Still Queer as Folk

Threeway custody begins with Lindsay, Melanie and Michael splitting baby JR three ways. Brian tries to lure Michael out of suburbia and back to Babylon by throwing a super heroes themed night at Babylon.

In another story ripped from the headlines, HIV positive Hunter bashes his head at his swim meet and Callie’s parents cause chaos by screaming out that he has AIDS. Debbie begins her life of leisure after retiring from the diner, only to find herself right back in the diner to solve Loretta’s problem with her husband. Oh, and Ted has plastic surgery finally. 

“Hard Decisions” was directed by Kelly Makin, one of my favorite Queer as Folk directors. This is his ninth of eleven episodes. I think my favorite Kelly Makin episode was season three’s “There’s Nothing Noble about Being Poor.”  That was an Ethan Gold episode.

It first aired in the US on Jun 5th, 2005. It was written by Michael MacLennan, his 12th of 14 episodes. Most recently he wrote season four’s “The Snake in Paradise.” That was the bug chaser episode.

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A three way of a different kind happens when Michael, Melanie and Lindsay collide in a custody hearing with Lindsay’s lawyer destroying Melanie and and Michael’s character. This results in a judgement of three-way custody of baby JR. 

At Carl’s urging, Debbie retires from the diner leaving Rosie O’Donnell in her place. Emmett’s Queer Guy segment on the local news doesn’t quite go as planned but after spreading his legs at the social gym, he relights his gay flame on the next episode. In a somewhat pointless runner, Brian manages to get people to come back to Babylon.

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Today we’re talking about episode 2 of Season 5, and it’s called “Back in Business”

It first aired in the US on May 22nd, 2005. This episode played back to back with the season 5 premiere episode. It was written by Del Shores, his sixth of eight episodes, and he also produced 41 episodes of the show. 

“Back in Business” was directed by Michael DeCarlo, his tenth of eleven episodes. Most recently he directed “Proposal of Two Kinds” in season four. We weren’t a big fan of that episode, but we did like his episode from season 2 called Bowling for Equality, which was the cops versus queers bowling match.

Here’s the synopsis of “Back in Business.” A tug of war breaks out over JR when Michael hires a lawyer to gain joint custody of the infant. In the background, Lindsay starts to consider her own parental rights and asks Brian to get Michael to back off. Justin returns from Hollywood and mysteriously tells everyone except Brian how much he hated it, and how he was glad to be back in Pittsburg.

Ted has what can best be described as a mid-life crisis and bleaches his hair, punches up his clothing, and starts considering plastic surgery. In a story line directly stolen from Bravo, Emmett is offered a job as an on-air Queer Guy for a local television station.

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Michael takes it upon himself to throw a ten year anniversary surprise party for Melanie and Lindsay who proceed to air all of their dirty laundry in front of 25 guests. Ben and Michael decide that it’s time to leave Liberty Avenue and buy a house of their own next to two other gay couples with children.

Justin is still in Hollywood, but Brian cancels his trip to see him for reasons that we can’t quite figure out. It ends up not mattering because the studio pulls the plug on Rage and Justin will be headed back to Pittsburg in the next episode anyway. In a hilarious runner, Debbie and Carl walk in on Emmett being plowed by somebody named Shawn causing him to start looking for his own place. In a not so hilarious runner, Ted meets a Twink that tries to force-feed him pizza. 

“Move and Leave” was directed by Kelly Makin. His 8th of eleven episodes. He directed last season’s “Irritation and Separation” that we unanimously loved. He also directed the season four finale which we unanimously hated. 

It was written by show runners Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman and they wrote the season 4 finale too.

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In a special episode, we recap the massive story arcs of season four and Patrick challenges Matt to a game of Queer as Folk Trivia!

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High drama ensues when Brian shows off on his bicycle, rides into the ditch and breaks his collarbone. With Michael’s help, Brian crosses the finish line in a blizzard to find the gang covered in snow waiting for them. Having survived cancer, Brian vows to make changes to his live which include buying the naming rights to the Liberty House hospice and naming it after Uncle Vic, plus asking Justin to move back in with him.

Unbeknownst to Brian, Justin has already decided to move to LA to work on Rage after getting banged by a movie star. Melanie gives birth to her child conceived with Michael’s help, but Lindsay holds true to their agreement to split up after the baby is born. Michael, Ben and Debbie get lips with the customs agent while trying to re-enter the US.

Emmett and Ted get lost in the countryside while searching for a 12 step meeting and Debbie calls off the wedding with Carl because Michael and Ben can’t get married in the US like she can. 

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Melanie and Lindsay reach a breaking point and decide that they will split up after the baby is born. Brian continues his late night workouts and is discovered by Justin’s detective work. Having to choose between Rage being made into a movie and going on the Liberty Ride with Brian, Justin chooses fame and fortune. Carl proposes to Debbie and Ben proposes to Michael. After a quick wedding in Toronto, Ben, Michael and the rest of gay Pittsburg kick of the Liberty Ride. 

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Melanie and Lindsay struggle to stay together in the aftermath of Lindsay hooking up with Sam Aurbach. Hunter and Callie have sex for the first time but when Callie’s parent’s find out, they appear at the Bruckner-Novotny apartment for a showdown. After ghosting Emmett, Drew Boyd stalks Emmett and tries to woo him back. Emmett briefly falls for the hunky quarterback’s attentions, only to have to call him out after Drew’s wife contacts Emmett to cater their wedding. After an action packed sex scene with Justin, Brian decides to participate in the Liberty Ride in order to save the hospice.

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Lindsay says farewell to Sam Auerbach causing a rift with Melanie who snooped on them from a second story window. Debbie goes on offense in trying to woo Carl back and stalks him to the Policeman’s ball. When that doesn’t work, she takes him to a football game. After being strong-armed by smarmy professional fund raiser Jeffrey Pendergrass, Brian takes it upon himself to rid Pittsburgh of him, causing the Liberty Ride fundraiser to crash and burn.

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Drew Boyd proves to be quite the top with Emmett in a string of seedy motel hookups and no amount of Justin’s chicken soup can help Brian's ED so Justin enlists Michael for help. Brian's confrontation with his mother restores his secret powers. Ben has a troubling encounter with a bug chaser and Lindsay and Sam's relationship is disturbingly consummated.

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