Queer as Folk Recap Post, Season One, Episode One.

[amelialourdes]

This originally started as such a simple project but again I just got too involved.

Let’s get this party started! We, sakesushimaki, are hosting a Queer as Folk rewatch right here on our journals! You guys know that I’ve been getting really nostalgic lately for the good ol’ days (as they were to me) so I’ve been aching to rewatch the series. What better time to do it than the summer? Shows are on hiatus and I’ve got some time on my hands.

That said, let the recap begin!

So, we start with the opening credits. Wow, they’re so colorful! Look at the pretty boys dancing in silhouette. I remember that that hooked me in immediately. What can I say? I’m an American television watcher and fast camera movements and pretty colors draw me in.

Just a side note -- I did watch the British series maybe a few months after I watched the American one and found it incredibly slow. I did notice that it's those fast paced camera shots in the American series, the incredible chemistry between Gale and Randy, and the dynamic cast of characters in the American version that got me hooked. I liked what I saw in the British version but it's not the one that I'd watch over and over again.

What else drew me in? God, listen to that music. It’s that thumpa thumpa of Babylon (significantly larger in the pilot) and the men dancing that reel me in. Look! Hot cowboys! Hot Cops! Hot Sailors! Listen to what they’re playing … Tamperer’s “Can You Feel It”. If you don’t know, I’m a big Michael Jackson fan (RIP) and hearing his voice is always extra incentive to watch something.

Michael’s voiceover is heard during all of this and it establishes that he is one of the central characters. Then you have that establishing shot of the three friends leaning against the bar: the flamboyant Emmett, the casual Michael, and the boring (and Average Joe) Ted. At first sight you don’t really know why these three are friends but once they break out into that brief chorus of "I Love The Nightlife" it all becomes clear. I immediately loved this dynamic, the camaraderie of the group but there was still something missing. From the very beginning I felt like they were the group that was missing its ringleader/master.

"You go down the Grand Canal, I’ll go down on him." – Emmett

Then there’s that quick camera pan over to Brian Kinney. Oh, there's the leader. He's right over there. Brian’s confident, attractive, about to nail the guy that he’s dancing with and we want to watch it happen. Sure, Brian/Gale can't dance but what he can't do he makes up for with pure sexuality in his movements and that look of primal lust in his eyes. Can you see it? I can see it.

We’re taken to the backroom where the colors and the sounds just say, “THERE IS SEX HAPPENING IN HERE.” It’s red, the color of passion and heat and that’s exactly what we see. There are men writhing against one another, participating in sex acts, and there’s Brian Kinney leaning against the wall.

(Let’s mention in here we also see Todd for the first time. Hey Todd!)

The fact that Michael can go straight in there and just talk about wanting to go to get some dinner is very telling. Brian’s going to be in and out of there (no pun intended) pretty quickly. The fact that he states, “Ten minutes tops” defines his attitude about sex. He’s going to grab that quick blow job and then go eat with his friends. There's something about that attitude that's appealing. Later, they even make a catch phrase for it!

“Which is why you read all those comic books with those superhero in their little tights … for the plot.” – Ted

Then it happens. We cut to outside of the club and see one innocent young boy, Justin Taylor, taking his first step to his new world. Those first steps to Liberty Avenue change his life. He steps into the water as an act of baptism to his new life.

Brian leaves the club, goes to his car, and suddenly he turns to the streetlight. There’s Justin surrounded by yellow light and heading straight to lean against that post. He casually leans back against it, eyes connecting with Brian’s, and Michael really says it all doesn’t he? “And that’s when it happened, when HE came along.”

Brian: How’s it going? Had a busy night?
Justin: Just uh checking out the bars you know? Boytoy, Meathook?
Brian: The Meatbook, really? So you’re into leather?
Justin: Sure.
Brian: Where you headed?
Justin: No place special.
Brian: I can change that.

They won me over with this one. All I could think was -- hot guy, approaches other hot guy, I hope they have sex. The initial impressions are all superficial so I was solely watching for the pretty. Mind you, all of these things happen in the first ten minutes. They hop in the car and then it’s straight to Brian’s place. Michael, Ted, and Emmett are on their own.

Then we see the first iconic scenes (for us Brian and Justin fans) that we think back on fondly. There’s Justin taking in a deep breath as he closes the loft door, Brian quickly strips off his clothes and takes a drink of water (that ends up down his body), as Justin awkwardly stands there and stares. I mean, who wouldn’t stand there and stare?

Brian offers Justin drugs and Justin replies that he likes cheerios and that he’s allergic to a lot of drugs. Ahahahahahahahaha!

After that exchange, Brian gets completely naked, and Justin’s mouth hangs open in awe. Whose mouth wouldn’t hang open in awe?! Justin walks toward him, tossing his jacket away, and then he stands close to Brian. Lucky bastard.

Brian’s hand is kind of snaking down Justin’s body and I imagine that he’s definitely doing something down there. He does begin to unbuckle Justin’s pants and when we hear that first groan … that has to mean something. They begin to kiss and it’s really gentle at first but soon it turns rough and heated and passion and … damn. There’s no other word to describe the chemistry that’s practically palpable through the screen. The song, “You Think You’re A Man” is perfect for this scene.

I wanted to see more of this (and see Brian strip Justin naked) but we cut to Emmett and Michael at their apartment. The guy who was stalking Michael at Babylon shows up at the apartment. I love that Emmett is eager for his friend to get laid so he makes sure the apartment is presentable.

Now, the good stuff. We see Brian on top of Justin and giving him a slow hand job. Although it looks like he’s putting ice on his cock or something the way that his hand looks when it’s moving.

“Watch TV. Play Tomb Raider.” Laughter ensues. Why isn’t there fic where Brian catches Justin playing Tomb Raider on his Game Boy Advance or interested in the Lara Croft movie? … is there? Then, Brian asks Justin if he’s a top or a bottom as if it really matters to him. Oh, and here’s Justin’s admission that he’s ambidextrous which immediately got erased after this episode! I guess it would be difficult to make a story about a guy’s hand not working if he could easily use the other hand. I’m just sayin’.

Here’s how eager Justin is to have Brian do anything to him that he will say yes to everything … even if he doesn’t know what it means.

Brian: Do you like to rim?
Justin: Yes, I love it.
Brian: Well, get to it.
Justin: (confused look) What exactly do you mean?

Love it. Then, Brian gives the most awesome hand job I’ve ever seen. He answers the phone, there’s his hand on Justin’s cock, Justin loving it and warning him that he’s going to blow. Brian’s so distracted by the phone call that Justin cums and then gets pissed about it! Like I said … it’s great. Not to mention this begins the camera shots that I like to call, “Justin Taylor’s Toe Curls of Orgasmic Goodness.”

What’s with the cum on the side of Justin’s face disappearing during this scene? One minute it’s there and the next it isn’t.

We leave that scene to Michael’s cute trick of the night. They’re getting hot, heavy, Michael reaches down for the butt and it’s so … firm. It’s called The Butt. While Michael’s on the phone we discover that you can also get The Bulge on a discount. I remember hearing “Parts Department” for the first time and laughing my ass off. Did you have the same reaction?

Back at Brian’s, he shoots question after question off at Justin, “You live with your parents? What year are you in? How old are you? What year were you born?” I think that this is the most that Brian EVER questioned Justin and it happens in this first episode. Justin makes sure to have an answer ready until he finally admits that he’s only seventeen.

I think that Brian tells the story about the gym teacher for a couple of reasons. The first reason is to let Justin know that kids do want to get laid so it’s okay that Justin’s where he is and he’s okay with what he’s doing. The second reason is to let him know that the first time isn’t all about rainbows, puppy dogs, and love. Sometimes, that first time is just what it is. It’s just the first time and he wants Justin to know that too.

They head off to pick up Michael and the first words out of his mouth are, “You brought HIM? Insta-resentment! And Justin’s in the front seat. The pout that Michael gives is kind of epic.

I love that shot of them just running down the hall together. They all seem excited to get there (even Justin) and the minute that they do, Brian freezes in the doorway. It really was love at first sight when it came to Gus, wasn’t it? Sorry I can’t say the same about Melanie and Brian’s relationship.

Melanie: Careful, don’t drop him.
Brian: That’s just what I was planning on doing.

The exchange in the hospital between Brian and Justin is affectionate and playful. He even asks Justin what he thinks about the name for the baby and Justin likes Gus. Gus it is! Brian mentions that Justin doesn’t suck on his tits unless he wants him too and we see Justin’s BIG ASS GRIN. Love that. Also sorry that I don’t have a cap in the picspam but you can find it here.

Brian and Michael make it on the roof, discuss life, liberty, and the pursuit of --- no, we discuss how Brian’s contemplating being a father. We also get a glimpse into the fact that he could be the biggest drama queen that’s ever existed with his weak attempt at a leap. Proud is the perfect song for this moment and I’m sure is memorable to all.

Love that exchange with the doctor and Brian in the hallway. Brian just looks hot there. He also looks hot when he’s angry and pulls Justin by the ear when we discover he wants to be a cartoonist or a computer animator.

Brian rolled into Lindsay’s room and while Melanie’s out, it’s learned that they actually did have sex a few times but none of those times resulted in this baby. We also learn that they consider themselves to be Wendy and Peter Pan. Go figure. Now, I don't know if I was too young for analysis or simply didn't care because I lost myself in the story but I believed all of Brian and Lindsay's cooing at each other in this hospital bed. I never thought that they'd actually make a couple. Lindsay seemed a little starry-eyed but Brian's affection for her certainly shines through in these moments. So far, the only three that he's shown affection for are Michael (after he comes out of the club and his arm's around his shoulder), Justin (pretty much the entire night and next day), and now Lindsay.

I’m only a little annoyed that there’s an aborted blow job for Justin while they’re in the back of Brian’s Jeep and by a “little” I mean a lot. Love Brian’s drugged out state while Justin is smiling, happy, and going with the flow. Justin does state a very determined, “I’m going with him.”

And go he did. The next time we see him is on his stomach while Brian’s tongue is trailing down his back. It’s literally hot and visually hot.

Michael gets horny, Emmett provides porn, Michael rolls his eyes. (That was the gist of that scene).

Now comes the main event in which Brian fucks Justin for the first time. Justin remains a public service announcement and talks about safe sex. Brian lets him put the condom on him and then they prepare. KY lube, seriously? I guess they wanted everyone watching to recognize that it’s lubricant but still KY. Justin’s first groan after he starts sounds really painful, doesn’t it? Good job, Randy.

Brian: “I want you to always remember this. So that no matter who you’re ever with … I’ll always be there.” Literally?

Let’s take notice of their positions in bed the next morning, shall we? Brian on the left and Justin on the right. Just note it. Loves that Justin leans in to cuddle and Brian wakes up to give him a “what the fuck” face. Brian, again, does not remember Justin’s name. Brian gets out of bed (gratuitous cock/balls shot) and answers the phone. He has a baby!

Brian’s jeep is damaged at Michael’s and the line of the morning belongs to Emmett when he looks at the Jeep and says, “Morning … oh my lord.”

Brian sees Justin in the shower and unable to resist, he goes in there to shower with him. For a one night stand, Brian shows him a lot of affection. He even washes him and they have a conversation about Brian and Lindsay. With one slap to the ass, that’s over, and they have their first fuck in the shower.

Justin: My mom says sometimes she wished she never had me. (I’m finding that hard to believe. Me thinks Justin said it for conversation.)

Michael brings the car to the loft and catches Brian pulling up Justin’s underwear (HOT). They leave and discover that Brian’s jeep has been vandalized.

Brian: (looking at Justin) You care?
Justin: Fuck no (hint of worry)
Brian: (look of satisfaction)

Again, Brian loves to be a little drama queen as he peels into Justin’s school and scares the kids. A kid tries to intimidate Justin and Brian replies …

“No, but I’ll kick your tight little virgin ass so hard you won’t sit for a week.” Well, we see his mouth say “fuck” while he says “kick”. One of those little additional dialogue recording loops that they go back and fix in post.

Justin begs to see Brian again when Brian tells him, "I’ll see you in your dreams." We see a friend of Justin’s give him his stuff and he tells her, "I just saw the face of God. His name is Brian Kinney."

Brian and Michael are in the car and Brian says, "Thank God he’s finally gone. He almost wore me out." So, someone, a kid, has almost worn out Brian Kinney? That's notable. Brian claims he doesn't want to get the word "faggot" off of the jeep and shouts the word to the sky!

The colors, the jokes, the chemistry between the two leads ... why WOULDN'T I have wanted to watch this show? I don't think that I stopped watching for the rest of the night and finished season one in about a month. I had to rent them from Blockbuster. You know, back in the day when there wasn't active downloading and sharing and such. Rented them from Blockbuster and I never looked back.

End of episode one.

That's it for me! Stay tuned for sakesushimaki's post later next week. Also, would you like some music from this episode? The wonderful friday82 has provided the music that's played in many scenes right here. Hope you enjoyed!

Caps courtesy of KWAF (thank you, thank you, thank you!)

Edit: I'm hosting the pictures on Photobucket so if they disappear then you know why. I'll try to have them back up ASAP if they disappear.

Comments

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

I think I was so blinded by Brian's ridiculous good looks that I couldn't pay attention to whether or not there were people who disliked him. Oh - Ted didn't seem to like him either! That left Ted and Melanie who we later establish are good friends. So, that was pretty fitting.