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kay_jay_dee (kay_jay_dee) wrote,
@ 2010-11-27 14:51:00

Current mood:	complacent
Entry tags:	qaf, qaf marathon

My QAF Marathon - 101-102
I think that this very well could have been the first time I've watched the pilot since I first watched this show. I have no idea how or why this happened, because watching these two episodes, I found myself falling head over hells in love with the characters all over again. Which, to tell the truth, isn't something that happened the first time around.

I watched the British version of QAF before the US version, and I wasn't exactly crazy over it. I mean, I enjoyed it, but I never really cared for any of the characters other than Vince (British Michael). I liked them - especially Stuart, who was British Brian - but I never found myself cheering or crying for them. Characters being one of the most important things for me when it comes to fiction, I just couldn't love the show, even though I adored the humour. But I figured, hey, why not give the US version a chance... and jeez, I'm glad I did.

I didn't like Brian the first time around. I didn't like Michael the first time around. Hell, I didn't even like Emmett the first time around. Most of it was me being way overly critical, I know that, but Brian didn't seem to have Stuart's charm, Michael was whiny and, after Vince, 'too American', and Emmett could not be considered campy after Alexander. I guess everything was just a bit of a shock to my system after British accents and British humour, and despite how different everything was, the storyline seemed exactly the same. It took me several episodes to really warm up to the show and the characters.

But when I rewatched the pilot the other day... I just couldn't believe that I had ever considered disliking QAF. From Michael, Emmett, and Ted singing in Babylon to Brian's predatory way of dragging that guy into the backroom to Justin stepping onto Liberty Avenue for the first time to Brian and Justin's faces when tehy first see each other to "Coming and staying" to Brian and Michael on the roof of the hospital to Brian and Lindsay talking after Gus's birth... I could go on and on highlighting everything in these two episodes, but I think you guys get the picture.

What I love about the pilot is that it's the beginning. Yes, I know, I'm stating the obvious, but now that I've watched 513, I know how much the characters change over five seasons and I'm so looking forward to watching that transformation all over again.

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	later2nite 2010-11-28 02:19 am UTC (link)
	I haven't seen the British version but I'm glad you watched the US version again and fell in love with it. I can't imagine anyone not being overwhelmed with Brian's and Justin's love for each other! (Reply to this) (Thread)

kay_jay_dee
2010-11-28 03:15 am UTC (link)

The British version is a lot of fun, but not something I ever became emotionally invested in. Of course, while I say that, there are some people who adore the British version and vehemently hate the US one! No accounting for taste, right?

Your comment also made me realise that it sounds like I didn't like the US version for all five seasons. Er - whoops. I really have to reread my stuff before I post it. What I meant was that I disliked the show during the pilot. I found it incredibly underwhelming. By the third episode, though, I was starting to get into it. I've edited my post to make this clearer :D

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later2nite
2010-11-28 03:23 am UTC (link)

I get what you mean now...By the end of the 1st episode I was the same way. At the end of the 2nd one, when Justin drives away crying, I almost hated Brian. And then by the 3rd episode, when Brian steals him back from the 2 tricks, I was hooked. By then I had Brian's m.o.--Talk like you're emotionally absent, but ACT like you have the biggest heart in the world and you always get what you want!

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kay_jay_dee
2010-11-28 03:38 am UTC (link)

The moment when Brian steals Justin from the tricks was what sold me, too. In fact, I think that that was the moment that got several people saying, "Well, now, this show has something going for it!" That never happens in the British version, you see, and that's why it made me sit up and pay attention; it was my first hint that this show, while its characters were essentially the same, would be different.

Also, this? Talk like you're emotionally absent, but ACT like you have the biggest heart in the world and you always get what you want! It's so Brian! He doesn't always pull off the acting like he has the biggest heart in the world, but there honestly is such a difference between what Brian says and what he does.

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	later2nite 2010-11-28 05:00 am UTC (link)
	No, I guess he doesn't always act that way at first, but he is famous for amending his shortcomings and coming through for people at the last minute. I think I just worded it badly. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

kay_jay_dee
2010-11-29 12:59 am UTC (link)

No, you worded it just fine. I think he knows that he should act like he has the biggest heart in the world, but he sometimes has a hard time coming through with that. However, as you said, he usually comes through at the last minute.

It's like Justin says somewhere in season 3 to... Michael, I think. I think it's in 309, maybe? Or it could be early season 3. (Yet another reason I'm glad I'm doing this marathon - I've forgotten all the important stuff that I used to know!) Anyway, I can't remember the exact words, but he says something like, "Brian showed me he loved me every single day." That side of Brian is just one that it sometimes takes people a while to see.

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	later2nite 2010-11-29 02:32 am UTC (link)
	That's exactly right...the way he couches his behavior in snide remarks and questionable doings, it takes people awhile to see the true person underneath. You were right, it was in 309 right after J and B get back together that J says to Michael,"Brian showed me he loved me every day." (Reply to this) (Parent)

	later2nite 2010-11-28 03:24 am UTC (link)
	BTW, I love that pink-tinged icon! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	kay_jay_dee 2010-11-28 03:38 am UTC (link)
	It's gorgeous, right? It was made by qafmaniac. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	later2nite 2010-11-28 05:02 am UTC (link)
	I need to get some from her. They are the best! (Reply to this) (Thread)

	kay_jay_dee 2010-11-29 12:59 am UTC (link)
	I think my icon says it all :D (Reply to this) (Parent)

opal11
2010-11-28 01:49 pm UTC (link)

i just tried recently to watch the UK version, and i really tried to like it, and i just couldnt, i guess because i had so much time vested in the us version. i am not saying that the us version is better, its just what i am use to.

from the moment that we hear the music at babylon and michael starts talking about "its all about sex" i was in love with QaF!! i was very curious about all of the characters. i didnt like or dislike any of them until really i had watch the episodes a couple of times. i still love the show.

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kay_jay_dee
2010-11-29 01:09 am UTC (link)

I'm pretty sure that if I had watched the US version first, I would have fallen in love with it from the very start because it's a great beginning, it really is. It's like you said, though - the UK version was just what I was used to. Also, the similarities between the characters and storyline made me a little wary because, as I said, I wasn't crazy over the UK version.

I'm so glad I rewatched these two episodes, though. It almost was like watching them for the first time because it had been a while and this time I actually enjoyed it without feeling like, "This is so different from the original... but way too similar, too" and being overly critical.

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masnds2
2011-01-21 06:44 am UTC (link)

So you inspired me to start from the beginning...I think I first found QAF on YouTube....I certainly was not around for any "real time" airings. I watched a bunch of Brian Justin clips and somehow realized that I was missing some critical pieces to the puzzle so Netflix became my friend. I realized as I watched 101 & 102 that the "guts" of the story is still what speaks to me....yes, it primarily revolves around my love of Brian and Justin and the ups and downs of their story. However, as I watched these 2 episodes with the knowledge of what was coming I now know that watching Emmett's journey was particularly lovely for me and I can't wait to see all of that again.

However, a re-watch did confirm for me how glad I was that the "voiceover" action from Michael went away and that my perception of that character is strongly influenced by the actor portraying him...I will try to compartmentalize that as I watch. This little project has inspired a re-visit to season 1 fic...which in its own way is a lovely little place to visit.

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kay_jay_dee
2011-02-02 07:39 pm UTC (link)

Oh my gosh, honey, I totally fail at replying to comments - I'm so sorry!

I love hearing about all the different ways that people found QAF - I think the UK version was recommended to me by my sister. I'm still trying to get her to watch the US version with me.

Emmett's journey is such a special one to me. Like all the others, I didn't know how I felt about him at first, but he was probably the character that I fell in love with first. I remember when, too - it was the moment he had his "I prefer to let my flame burn bright" speech. Hold on, I want to find the whole thing...

Here!
I could be a... a r-real man, if I wanted to. You know, just lower my voice, stop... gesturing with my hands, make sure my face is expressionless... never, never use words like "fabulous" or "divine"... talk about, I don't know, nailing bitches and R.B.I.'s. But I'd rather my flame burn bright than be some puny little pilot light.

That was the moment I started loving Emmett.

I actually like Michael (more about that in the next post). I mean, he has his flaws and sometimes he whines... but I have my flaws and I whine more than sometimes. I've never, ever understood Michael hate.

I'm trying to get the next post of these marathons up either today or tomorrow; real life has just been chaotic lately, though, but I'm gonna try!

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masnds2
2011-02-03 07:11 am UTC (link)

No worries on replies........life happens, believe me - I get it.

Michael does grow on me (sort of, at least in the first couple of seasons!) - I just never really dug the voice-over stuff. Probably more a stylistic thing than a Michael thing....and Emmett *sighs* I love him and I love you for quoting that bit.....so awesome. I was in a conversation today with someone about explaining "gay/lesbian" to your kid. My daughter is a big Adam Lambert fan and asked if he was married. I refreshed her memory on boys liking boys, girls liking girls and I love that her biggest worry is whether he could have kids and that she assumed he could, of course why not, get married. The idea of 2 men or 2 women together doesn't phase her a bit but it was enlightening to have the conversation with this friend because she was just horrified that I was so "easy-going" about explaining it to her when she is 8. Anyway, there are bits of QAF that I wish I could quote to peeps to open their minds just a bit.....sorry - long, rambling response that veered way off course!

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