Another great episode. I'm wishing I knew something about the definition of colors because there was a lot of use of color in this episode. I'm going to do my best to explain what I see with it and hope that I got what was intended. As you watch the episode, pay attention to the colors that you're seeing in each scene. There's yellow, red, blue, green, black and white. (A few browns as well)
What does that matter? Aren't those the colors used every week? Actually no. These are primary colors. These are hard, bright, colors. These are the colors of the rainbow flag. These are the colors used in a comic book. Strange, isn't it?
Really though, I think this was done on purpose. Remember the movie that Warren Beatty did, Dick Tracy? The entire movie's use of color was to resemble the original Dick Tracy comic strip. I saw that in this episode. Please tell me that you saw it too. I know that I'm not crazy. Melanie's shirt. Gus' toys. Emmett's book.
It's throughout the entire episode, but it's most prevalent in the aerial shot of the ending celebration scene. Red. There's red everywhere in that scene. Red is important. The sea of red is accented by a blue light in the store window and a blue car. The other splashes of color in the shot are dots of yellow. All primary. A perfect picture for a single frame in a comic book. Simply amazing. What a cool thing to do.
But color isn't the only creative thing used. There is the Wizard of Oz reference. These are friends of Dorothy after all.
And we can't forget or ignore the Rage comic book. It's shoved in our face. We have to use it, to see the story being told.
On my own, I threw in the Spiderman quotes. It just seemed to fit for me. Peter Parker was an ordinary man that got bit by something and then became something quite extraordinary. As we watched Brian over this season, this change that happened was slow and gradual and not the overnight phenomenon that Peter went through after the spider bite. Justin bit into Brian's walls with his conscious and his own words and mantras, and thawed his heart. Brian couldn't help the poison from changing him. But instead of gaining physical strengths from his bite, he acquired strengths of the heart. The ability to feel his emotions, that maybe love does exist and he is worthy of it. The ability to care about his surroundings, that it's good to be a part of a community, life is bigger than just yourself. The ability to believe in something, that maybe sometimes good does prevail over evil, that wrongs can be righted. The ability to make changes, that maybe one person can make a difference, it just takes some sacrifice. I couldn't help but use some of Peter Parker's quotes from the movie to establish Brian's thoughts throughout the episode.
Liberty Avenue / Cops and Copulating
Spiderman Quote: Did you know that some spiders can change their color to blend in with their environment?
Episode opens with a rainbow flag blowing in the wind...a flag that represents Pride. However, the flag is tattered and torn representing the abuse that Liberty Avenue has been receiving. It may be in full color but it's showing signs of the battle that has been raging in the community that it's suppose to represent.
The camera pans down and I could just swear that it's Patrick Antosh that we see walking down the street. (I don't have time to pull out the DVD's to check, I'll let someone else do that.)
A couple who is holding hands walks by and checks him out. "He thinks he's so hot." Okay, that was funny. The couple kiss and then see the cops coming. As we head into slow motion the song that's playing tells us about the mood...it's a new day; it's a new life...the couple is looking at the cops in fear, they pull their hands apart and the cops walk in between them. It's the presence of the cops on the street, in the bars, and in the clubs that is causing everyone to separate; it's only fitting that the cops walk right between this now broken couple. As the depression of this mood sets in, we fade to black and white. The bright colors of the tattered and torn rainbow flag are no longer there. Liberty Avenue is in mourning. Color analogy #1.
Enter Dr. Evil and the Secret Avenger. (For those of you not paying attention - that's Brian and Justin - Hehehe) Brian says, "This used to be such a magical place, full of sprites and fairies," and Justin retorts with "Now it's like watching the Wizard of Oz...in reverse." Very cool line and it got me thinking. How very true. In The Wizard of Oz, we start in black and white and as Dorothy travels over the rainbow and into the magical kingdom of Oz, we move into color. This is in reverse. We had the color, we were already over the rainbow, and, according to Brian, we already lived in a magical kingdom. Now with Stockwell's "family friendly" campaign attacking Liberty Avenue, it's like everyone is now forced to live the black and white life on Auntie Em's farm in Kansas.
So...back to the story.
Unlike the first couple that we saw that were in fear of showing their relationship in front of the cops, Brian and Justin are not; they're courageous. Brian grabs Justin and lays one on him right in front of them. Brian has had enough of this repression and just won't stand for it. He's daring them to watch. This is who I want to be with. What are you going to do about it? (And no, I didn't miss the hand in the hair. I think we know now why Justin never brushes his hair. Why bother? Brian would just mess it up anyway. LOL)
Debbie and Vic appear and Debbie asks what they're doing. Brian responds, "What does it look like? We're copulating," and accentuates this by playfully "humping" Justin from behind. I'm cracking up, but Debbie quickly scolds us all by telling us that "this is no laughing matter". Oops, my bad. <hiding my head in shame> They're handing out flyers and no one seems interested. They have other things on their mind and we know from Brian's previous thoughts what those other things are. Copulating. What is it going to take to get everyone involved in what's going on around them. Flyers? No. "It's going to take more than that." Yes, Brian, it is. Any thoughts?
Brian's Loft / Commercials and Contemplation
Spiderman Quote: Whatever it is, somebody has to stop it... The story of my life is not for the faint of heart. If somebody said it was a happy little tale... if somebody told you I was just your average ordinary guy, not a care in the world... somebody lied.
Next we see our heroes in the loft. It appears that they've given up. Justin is putting his anger at what's going on into his drawing and Brian has resorted to spending his free time shopping. Very courageous? Well, maybe. Justin says that not many people who just got fired, would go out and spend $5,000 on a new liquid television. He's right. (Not too many of the unemployed would pack a bag and go to Toronto to play either, but hey, that's me. HeHe) But this is another bit of Brian's pain management and I can deal with this one better than his usual brand. All I can say is, at least he's not out buying shoes. Electronic gadgets are more my speed as well. Yes, I can deal with this one.
It has now been 2 full episodes without tricks. Yippee!! (Mark this change in Brian as Change #1, there are many and you have to keep up.) And let me make a note about a couple-y thing on the couple. Couple-y thing #1: Justin is at the loft to do something besides have sex. We haven't seen that yet since the reunion so this is good. Just them spending time together for no particular reason other than just wanting to be in the same room with each other. And they're talking!!
Back to the new 99" $5000 liquid TV...what's the first thing to appear? A Stockwell commercial. One of Brian's fabulous Stockwell commercials. Brian looks disheartened. Can't I catch a break? When is this going to end? "What a coincidence," Justin says. I think it's more like poetic justice. Brian says that it's not a coincidence, that they're running spots on every station and he should know because he bought the airtime himself. Now he's disgusted. He did this. This is all his fault. But Justin doesn't let it drop. It's come back to haunt him like a high-definition ghost. The more his blonde haired conscience speaks to him, the more sick he's feeling. So Justin decides to cheer him up (Not!) and shares his pain management with Brian. His new drawing. His new story. This is where he vents his anger. In black and white, on paper. Art imitating
life again.
Justin: It's a new villain I'm working on for Rage. It's a razorback....you know, a swine.... (Hmmm, a pig, a cop?)
Brian: yes...I noticed that.
J: But, thanks to a ruthless advertising executive (Brian? Me? Thanks a lot. His face twinges - guilt? disgust? The truth hurts. Please, Justin, stop talking, I can't take all this honesty), he can appear in close to human form (Because of a suit. A mask? The upstanding family man mask that Brian gave him so no one would know he was a swine) and he's running for mayor of Gayopolis.
B: I marvel (a shout out to Marvel Comics - LOL) at how you come up with these ideas. (How juvenile, how pathetic, young one. Go back to your comic, I have real life problems here. But Justin knows what Brian is thinking, and he isn't going to stop.)
J: Mm-hmm, he's mesmerized almost everyone in to voting for him, (that's what advertising does, it mesmerizes us into buying the product) but what they don't know is (because truth in advertising is always one-sided)...he's going to send them to the slaughterhouse! (the visual of human beings on meathooks is pretty graphic, but it got the message across, that is for sure. This is suppose to be an "unapologetic", "in your face" comic, right?)
B: Holy Porkchop! (Now I'm cracking up again. This isn't Batman and Robin, but they popped into my brain anyway. Brian again pleading with his eyes...Justin, please, stop talking, this is painful enough. But noooo, Justin just keeps going, his story is not finished yet.)
J: So Rage has to use his power (the truth) of mind control (advertising) to expose Razorback's villainy (the murder cover-up) to bring everyone to their senses (get them involved), before it's too late (before the election is over and the votes are counted).
(Maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake, but it just really hit home why Rage's super power was mind control. It's the advertising thing. Duh! I am such a moron. LOL)
B: Mmm, some story. (He's smiling, but he's still pleading...Justin, please stop talking!)
J: Mm-hm. (Justin is smirking. Do you get it yet? No? Then I won't shut up.) If only there was a real Rage...(Brian tilts his head, yes, if only) to change everyone's mind...(Brian arches his eyebrow and glances back at Justin - yes, if only.) (Is Justin showing signs of defeat? Is he giving up?)
Justin finally stops talking and just lets those words hang there. What will Brian do with them? Justin's job as his verbal conscious is done. There's nothing more he can do. It's up to Brian, now. Let him think about it. Brian returns to the commercial on TV as Stockwell says his mantra, "if you say it, mean it". Yes, that's Brian's mantra too, but Stockwell is lying. Brian never does and he is again, looking disgusted at what he has created. Brian is contemplating what to do. Justin's words, his conscious, are echoing through his mind. "If only there was a real Rage." But wait a minute, I am Rage. "Rage had to use his power of mind control to expose Razorback's villainy." I have mind control powers, I am an advertising genius. Hmmmm. Those wheels just keep turning. A hero's work is never done.
Deekin's Office / Clean Campaigns and the Cowardly Councilman
Spiderman Quote: You feel excited, and at the same time, terrified.
This is short but still significant. Brian wants to do the right thing. Give the good guy the goods. He wants to share the truth. Something he has "a deep and abiding regard for". Change #2: He adds to that statement, "especially where politicians are concerned". Really? Brian didn't used to feel that way. Remember his conversation with Deb and Vic on the street corner earlier in the season? He said the truth didn't matter, they were all liars and he just couldn't care about what they said because they wouldn't do anything anyway. So Deekins is a coward. The cowardly lion, perhaps? And we get a part of the old Brian back just for a moment. That stinging mouth of his as he speaks to Deekins:
Brian: Stockwell may be a dick, but at least he's not a pussy. Ouch! I am so glad that he didn't change everything. Isn't this the part that makes Brian so attractive? His attitude, his honesty, and of course, his quick wit of zingy one-liners. LOL
Woody's / Circulating Circumstantial Clues
Spiderman Quote: We're not alike, you're a murderer.
Deb is again telling the denizens to vote and passing out flyers. Just like on the street in the first scene, no one cares, and they aren't paying attention to her. She turns to her "family" for support and what is Justin doing? He's making paper planes out of the flyers. He's given up. Is he just too cute or what? He says that he's just being realistic and Vic seconds that. Oh no!! The community is sinking deeper into mourning.
Enter Brian, the savior, the believer. When did this happen again? Couple-y thing #2...the very first thing Brian does when he enters is tap Justin's hand to announce his arrival. Now why is this such a big deal? Because we find out that he has other important things on his mind. He's there on a mission. But before he can focus on his mission he must acknowledge Justin first. It's small, but aren't the small things, the things that are really so huge? The important thing on his mind and his mission come second to Justin. Plus, he wants to make sure that Justin doesn't miss what he's about to show everyone. He wants to make Justin proud of what he's done. He wants Justin's approval of his actions. He knows Justin has given up and he wants to give him back his hope. Yep, that small thing is huge. As we watch the work of the Concerned Citizens for the Truth unfold on the TV, we get to see the gradual change of all the people in the bar. It's like watching Rage's mind control power at work. It's mesmerizing. It's an ad, and it's advertising done by a genius.
Sinister music and a menacing voice that is speaking to what is being shown on the screen.
On April 11, 2002, Jason Kemp, age 19, was murdered. Body found in a dumpster
On May 14, 2002, less than a month after Jason Kemp's murder, Police Chief Stockwell suspends the investigation, citing lack of evidence.
Five days later....May 19, 2002, Police Sgt. Kenneth Rikert resigns from the force.
One year later, DNA links Kenneth Rikert to Jason Kemp on the night he was murdered.
The next day, Rikert commits suicide.
Before you elect Stockwell for Mayor, aren't there some questions you'd like answered?
Paid for by the Concerned Citizens for the Truth
Yowzaa!!! Shock. Enlightenment. Intrigue. Questions, questions, questions. The denizens are paying attention now. Brian surveys the response in silence. Remember 201, when he glued the Judge's butt to the toilet seat? He let everyone marvel at the accomplishment, but he remained silent and just surveyed the response for approval. Justin regains his hope. Deb is ecstatic.
Babylon / Compassionate Comrades
Spiderman Quote: I wanted you to know, that I will always be there for you; I will always be there to take care of you. I promise you that. I will always be your friend.
Brian and Justin are in the bathroom. (Couple-y thing #3) Together. Gee, I thought only women did that. LOL. Are they completely inseparable now? I'm loving this. They're talking, again! I can hardly stand it.
Justin: Concerned Citizens for the Truth. Who the fuck are they?
Brian: A bunch of lunatics...
J: With money! That commercial must have cost a fortune!
B: $5,000. Everytime they run it and they'll be running it every hour until the election.
(Now how did Brian know this? Of course, he would know how much each commercial costs, that's what he does for a living. But he knew that it would be running every hour until the election. Hmmmm. Come on Justin. Think!!)
Next we see Emmett leaning against the bar watching Teddy with the not-so-good doctor. Brian and Justin join him. Brian immediately sees an opportunity for his sarcastic tongue and calls Emmett the widow Schmidt. Okay, it was funny, but I'm feeling for Emmett right now, so come on. But noooo, he continues and points to Emmett's bright red shirt. "Fire Engine red, must be the new black."
OMG!! I can't help but laugh again. I'm sorry Emmett, I just can't help it. A comment with so much back story to it. Emmett's a widow to the dying drug addicted Ted and should be wearing black, but no he's in red. Justin came up with orange is the new blue in 308. See, Brian soaks in everything that Justin says. I snicker, Justin snickers. There's more to this comment as well, but I'm going to save that for later, it will make more sense then. But just remember this as Color Analogy #2.
Brian asks Emmett to dance and I think that Emmett is just as surprised as we are. No, they have never done this before. "What a shame. We make such a lovely couple...we're both tall!" True. But it still doesn't seem right to me. Let's just not go there. Okay? "So why now?"
Brian: Thought you'd enjoy being the center of attention.
Emmett: How do you figure that?
B: You're with me.
Very true. But it's not being the center of attention inside Babylon. Brian is telling Emmett, that for right now, he is the center of his attention. Nothing else matters. Just you, because you're my friend. He tells him Ted is dead. Of course, he isn't, but he wants Emmett to understand. He needs to be heartless right now. Use tough love. Going to Ted and being sympathetic to him is not going to make a difference. He's telling him to do what Emmett told Ted to do about Blake in Season 1...let him go. Don't go down with him. Find out what he loves more. You or crystal.
Brian says "keep dancing". Keep being you. Don't stop being who you are. Brian takes Emmett's hand (this is what matters, love and friendship) and places it on his own heart (I'll be here for you, you have been given my strength). Emmett makes the decision to be true to himself and with all of Brian's strength that he has been given, he finds the courage to let Ted go. He dances.
WOW!! Brian change #3. We always knew he was a loyal friend, but he always did it behind the scenes where he couldn't receive any credit. This is out in the open and in your face. And when Emmett started to walk away he didn't give up. He kept going, he kept talking, and he wouldn't stop until the message was heard. Where did he learn that trick? Like we don't know.
Brian's Loft / Compromising for the Cause
Spiderman Quote: The truth is you don't know what you feel, except you know what kind of man you want to be. It's as if you've reached the unreachable, and you weren't ready for it.
We're back at the loft and find all of Brian's earthly possessions being carted out. What the hell? So we, and Justin, find out that Brian needs $100,000 quick. Now what would someone in debt this much usually do to deal with such a predicament? Slip into pain management mode, right? Well, look at Brian. There are no tricks there. He can't shop, obviously. He's not on drugs. So he grabs a cigarette. His last vice. He takes one drag and then puts it out. Even that vice is not pleasurable anymore.
Justin wants to help. He's touching his back, holding his arm. Trying to soothe the pain with a supportive touch. Brian is perplexed. He's slipping into panic attack mode.
Drama Queen moment coming...he's pacing.
Why? Because he IS the Concerned Citizen for the Truth.
He's pacing. Hand on the hip, other hand on the back of the neck.
Justin is shocked. Brian is panicked. Brian is not only selling off all his belongings but he has (gasp!) maxed out five gold cards.
He's pacing. Hand on the face. OMG, what have I done?
Drama Queen moment coming...Justin says "I guess concerned citizens really are lunatics". I tell you, he says it with such pride.
Brian's pacing. He's panicked. He can feel it coming. It's a Drama Queen moment and he goes to grab Justin because he's going to need support for this. (Has he ever had one of these? I don't think so.)
It's coming...get ready...and NOW!!
Brian: I think I'm experiencing possession withdrawal...I need to lie down.
(Poor baby!! I'm feeling his pain.)
Justin: Good thing you didn't sell your bed. (You know, I said the same thing in a post last week, as long as he has his bed and Justin, he will be fine. I must be looking through Justin's eyes all of a sudden. LOL)
B: I'd rather sell a kidney. (Of course, we understand that. We can't expect you to give THAT up. No Way!!)
From the time he walked out of the living room until he reaches the bedroom, he has hold of Justin's hand. He can't let go. Brian plops down on the bed, face down, hugging a pillow. This is just too sweet for words. Don't you just want to hug him and tell him everything will be alright? I guess Justin does. He lays down next to him, and again, offers the comforting and supportive touch by placing his hand on his thigh then drags it to settle on his hip. Justin is still in shock at this new Brian.
Brian change #4 (the sacrifice of possessions) and #5 (sharing his feelings, letting them flow, letting Justin see his Drama Queen moment).
Justin: I can't believe you did this. It's so...
Brian: ....noble? ("There's nothing noble about being poor." Who said that? This is taking such guts.)
J: Out of character. (That's what I'm thinking. Wow, is the only word I can think of) What made you do it? Brian turns over, faces Justin and says very lovingly "some asshole told me that if you believe in something strongly enough you have to be willing to sacrifice anything. And who do we have to thank for that? Brian's little piece of blonde boy ass, perhaps? Of course. Justin looks at Brian with such pride on his face.
Remember last week in the bar when Justin delivered that line to Brian and he just looked at him with that "this is why I love you" look? Well, this was the same thing. Justin's look said it all. "God, I love this man!" He looked deep in those eyes, with just a soft kiss, but without saying a word, he told Brian, "this is why I love you".
Liberty Diner / Confessing to Chivalry
Spiderman Quote: Not everyone is meant to make a difference. But for me, the choice to lead an ordinary life is no longer an option.
Brian enters with Mikey. It's nice to see that he still has his friends. LOL. I guess Justin still works at the diner. We haven't seen that in awhile. Justin gets an old TV working (I'm thinking about the time that Brian was changing the light bulb during the etiquette classes for Mikey's first date with Dr. Dave in Season 1 - don't ask me why, but it popped in there. I guess I like a man who can fix things. LOL). Okay, so the TV is working now and we see a reporter talking about the election. Today is the day. Last chance to vote. It's also the last chance for Stockwell's rebuttal to the accusations of covering-up the murder of Jason Kemp. He calls it a last ditch effort to smear his campaign and he's confidant the voters will see through it. Well, he still hasn't learned anything about the gay community. They rally around each other and Jason was "family". Tsk. Tsk. Get a clue. Brian watches in amazement. How could he have ever really liked this guy. Honesty? Hah!
Mikey and Brian aren't allowed any lemon bars until they go vote, so off they go. Mikey is shocked. He can't believe that Brian is $100,000 in debt and sold all his possessions. He would have a panic attack. Well, so would Brian, and he did! But that's just our little secret, well, and Justin's. Hehe.
Brian says the corvette is next to go.
"No." Mikey says. "It's the car of your dreams. How could you do it?"
Brian shrugs and says "it's just a car". What? Who is this person? Risk everything? "Sometimes a gay man's got to do what a gay man's got to do. What's the worse that could happen? End up with a pack of gum? Want a stick? Last one."
Is there no end to his sacrifices? Now he's given away his last stick of gum. I just can't take anymore. I feel like having a panic attack myself. They go get in line to vote. To vote? Brian doesn't vote. He told Deb earlier in the season that he didn't vote. Brian change #6. We get to also see that Brian still has his sense of humor. His banter with that guy in line is just priceless. "There's an election, don't you know?" Well, duh. If anyone knows about the election, it's Brian. I want to smack that guy and scream..."don't YOU know? This is the guy that got you to vote, dammit!!".
Woody's / Communicating the Consummation
Spiderman Quote: This is my gift, my curse.
Everyone is gathered at Woody's for the results of the election and at first it's still too close to call. Deb is nervous and needs more nails to bite on. Brian offers his. Again, is there just no end to his sacrifices? What more can this guy give of himself? Thank goodness Deb notices and says he has "selfless generosity". You bet he does. My, my.
They're gabbing on about the race and bringing up remembrances of other tight races. Lindsay makes a remark about her Homecoming race that she eventually won. Brian is beside himself and rubs his head. He seems insulted at their frivolous banter. Are these people for real? I just gave up all my worldly possessions for this election and it's being compared to a Homecoming Queen race! Do they not get the importance as Brian does?
What a difference a season makes! Vic talks about surviving the election of 4 Republican Presidents in all his years and how they will survive many more. Justin puts it all in prospective with..."indomitable queers". You got that right. Brian turns to look at Justin and smiles. I think this time, he actually can believe in Justin's idealism.
The results are in!! With 84% of the precincts in...Deekins is declared the winner! It's a miracle. Excitement abound. Brian drops his head to the bar in relief. A weight has been lifted. Deb and Justin hug. Emmett and Lindsay hug. Justin immediately goes to Brian and they kiss. Brian grabs him and squeezes for dear life. It's the kind of hug that shows rejoice and happiness. As they're hugging, they're rocking back and forth. WhooHoo!! Couple-y thing #4. What a moment. It wasn't for nothing. Justin made a difference in Brian and Brian made a difference for the whole community.
The reporter breaks in again and states that it was the 8th District that pushed Deekins over the top. (Liberty Avenue being the 8th district.) Everyone wants to celebrate. Let's dance. "In the streets", Deb screams. Hell yeah, in the streets. The streets are theirs again.
So now that we're back outside on Liberty Avenue, we go to black and white again. It's Kansas. A young patron raises a rainbow flag and places it in the flag pole. As he does this, this new flag is in color. It's the only thing in color. As it flies in the wind without any tears or rips, the rest of the scene starts to slowly change to color. Go back to Brian's reference of Red being the new Black. As things change to color from the black and white, it's the red things that change first. Red really is the new black. Thanks Brian. LOL. Liberty Avenue is no longer in mourning.
Also, we must notice that the couple from the first scene of the show, that was scared to show their affection in front of the cops, are kissing wildly and passionately right in the middle of the street. Doesn't that sum up the reason for the celebration?
Woody's / The Conquering Couple of the Community
Spiderman Quote: You know who I am. Whatever it is, it's something I never felt before.
To join in the festivities Brian and Justin exit Woody's and stop on the steps. They survey the celebration.
Justin: Thanks to Rage, the streets of Gayoplis are safe once again for perverts. (Justin is smiling, Brian is staring at Justin with a raised eyebrow and wide eyes. Justin is questioning...) What are you doing?
Brian: I'm using my powers of mind control
J: (as if he is in a trance) Drop your pants...bend over...(Brian just keeps staring at him and then grins as Justin comes out of his "trance") Surely you can, uh, use your amazing super powers for something more constructive than that! (Well, Justin knows that he most certainly can think of more constructive ways to use his mind control powers, and he has!)
B: Try as I might, I can't come up with anything else. (But just to make sure he hasn't lost ALL of his old self, this is all he wants right now. Sex with Justin is the best, right? Why would he want anything else.) He knows what's important to him now. He doesn't have a doubt.
How about that for an "I love you"? Brian grabs Justin and lays one on him. Whoo Hoo!!
Enter Mikey and Hunter with tales of their own Ice-Tina villain. Mikey tells Brian that she showed up with the cops and he just took Hunter and ran. Brian, mockingly talks about Mikey breaking the law and loosing his respect for authority. LOL. Mikey says he just had to do something.
Brian: So you risked it all?
What? A new Mikey? Did Brian teach Mikey what Justin taught him? Could this get any better? I would say, no, it can not!! Brian tosses Mikey the keys to his 'vette and Mikey's in shock. Gee, so is Justin. So am I. WTF? Brian's only answer to his generosity for Hunter is that he "lived with a mother. It's a fate worse than birth." Brian change #7. I think I'm really crying by this point. You know, Brian's family stuff always tears me up. Brian and Mikey share a hug and a kiss and Mikey and Hunter run off leaving Brian with Justin.
Justin: Jesus Christ Brian...now you don't even have a car.
B: Aaaah. Now, I guess, I've lost everything. (We are given a pause for effect as Justin puts his arm around Brian.)
J: Not everything. (That's right, he still has Justin.)
You have to remember, when this season started, Brian had everything.
Everything...but...Justin.
Brian and Justin walk down into the crowd, with their arms around each other. They get to the middle and are gazing around. They compromised for this community, in a way, they conquered the world and found each other in the process. This is their place, this is where they belong. They are the heart and soul of this celebration. It is, once again, a magical place, full of sprites and fairies.
A Community in Celebration - A Celebration of What?
Spiderman Quote: Change? Yep! BIG change!
What are the lessons of this season and Brian's change? Brian realized what Tom Cruise realized in Vanilla Sky..."How can I taste the sweetness of life without the bitter?" Just because you had some bitterness in your early years, doesn't mean that you can't change and learn to taste the sweetness that life can be.
I think Hunter is learning the same thing with the bitterness of his mom and the sweetness of Ben and Mikey.
I think Ted is learning by the bitterness of his demise and addiction and the sweetness of Blake's transformation.
I think Emmett is learning with the bitterness of watching Ted's fall and being powerless to stop it and the sweetness of Brian's support and encouragement.
I think Melanie is learning by the bitterness of her mother's miscarriage and the sweetness of getting passed her first trimester.
And let's not forget Justin. His bitterness of the bashing and the blindness to the actions of the love of his life. He regained his innerstrength and opened his eyes. How sweet is his life now?
I think we all could learn these same lessons. You can never give up. It doesn't have to be black and white. The colorful land of Oz is out there, you just have to go and grab onto it.
Everyone has a hero inside that can make a difference. You just have to figure out what strengths your poisonous bite gave you and use them for the greater good.
Collections of Crying
Season finales make me cry. Always have. I got choked up because of the bashing and watching Brian in the hospital corridor afterwards, and I was choked up when Justin walked out with Ethan. Brian and Justin ended both of those seasons apart, and it was hell on us fans. But never before, have I been teary and happy for an entire episode. It's not just that Brian and Justin were together in the end. It was everything for every character. I think that lump is still in my throat. Here is my collection of crying moments from this episode.
The couple that broke their hand-holding.
Brian's public display of affection for Justin. Yes, I am a sap.
Brian watching Stockwell's commercial on his new TV as he listens to Justin's story. Such guilt on that face.
The commercial for Jason Kemp's murder. How awfully sad what happened to that young man and knowing that it does really happen.
Emmett's dance. His strength is back. I had tears.
Ted's realization and his entrance into rehab. Walking up to that desk, all alone, and admitting his problem. Just gut-wrenching.
Hunter's fear of his mother's return and running down the street to get away. The things she made him do!! Heartbreaking.
Hunter's hug to Ben. Oh my!! Such gratitude in that embrace, as if he was saying, "thanks for saving my life." Wow!
Brian's drama queen moment and Justin's reaction to it. What can I say? He's human. It touched me.
Mikey rubbing Brian's back as they were in line to vote. He was realizing just how wonderful Brian is.
Mikey learning his lesson from Brian and risking it all for Hunter.
Blake, Blake, Blake. What else is there to say? Blake is back!!
And of course, Brian and Justin standing in the middle of the crowd in each other's arms. Could it have ended any better? I think not.
I am so happy. I'm not really crying, it's just allergies. Really. OK, guys. That's it. I am a wreck. Tell me what you think? Cheer me up. I need it. LOL
Edited to add: I stated in the beginning that I didn't know what the colors meant. Well, someone gratiously gave me the definitions of the colors for the rainbow flag:
hot pink--sex
red--life
orange--healing
yellow--sun
green--nature
turquoise--art
indigo--harmony
violet--spirit
As you can see by this...red means Life...there is no way that the use of red in this episode was accidental. Amazing! Bravo!
