Thoughts on ep.103 part one of two
This episode is dominated by two storylines, the one dealing with Justin leaves you feeling celebratory, the other, involving Mel. Linds, and Brian, leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
Melanie and Lindsay have always been my least favorite characters, and as such I usually don't expend much emotion to empathize with their problems. But here, even I am forced to feel profound sympathy for Mel. Because in this episode we find out just how completely Melanie has been had.
Nobody's behavior is steller here. Brian embarrasses Mel and Linds in front of their friends while waving Mel's lack of power over Gus in her face. Later Brian tops this a**hat demonstration by getting all sanctimonious about it, claiming he did it for his son. Don't buy this for one second. If he cared so much about his son at this point, he would have already known what was going on in his life. But instead, he finds out from Michael, who was there for Gus when Brian wasn't. Also don't buy that Brian is all that up in arms about circumcision. Admit there is a tiny possibility that he really cares about this issue, but it is extremely doubtful. What is far more likely is that like the clothes Brian wears and the loft he lives in, whining about circumcision is fashionable. He did it for his son? Bulls!*t.
When Melanie complains about Lindsay once again putting Brian before her, Lindsay won't even address this, probably because the only reply would be to admit the truth of this or lie. Instead she starts blathering about the barbarism of circumcision. Melanie doesn't fall for this obvious attempt at deflection and gets to the real point about Lindsay's obsession with Brian.
There are really no words for what Lindsay has done, literally blackmailing Melanie into accepting a man she despises to be the father of their son. There is no just excuse for this. We don't even get the weak good genes line she fed Brian. Here the truth of the matter comes out, it was Brian or no one. And when Mel repeats her words to her, Lindsay has no answer.
Melanie isn't blameless in all of this. By that night she is apologizing for being upset when she had every right to be upset. Mel also allows herself to be placated by Lindsay's assurances, empty assurances in my opinion, that Brian won't come between them. Perhaps giving in to Lindsay in the end is a pattern for Mel, a pattern that has resulted in Lindsay being able to push her own desires no matter how outrageous they may be. Mel has also decided that the life insurance policy Brian has agreed to is a fair trade for Brian's behavior that day. But Melanie being a mercenary and a fool does not mitigate what Lindsay has done. Lindsay disgusts me.
Emmette has a rather silly storyline when he is hanging out with a Japanese protitute that doesn't speak English, and unbeknownst to Emmett, wants paid for his services. It's not at all important to the plot or to Emmett's life story in general, but it's frothy and amusing. And for me, that is enough.
Michael hasn't much to do here. But what does happen with him tells us all we need to know about just how deep his longing for Brian goes. The scene were he finally makes a move on Brian is one of the best kissing scenes in the whole series. Along with a wrench thrown into the romance he does want, Michael has an advancement in a romance he doesn't,curtesy of Brian. Don't care how good of a f@ck Brian is, is the mere hope of it worth putting up with this sort of thing?
Ted's tale is unpleasant to watch, especially since it's intercut by much happier goings on at Babylon. But early on we get one of the more unfortunate patterns with his character. Because while Brian, Michael, and pretty much everybody else can do drugs with no ill effects, the first time Ted does it he is on the floor near death. In later seasons any time Ted goes into a venture similar to the others, he will he the one who is the worse for wear. Never noticed til now how early the beginnings of this started.
The other big storyine and probably most viewer's favorite is Justin successfully employing Daphnee's tactic to get Brian's attention. When he and Daphnee arrive on Liberty Avenue Justin gives her instruction as if he is already well versed in the place. Too cute. Even cuter is Justin's shirt, which is a dressy silver grey with the sleeves rolled up. It's like Justin is trying to dress to impress while trying to make it appear otherwise. He looks so earnest here it is absolutely adorable. This plotline is not quite as much fun for me as it used to be back when I actually cared about Brian and Justin as a couple. However, the process whereby Justin goes from following Brian around to making Brian have to have him is still a delight.
end of part one of two
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dergil27
12 years ago
Thoughts on ep103 pt two of two
......Favorite scenes.....
The scene with Brian and Michael in the Babylon bathroom says much about their friendship. Brian calls Michael's love of comics pathetic in the most endearing of ways. The red light and the close contact between the friends blurs the line between affectionate and sexual. And when the conversation moves to Patrick Swayze, one immediately remembers the unfinished blow job from years back. The mood is broken when Brian rejects Michael's sexual advance. But the kiss and close contact that they share has some definite chemistry behind it.
The scene where Justin steals Brian's dance partners in order to make Justin want him is great fun. Don't care for Justin taking off his shirt. He has the worst upper body on the show and as mentioned before, I love his shirt here. Like the way the camera caught the eye Justin gave to the handsomer of Brian's men. The scene could also be seen as a sign of things to come. The action cuts back and forth between Brian and Justin on the dance floor and Michael of the platform. As Michael watches things play out, his expression goes from admiration to disbelief, to annoyance, and finally resignation. The last shot with Brian and Justin reflected on a big screen behind Michael's look of apparent acceptance. This is very much how the relationship among these men will play out int he early part of the series.
......Other things of note.....
Had Melanie wanted Gus to be circumcised for aesthetic or hygenic reasons, she would have had it done at the hospital or at a doctor's office. But she clearly wanted to do it as part of her Jewish faith, the faith in she also wanted Gus to be reared. By accepting Brian's life insurance instead, she has decided to give up raising her son in her religion. It doesn't say much for Mel if she will even waive the faith of her child for a price. And it doesn't say much for the probably jewish writers for glossing over this fact.
Michael's line "But whatever it is, he says it for all of us.", is a serious candidate for the corniest line in all ot televisiondom. Unfortunately his Brian worship is so intense, it actually fits the character at this point. Found Michael's dog like devotion to Brian in the early days of the show infuriating at times. This was one of those times.
The guy Brian meets in the steamroom will have a more significant storyline with one of the other characters later in the series.
Don't understand why Ted encourages Michael to go after Brian when Ted wants Michael himself.
About Brian's tattoo that's in a place Emmett will never see. Endlessly curious about this. Michael knowing about it is understandable. But why has Ted of all people, also seen it?
end of pt two of two
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clofa
12 years ago
The guy Brian meets in the steamroom will have a more significant storyline with one of the other characters later in the series.
Wow, thanks! I had to replay the scene to check that... as usual, I had totally missed it!
Don't understand why Ted encourages Michael to go after Brian when Ted wants Michael himself
I thought Ted always encouraged Michael to get over Brian not go after him?
The red light and the close contact between the friends blurs the line between affectionate and sexual
And the drugs! I think Michael was also affected by what Justin told him about still waiting for Brian to finish jerking him off and Brian recounting that story.
Brianwashed!
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dergil27
12 years ago
responce to clofa 10:13:01,
It's true that Ted generally encouraged Michael to get over Brian, but in this ep he does seem to be saying that it makes no sense that Brian has "had" almost everyone but Michael. And it's probably what caused Michael to finally make a move on Brian. But I think you might have a point about Justin's comment being a factor as well.
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clofa
12 years ago
Nobody's behavior is steller here. Brian embarrasses Mel and Linds in front of their friends while waving Mel's lack of power over Gus in her face. Later Brian tops this a**hat demonstration by getting all sanctimonious about it, claiming he did it for his son. Don't buy this for one second.
Melanie is my second favorite character on this show and even though I too sympathize with what she had to go through, I'm 100% on Brian's side and I don't think he was being sanctimonious about it; my opinion could be affected by Gale's performance and my own personality and beliefs (and maybe that's why we're seeing things differently). I'm totally against mutilating people regardless of the reason (especially religious ones), once the person themselves are mature enough, they can decide for themselves or if their lives is threatened and cutting them up is the only way to save their life.
If he cared so much about his son at this point, he would have already known what was going on in his life. But instead, he finds out from Michael, who was there for Gus when Brian wasn't.
Again, I might be projecting my own character but a person might hate an event and not attend it even if it's for the most important person in their life. Brian hates such events and Gus is too young to care whether his father is there or not. Before finding out about the circumcision, it was a party that the new moms are throwing, for them mostly, to celebrate the advent of their son with their friends. If I were Brian, I wouldn't have cared to go either. But once he found out what it was, he went there right away.
Apart from that, I totally agree with your observations about Lindsay and what she did. Sometimes my sympathy for Melanie turns to frustration with her for tolerating all of Lindsay's manipulation and hypocrisy.
Brianwashed!
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dergil27
12 years ago
I go back and forth about Melanie in regard to what she had to tolerate with Lindsay and Brian. Sometimes it seems that she brings it on herself due to her willingness to easily look over Lindsay and equally easy tendency to blame Brian. Other times the realization that one can't help who they love, makes me feel sorry for Mel.
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