![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tarotgalEvery time I watch this series I always get pulled in by Ethan. Why is that? I'm sort of pulled in by David at the beginning... but I squeeeed louder than ever when Ben walked into Mikey's comic shop. But Ethan...
I mean why won't Brian buy those roses? Why doesn't Justin just stay home instead of going to Vermont? Why won't Brian just eat the lovely picnic Justin put together for him? Why must they play these games with each other's emotions... and why does Ethan look SO attractive and romantic in comparison? I mean, I KNOW what happens. I've watched it happen ten times. Yet I always feel drawn to him as I watch the series over in order.
Does anyone watch it out of order? I mean, just one day watching a single episode? I can't do that. I have to watch clumps at the worse, but usually I watch it from the beginning or the recent season from the beginning. I can't imagine just watching a single episode.
I've been toying with the idea of putting together a list of my favorite moments in the series. There are so many tiny little things- expressions, lines, scenes that just YELL to me and no matter what I'm doing I have to stop and watch that part. And, sometimes, rewind and watch it over again.
Gods Ethan is SO the type of guy I want. I love geeks, I do. But I need an artist. Both would be preferable :-) I find myself yelling "Justin! Don't fall in love with Ethan! He'll just break your heart!" His heart's being broken anyway by Brian. And it teaches him things he needs to realize. But even though I'm telling him just to walk away... I still can't resist him... so yummy and romantic and sweet. Don't get me wrong, I'd never want Justin to end up with him over Brian. But why am I so very drawn to him? DAMN! Why couldn't Brian just buy those roses? They were in his hands... and he cares so very much for Justin- I mean, that reaction when he made partner is so perfect. Grrr! Okay, so it taught HIM a lesson in the end, too. But I don't like watching their hearts get broken.
Oh, and I adored that part in the middle of season 2 when Justin needed money for school and Brian gave him that "A real man knows when to accept help" speech. And then in the beginning of season 4 he's soooo reluctant to accept similar financial help. LOL
I mean why won't Brian buy those roses? Why doesn't Justin just stay home instead of going to Vermont? Why won't Brian just eat the lovely picnic Justin put together for him? Why must they play these games with each other's emotions... and why does Ethan look SO attractive and romantic in comparison? I mean, I KNOW what happens. I've watched it happen ten times. Yet I always feel drawn to him as I watch the series over in order.
Does anyone watch it out of order? I mean, just one day watching a single episode? I can't do that. I have to watch clumps at the worse, but usually I watch it from the beginning or the recent season from the beginning. I can't imagine just watching a single episode.
I've been toying with the idea of putting together a list of my favorite moments in the series. There are so many tiny little things- expressions, lines, scenes that just YELL to me and no matter what I'm doing I have to stop and watch that part. And, sometimes, rewind and watch it over again.
Gods Ethan is SO the type of guy I want. I love geeks, I do. But I need an artist. Both would be preferable :-) I find myself yelling "Justin! Don't fall in love with Ethan! He'll just break your heart!" His heart's being broken anyway by Brian. And it teaches him things he needs to realize. But even though I'm telling him just to walk away... I still can't resist him... so yummy and romantic and sweet. Don't get me wrong, I'd never want Justin to end up with him over Brian. But why am I so very drawn to him? DAMN! Why couldn't Brian just buy those roses? They were in his hands... and he cares so very much for Justin- I mean, that reaction when he made partner is so perfect. Grrr! Okay, so it taught HIM a lesson in the end, too. But I don't like watching their hearts get broken.
Oh, and I adored that part in the middle of season 2 when Justin needed money for school and Brian gave him that "A real man knows when to accept help" speech. And then in the beginning of season 4 he's soooo reluctant to accept similar financial help. LOL
no subject
Date: 2004-11-13 10:09 am (UTC)Brian, on the other hand, is pure alpha male. He's obviously at the top of the pecking order, both in terms of salary and in his choice of sexual partners. *Everyone* wants Brian, and he's apparently *had* everyone already, among the few men he "wants" in a long-term, caring way (I'm not counting the glory hole sex stuff at the club, which is entirely anonymous, though B. always seems to be receiving action, not giving it). Justin's relationship with Brian is complicated by two major factors, as I see it: Brian was Justin's "first" after J. came out. Brian represents the sort of bad boy whom everyone wants to think they can reform -- that is, I think Justin sees himself as being the magical man to get Brian to change his ways, commit to a relationship, be nice... Those two factors create a volatile mix which is going to be almost impossible for Justin (and to some degree, Brian) to leave behind for more than a season.
And, heck, isn't that why so many people keep watching the show, the cat-and-mouse pursuits? The "will he, won't he?" question per Brian. I haven't seen Season Four, and won't until it comes out on DVD, but I expect that there will be more of that dynamic going on this season (Season 4, I mean).
What I want is a list of all of the sayings/slogans which have been on Debbie's shirts. I can only recall a few, and those are probably incorrect, like, "I need a man. Bad. Are you bad?"
no subject
Date: 2004-11-13 02:44 pm (UTC)I'm not really sure Justin was controlling it... though you're probably right and he was. Ethan kept asking him to stay over, and finally Justin did. But Justin also found himself not going out to dance like usual, having to give up his friends, and going to boring functions with Ethan. In the end, I think there was an equality where control in their relationship was concerned. Which was still DEFINITELY more than Justin got with Brian, at least on the surface. He could manipulate Brian just fine... he just couldn't actually come straight out and tell Brian what to do.
But You're right- definitely Ethan's persona. And the fact that he's got JUST what Justin wants at that point in time- the romance and the sharing.
though, of course, at the end, it's Ethan who has to hide his sexual identity in order to have the music career/stardom he's always wanted. *That* is offensive to Justin
This is true but that's not the reason Justin broke up with Ethan. Justin was willing to go along with hiding for him. And he was even willing to drive to Ethan's concert just to see him and stay out of sight so as not to ruin things for Ethan. However, Ethan cheated on him. With Brian, there was a firm understanding when it came to taking lovers. But Ethan made it clear in their second/third meeting that he just wanted one guy. So to pour all his everything into Justin and then go and cheat on him at his first out-of-town opportunity is very poor and hurt in a way Brian could have never hurt Justin. It was a horrible violation of trust and I, too, would have found it impossible to believe him the next time he said he loved me and only wanted me. I mean, it's different if there's a long history to fall back on and all but that was pretty much the first time they'd been apart and first time Ethan had been tempted, and he goes and has sex with an admiring fan. I'm glad Justin didn't put up with that.
Brian, on the other hand, is pure alpha male. He's obviously at the top of the pecking order, both in terms of salary and in his choice of sexual partners. *Everyone* wants Brian, and he's apparently *had* everyone already, among the few men he "wants" in a long-term, caring way (I'm not counting the glory hole sex stuff at the club, which is entirely anonymous, though B. always seems to be receiving action, not giving it).
I think that's what makes the few instances where Justin [gently] forces Brian to take it instead of give it more powerful.
But, yes, that's all very true about him.
Justin's relationship with Brian is complicated by two major factors, as I see it: Brian was Justin's "first" after J. came out. Brian represents the sort of bad boy whom everyone wants to think they can reform -- that is, I think Justin sees himself as being the magical man to get Brian to change his ways, commit to a relationship, be nice...
Yes, and yes *nods* But the dynamic changes a lot at the end of season 1 when Brian actually shows up to prom just for Justin (there is NO way he would have done that for anyone else) and, of course, the bashing and then Brian taking Justin in and taking care of him. Justin still suffers from that "I can change him" syndrome... but Brian HAS changed a little bit. Shown that he cares about Justin. "And when I come home I'm doing exactly what I want to do: coming home to you" and about why Justin's staying there after he was bashed "That's why you're here. But that's not why I want you to stay." And they KNOW they care about each other... even if they can't communicate it.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-13 02:47 pm (UTC)Maybe... I just wish he WOULD have bought those roses. The whole series would have been completely different if he'd just done one small, romantic gesture right then. Okay, so you could argue he didn't NEED to, that he'd already proved how much he loved and cared for Justin. And in the end, Justin goes back to him because he realizes that.
And though I like them best when they're together... I'm not sure I would like those times as much if it wasn't for the complexities and tensions in their relationship as well.
I haven't seen Season Four, and won't until it comes out on DVD, but I expect that there will be more of that dynamic going on this season (Season 4, I mean).
Hrmmm... well, in a way, yes. But not at all like in the previous seasons. And perhaps it's because I know how good things go in season 4 that I feel that it's so strange that I actually want Justin to go and be happy with Ethan. He just pulls me in, in the beginning. Even knowing how good it gets for Brian & Justin later, I still root for Ethan for a while. It's so strange to me...
What I want is a list of all of the sayings/slogans which have been on Debbie's shirts. I can only recall a few, and those are probably incorrect, like, "I need a man. Bad. Are you bad?"
I know I saw one of those out there somewhere! I'll have a look through my bookmarks tonight and see if I can find it. I like her Hello Satan Hellokitty shirt the best. And I noticed she was wearing an "It's all about me" shirt when she found poor dumpster boy's body a few episodes ago for me.
no subject
Date: 2004-11-19 04:10 pm (UTC)~A