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Queer As Folk

Mad Dog Kinney

Season 3, Episode 1, Aired Mar 02, 2003

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8.9

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After Justin leaves Babylon with Ethan, everyone is stunned to see that Justin is with someone else other than Brian. Michael springs it on them that Justin and Brian are broken up and Justin is seeing Ethan now. Then the club shuts down and everyone goes home together including Ted and Emmett. The next day at the diner, Melanie and Lindsay ask Ted and Emmett the gory details of their sexcapades last night and they lie and say it was a blast. The truth is both Ted and Emmett aren't ready to have sex yet but they keep this from the others. Justin wakes up happily in Ethan's arms and then goes to work at the Diner. Ethan is worried that Justin might still have feelings for Brian but Justin reassures Ethan that they're finished. When Justin goes to Brian's l;oft to get his things he has memories of all the sex he and Brian had together but then he moves on. When he goes to the Diner Michael confronts him and tells him that he's a traitor for cheating on Brian and to leave Pittsburg and never return. Meanwhile Brian runs into Lindsay at the park depressed. She tries to convince Brian that he loves Justin and it's not to late to get him back, but Brian denies his true feelings for Justin. To get over Justin he tries to have sex at every gay bar in town but they won't have sex with Brian because his breakup with Justin ruined his reputation as a "sex god". Ben tries to move into his old apartment but the tenant refuses to give it to him so he moves in with Michael. Debbie finds out why Justin is ignoring them and is upset with Michael for not minding his business. Lindsay and Melanie give out invitations to their 8th wedding anniversary party. There Brian and Justin run into each other face-to-face. Brian tries to get him back but Justin is committed to Ethan. Then Brian runs into Michael and he tells Brian that he thinks Justin is a stupid-lying prick for doing what he did to Brian. Michael then continues to call Justin bad names and Brian surprisingly punches Michael out. Lindsay and Melanie then kick Brian out of the party and he goes back to gay clubs. Later on that night he gives Michael a steak to put over his eye. He then engages the services of a prostitute who strongly resembles Justin.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Ilan Rosenberg

Ned
GUEST STAR
Steve Richard

Bart
GUEST STAR
Logan Hoover

Gus

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
Sherry Miller

Jennifer Taylor
Jack Wetherall

Vic Grassi (2000-2004)

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

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Just tell him you love him already!

10

"Perfect"

By luv4brian, Aug 04, 2010

I knew that Brian really loves Justin, but this just proves to the extent of his love for him. He punches his best friend for criticizing Justin, something that I would have never seen coming. With all the help and advice in the world though, it still can't convince Brian to push his ego and his anti-love principles aside to tell Justin how he feels about him. It's so frustrating to watch this, knowing that Brian could say three little words and have the love of his life back in his arms once again. But he can't make himself say it. My heart dropped at the end where Brian pays a hustler that looks like Justin, just so he can imagine being with Justin again. And since when have we ever known Brian Kinney to pay for sex. No, it had to be for a special reason, which it was. The ending is so heartbreaking, it's right up there with the ending of series finale.moreless
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Justin moves on. Ted and Emmett wonder if their friendship can survive an attempted romantic relationship. Lindsay and Mel celebrate 8 years together. Michael and Ben take their relationship to the next level. Brian tries to adjust to life without Justin.moreless

10

"Perfect"

By jeffsilver_25, Aug 04, 2010

This episode was as amazing as it was frustrating, but most importantly, it is a must-see. Throughout the entire episode, it took my emotions up and down. Watching Emmett and Ted struggle with the desire to preserve their friendship while wanting to take the risk at love is mesmerizing. It is frustrating to see Justin and Brian separated because you just cannot help but root for the two of them to be together. I was completely torn because on the one-side, Brian is only getting what he deserves. Yet on the other, you can't help but feel sorry for him. Michael is surprisingly infuriating during most of the episode because he is so unfair to Justin. He, of all people should understand how difficult it is to love Brian Kinney. Finally, the end is just heartbreaking as Brian, in the arms of a prostitute who looks like his former lover, tries to recapture the love he shares with Justin. You simply cannot miss this episode!moreless
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Brian and Justin try to adjust to not being together. Ted and Emmett still haven't slept together. Mel and Linze celebrate the day they got together eight years ago. Ben moves in with Mike.moreless

10

"Perfect"

By breezy2281, Nov 09, 2008

This episode was sad. Justin goes to Brian's place and moves all his stuff out. He kept having flashes of all the memories he had of doing it with Brian, and it was hard. Mike corners Justin outside the diner and tells him to disappear. Justin quits the diner until Deb finds out what Mike did and is furious. Brian finds out as well and isn't very happy. Mel and Linze are having a party because every year they celebrate the day they first got together. They invite Justin to come to the party anyway because he is a friend. He thought it would be weird for them but they said they love him too. Everyone thinks Brian won't show up, but he does. He walks in on Justin using the bathroom and tells him he hopes he finds what he wants. Linze tried to tell Brain just to tell Justin he loves him if he wants to get him back, but he can't do that. Deb meets Ethen and says he's adorable. She also tells Justin how she feels about him and that it doesn't matter what Mike says because he doesn't speak for her or anyone else. She also says she expects him back at work. Mike stirs the pot and tries to create drama by complaining about Justin showing up at the party with Ethen. He then crosses the line when he tells Brian that he should have left Justin laying there the night of the bashing. That was so wrong. Brian punches Mike in the face, and he deserved it. Ben tries to go after Brian but stops. The girls and everyone throw Brian out. Brian goes home and we learn that he is paying to sleep with guys that look like Justin. He tells one guy to roll over because he doesn't want to see his face, he really wants to think he's still with Justin. That was very sad and painful to watch, i feel bad for Brian. This is exactly why he doesn't like to show his feelings. In the meantime, Ben can't get his place back so Mike tells him to move in. Brian walks in on them getting ready to have sex, and wants someone to go to Babylon with him. Knowing they'll have many nights together, Ben tells Mike to go with him. They do some drugs and dance by themselves, Brian wanting time to stop. They share a kiss and the usual stuff. Brian had showed up later at the comic store feeling bad about hitting Mike, and gave him a steak that costs twenty-three dollars a pound. Everyone thinks that Ted and Emmett slept together, but they hadn't yet. They are afraid that once they cross that line they can never go back, and they don't want to ruin their friendship. However, after a few tries the last one seemed it might have been the one. This was a really sad episode but i'm looking forward to more.moreless
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Under what circumstance would Brian Kinney ever pay for sex? When the man he loves leaves him, and he either can't or won't let him go.

8.7

"Great"

By rewindyourtime, Apr 10, 2007

I never thought I'd see the day. But then I saw this episode and now I know that anything is possible. Brian Kinney, the man who can have anyone he wants, can't have the one person he really desires. His love and passion for Justin drives him to request the company of a hustler, undoubtedly giving a detailed description of what he wants, and paying $300 for it. It just might be one of the saddest scenes of the series. But you'll notice that he can't kiss this Justin look-alike. Before Justin, to Brian a kiss was just a meaningless kiss. But ever since establishing the rules of their relationship in season 2, Brian will never kiss anyone else on the lips in a sexual manner again, unless it's Justin. It's unbelievable how much Brian will kill himself over hiding his true feelings about Justin. Practically the whole world tells him what he ultimately knows, but for some asinine reason he won't budge. Brian would die if anyone ever found out he hired a hustler to satisfy his insatiable desire for something Justin-esque. I kind of wish Justin would have found out about it. Then he'd know just how much he means to Brian. And sure, Brian tries to get him out of his mind by trying to rehash the old relationship he had with Mikey before Justin came along. But it's obvious that things can never go back to the way they were, as much as Mikey would like them to. Brian hits Mikey in Justin's defense. No one talks that way about the love of his life! Justin has left an indelible impression in Brian's heart. A part of his heart which Mikey will never be able to touch.

Yes, there's no denying that it'll always be Brian and Justin. Even if they're not always together, like at the end of the series (which is a sucky way to conclude, by the way), Brian and Justin will, in the end, always find their way back to each other.moreless
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Justin with someone other the Brian, really?

10

"Perfect"

By SMGslayer97, Dec 26, 2006

I mean I know the season finale clearly established that Justin was picking Ethan over Brian but...I don\'t know it just didn\'t feel really real until this episode. I mean the gang didn\'t think so either, though they all spun their logic into it. It just seemed to go from Justin being so in love with Brian one moment to Justin leaving Brian the next. Jarring. I mean it seems that even Justin almost can\'t belive it, what with his little memories of days past. Who could blame him though, he doesn\'t stop loving Brian (which is quite obvious) but he was the first person he loved and (up till Ethan, I guess) the only person.

Then when Brian punches Michael, I mean he punches Mikey! I can not belive this but it only further proves what everyone keeps saying in the episode and what we all know to be true, Brian loves Justin very much! Just get off you arrogant high horse Kinney and tell him. He could have gotten him back in snap, just like that, had he just said it. He felt it, he knows he did! Lindsey makes a point of explaining all this to him but yet no. Mr. Kinney and his I don\'t believe in love attitude mized with his huge emo and an over abundance of pride couldn\'t be comprised for even something as important as telling the person he loves that he loves him. Sometimes I just wanna punch him in the face!

But other times, like at the end of the episode. I mean that is so very sad. I mean it had me crying. To not only pay for sex (Brian Kinney paying for sex!!!) but to let\'s say pick the hustler he did. I mean it\'s just the saddest thing, especially when they are in bed with one another. For a moment you can very clearly see it in his face that He Loves Justin! God Lord Man!moreless
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TRIVIA (2)
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- This is the only season premiere of the series where Todd doesn't make an appearance in the backroom of Babylon.
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- Justin now sports a slightly different hairstyle, despite there being only a few hours between his leaving the Rage party at the end of Season 2 and waking up in Ethan's bed in this episode. Given what he and Ethan had been doing in that time, it's doubtful hairstyles were that much of a priority.
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QUOTES (6)
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- Michael: (about Justin) Do you believe the nerve of that little twat, showing up here with his new boyfriend? I told him to stay the fuck out of our lives!
  Brian: Why'd you do that?
  Michael: After what he did?!
  Brian: He didn't do anything. We were never happily married. He was always free to go, so was I.
  Michael: You're just saying that. He's a selfish little shit!
  Brian: Be quiet, Michael.
  Michael: He used you and he took from you and he never gave back a thing!
  Brian: I said be quiet!
  Michael: And this is the thanks you get for saving his life. If you ask me, it wasn't worth it! You might as well've just left him lying there! (Brian punches Michael)
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- Brian: (about Justin) I never loved him! And even if I did, I'd never ask him to put my needs above his or be something he's not to make me happy.
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- Ted: (overhearing two men mocking Brian) Did you hear what they were saying? Emmett: Mean, viscous cunts! Self-loathing stereotypes. Ted: Funny, they sounded a lot like us. Emmett: We're allowed to talk that way. We're his friends. Ted: What do you say we go over, let him insult us for a little while? Emmett: Oh, good idea! Might make him feel better.
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- (discussing Justin choosing Ethan) Ted: Poor Brian, must be sequestered away. Devastated. Disgraced, broken. Humiliated. (Ted pauses for a second, then starts laughing.)
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- Ethan is playing the violin. Ethan: I promised I'd serenade you awake, didn't I? Justin: You also promised me breakfast in bed...
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- Brian: By the way...I hope you get what you want.
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NOTES (0)
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Brian: Suffering Sappho! Sappho is a Greek poet who lived around the time of 600 BC. Sappho's poetry centers on passion and love for various personages and genders, and are often perceived and described as being homo-erotic. She has since become an icon for lesbian culture.
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