finished going down on Brian in the freezing cold alley, and then spits his spunk at the poster of Stockwell!); quick humping to flashy lights and music in the back room of Babylon; the extremely hot, can't-keep-our-hands-off-each other sex in the loft (to Republica's great song "Ready to Go") when Stockwell visits Gardner tell him Brian has been sabotaging the campaign; the sweet and slow lovemaking when Justin wakes up after having the horrible flashbacks of his bashing at Gus' birthday party; sweet wet soapy shower sex (hmm, lots of that!), you name it.
The lighting and camera work, not to mention the music, on this show was amazing, especially during the Brian/Justin sex scenes. Brilliant work all around. The scene that I most noticed this was when Justin had been with Ethan, then came home and wanted to shower, but Brian got him all hot and bothered, and then left him hanging. This scene is so, so hot, and it's kind of strange that I took time to notice the lighting and music, but those things can really make a scene for me.
Also, in seeing the amazing chemistry (both physically and personality-wise) between Randy and Gale, I find it hard to imagine that those two didn't get together at least once in real life during the show's run. I can't imagine filming those scenes and making them look so natural unless you really liked the other person. They both seemed so natural together, like a real couple. And I imagine during the run of the show, that they both saw every inch of each others bodies, in every possible position, time of day, and circumstance, as possible! I guess there's no place for modesty in this type of role. They both had the amazing bodies to pull it off, for sure. And I like to imagine that Gale likes to wander around his house either mostly or entirely undressed! ;)
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dergil27
12 years ago
Agree that qaf love scenes were not always "music video-ish" and that the sex scenes ran the gamut. But dissagree about Brian and Justin. Of all the sex scenes, theirs had the most "sameness" as well as most consistently resembling music videos. It was the other couples that provided variety and a break from sex accompanied by a musical score.
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katiedyd
12 years ago
I don't think music and lighting should be the criteria for how the sex scenes are evaluated. While they may have been most present in Brian and Justin's scenes I disagree completely that there was any "sameness" in their sex at all throughout the run of the show. It was amazing actually since they were the longest running male sex partners on the show. They were together from the very beginning to the very end. What I really enjoyed was watching how their relationship progressed, how they became different things to each other, the way they grew and altered and I think one of the best ways that was portrayed was through how they were shown having sex.
In season 1 it was all about lust, Brian as the teacher and Justin as the pupil, and Brian in ultimate control yet begin unable to resist Justin. In Season 2 their scenes were very different. They made love with such tenderness and need after Justin's injury, and there were moments when Brian was shown waiting up for Justin just so that he could be close to him. There was a different kind of partnership and need for intimacy between them. Justin was shown topping Brian. The "go take a shower" scene when Brian finds out about Ethan shows such a hurricane of emotions: lust, anger, passion, control, jealousy, possessiveness.
The reunion scene in Brian's office is joyful and urgent. And the majority of scenes in season 4 show a much more aggressive and in-control Justin. While Brian is still the usual technical top he seems more submissive. Justin is filmed on top of Brian more often than not, and it suggests another shift in the balance of their relationship.
The reunion scene after California shows the greatest balance of give and take of any of their sex scenes. There is a desperation to the scene, but incredible intimacy during and afterward. After the bombing of Babylon and Brian proposes he and Justin finally have the making love in front of a roaring fire scene that years of Brian's fear and denial had prevented. And the final sex scene between them needs no description. What is portrayed in those last few moments between them runs the gamut of human emotion. It leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. In my opinion there is absolutely no couple on the show... on any show I've watched that has managed to achieve that.
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dergil27
12 years ago
But there was a sameness to their sex scenes. Regardless of the emotions the couple convey, the constant use of unusual camera perspectives and the ever present musical tracts give all their scenes a similar look and feel. And that look and feel is one of a music video.
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Mark_Graisons_Moustache
12 years ago
What I mean by music video-ish is also the epic attempts to hide any view of Pickle. If you watch the British original show (which, for the record, I don't think is very good, and I do much prefer the American one), they were not shy about just showing penis. If someone got out of bed naked, we saw their penis.
What I find unfair is that the lesbians' nudity was much more graphic and realistic. When Mel gets out of bed totally naked, we see everything, like we would in real life if we were viewing a real couples' bedroom, but when the men had sex, we saw a lot of butt but rarely any penis. The penises (aside from a few instances with Scott Lowell and Peter Paige) were usually from some random dude in the background of the locker room or at the dance club. I would have called the show "graphic" if all the male cast members showed penis in a realistic way.
When I say "Realistic Way," I am thinking of the kind of nudity you would find in the arthouse movies of the '70s or early '80s. For instance, I watched "Personal Best" and the nudity in that is very much like we are with the characters, peering in on them. I wish I could be more eloquent, but that's the only way I can think to word it.
Abby: "Olivia, something terrible has happened."
Olivia: "What, did you run out of eye makeup?"
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