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Queer As Folk Season 4 Episode 1

Just a Little Help

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8.9

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 4/18/04

Season Premiere. This season opener picks up more or less where the previous season left off. Having lost his job, and a pile of money keeping Stockwell away from the mayoral position, Brian finds himself falling on hard times financially, though he refuses to admit it. Though he is offered his old job back, Brian passes because of a contractual obligation that would force him not to work for a competitor. When Brian tries to start his own agency (lovingly named "Kinnetic" by Justin,) all his clients turn him down, forcing him to accept donations from a fund raising put together by his friends.

Ted, still not able to put his life back together, leaves rehab, despite being "clean". A visit from Em provokes nothing but further fights between the two, partially revolving around Ted's now-rather-close-relationship to Blake. The audience is left unsure if they will ever reconcile.

When Micheal and Hunter finally return from their road trip, Ben and Micheal struggle to win custody of Hunter from Hunter's mother by having Melanie plead their case in court. At first the judge awards custody to Hunter's mother, stating that she's cleaned up her act and that a child should remain with their natural birth parents, but her attitude changes from pleasing to bitchy the second her son gives her a huge smacking kiss on the lips- right before telling her he's positive. She pushes him away and calls him a faggot, right in front of the judge, who then immediately awards custody to Micheal and Ben.

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FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

an awEsom start!

10

By marshallemine, Jan 10, 2013

hah itz so gud to c d change in brian. a big change in his nature nd hez so much more gud to justin not dat he was before but he has started to show it. nd it suitz him. like he said 'hi honey' after justin came back. it was so cute. he knows justin loves him nd he cant help it but to love him back. the way he sees him like 'wat wud i do without u?' which i think is great. And once again justin showed he loves brian and will do anything for him. and when brian accepted d cheque nd everyone was hugging him and he kept lookin at justin like 'u asshole. i love u' . itz so adorable. a great start indeed.moreless
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A clever title goes here!

9.0

By jeffryprince12, Dec 10, 2012

how can i watch this pls help... i want to watch thus ^^
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This episode picks up where the last season left off. Brian's old boss wants him back but he announces he wants to start a new agency. Ted decides to leave rehab and feel sorry for himself. Hunter faces his mother in court.moreless

10

By breezy2281, Nov 19, 2008

After Brian sees his old boss and refuses to sign a non-competition clause and announces that he basically brought in all the big accounts, Brian has dinner with every one of the big account heads. He then informs them that he is starting his own agency and they seem to be supportive of that, but things are not always as they seem. They all turn him down and he meets with Jenn to put his loft up for sale, the one thing left besides his car and Justin that he loves. Justin doesn't want him to let it go either because it was the first place they made love, and even though Brian doesn't want to admit it he believes that too. Jim Stockwell was indicted for the cover up of Jason and is being forced to resign. Just tells Mel and Linze what's going on, but they tell him that Brian is too proud to accept a handout. They once again with the help of Justin outsmart Brian and have a fund raiser for the "concerned citizens" of Pittsburgh. Though Brian doesn't want to accept, he does anyway and says thank you. Emmett goes to visit Ted in rehab after the girls mention it to him, and he is astonished to learn that Blake is the counselor taking care of him. As Emmett sinks deeper into depression Deb and Vic become concerned. Even Brian and Justin want to cheer him up. Emmett goes to Ted's for some cooking supplies and is startled to find Ted there. Ted wants a pity party and Emmett won't give in, but instead tells Ted to get his butt back to rehab because he's not getting anything done by sitting on the sofa. Ted says he's better off dead so Emmett snaps and tells him to do it. He even puts on opera and hands him some sharp utensil. This is what we call tough love, though Emmett is obviously still mad at Ted as well. Ted on the other hand, seems to still have feelings for Blake and makes little hints about the past and everything. However, Blake doesn't seem like he wants anything to do with Ted beyond a professional level. Mike convinces Hunter to come back to Pittsburgh with him where they get Mel to take the case for a dollar as a hiring fee. The judge however decides with the mother and demands that Hunter be returned to her. However, when Hunter gives her a big kiss on the lips and tells her he is positive, she freaks out and calls him an offensive word for a gay man and asks if he's trying to give it to her. This happens right in front of the judge, who immediately grants custody to Ben and Mike, as long as Hunter behaves himself while in their care. This episode was almost a happy ending for everyone, until we see the end. Now there really may be some "concerned citizens of Pittsburgh." The beautiful drag queen that was performing all through this episode whom i thought was a woman, we find her name to be Darren. While walking to her car she is brutally gang beaten and no one could hear her for help. I wouldn't be surprised if Darren is dead. This was very concerning and it just goes to show that no matter what you do to try to be who you are and live in peace, there will always be corruption around. Will no one help the gay community in Pittsburgh? I want to know what is going to happen in the next episode, and what happened to Darren, will she be alright? I kept wondering why she didn't try to scream for help, though she didn't really have much of a chance. This was another fantastic addition to the series and leaves you hanging on for the next one.moreless
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Brian has to except help from his friends, even though it might require him to swallow his pride.

9.6

By luv4brian, Aug 01, 2007

Thanks to the Concerned Citizens for the Truth, Brian is $100,000 in debt. The bills keep coming in and he's still without a job. Justin and the others organize a fundraiser to help get Brian back on his feet. Brian does the unexpected though, when he has to swallow his pride and his dignity, as he excepts the check. I really like this scene, because it shows Brian in a totally new light, one that was very unexpected but heart-warming torwards Brian's character. Michael decides to stop running and finally bring Hunter back to Pittsburg. Mel then represents Hunter in court, to help Michael and Ben to gain custody. All around, a very good start to the fourth season.moreless
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Swallow your pride

8.0

By SMGslayer97, Dec 26, 2006

Now, I never thought I would see the day when Brian Kinney would actually swallow his pride and accept money from his friends. I mean that just shows how much he has changed over the years, how much he had grown. It is very impressive on his part, coming off an impressive season finale for his character last season as well. It also really shows us, yet again, how very loyal all Brian's friends really are to him. He many sometimes take his arrogance to a highly inappropriate level but in the end they all love him very much. And he loves them, too.

Meanwhile, Ben and Michael struggle to keep together their newly formed disfunctional family. And for a moment, just a moment, you think they might lose it. But Hunter being one champ of a hustler makes sure that he will not be taken away from them and placed with his abusive and totally unfit witch of a mother. That the court would even see past her lies is beyond me, but all is well that ends well.

Unfortunately, the very end of this episode is not quite as happy. Another gay bashing, like Justin's from the season one finale, takes place. This time right on Liberty Ave., right under the noses of our boys and gals.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Sharon Gless	Deborah 'Debbie' Jane Grassi Novotny
Robert Gant	Professor Benjamin 'Ben' Novotny-Bruckner (Season 2-5)
Michelle Clunie	Melanie 'Mel' Marcus
Peter Paige	Emmett "Em" Honeycutt
Scott Lowell	Theodore 'Ted' Schmidt
Gale Harold	Brian Kinney

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Carlo Rota	Gardner Vance	Guest Star
John Friesen	Mr. Frawley	Guest Star
Thomas Hauff	Mr. Brown	Guest Star
Sherry Miller	Jennifer Taylor	Recurring Role
Gary Brennan	Rodney	Recurring Role
Dean Armstrong	Blake Wyzecki	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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- ADD TRIVIA from this episode.
QUOTES (7)
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- Debbie: Oh, look, Vic, you got a postcard from Michaelangelo.
  Emmett: That must've been lost in the mail a long time.
  Vic: Actually, we met at a fairy gathering.
  Emmett: The Tony Awards?
  Vic: It's a group of gay men who gather in the woods to rediscover our spirit of joy.
  Debbie: And get laid in the bushes.
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- Justin: Brian, I don't know what the fuck your problem is. You help everyone. Liberty Avenue would be a police state if it wasn't for you. And now, when you need help... Hey Todd, how's it going? Where was I?
  Brian: Umm... when... when I need help?
  Justin: Right. You won't take it. You wanna know why that is?
  Brian: Pour qui?
  Justin: Because you always have to be the one in charge. The one who's in control, the one who's on top.
  Brian: Mmm-hmm. You got it.
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- Justin: I thought we were partners.
  Brian: We are.
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- Brian: At least it's still in one piece.
  Michael: You'll be happy to know that Hunter and I are okay too. Um...
  Brian: (holds up a hamburger carton) What's this?
  Michael: Burger box.
  Brian: You ate in my car?
  Michael: We were in a hurry to get home. We didn't want to stop.
  Brian: So you turn my car into a recycling bin. This is like that time in 7th grade when I lent you my brand new 10-speed and when you brought it back my front fender was crushed, my seat was torn...
  Michael: I was hit by a bus!
  Brian: Well, this is the last time I ever loan you...
  (Brian is cut off by Michael kissing him.)
  Brian: What was that for?
  Michael: For giving me the wheels right from under you, for no good reason, for other than... you love me.
  Brian: You're pathetic. And so is this car. Now I have just enough time to get it washed. How do I look?
  Michael: Like a million bucks.
  Brian: Don't sell me short.
  Michael: 10.
  Brian: Wish me luck.
  Michael: You don't need it.
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- Ted: It's too late. I'm beyond repair. I have nothing. No future, no friends. No job, no lover. What's the point? I might as well be dead.
  Emmett: Then do it.
  Ted: What?
  Emmett: I said, then do it. Go on. Kill yourself. Doing us all a favor. Only don't be a man about it, be a queen.
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- Debbie: I never though I'd see the day Brian Kinney would accept help.
  Vic: And say thank you. I think I saw a tear.
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- Michael(to Hunter): Where the fuck have you been?!
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NOTES (8)
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- The opening credits changed for this season. Season 4 Theme Song: "Cue the Pulse to Begin"
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- Vic's "fairy name" is "Cherub".
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- Ben mentions to Hunter that "It's a schoolnight" telling the audience that Hunter is actually going back to school.
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- Hunter tells his mother in this episode that he is HIV positive.
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- Custody of Hunter is awarded to Ben and Michael provided Hunter is on "good behaviour."
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- In this episode, it is revealed that the tagline for the new season is "The original comes of age."
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- Season 4 premiere.
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- Broadcast April 19th in Canada.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Michael: Michael and Hunter's Excellent Adventure
  This is a reference to the stupidity-laden film classic Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, reportedly one of Hal Spark's favorite movies.
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