spoilerish for 405

[wren_kt7oz]

One quick observation that I wanted to make on this episode.

 

The thing that crossed my mind about this story arc was about how much of it, how much of Justin's struggles, Brian must already have dealt with in some way.

 

He also is the victim of violence. He must have faced many of the demons Justin is facing himself. We know that both his parents were capable of making him feel scared and weak. We know Jack used to take out his temper on him, and we've seen Joanie reduce him to a mess just with words.

 

And we've seen him battle with his anger ... we saw how close he came to punching his father in that garage, and we know how strong the pattern of children of abuse becoming abusers is. Brian has dealt with these demons in himself, in his own way.

 

Which IMO makes it even more remarkable, and shows even more how deeply he respects Justin's right to make his own mistakes, that he doesn't say anything about that. That he doesn't do the "been there, done that" thing with Justin. That he worries and frets and even, heaven help us! talks to Michael and Ben about his concerns.  But he refrains from drawing the parallels and making it about him, rather than about Justin.

 

Have I mentioned how much I love Brian?

 

Just wanted to point that out.

 

Comments

[mi-nion.livejournal.com]

Think about this:
In his ranting Cody let's us know he also has abuse in his childhood. Brian is therefore living proof that a crappy childhood is not an excuse to be a horrible adult.

[wren-kt7oz.livejournal.com]

Exactly - Brian may have issues in terms of distancing himself emotionally, but he's not a violent man.

The only time we've seen him become violent was when he punched Mikey.

(And I did not cheer! That's a vicious rumour. I may have clapped a little. Just a little. And perhaps a whoop or two. But I did not cheer.)

[smartwomn1.livejournal.com]

Hey, aren't you supposed to be writing about a birthday party? Not giving us S4 thoughts!!

[highd.livejournal.com]

so funny

[wren-kt7oz.livejournal.com]

:giggle: I am. Really, I am. I have about five pages written. I just don't want to post it till it's all done, and meanwhile there's all this S4 stuff about and I get lured.

[highd.livejournal.com]

I have loved Brian from the second he said 10 minutes top :)

[wren-kt7oz.livejournal.com]

Not sure when I fell for him ... actually, yes. I am ... I fell in lust when he and Justin were licking their lips at each other in the 'where you headed' scene.

I fell in like with him when instead of making Justin feel like a complete dork for being so young, he told him about his gym teacher.

And I fell in love with him at the hospital when he delivered the "unless I want him to" line and gave Justin that 'just for him' smile.

By the time he'd got through "maw and paw" the scene with Lindz I was a gooey mess.

Sigh. Such lovely memories. Damn! Now I want to go back and watch S1 all over again.

[highd.livejournal.com]

ummmm seriously about that party :)

[wren-kt7oz.livejournal.com]

slave drivers!

I'm working on it, I'm working on it!

LOL