You write that you "have no idea what the heart of the Michael character is." I agree. Perhaps that is what is so annoying about Michael. He is like an empty box: all the facets are there, but why? Michael has all the features the boy next door should have, but has nothing else. He doesn't have anything real inside of that package. I blame Hal for that emptiness; I don't see him loving the character. He doesn't give a part of himself to Michael. Is it because Hal can't identify with a gay character? I choose to believe so. He has been the only one of the grew that has repeatedly pointed out his heterosexuality. Why does he think that it is necessary when he is acting in this show? He is afraid of something, and I think we know what it is.

BTW: If you want to laugh at Michael, my story Beery Busy Night on Liberty Avenue might give you a chance. http://www.livejournal.com/users/elaere/8559.html

If we take the characters as different facets of gay life, the Michael and Brian - relationship becomes even more complicated. Michael is attracted to Brian, but Brian is not attracted to Michael. So, does that mean that the lifestyle Michael represents has a yearning in it for something wilder? And at the same time that the lifestyle Brian represents does not have similar feelings towards the other lifestyle. Brian's attitude towards Michael - "you are so pathetic" - gets quite a different interpretation if that is true.