i can't sleep. queer as folk 2000-2005.

[musicandme]

I can't believe it's been five years! It's hitting my nostalgic button pretty hard, you guys. Five years ago today (except it was August 7th) was the very last episode of Queer as Folk. I just moved in to my new apartment and made sure that I had cable so I could watch it and the Goodbye Special. My friend scifi_addict was a witness to the insanity that was my state of mind.

I don't know what I would've done without this show. I really don't. It's seven years later and I'm still using this journal, making new friends, getting into new fandoms, but I'll always come back to Queer as Folk.

How about we all share one memory from the show that's made us happy? It could be a quote, a picture, a moment in the show, a memory that you share with a friend while watching the show, memories of the signings, the Paley Festival, the Babylon Tours, etc.

I remember being on the phone with my best friend and we used to talk for hours and hours. Pretty much every day we'd recite a line to each other and it would crack us up. I remember one day in particular where ... I think the new clips came out on sandstorm's website. Remember the former website? It was plain, black background and it just had the clips on it. Anyway, we started saying Brian and Justin's lines from 406 when they were at Babylon together and making the bet. I don't know why this one sticks out for me but I remember laughing really hard while doing that.

... one more. The DC++ gang. I don't think I have anyone remaining from there on my flist. Do I? That was fun. I got into Latter Days that way and the Bel Ami boys (ha). A lot of people had some really great things to share.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_alicesprings/]

Brian in love, and not trying to hide it. Sighhhh.

[stellasurya.livejournal.com]

Too many beautiful, wonderful moments and lots of good internet friends! I love the scenes you have all mentioned.

The most jaw-dropping moment was when Justin got bashed and Gale in the hospital, also broken, afterwards. I didn't even know what spoilers were, then.

The sexiest moment for me was the kiss right at the end of the episode when Brian broke down the back door to Babylon and pulled Justin in there.

I also loved the scene when Brian told his Father he was gay, Gale Harold just blew my mind with his portrayal of Brain (still does!) he got a promiscuous hard-headed stud to reveal the biggest human heart out of all of them IMO.

Although I was saddened by the writing in Seasons 4 and 5 I did love Gale's acting in the finale - the loss of something never to be repeated was palpable.

Thanks for the post, and thanks Lucinda428 for the nudge.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Srsly. Why even bother at that point. A+ moment choice, bb!

[beloved4always.livejournal.com]

My absolute favorite moment in QAF fandom came the Sunday night (AND day after) Justin topped Brian in ep whatever-it-is. At that point there were plenty of folks (but not as many as later) that were spoiler-hos and they knew a lot. But they didn't know this. NOBODY knew this.

The fandom and the internet exploded that night. The hysteria, the happiness, the tears - people went crazy. The excitement was so intense it was coming off the computer screen in palpable waves. Emotions were off the chart. Looking back it's hard to imagine people getting that emotional about two TV characters but we were, oh my god we were. It was the VERY BEST night of my fandom life!!!

and yes, I was one of the DC++ gang and I still miss that p2p - you could find ANYthing there.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

God, being spoilerphobic. That was me! I tried to avoid them but I know I caved way too many times to remember, lol.

Thank you for sharing this memory! I can only imagine how exciting it was to have something like that and then being able to discuss it immediately after. It's always a fun fandom feeling.

Oh yeah! I remember seeing your name in there. Anything that we needed or was talked about? We could find it in there in the same day. Oh man. I totally miss it. :((

[fatherbananas.livejournal.com]

I am one of those people who think UK QAF > US QAF, though I love them both. But I am Manchunian, the nightclubs they go to in UK are the nightclubs I go to, and it's more in line with my sense of humour, while I have to admit I cringe at some of the comedy moments in US (but never with Ted, Emmett and Debbie. They're epic. And better than their UK counterparts given that UK Emmett can't act and UK Ted dies.)

Either way, I am more saddened by the lack of Stuart/Vince in my life than Brian/Justin, THOUGH I MISS THEM BOTH.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

I was never really involved in the UK version. I really enjoyed it but the pace was so incredibly slow and I realized that that was the difference between our television shows in general. It's been five years since the US series ended but it feels like yesterday!

[lucinda428.livejournal.com]

I still think the hottest kiss in screen history is Brian and Justin with the camera whirling round them in 219 - and one of the most romantic scenes is the dance at the prom with the camera wheeling round them in 122.

I also think the scene in the last episode of Season 2, when he finally confronts Justin, is very well written and beautifully acted. Justin is so pining to hear Brian say he loves him, while Brian subtly but distinctly jumps with fear when Justin says, "Would you care if I wasn't [here]?" It's just enough for us to see that he had no idea Justin would really leave until that moment, and after that it was all close down and self-protect, just when Justin wanted him to open up.

But for some reason the scene that springs into my mind when you say let's talk about just one, is the scene where Brian and Lindsay go to audition at the pre-school Lindsay wants to get Gus into. Gale looked completely gorgeous, and the scene took us from Brian's lightest side (playing with the 'fire hose') to Brian at his most tender ("Doesn't mean I don't love you.")

To this day, however, I refuse to recognise anything after the end of Season 3. I have mercifully managed to forget nearly everything in 4 and 5, and that's how I like it. (Hence my icon.)

[philflam.livejournal.com]

I love the scene at the school with Brian and Lindsay. And the other two you mentioned. And, of course I agree with you about season 4 and 5. Can't remember anything about them.

The scene I really remember most is a sad one though - when Justin and

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Ah, you're one of the forget anything happened after Season 3 people. I am aware of you all! There were brief moments of clarity in the following seasons but nothing was as focused as it once was in the previous three seasons.

Thank you for sharing your memories of those moments! I completely, completely agree with you.

[damietta.livejournal.com]

My friends laugh at me to the day because I refuse to watch S5 at all. Never have I been so angry (and over a TV show for Pete's sake).

I love to see QAF people in other fandoms (quite a few have showed up in "White Collar") and it is always like seeing a long lost friend.

[philflam.livejournal.com]

We don't laugh at you! We understand your anger - and it was definitely more than a TV show. It was our lives for 5 years.

I have a real problem recognizing people from QAF. I watch "White Collar" every week but couldn't tell you one persom from QAF on it. I even watched a show (not sure what it was) with Michelle Clunie and didn't recognize her.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

I also love to see QaF people in other fandoms! It's like you always have this one thing in common with them.

[rhiannonhero.livejournal.com]

I was on the DC++ thing. For awhile. :)

God, that seems an internet-age ago, doesn't it?

My favorite QaF moment ever, ever, ever, ever, ever.


Brian's hair. Justin's hair. The dialogue. The expressions. THE MAKING OUT AND TAKING THEIR CLOTHES OFF. THE SMILES.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I know that if I watch that one clip then I'm going to want to watch whole episodes over again, lol. I'll save it for when I marathon it. I totally, totally agree with you about this moment. There is nothing that isn't wonderful about that scene. You can just feel how happy Brian is to be with Justin again and how much he missed kissing him and touching him, etc. Love it.

I can't believe that I forgot all the people who were on DC++. It was a really great source of material though, wasn't it? It does seem like ages and ages ago.

[lennongirl.livejournal.com]

The love, the commitments, the feelings, especially the unspoken ones. The wonderful people and incredible amount of talent in this fandom. And, on a more shallow level: the HOTNESS.

Just... *happy sigh*

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

WITH YOU ALL THE WAY, MY FRIEND. <3

Hope that you're doing well, Ani!

[philflam.livejournal.com]

Sadly I remember watching 513. I traveled halfway across the country to watch it with JustVisiting who I had met through the fandon - it just seemed appropriate since we had lived the series for the prior five years.

As soon as the episode was over we went out to have a drink - several if I remember correctly - LOL! And I never watched it again. I agree with several people here who say the show ended for me after the third season.

But my favorite memories are of the fandom, not the show itself. Television Without Pity, Refugee - meeting people from all over the world. The first signing where I met Morpheus, the signing in Washington DC, the dinner afterwards where we practically took over the restaurant.

It changed my life and I'm so grateful for it. I doubt if I will ever have a passion again like I had for QAF. (In fact, I'm not sure that this old body and mind could even handle a passion like that again!)

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

There was definitely something special about this show that brought people together. Thank you so much for sharing these memories! I know that you have plenty of them and it's only a glance of what was in there. I always wished I could have something like that. I know that I do, in a way, through here. I'm grateful for that. Thank you again!

[bigboobedcanuck.livejournal.com]

It blows my mind that it's been five years. So many memories, but I've got to go with watching 510 filming. The call sheet for the final scene said, "Brian says the right words," so we knew he was FINALLY telling Justin he loved him. Watching them film that was magic.





It was dawn, and we'd been out all night in -20 weather, but yeah. Magic!

[iximisspiggyixi.livejournal.com]

That's awesome you were there for that! Do you have a post on your experience there in your journal or anything? I'd love to read.

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

Wow, has it really been FIVE years? It doesn't seem like it, does it? I remember going online immediately after the show ended, and going on IM to talk to popfly. I had been FINE up til that point but as soon as we started talking I started shaking. I think it had just hit me that it was OVER and there was all this adrenaline...

My favourite memory of the show itself is the I Love You. I was RABIDLY non-spoiler so I had no idea it was coming, and I will never ever forget the moment when I realized Brian was actually going to finally admit his feeling. I was leaning forward in my chair with my hands covering my mouth, muttering "oh my god he's going to say it, oh my god he's going to say it" and when he finally did I yelled and could.not.stop.smiling. And then when the ep ended I replied it like at least a dozen times. Hee! What a great memory.

I remember attending a Toronto Pride with popfly and having to make arrangements for my friend to a. tape the show for us, and b. allow us to go to her house when she wasn't home to watch it. It was an angsty ep (don't remember what happened *exactly*, but it ended with that version of "You Are My Sunshine" playing) and I remember being PISSED with the ep and popfly was so gleeeeefully happy with it, the little angst-whore that she was. Then she made me watch it again!

The DC++ gang

Oh, I'd forgotten about that! I was there. :)

Thanks for bringing back so many happy memories. :)

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

It has been FIVE years, my friend! I really cannot even believe it. It feels like yesterday.

I cried during the I Love You. Won't even lie. Cried like a baby. I can't believe he said it. Man, it makes me want to watch it right now. It was just ... monumental.

Oh! I think that that was 407 or 408. One of those where Justin looks sad and looks down at the thrown DVDs in front of the loft door. Wow. Can't believe I remember that. That sounds like pure torture on your end though, lol.

I still think of you and popfly as this gapfiller superduo! It was all so, so good.

Hey, another DC++ member! Hello! I'm sure I either shared or swiped something from everyone there so, thank you! Haha. I miss seeing the color coded bar at the bottom of the screen that indicated if a file was being uploaded or downloaded. Good times. :))

The happy memories are certainly best and thankfully there are many!

[shadownyc.livejournal.com]

I can't totally empathize. QaF truly had a surprising impact on my life, especially after I started getting involved with the Showboards and then onto LJ.

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Completely agree. Too many good memories in there!

[sakesushimaki.livejournal.com]

Gah, I have so many fave moments! And back in the day, I knew them all by heart. ...Still do, a couple of them at least.

And the COMING HOME TO YOU speech of 406 was definitely one of those that were learned by heart. I don't know how often the BFF had to listen to me reciting this one and many other scenes word by word.

It was four years ago for me that I found QaF (OR QAF FOUND ME!) and watched all seasons. Summer of '06 -- what a life-changing couple of months. God. *tears up*

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Aww, coming home to you in 206. Good times, good times. I love that scene so hard still.

It's been four eventful years for you and of course many more to come, bb. <3

[mitakay.livejournal.com]

This was a great nostolgic post...
I am late to the fandom, I didn't even know about QaF until early 2008!
This show has touched my life like no other; this fandom is so amazing, I am enjoying every minute here.
I have so many "Fave" moments on the show...but that damn Prom dance- I could watch that 1000 times (probably already have) and never get tired of watching.
Best show, best characters, best chemistry/love story EVER!

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Wow, 2008! Relatively new still but it's so much fun to discover things. Hopefully you've seen some old fandom favorites. Thank you for sharing!

[my2cats.livejournal.com]

For ten years QaF has me in it's clutches.It changed my life.I remember watching the first episode and I couldn't believe what I saw on my tv.I never thought the show would last as long as it did,I was sure it would be canceled.I never missed an episode in five years.I hated 513(still do,never watched it again).I balled like a baby after it aired.

For me one of the saddest moments was Brian and Justin in the garage after the bashing.
Justin...I wish I could remember.
Brian...I wish I could forget.

My happy place will always be 308.I just love Justin on the prowl going after his prey and poor Brian being so fucked and never standing a chance(not that he put up much of a fight,lol)

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

God, the episodes after the bashing never fail to completely kill me. There are a lot of sweet moments in there. I think I love most of S2 in general. I'm also totally with you on 308. It really couldn't get any better than that. Brian never stood a chance after that hot kiss in the office.

Thank you for sharing your memories!

[boohica.livejournal.com]

Gosh, this post just made me tear up. I can't believe it's been 5 years either.

I came to the fandom exactly when the show ended and I've been kicking myself for not discovering it sooner. It made an enormous impact on my life.

There are so many wonderful moments but the one that comes to my mind right now is Brian and Debbie's conversation in season 2, the- "you love him don't you?" that scene was too amazing for words. Also, the 122 dance... I think I could watch that forever.

I don't think there'll ever be a show like it, with such amazing characters and the mind-blowing B/J chemistry and it's just *sigh* I miss it. :(

I've always been sort of a lurker on LJ but when I saw your post, I just couldn't resist giving my two cents :)

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you for coming out of lurker-dom to contribute! I know that I've seen you around so -- hello! I totally agree with you on those really great moments. Thank you for sharing them!

[cloudno9.livejournal.com]

Hi. Found this from inner_justin's post on b/jfic. I'm more of a lurker on LJ but the reminiscing got me thinking of what scenes stayed with me long after watching them. I stumbled onto QAF last year, weirdly enough while reading a J2 fic which had a one sentence mention of it.That made me curious enough to want to find out more about it.

As sexy and hot as the sex scenes between Brian and Justin are, these are some of the other moments that resonated in me:

The prom and after in the parking lot; Brian watching over Justin in the hospital. I think that resonated with everyone watching.

The fortune cookie scene in S4.

The pride episode in S2, when Justin leaves Brian to trick but Brian follows Justin in the street and asks him to dance. Brian: "Hey stud, you wanna dance? I promise you won't forget this one." Sigh!

Episode 2x03. Justin walking down a street on Liberty Ave with Brian waiting on the other end...Brian: "Come on, Sonny boy"; the hug as Justin reaches Brian...Justin: "I wasn't sure I was gonna make it"; Brian: "I was", the lighthearted teasing after that...the whole bit.

Brian dancing with Emmet, trying to help him with the whole Ted situation.

Any and all scenes with Brain and Gus, especially 5x13 the whole ring bearer scene.

Justin in the studio at P.I.F.A. trying to finish his drawing with increasing frustration with his "gimp hand".

Justin waiting for Brian with chicken soup in 4x09; that whole scene, the argument, Brain going to the bedroom accepting Justin's help, Justin following with the soup.

Last scene of Season 3, when there was still sanity in QAF before the insaneness of backpedaling of the growth of characters (Brian especially) that occurred in season 5.

Oh and I loved the growth of Brian and Ted's friendship. I feel it grew as Brian matured and he depended less on Michael and what Michael alsways perceived him as.

Also, am I crazy to be turned on with Brian in total work/boss mode?

I could mention so many more but I'll leave it at that. I refuse to believe that Justin going to N.Y. was the end for B/J. Justin learned from the whole Ethan story that Brain will always be the one for him, and for Brian, Justin is it.

Btw, you mention the Paley Festival in your post, do you know if and where I can get videos of that. I would love to watch them.

Thanks for this post :)

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Thank you for coming out of lurker mode to contribute! There are a lot of great moments and memories in your comment that you mentioned, definitely.

Also, am I crazy to be turned on with Brian in total work/boss mode?

No, not at all! I love Brian as a boss. I'm always on the search for office fics that I've never read before.

Unfortunately, the Paley Festival can only be seen at Paley Centers in Los Angeles and New York. If you ever have the opportunity to go, you can go into one of their library centers and watch a replay of the event. It was really great, informative, and took place in the middle of Season Two so many episodes hadn't aired yet. It was interesting insight into the show.

Thank you for sharing!