Queer As Folk

The Election

Season 3, Episode 14, Aired 6/22/03

Episode Summary

With only a few more days until a new mayor is elected, Brian realizes that he must do something to stop Stockwell.

In the meantime Melanie almost passes her first trimester, which makes her nervous because her mother miscarried in her 11th week and Emmet gets a visit from Ted.

Michael and Ben get a visit from Hunter's mother. When they tell Hunter he tries to run away again, but is stopped by Ben. He then tells them the truth and why his mother wants him back. When Hunter's mom comes to get her son and they refuse to give him up she goes to the authorities, which results in Michael and Hunter running away from the police.

Also, Ted gets a serious wake-up call when he sees himself getting fucked by several men on TV, without recalling any of it, and submits himself into a drug clinic.

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Episode Clips

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Cast & Crew

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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

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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Jim offers Brian a deal while Justin continues his rebellion against him. Mel is starting to show. Ben and Michael get an unexpected visitor. Emmett continues to struggle with how to deal with Ted.moreless

10

"Perfect"

By breezy2281, Nov 19, 2008 Report Abuse

This episode starts out in black and white, a facad of everything being shaded over, none of the gays feel safe or like they can be themselves. Not only has Jim shut everything down including most of Liberty Ave, but there are not police patrolling on foot that are making the gays feel intimidated. Vick and Deb are handing out stop Stockwell pamphlets. Linze is excited that Mel is starting to show, and gives her a baby blanket that she bought from the store. Mel freaks out and tells her to get it out of the house because it's bad luck to buy something for the baby before it's born. Linze however didn't get it back in time and later pulls it out again, to which Mel freaks out again. We then find out that Mel's mother had a miscarriage in her eleventh week, the same distance along that Mel is now. The girls continue to try to help Emmett with the whole Ted situation and tell him to be tough. Ted shows up at their house and tries to sweet talk Emmett back. Emmett says he doesn't believe Ted because he is an addict. Later while at one of Mark's parties, Ted wakes up and discovers he's been sleeping for a few days because he crashed. All the guys were watching what seemed to be a bad porn video and according to Mark, didn't have much production value. When Ted looks at the screen he sees his own face, and realizes the video is of him basically taking on a bunch of guys and he has no recollection of it. This sparks Ted to seek help in rehab, where he runs into Blake. Ted seems relieved to have an old friend there who knows what he's going though, until Ted finds out that Blake is actually a counselor. On the other hand Brian does things in his typical fashion and buys a brand new five thousand dollar tv set. The first thing he sees on this tv is the commercial he made of Jim, how ironic. Justin is working on a new character for his comic called Razorback, who is actually a swine and is based on Jim, which i found quite funny. When Justin puts a bug in Brian's ear, Brian takes a tape down to the other candidate running for mayor to try to belittle Jim's campaign. However, he says no and Brian is forced to inform the public himself, so he pays for airtime to broadcast the video on tv as the caring citizens, and the video completely blew up Jim and Kenneth and the cover up about Jason! Go Brian! This leads Jim to lose the election and it was awesome at the end of this episode to see Liberty Ave lighting back up, and rainbows were flying everywhere, led by dancing in the street with Deb. However things aren't so bright for Hunter when an unexpected visitor shows up at Ben and Mike's place, who happens to be Hunter's mother. Or according to her, his name is Jimmy. The boys aren't sure who to believe until Hunter tells them basically that his mother was the one who got him hustling. She doesn't know he's HIV, but i didn't think she knew he was a hustler either until he said that. However he could still be making it up, but we'll have to watch to find out. When the boys say they're not letting Hunter go back to her, she comes back with a court order and the cops. Mike takes Hunter and makes a run for it, and Hunter hugs Ben. He later shows up at Liberty Ave in the crowd to tell Brian what's going on. Brian told him to go for it so of course he's going to. Since Brian has been forced to sell some stuff like his expensive table, paintings, tv, and said the car was next to go, he gives Mike the car keys and tells him to go. This was an awesome finale and i have to say the writers of this show are completely amazing. I can't wait to start the next season already. I wonder how it's going to top this one.moreless

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Brian will risk everything to bring down Stockwell

10

"Perfect"

By luv4brian, Jul 09, 2007 Report Abuse

This is a great season finale. I have to say that it is much better than season two's depressing ending. Brian makes a commercial as a last attempt to bring down Stockwell the night before the election. I love Brian's determination shown here, he's even going to sell his Corvette out of desperation. Once again, he does the right thing after listening to Justin's advice. Everyone awaits the results at Woody's and thanks to Liberty Ave.'s votes, it pushes Marvin Deekins in the lead and to finally win. Ted checks himself into rehab after hitting rock-bottom. And even though Brian may have lost all of his possesions, he still has the most important thing in his life: Justin. They'll always be there for each other no matter what.moreless

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My favorite season finale out of all five, mainly because Brian and Justin are happy, they're together and they're in love!

10

"Perfect"

By rewindyourtime, Apr 12, 2007 Report Abuse

Brian saves the day! He sacrifices everything to save the world he knows and loves. He could've continued to help Stockwell because he knew he'd eventually move to New York and to a new life where clubs and backrooms are plentiful. But it turns out he has a conscience and he loves his friends. He even loves Pittsburgh, though he'd never admit it. At this point in his and Justin's relationship they're partners. Though their breakup at the end of the second season was painful, it was necessary. Because when they were apart and subsequently got back together, they realized how much they need and love each other. Brian is no longer the teacher and Justin the student. They're partners now. Brian learns a lot from Justin. He learns how to love, how to be selfless when it's appropriate and how to sacrifice for what you believe in. Without Justin, Brian would've never sacrificed everything. And without Brian, Justin would'be never grown up to be the best homosexual he could be.moreless

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Stockwell vs. Rage

8.8

"Great"

By SMGslayer97, Dec 26, 2006 Report Abuse

I particularly love the poetic justice in this. Though Brian started out on Stockwell's side he makes a completele turn around, working to bring him down hard of many episodes finalized with the formation of 'The Concerned Citizens for the Truth' (aka Brian). He is so out of character in this episode that is beyond heart warming and further proves that men like Stockwell are the real pieces of trash while people like Brian, all be them some what controversial at times, are the real heroes. There is a Rage and his name is Brian Kinney. Can you guess who wins? Here's a hint, I don't need to even tell ya.

We also see Michael, Ben, and Hunter starting to become a real family. Until Hunter's mother makes an appearance and we learn some disturbing facts about his childhood and how horrible he was treated, the horrible things he was forced to do. Then when Hunter's mother threatens to try and take Hunter from them with force, and cops, Michael takes him and runs. We get to see Michael's big super hero heart in this episode though his actions, putting Hunter's needs above his own. Risking everything. Ted hits absolute rock bottom, though he was already way down on the ladder. And is seriously disturbing, and I thought it couldn't get worse.

Queer as Folk has a real knack for great season finales, every season finale so far as has been so very stellar!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- During the scene where Brian and Michael are waiting to vote, you can hear an echo after every line of dialogue. This was probably not intentional because its presence goes unnoticed on the DVD commentary. Edit
- The song in the final 'Michael and Ben' scene is 'Somewhere over the Rainbow' by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Edit
Notes
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- On the DVD commentary of this episode, director Kelly Makin confirms that Brian loves Justin. Edit
Quotes
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- Debbie: (to Emmett) Mourn the losses because they're many, but celebrate the victories because they're few. Edit
- Justin: Thanks to Rage the streets of Gayopolis are once again safe for perverts. Edit
- Justin: Brian, if you're in trouble, I'm sure I could loan you? Brian: A hundred thousand dollars? Justin: How much? Brian: The cost of 20 thirty second prime time spots at five thou a pop. Justin: You said that was paid for by the? Brian: Meet the concerned citizens for the truth. Justin: You? Brian: Well, who the hell else was gonna pay for it. I maxed out five gold cards. Justin: These concerned citizens are lunatics. Brian: I think I'm experiencing possession withdrawal, I need to lie down. Justin: Good thing you didn't sell your bed. Brian: I'd rather sell a kidney. Justin: I can't believe you did this. It's so? Brian: Noble? Justin: Out of character. What made you do it? Brian: Some asshole told me that if you believe in something strongly enough you have to be willing to sacrifice everything. Edit
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