Queer As Folk

The Snake in Paradise

Season 4, Episode 10, Aired 6/20/04

Episode Summary

Brian and Justin are wrapped up in the heat of their passion when Brian has a flashback of his surgery. Needless to say, it changes the mood and Brian's passion is easily cooled. Brian finds his frustration and confusion growing after the incident, especially when his mother, Joan, pays him a visit after Debbie tells her about his illness. Her visit with Brian escalates into a heated argument, but his fury somehow gets Brian back into the groove he was looking to find.

Michael and Ben plan an evening with Hunter at the mall, but when a former student of Ben's by the name of Anthony, who is also an aspiring writer and admirer of Ben's work, invites him to attend a lecture by a respected author, Ben cancels the plans with his family. Anthony attempts to get intimate with Ben, but Ben lets him know he has the wrong idea. Anthony explains he's always admired Ben and wanted to be like him. That's why he wants Ben to give him "the gift" - to make him HIV positive.

At Kinnetik, Brian and Ted hear that Brown Athletics is committing a large sum of money for a sports figure to model their new underwear line. Ted commits to finding them one and begins his research immediately. When Emmett finds Ted flipping through a sports magazine at the diner, he nonchalantly suggests that Ted pitch the idea to football pro Drew Boyd, an idea that gets Ted easily excited, however he finds disappointment in the fact that the athlete is "straight". Behind closed doors, Emmett talks to Drew and ultimately convinces him to be the new Brown Athletics underwear model.

Conflicted over her feelings for Sam Auerbach, Lindsay tries to resolve her feelings by ignoring him, in spite of the fact that he's still in her thoughts as she and Melanie make love. In another effort to avoid him, she decides not to attend the opening of the show. Melanie tries to convince her to go but she relents, finally arriving at the gallery as the last guests are leaving. She's surprised to find Sam still there. Alone in the gallery, he pulls her close and passionately kisses her.

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8.6

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Cast & Crew

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Sharon Gless

Deborah 'Debbie' Jane Grassi Novotny
Robert Gant

Professor Benjamin 'Ben' Bruckner
Michelle Clunie

Melanie 'Mel' Marcus

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

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mostly good but one storyline irks me.

7.5

"Good"

By DeadBabyDoll, Jul 22, 2011 Report Abuse

I really like the Drew/Emmett storyline. It just rings true to me. After four years of seeing self-assured gays who are out and proud we finally see someone who isn't sure of himself but rather in outright denial. He and Emm had great chemistry too and he has an incredible body.

Another interesting storyline is the young man who asks Ben to infect him with the HIV virus. This was the first I ever heard of "bug chasing" which is a real phenomena. It gives us a little insight to why anyone would really want such a condition.

One thing that bothered me though was Lindsay and Sam. Not because she slept with a man. As Kinsey discovered in the 1950s, people are not 100% gay or straight which I think should be addressed on television more often. What bothers me is she continually rejected him and he kept coming on to her, this seems to say that sexually harassing someone will eventually make them sleep with you. "No" means "no", not "maybe," "keep trying" or "eventually".moreless

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Mike and Justin take measures to help Brian with his sexual performance problem. Linze crosses the line with Sam. Ben almost goes too far with Anthony. Debbie finds out that Brian has cancer. Emmett convinces Drew to pose for an underwear ad.moreless

10

"Perfect"

By breezy2281, Jan 18, 2009 Report Abuse

Brian is having a difficult time forgetting his surgery and is having visions and dreams about it, which is affecting his ability to "rise to the occasion." In an attempt to help him, Mike and Justin go to a Chinese herbalist couple that Ben goes to. Justin makes a tea that is supposed to help sexual performance. After Brian tells Debbie about his cancer, she runs into Brian's mother in church, who tells her what's going on with Brian. Joan shows up at Kinnetic and at first i thought Brian was being kind of harsh to her. However, when she tells him that god gave him cancer because he is a sinner for being gay and that it's not too late to change, Brian tells her off. This seems to be the cure for his recent problem, and he goes to Babylon in a hurry to show Justin. Emmett continues to see the football star Drew, who insists that he is not gay Emmett convinces him to do an underwear ad for Brian, which will pay him a million dollars. Emmett thinks that when Drew gets more successful he will forget all about Emmett. By the way i thought Emmett's dream of Drew was absolutely hilarious. These two seem to be connecting with something more than just sex. Speaking of which, I cannot believe Linze this episode. We've been noticing that she is getting strange feelings toward Sam, attracted to him even. Why that is could be just because he is a great artist, and he is pompous. When Mel can't understand why Linze doesn't want to go to her own show, Linze goes to the gallery when the show is over so she can close up. Sam is there, they exchange words resulting in Linze telling him to leave. However, he kisses her, she kisses back, and i was like wtf? But what happened after that, when the two had wild sex, i couldn't believe it. Apparently it's Linze's turn to cheat now, though i hope Mel doesn't think she should give her a free pass if she finds out. What is going on with you Linze? There was cheating going on all over the place this episode, because Ben blows off a night out with Hunter and Mike so he can attend a lecture with Anthony. They go back to Anthony's place for wine, and he puts the moves on Ben. It seemed to me that Ben was going to let him even though he said he had a partner and that it would be a mistake if the only reason Anthony liked him was to sleep with him. However, when Anthony reveals that he wants Ben to make him positive, i was beside myself. Ben couldn't believe it either and he left. He runs into Anthony the next day, who announces that he attended a conversion party. Seriously, a conversion party? That is the most ridiculous thing i have ever heard. Apparently he had unprotected sex with a dozen or so guys. I can't believe anyone would want to be positive. He will find out in a couple weeks. Ben writes a story about it which Mike reads. He and Ben share a moment listening to the REO Speedwagon cd that Hunter bought them, and Mike says his favorite part of the story was when the guy decided not to sleep with the other man, and went home to his partner. He knew. Mike isn't as stupid as he sometimes acts. Ted seems to be gaining some confidence lately, and Brian makes a crack about it. He also seems to be getting more cocky as well. I wonder what is going on there. This was a great episode. I have a feeling we're going to see some drama in the next few episodes after Mel finds out what happened between Linze and Sam. Linze has a guilty conscience, i don't think she'll keep it a secret. Will she continue to see Sam? Will Drew's wife walk in on him and Emmett one of these days?moreless

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Brian tells off his mother once and for all.

9.7

"Superb"

By luv4brian, Aug 04, 2007 Report Abuse

Brian finds difficulty with his sex drive after the surgery, which causes embarrassment. Justin tells Michael about theh situation, as they team up together and go to China Town, for a secret potion. He convinces Brian to drink it, but nothing seems to happen. The next day, Brian gets a visit from his mother, Joan. They get in a heated argument over Brian changing his sexuality, which results in her storming out of the office while Brian screaming at her. The heated debate gave him exactly what he was looking for, as he rushes to Babylon to share the good news with Justin.

On the other hand, Lindsay denies all feelings that she has for Sam, but he's still in the back of her mind. Scared of the outcome, she decides not to attend the art show, and instead shows up afterward. To her surprise, no one's there except Sam. She pleas her case that she is a lesbian, but he sees right through her, and they end in a steamy situation. A lot of excitement in the episode, with lots of action. Not an episode to be missed.moreless

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Brian and Justin start working their way back to how they were before their little bump in the road.

9.7

"Superb"

By PoohBear73, Jun 16, 2007 Report Abuse

I love this episode and think it plays a part in the future of Brian and Justin's relationship. And also in Brian's with his mother. I love how Justin looks for a way to help Brian with his problem. I was a little surprised though that Brian wasn't upset because Justin told someone about their problem. And the scene between Brian and Debbie had me in tears both times I watched it. He couldn't tell the 2 people he loves most in the world about his condition, but he had no problems telling her. I love how she always gets him to realize his feelings even though he may never voice them. We can always tell she's gotten to him. And I was also surprised he wasn't upset with Debbie for telling his mom about his condition. He seems to like to keep things like that private. He has grown so much over the course of the series. There are times I could do without Melanie and Lyndsey and this was one of them. I don't know. The whole storyline with Sam just bugs me.

I did love the end though with Michael and Ben. That was too sweet.moreless

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Relationship dysfunction

7.6

"Good"

By SMGslayer97, Dec 27, 2006 Report Abuse

All the couples seem to be having some kind of problem in this epside.

Brian and Justin, despite Brian and Justin's resolution of their previous issues due to Brian's illness another problem seems to pop up...or doesn't. Brian can't seem to forget that he is now sort of imperfect, his words not mine, and has intense flashes and memories of his operation. Though Sunshine tries nothing he does can seem to really bring the fire back into Brian's life gate. His life giver on the other hand has better luck. Though Brian's mother once again infuriates me the highest degree she serves the greater good in this episode giving Brian back his fire.

Ben and Michael, Ben and Michael seems to be at odds over their different levels in success or lack there of. Michael is having great success in the world of RAGE the movie and Ben seems to be floundering in the world of literature. As a result of this he is driven to someone he later refers to as The Bugchaser. Now, this kid is all kinds of messed up. He wants Ben to bestowe him with the gift and when he doesn't this Bugchaser takes part in an orgy of sorts. That someone would be that messed up is unbelieveable and extrordinarily sad. Good thing for Ben and Michael he seems to help them put their issues in perspective.

Lindsey and Melanie, Lindsey seems to be very confused about this Sam Auerbach person. Now, I suppose things happen and people cheat (I am not a fan of infedelity of any kind) and relationships end but...I do not know what the heck the girl is thinking in this episode. Sexuality is a complicated thing so it's not even really that she sleeps with a man, it's that she cheats on Melanie in this taudry affair with someone who deserves next to no respect. Not to mention Melanie is pretty much at him with child. It's such a low thing to do, especially for Linds.moreless

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- Michael: If he's out hustling again I will rip his fucking balls off, as my mother would affectionately say. Edit
- Brian: Yea, well, maybe you can also stop me from thinking about what's no longer there, and in it's place is this piece of plastic. Or from picturing them sucking a bloody disease ridden ball out of me. or from feeling so sh*tty from having them burn me to a crisp with their ray gun that all I wanna do is dig a hole and crawl in, only I'm too busy vomiting. Who knows? Maybe then I might even be able to get it up. Justin: There's got to be something. Brian: Whatever it is, it's not a cup of Lipton's. Edit
- Justin: So, that happy time tea actually worked? Brian: Unlikely. Justin: Whence the woody? Brian: Let's just say that God gave me a second chance. I don't wanna blow it, but, you feel free to. Edit
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