quinn222

I have to watch it again but just a couple of thoughts...


One of these days I'll have a chance to watch the entire thing again and comment on everything but just a few thoughts-

When I rewatched 510 I thought that was Dusty that Brian saw the medic cover with a sheet so it was dreadful seeing Mel call her totally unaware. Good to know Eli and what's his name are okay though.

Brian and Ben in the car! Loved that. "You call me Zen Ben?" :))

I didn't buy Emmett's reaction at all. People are saying Brian's reaction was OOC (more on that in a sec) but to me it was Emmett who was totally OOC here.

Poor Ted. I liked Brian's sort of puzzled reaction to him. You could see he was trying to figure it out but he had so much going on in his own head that he didn't really get a chance to pursue what was happening with Ted.

Cynthia! What a relief, I was afraid we weren't going to see her at all this season.

Okay, on to Brian. I don't think his reaction was at all out of character. I also don't think it has a single thing to do with Michael. I keep hearing that he's acting this way 'because of Michael.' No, he isn't. He's acting this way because of himself and Justin. Brian reacts to stress in extreme ways. He always has.

He has been shown in the clearest possible way what he very nearly threw away because he refused to deal with his emotions in an honest way and he refused to believe deep down that he deserved a real family and a loving relationship. He was terrified that something had happened to Justin, that Justin was dead. His every reaction to the bombing was focused on Justin until he knew that Justin was okay. Only at that point did his thoughts turn to Michael and the other people killed or injured.

To me Brian's thoughts were written for the world to see in this one. He very nearly lost Justin (for the second time.) They would have been apart at the end because Brian was so bullheaded in sticking to his 'principles.' He would not let himself express anything emotionally or give in to Justin and he can now see that all of that was meaningless. He loves Justin, he knows and it and so does Justin. So because of his own insecurities he was willing to give Justin up. But deep down he believed Justin would come around. Then he sees the ultimate example of life is short and you could lose everything in the blink of an eye.

So what does he do? He behaves exactly the way he always behaves. With an extreme and overboard version of what he thinks that he needs to do. Brian doesn't have a clue how to express his real emotions. He buys stuff. He gives what he thinks Justin wants. You said this was your dream so I am going to give it to you. Right down to the stables. This is exactly what you want right? He's off blance and frightened but really trying to convey to Justin that he truly meant what he said. He doesn't get the subtleties. He doesn't understand how to get this across in just a day to day way and he is afraid to take the time to build that up. After all, death just came knocking at their door for the third time in four years.

He tried a clumsy but straightforward approach and Justin turns him down. Believing (rightly to a great extent) that Brian is reacting to stress and will change his mind. Brian reacts in classic Brian fashion. He mulls it over. He makes a plan (I've said it before, Brian with a plan is a dangerous thing), and he acts on it.

So, in my long winded way, that's why I think his reaction was totally in character.