Brian and Justin are a main pairing in the Showtime drama series Queer as Folk and are comprised of Brian Kinney and Justin Taylor. Their relationship begins as a one night stand which progresses into an open relationship and while they are consistently on and off throughout the series, there is never a doubt that they love each other completely.
Summary[]
One chases youth, while the youth chases him but transforms in the process. Brian said to him once “Now, go do your homework” and left him crying as he drove home.
Brian’s and Justin’s relationship is another example of twin flame soulmates where there is a runner and a chaser. Justin once chased, but as he grew older and found his purpose, he became more of a runner and Brian started to long for him.
Ultimately, they prove to be complimentary with Justin being the lighter half and Brian being the darker, cynical half of their union. Brian’s love, after running for most of the series, for Justin became overwhelming strong beyond Justin’s expectations.
Storyline[]
Season 1[]
Justin finds himself wandering disoriented outside gay clubs in Premiere for the first time and asks a guy for directions who tells Justin he is too young to be there. In the meanwhile Brian was inside Babylon, a gay club, but he comes outside where his friends Michael, Emmett and Ted are waiting for him to get a ride home saying he got bored. Walking towards the car Brian catches Justin with his eyes and was instantly drawn to him like a magnet. He leaves his friends to introduce himself to Justin who is leaning his back on a pole smoking a cigarette.
Brian takes Justin back to his place where Brian touches Justin for the first time. While they are doing this Brian asks him what he likes and Justin just answers what he thinks Brian will like. Brian gets a call from the hospital giving him the news of the baby, Justin comes in his bed eventhough he told him not to. He then finds out Justin is 17 years old and that he can't go home. Justin also tells him that this would be his first time. Without doing anything else they both leave to the hospital after picking up Michael. While at the hospital, Justin becomes acquainted with Melanie and Lindsey. Justin is ultimately responsible for naming Gus, Brian and Lindsay's biological son.
Brian is on E so Michael drives his jeep back. In the car Justin decides he will go back to Brians place after he insists. Brian and Justin go back to his place and Justin has his first time with Brian. Brian goes slow and tells him that he wants him to always remember that moment. Brian wakes up the next day and still doesn't remember Justin's name and to a trashed apartment. Justin tries to remind him but Brian says he does remember that he was juggling and doing handstands. While Justin is taking a shower Brian remembers he just had a son after listening to his phone messages. He then joins Justin in the shower where Justin reminds him that he named his baby. They have sex in the shower. Michael then finds them standing near the beg making out. Justin leaves with one of Brian's briefs. Then Brian and Michael drive Justin to school in the jeep that was vandalized and says f----- in the side. Justin's schoolmates tease him and Brian claps back an answer. After this Justin get out and Brian tells him "I'll see you in your dreams".
That same day in Queer, There and Everywhere, Daphne tells Justin she figured he was gay. After their encounter, Justin falls in love with Brian going as far as to tell his friend Daphne "I saw the face of God," he even says he can still feel him inside of him. Justin goes out that same night in the hopes of meeting Brian again. He does find him and joins in the conversation with the guys and finds out Brian is 29. Brian leaves without Justin so Michael takes him to the diner and lets him know that Brian only cares about himself and he doesn't do boyfriends. While Brian is waiting for his "date" Justin shows up at his apartment. Justin leaves and Brians date tells him to go after him and check everything is ok. Brian goes outside where he talks to Justin and lets him know that they fucked and nothing else will happen. Brians tells him he doesn;t believe in love, he just believes in fucking. Justin leaves crying.
Justin then goes out looking for Brian again in No Bris, No Shirt, No Service with Daphne. They go to Woody's where Justin talks with Debbie. Brian tells Michael to leave Justin alone, that he kind of sweet. Justin and Daphne manage to get into Babylon with the help of Debbie and Vic. While Brian is dancing with two guys Justin passes by and the guys go to him. Brian then pushes both guys away and dances with Justin.
eventually gets Brian to have sex with him again, breaking Brian's own rule of not having sex with the same person more than once. This causes Brian's best friend Michael to become jealous and act subtly hostile towards Justin while ultimately befriending him into the group.
After Brian rebuffs Justin, he confides in Daphne whom tells him that she just went out and got a new boyfriend which made her ex completely jealous. She tells him "You're not exactly a troll, you know?" Justin takes her advice and goes out to the club, Babylon, accompanied by her and not only does he get his attention, but also gets the attention of people he pursuits. As they try to dance with Justin, Brian pushes his pursuers away has Justin to himself which he dances and then takes Justin home to be more intimate.
Brian continues to rebuffs him, but yet, gives signal to Justin showing he cares more beyond his shallow actions. Justin gets harassed by Chris Hobbs about the piercing saying he really is queer and Justin fights him back. Later, at home, his father accusing him of flaunting himself around school and doesn't stand up for him when he was sexually harassed and Justin states that he will not go to another private school, and he will always be his queer son, and runs off to find Brian.
His father ramps Brian, and later assaults him leading Justin to tell him he will not return home. Justin stays with Brian. he attempts to cook Brian dinner, but Brian brings a male visitor for the south to his disappointment. This particular hookup of Brian's gives Justin cooking tips on Jambalaya. After initially leaving, Brian comes home to a clean loft and a refine Jambalaya meal from Justin. Brian says it's good when tasting it. Justin looks over at Brian enjoying the food knowing he is winning him over.
After the issues with Justin's father, and kicking him out, they have conversations about their fathers revealing Brian never told his father about his sexuality. Beyond Justin's knowledge, he went to go see his father later on.
Brian kicks Justin out, and not knowing where he will end up, he runs away to New York. Daphne goes to the gang and tells them he has ran away. The gang goes to New York in search of Justin. Brian finds him in a hotel having tracked the use of his credit card. Justin and Brian become intimate in the hotel room and they bring him back to Pittsburgh. With his mother's consent, she allows Debbie to provide housing for Justin adjusting to his life as a young gay man. Debbie also hires him at the Liberty Diner to work off his dues for spending Brian's money on the credit card.
When Brian and Michael aren't speaking due to the scandal at Michael's 30th Birthday party, Justin gets involved. Brian invites him to hang out for the first time while at the diner with Daphne. Realizing it was the first time, they wonder what it means and he instantly knows when Michael walks in the door; his misses Michael. Justin gets their orders wrong on purpose in an attempt to get them to talk but it doesn't work. Later, He tracks Michael down and gives him the comic saying the Brian loves him and that was his way of saying "goodbye" and giving him to David Cameron.
When Brian has sex with a subordinate worker in Very Stupid People, named Kip, at his firm, he files a lawsuit against Brian trying to blackmail him for a promotion. Justin hears of this in A Change of Heart, and using his final days of being seventeen years old, chased Kip until he enticed him into oral sex. Justin uses true facts about his father going crazy on a man he told about his sexual affairs (referring to Brian), however, he twists the facts. Kip gets worried thinking it will get out that he was with a minor, and Justin cleverly uses this to his advantage by bribing him not to press charges against Brian.
Following Justin saving Brian from the lawsuit, he has his eighteenth birthday and begins looking into colleges. He also helps Brian babysit Gus since Melanie and Lindsay have fallen out and didn't have other arrangements during their discord during The Ties That Bind.
Justin gets suspended in French Fried. Brian gives Justin advice while they are intimate to use condoms as an item for when Justin and Daphne attempt to start a gay-straight alliance at his school, only to have Mr. Dixon shut it down. Hobbs and his buddies run into Justin and the gang on Liberty Avenue one evening. Hobbs tries to taunt him, and even attempts to physically assault him which Brian prevents him out of protection from coming too close, but Justin angry about the trouble at school and that he caused him generally exposes Hobbs secret with him when he was in detention. He reveals to anyone witnessing on Liberty Avenue that he let him masturbate him and he enjoyed it. Hobbs lefts embarrassed and humiliated saying the Justin was fucked. Their was applause from local LGBTQ community with Ted and Emmett supporting him, but Brian tells him that he has gained a REAL enemy.
At the beginning of Solution (How TLFKAM Got Her Name Back) while Michael is showing everyone his trip to Paris, Brian and Justin are frenching. The bullying continues with Justin as the burned his locker at school and cruelly taunt him. Later on, at the loft Justin wakes up to find Brian looking at a picture of him with Gus. While Brian is feeling bad about being a bad parent Justin consoles him and "kills him with kindness". After, when they are all celebrating with the senator that they got to establish the club at school Brian tells Justin she is using him, to not let his guard down or he is dead. Justin tells him that that would never happen because he is there to protect him.
Surprise Kill starts with them dancing at Babylon where Justin tells them he decided that Pittsburgh institution of Fine Arts is where he want to go instead of Dartmouth University. Justin starts to make decisions attempting to appease his parents when he finds out they are getting a divorce, but Brian and Debbie's talk sense into him saying that he has to live for himself and not make decisions based on his parents. He finally decides to the Institute of Fine Arts.
Daphne asks Justin to be her first time in Good Grief!. During this same time Brian's father dies.
Justin tries a number of things to get Brian to love him back. In the The King of Babylon Justin is tired of Brian always taking him for granted. So, following the recommendation of a drag queen he decides to compete in (and win) the "King of Babylon" contest, stealing one of Brian's tricks. The next day at the dinner Justin tells everyone about his night with the guy. Brian seems jealous both of Justin and that he took his guy for the night. Justin tells them that the guy wanted to see him again. When Brian asks what he answered he says: "I told him that he could see me in his dreams".
Brian gets offered a possible job in New York in Running to Stand Still by a guy he was with at an advertising event. At the loft Justin asks him not to go to New York and is upset that Brian doesn't care about him. Brian tells him that once he leaves he won't look back and expects Justin to do the same. Justin cries and Brian hugs him. Justin later tries to convince Michael that they can't let him leave. Michael tells him that no one can convince Brian of anything. It is then for the first time that Justin says that he loves Brian. At the loft Justin os looking at the apartment in New York and is surprised by how expensive it is. Brian then receives a call where they tell him he didn't get the job.
In the Season One Finale, Full Circle everyone surprises Brian for his 30th birthday with a death party. It is then he lets them know that he is not going to New York. At Babylon Justin asks Brian to the prom who turns him down. He doesn't want to be in a room full of 18 year olds. Despite initially turning Justin down, Brian shows up at Justin's prom and dances with him, kissing him in front of everybody. After Brian and Justin share a dance and kiss while on the dance floor at the prom, they walk out to Brian's jeep. They reminisce of the previous events of the prom and then share a kiss. Justin described it as "the best night of [his] life." Unbeknownst to them, Chris had followed them to the parking garage. When Brian and Justin parted ways, Chris, a fellow student, follows Justin while he walks away with a baseball bat. Brian notices Chris too late and he swings and hits Justin in the head with the bat. This event has impacted his life immensely and its effects are seen throughout the series. We last see Brian at the hospital, bloody and crying with Michael siting by his side.
Season 2[]
Justin at the hospital after the attack and Brian helping him recover[]
Justin suffers resulting in a two week-long coma, trauma, and brain damage that causes limited use of his hand. Justin is in rehab for one month during which time Brian visits him everyday without him knowing in the season premiere Home Is Where the Ass Is. Brian refuses to visit Justin after he is let out of the hospital but Michael sees that he is wearing the bloody scarf that Justin was wearing during the attack under his clothes.
Annoyed by all the attention he is getting Justin leaves the house with Daphne to look for Brian. He reaches Woody's where people surround him and then he sees Brian. Brian and Justin go to the loft where Justin lets him know he doesn't remember anything, just what people have told him. Brian then recounts the events from when they went to the jeep and saw Chris coming at him but he couldn't do anything. Justin sees how distraught he is and tells him it wasn't his fault. Then Brian drives him home. At the end the judge takes pity on Chris because of how Brian and Justin flaunted themselves at the prom. Chris's only punishment is 500 hours of community service and a two year suspenses sentence. Later it is implied that Brian superglued the toilet that same judge uses everyday which leaves the judge seating there for 14 hours.
At the end Brian is helping Justin throw the ball as part of his rehab exercises. Then Justin's mom tells Brian that she thanks him for the help but to not see his son again. Brian tells her that he cares about him but she throws back that it was his fault he was almost killed. Brian manages to honor her wishes even when Justin shows up at his door in All Better Now. However, Justin then figures out what his mom did and confronts her. After this Jennifer asks Brian another favor, to help Justin. So Justin moves in with Brian. That night Brian tries to get intimate with Justin, thinking it may help, but Justin is not able to follow through. Brian then consults a psychiatrist who recommends to try to unlock Justin memories. To trigger his memories and get Justin to feel the pain. With Daphne they try to recreate the dance but Justin doesn't remember. Then they go back to the parking lot where the attack happened and Brian reveals that thay day his smile made him understand why Debbie calls him sunshine. Justin doesn't remember anything either. Later at Gus' birthday party a toy baseball bat makes Justin remember. Later that night, Justin tells Brian that he remembers he tried to save him and notices the bloody scarf. They then are intimate.
In Hypocrisy: Don't Do It Brian is set to receive a hero award for saving Justin. He also leaves Woody's because Justin can't stay home alone too long. The next day Brian get a horrible review in the paper from Howard Bellwheter that says he is a pedophile. Later while they are trying to walk around and help Justin, him and Brian run into a book signing of Howard. Justin confronts him and leaves. Afterwards they try again, Justin walks all alone in the street full of people towards the open arms of Brian.
During Pride Justin goes to his first pride. During this episode Justin runs into Chris at the hospital. He tells Brian who gets upset and hugs him. Brian makes Justin go to pride and march with his mom. Later at Woody's Justin leaves Brian to find a stud, however Brian goes after him. They dance and Brian promises he wont forget this one.
In ...Wherever That Dream May Lead You they are being intimate and Justin turns down a BJ because he wants to save energy for his first day at college. While Brian goes to the bathroom Justin tries to draw but his hand gives out. Justin drops out of school because he can't draw. So Brian finds him a digital computer for him to draw. Initially Justin rejects it but by the end he tries it out and it works.
Establishing the rules of their relationship[]
In Mixed Blessings Brian and Justin are acting like they are in a relationship. All the friends bet how long they are going to last. Then Brian and Justin both go to do groceries, which makes some guy think he is in a relationship. This prompts him to overcompensate and Justin later comes to the loft to find him with another guy. Next day Justin is mad and Michael tries to explain to him that that is Brian. Justin then confronts Brian and asks why he is there, if it is just because he is guilty. Brian doesn't answer so Justin leaves to Debbie's. Later on Debbie tells Brian that she knows he loves Justin, Brian doesn't deny it.
After some back and fort Brian suggest establishing rules to their relationship. He says that they are not like the heterosexuals and lesbians. That if he is out Justin has to know he is doing what he wants, which means fucking who he wants. But the he always goes back home to him. Justin then says that they always needs to be back before 3 am, no numbers or names exchanged and no kissing in the mouth but him.
In The Leper (Hath the Babe Not Eyes?) after meeting Ben , Justin asks Brian to do it bareback because they can, unlike Michael and Ben. Brian tells him a stern no and warns him to never try that with anyone, not even him. He says he wants him safe and around for a long time. Brian has a close call with a guy when Justin and his mom arrive in Love for Sale To do as Brian says, Justin goes to a college party that Daphne throws where he sleeps with someone close to his age. He finds out this new guy is a virgin and feels bad so he kisses him, breaking the rules of his and Brian's arrangement. Later on the guy goes to the dinner looking for Justin but he has to let him down hard. The guy leaves crying, similar to the way Justin acted after his time with Brian. Guilty Justin asks Brian to go home only the two of them that night after Babylon, Brian complies.
Accentuate the Positive starts with both of them at the backroom of Babylon, each fucking a guy and kissing between themselves. After his sister tells him to Brian goes to spend time with his mother who still doesn't know he is gay. She then pays him a visit at the loft where she meets Justin and figures out that he is gay.
Debbie finds a dead body in Priorities, Please! (Beat the Time). Justin freaks out because it they take people home that they don't know and it could've been them that died. Brian then points out that he didn't know him the night they met. He also adds that the thrill of danger was part of the appeal of going home with him. Later on Brian leaves with a random guy even though Justin is scared and doesn't want him. During The Wedding episode Brian wins an all expense paid trip for two to the White Party in Miami. Even though it's at the same time as Mel and Lindsay's wedding they give him their blessing to not go. Initially he invites Justin, but he decides to stay back to be at the wedding. Brian ends up going alone after helping everyone save the wedding.
Justin figures out that Brian has slept with Ben in One Degree of Brian Kinney when they talk about them two being at the white party years ago. Justin then accidentally laughs when Michael says Brian hasn't slept with anyone he has been with, then Ben reveals that he has.
Justin's dad tells him he won't be paying for his school anymore in It's Because I'm Gay, Right? so he has to figure out a way to pay. Brian offers to pay for it but Justin wants to do it by himself. He ends up taking a job at Babylon as a dancer. The first night he doesn't get many tips so he lets the manager blow him to be able to dance at the bar and get more tips. Brian is upset that Justin is dancing and letting his studies go in The Dangers of Sex and Drugs he offers again telling Justing he can lend him the money and he'll pay back after he graduates. Justin declines again. After, to be able to get a weekend off Justin goes to his managers house for a party. He realizes there that they are drugging all the guys so he quits and leaves. Back at the loft he asks Brian if the offer still stands, to which he says yes. From there on Brian pays for Justins studies, even when they are apart.
Justin and Michael work on a new comic book in Rage Against This Machine which makes Brian jealous, not knowing that they are basing the main character (Rage) on him. They actually base their first comic on the story of Justin getting bashed in the head and Brian saving him. Brian's jealousy only grows even more when Michale calls Justin at 4am while they are making out. The next day Brian goes to Babylon alone where Ben basically says that Justin and Michael are cheating on them with their work. Later, he gets home to find Justin and Michael sleeping in his bed fully clothed but with Michael's hand on Justin's leg. He has a jealous overreaction and pisses on the drawing they had made for the comic. Michael and Justin confront him the next day, afterwards Debbie lets Brian know that he is jealous, eve if he doesn't want to admit it. But that he should realize that they are basing their superhero on him, that he is the center of their world. To make up for this Brian reorganizes the loft and the comic sketches, and apologizes to both.
Justin doubts the relationship[]
The lack of attention and romaticism leaves Justin wanting more. Even more so after meeting Ethan Gold who showers hims with compliments and nice words during his birthday in You Say It's Your Birthday! I Couldn't Care Less!. Brian doesn't believe in birthdays so he doesn't do anything special for Justin. At the end he gives Justin a hustler as a gift. Justin is visibly disappointed. Then in You Can Leda Girl to Pussy Justin asks Brian if they can go on a vacation together, to which he agrees. However, Brian's company gets sold and he has to prove to the new owner his worth. So instead of going to their ski trip in Vermont he leaves to Chicago without telling Justin. When Brian gets bsck exited that he made partner at his ad firm, there is no one home because Justin went to their trip alone. Brian doesn't go after either or apologize for his lck of communication.
Justin, who is already doubting the relationship gets back from Vermont in Sick, Sick, Sick to find Brian in the loft with a guy. Later when talking with Daphne they run into Ethan playing in the street. Back at the loft Justin tries to get Brian to tell him he missed him, or anything at all, which he doesn't. Next day Justin runs into Ethan who tells him he want to write him a song. They go to Ethan's place where they have a picnic on the floor and Ethan tells Justin how well he would treat him if he was with him. Justin tries to do the same with Brian at home but Brian doesn't want to. Brian goes to Babylon. Tired Justin goes to Ethan's place and asks him for the song, the become intimate. Justin continues seeing Ethan in Bowling for Equality and every time he gets back to the loft he takes a shower, so that Brian doesn't notice. Brian notices something is wrong. Michael sees Justin kissing Ethan on the street. Brian is clear with Michael that Justin doesn't owe him anything, making it seem as if he knows what is going on. When he gets home later, after being with Ethan, Brian smells him and doesn't let him take a shower. Just in the middle of sleeping together, Brian tells him to go take a shower.
In the season finale Out With a Whimper thinks between them are tense. Brian knows and Justin suspects he knows but doesn't stop. Brian plans to throw a launch party for the release of Rage, the comic. On the street Brian "runs" into Ethan playing the violin. He very drags Ethan to the dinner under the excuse that he can make him famous, after leaving a 100 dollar tip. At the dinner Brian offers him a job and just when Justin walks in he introduces himself. Ethan seems to understand who he is. The three of them stand there awkwardly until Ethan leaves disgusted. At the loft Brian tells Justin that he didn't want to take the fun out of it. Justin tells him that he wants more, flowers, romaticism. He wants him to tell him he is all he wants. Brian tells him he can but he won't. He leaves Justin to decide if he wants to stay or not. Later at night Justin gets home and they lie there spooning, with the possible end looming over them. At the Rage launch party at Babylon Justin finds Brian with a guy in the backroom. After this he leaves with Ethan, marking his break-up with Brian.
Season 3[]
Justin living with Ethan[]
In Mad Dog Kinney Justin is living with Ethan and Brian never admits it but is feeling lonely. This becomes a problem for Michael and Ben who want to spend time alone. Justin picks up his things while Brian is not at the house. At the end we see Brian hired a guy that looks similar to Justin to sleep with. In House Full of Children Justin finds out that Brian has paid off his tuition after he realizes it got paid off and it wasn't his father. He asks him about it saying he cant accept it. Brian says that a deals a deal and he expects him to take it and pay back with interest in the future. Brian also give Justin his computer. This prompts Justin to also make up with Michael and work on the comic.
In Doctors of Dickology Brian hires Justin to to a poster for a charity event he is organizing and he agrees to pay him 500 dollars. Ethan is jealous that Justin is spending time with Brian, Justin tells him not to worry. The day of the event Justin and Ethan go to an art event with Ethan's friends. Bored Justin leaves and goes to the event at Babylon where he sees Brian. He later leaves.
In Brat-Sitting Brian's nephew accuses him of molesting him. Justin finds out when he is at Debbies house that Brian got arrested. Later Justin goes to the arcade to talk to the nephew and makes him confess. He also notices he has Brian's shell bracelet. with this information he is able to get the nephew to confess to the police and get the charges dropped. This is the second time in the show that Justin saves Brian from going to jail. They share a very tension filled moment when Justin goes to the loft to give Brian back his bracelet.
In There's Nothing Noble About Being Poor Ethan get offered a music agent with the condition that he act straight. He initially says no and Justin agrees with the decision. Later Brian sees Ethan in the park and tells gives him a speech to use everything to his advantage and ends with: "there is nothing noble about being poor". Ethan then tells Justin he decided to sign the deal and repeats this phrase. Having heard it before from Brian, Justin knows that it was Brian that convinced him. He goes to the Bath house to confront Brian.
In One Ring to Rule Them All Ethan gets offered a concert in Harrisburg. Due to the stipulation Justin can't go but he gives him a ring so that he always remember each other. Brian sees the ring at the dinner and comments on it. At the end of the episode we see that Justin did go to the concert but he sees Ethan leave with a guy. In Stop Hurting Us Justin asks Ethan about the guy and he denies anything happening. He proclaims his love for him and that he is his muse. Afterwards the guy shows up on their doorstep with a bouquet of roses. Justin then realizes that he did cheat. He confronts him after and Ethan says he was trying to cover his tracks. Ethan also asks why he won't forgive him like Justin had done for Brian several times. Justin counterbacks saying he never had to forgive Brian because Brian never promised him anything. They break-up and Justin leaves. At the end Brian finds Justin in the Bathhouse fing a guy and they look at each other while Brian also gets BJ
Getting back together[]
In Hunt(er) For Love Justin tells Daphne he made a huge mistake leaving Brian. Daphne suggests that he try to be a constant presence in Brian's life with the hope that Brian gives Justin a second chance. As a part of an internship for his art degree Justin manages to get an intern position at Vanguard irritating Brian. Later at Babylon Justin talks to Brian, making it seem like a coincidence. At work Justin proves to be useful much to the detriment of Brian. Later Brian fires him and tells him if he wants something to have the balls to go for it. Justin kisses Brian and leaves. Later Justin goes to Brian's office and demands for a second chance. Brian agrees with the only demands being that Justin never plays violin in his presence again. Then they have sex in the office. In Big Fucking Mouth they are seen kissing and dancing at Babylon. Ben describes it as the most historic reunification reunification since Germany, and later they go to the bathouse. When discussing their new coming Justin agrees with Michael that what Brian had shown his love for him with his actions. The episode ends with Justin giving Brian a blowjob, just like in the cover of their counterparts do in the cover of the new comic. Then Brian tells Justin his 11'o clock arrived. As Justin is leaving the new guy asks who he is and Brian says describing their relationship is difficult but that he is the guy that he fucks more than once. Justin smiles and leaves.
In Uncle Ben Justin and Brian try to look for a place different from Babylon to be together. However they find that Stockwell has closed all the establishments. They then do it near the door of one of these after some cops tell them to go home. Brian the finds out Justin is the artist that has been placing the posters against Stockwell's campaign and makes Justin leave. Later on Bryan goes to Babylon where he finds that the backroom is closed, which was the only place left open. Following this he goes to help Justin put up the posters.
Poster May Lead to the Truth starts with Brian and Justin going to a truck parking lot that people are using as replacement to de intimate now that everything is closed. It turns out to be horrible and freezing so they end up going back and doing it at the loft. Brian convinces Stockwell to go to the Gay and Lesbian Center where with Justin and his friends he secretly organized a stand up. Stockwell is humiliated but figures out that Justin is working with Brian. Later him and Vanguard find Justin at Brian's apartment with the posters. Brian is fired. Tired of not having anywhere to do it, Brian takes it upon himself to reopen the backroom at Babylon by breaking the lock.
In his quest to get back at Stockwell Brian follows a tip from Hunter in Drugs, Sex and Lies after the backroom was closed again. Him and Justin go to a bar to entrap a police officer that probably murdered the guy Debbie found dead in season 2. Hunter ends up getting the evidence and gives it to them in Tweaked-Out, Fucked-Out Crystal Queen. Hunter is surprised that Justin is at the loft and asks how much he is charging Brian, thinking he is a hustler like him. Justin says a 100 because they fake had just been fake playing that scenario.
Justin refuses to apologize to Stockwell so he is suspended from school. He tells Brian that he doesn't have to pay for his school and that sometimes you have to sacrifice everything for what you believe in.
The Election episode starts with a black and white scene in Liberty Avenue, Brian and Justin walking by some cops and instigating them. Brian spends 5000 dollars on a new TV and Justin point out that the first thing he sees in the TV is the commercial he made for Stockwell. Justin also shares the new story for Rage, where Stockwell is a swine that has everyone fooled until Rage finds a way to expose him. Then a commercial talking about Stockwell and the murder cop airs paid by "Concerned Citizens for the Truth", Justin goes to the loft and Brian has sold most of his things. Brian is in debt 100.000 dollars because he is the one who paid for the commercial. It proves useful because Stockwell looses.
Season 4[]
Just a Little Help starts with Justin offering money to Brian who is still without money or a job. He doesn't wan't any help, he doesn't even let Justin buy him a drink at Babylon. After turning down a job from Vanguard, Brian decided to cete his own ad company which Justin names Kinnetik Corps. Later on, Justin comes home to find his mother because Brian is trying to sell the loft. Justin is sad because they made love for the first time in the loft. Brian says it wasn't love, just a rim and fuck but when Justin says it was love for him Brian just kisses him. Afterwards Justin lets Lindsay and Mel know about Brian's debt from the commercial and they manage to raise some money. Surprisingly Brian accepts it.
Justin's vigilante era[]
Stand Up for Ourselves Brian tries to get new clients for his agency and Justin is mad about the bashing. At the end he joins Cody Bell and his friends when they are talking about making the streets safe.
Mad about the bashing, in Starting a Whole New Life Justin decides to join the Pink Posse, les by Cody Bell. Brian knows this is trouble and lets him know. After a night of patrol Justin comes back exited and they are intimate. Afterwards, on a friday night, Brian is getting ready to go to Babylon but Justin has street patrol. Brian sees that Justin has a huge bruise on his back and repeats he is going to get in trouble. Justin leaves mad and Brian goes to Babylon. The vigilante group continues in Escalating Violence but Cody wants to go looking for people in other neighborhoods instead of defense in Liberty Avenue so all the group leaves, except Justin. After going to the fighting range Justin wants to fight Brian to decide who tops. They discuss and fight for a few minutes. Justin's anger only grows when Cody takes him to a homophobic speech during mass. At the end Justin is with Cody and they threaten a guy with a gun, which makes them both horny.
During How Far Can You Go Brian works on growing his company while Justin learns how to use a gun. Cody learns about Chris Hobbs. Brian finds the gun at the loft and warns Justin again. Daphne warns Brian that Justin and Cody are going to get Chris Hobbs, Brian tells her that Justin needs to do this. Finally Justin is able to confront Chris Hobbs and his vigilante era ends.
Death in the Family Brian and Justin make a bet to be with a guy they see at Babylon. If Justin wins Brian takes him to Ibiza, If Brian wins, Justins goes back to school. First Brian sees the guy at the gym, but he leaves when he hears a rumor that Brian has crabs (spread by Justin). Justin then finds the guy at Woody's and is just about to take him home when Brian shows up to let him know Vic died. He tells him the bet is off. However, after they both go to Debbie's, Brian leaves to finish off the bet, much to Justin's surprise. Brian wins when he lets the guy blow him, but the guy is a doctor and lets him know he has a lump in his testicle.
Brian's cancer[]
With a possible diagnosis of testicular cancer Brian ponders whether to undergo surgery or not in Preponderance of Death. He tells everyone and Justin that he leaving for Ibiza without a specific reason. Justin doesn't understand but lets him know that he should go and get whatever it is out of his system.
Brian comes back from his "trip to Ibiza" that was instead his testicular surgery in Two Kinds of Lies. He doesn't tell anyone, not even Justin or Michael. Justin notices he looks tired but thinks it's because of everything he did in his trip. Then Justin accidentally hears a message from Brian's doctor and he figures out what happened. With Michael they decide not to say anything. Justin complies and tries his best to treat Brian the same while taking care of him. However, Michael end up telling Brian that they know. Brian then gets extremely mad and kicks Justin out for finding out.
Justin goes looking for Brian at the agency after he got kicked out in Have Some Balls. But Brian, angrily, kicks him out. Michael then figures out why and tells Justin that Brian hid it because he thinks that now that he is not perfect (minus one ball) Justin would leave him, Justin then goes back to the loft to a very angry Brian and tells him that he has had plenty of reasons to leave, this is not one of them. Then directs Brian to the bed and makes him soup.
Brian feels the effects of his surgery and radiation in The Snake in Paradise. How isn't able to get an erection, and keeps getting flashbacks of his surgery. Justin tries to take matters into his own hands and goes with Michael to a Chinese herbalist where they make him a concoction to fix the problem. It doesn't work. After Brian tells Debbie about the cancer, she tells his mom. Once his mom goes to visit him, they fight and Brian manages to get his thing to work again.
Liberty ride[]
Brian decides to join the Liberty ride in Gay or Straight? That's the Question after he reveals that the fundraiser guy is a scammer and drives him out of town. Him and Justin find out when they go to Liberty House. In Irritation and Separation he finds someone to sponsor him for 100,000 and intends to do it despite Justin's objections and his doctors recommendations. He goes with Justin to train but isn't able to finish the class. With new found persistence, after talking to Debbie, he starts sneaking out of the loft to practice alone.
Proposal of Two Kinds Justin finds Brian training by himself one night after following him. Then Justin gets offered a trip to LA to work on their movie but doesn't want to go because he is going on the ride with Brian. Brian then tells him he is not going on the ride, Justin believes he is saying this so he can go to LA. This is possibly the reason because Brian does end up going to the Liberty ride by himself. In Liberty Ride Brian tries really hard to finish the libery ride, even more after he fractures his arm. In LA Justin is getting praises and enjoying his time working on the possible movie. Justin manages to get back just in time to see Brian and Michael cross the finish line, Brian only with one working arm. Finally, back at the loft, Brian tells Justin to move back in with him, not knowing that Justin got offered a job in LA.
Season 5[]
At the beginning of the season in Move and Leave Justin is in Los Angeles and Brian in Pittsburg. During a phone call Justin tells him that the project has extended for at least three more months which visibly upsets Brian, still he tries to hide it. The hang up after Justin tells him he misses him. Brian initially is planning to visit Justin but after talking to him he lets his insecurities get to him and cancels the trip. He tells Michael that he doesn't think Justin is coming back, that who would come back from Los Angeles, he certainly wouldn't. Michael reminds him that Justin is not him.
After the movie production is canceled, Justin goes back to Pittsburg in Back in Business where he finds Brian fucking someone in the loft. He just smiles and watches them. At the end of the episode Justin is upset that he had to come back, Brian agrees saying why he would want to come back fro everything he had in LA. Justin agrees but that there is still something in that Pittsburg has that LA doesn't, referring to Brian. Justin then asks if the offer to move in still stands and Brian opens an empty drawer to say it is.
In Hope Against Hope Justin seems more and more decided that he is not going to get anything more from Brian that what they have. He know he wants to have a similar relationship than Ben and Michael. Later they are having a discussion and Brian asks what Justin wants, he says he already knows. Brian doesn't say anything because he is not willing to give what Justin wants. Justin has already packed so he takes his things and leaves immediately.
During Honest to Yourself Brian finds out that Justin moved in with Ben and Michael. He the goes to their house and confronts Michael, saying that he infected Justin with his new ideals and ideas about marriage. He blames him for Justin leaving. Brian leaves and we see that Justin has been hearing from the top of the stairs. At the end of the episode they run into each other on the street. They have a short conversation and part ways.
Brian and Michael are not talking in Anything in Common as a results from their previous discussion. Michael tells Debbie who then visits Brian. She tells him that it's not Michael's fault and that he should reconcile with him. Brian then attends the young artist exhibit at Lindsay's gallery where Justin if showing his work. Justin asks if he like the artwork and Brian asks if anything he says would make his work better or worse. Justin says no and Brian proceeds to says its exquisite work, then leaves to look for an artsy guy to sleep with.
In I Love You Justin is having still issues with his mother's new boyfriend who is half her age. Debbie reminds him that they have the same rights he and Brian had. Later Brian sees Justin putting up posters from his car and stares at him longingly. Justin sees him and approaches to aks if he is going to the anti Proposition 14 event at Babylon. Brian tells him no, he is leaving for Mardi Gras in Australia. However, on his way to the airport he hears the news about the bombing at Babylon and turns around. When he gets there Jennifer tells him that Justin is still inside. He runs in to find him trying to get out with Emmett. Brian is relieved that he has only some minor scratches before leaving to look for Michael. After coming back from seeing Michael in the hospital, Brian finds Justin at the entrance of Babylon. He hugs hims and tells him how scared he was. Then he hugs him and whispers in Justin's ear: "I love you" for the first time. The hug and kiss afterwards.
During Fuckin' Revenge Brian visits Justin in his new small rustic apartment and comments on how non renovated it is. Justin tells him that it may not be a mansion with a stable but it'll do for now. Brian then asks him to marry him. Eventhough Brian told him he loved him Justin doesn't believe him after everything Brian has said about marriage. He ends up saying no. Afterwards Brian meets with Jennifer to sell his loft and tells her that Justin turned down his proposal. She lets him know that she is disappointed he wont be his son in law.
Later Brian takes Justin to a rustic house in the ouskirts of Pittsburg that resembles a mansion and has stables. He tells him its their house. Justin doesn't believe him again. Brian gives him a very romantic speech saying he wants to prove to the person he loves that he is serious about his commitment. Justin then says yes, he will marry him.
At the beginning of Mr. Right (Never Broke a Promise) they are having sex in every corner of the loft. Brian rejoices imagining what everyone will think when they receive their marriage announcement. As expected everyone is extremely surprised, Michael even mad at the beginning until Ben calms him down. They hire Emmett to organize their nuptials and Justin mentions he want some special golden flowers that only grow in the south of china. Afterwards Michael and Brian make up and Brian asks him to be his best man. Jennifer is very happy when Justin gives her the announcement and gives him the condition that she has the second dance with him at the wedding.
Later Lindsay shows Brian the review Justin got for for his artwork and hinting that Justin should go to New York. At the loft Brian reads the review to Justin outloud and also hints to him going to New York. Justin is emphatic that he isn't thinking about it. That it might be just like his trip to LA where they were full of empty promises. He tells Brian that the only person who hasn't broken a promise is him and kisses him.
During the finale We Will Survive! they are first seen trying on tuxes for their wedding. Later one Brian is reviewing some ads for his company at the loft when Justin convinces him to go out to Brians stag party. At the party Brian turns down the offer of the stripper much to the surprise of Justin. Later on at Lindsay's place Brian sees one of Justin pieces and mentions how talented he is. Melanie then tells hims to make Justin happy considering what he is giving up for him.
At the rehearsal dinner they arrive and announce that the wedding is off, they decided not to get married. Everyone is silent. Later on Justin is packing his things for his flight to New York and they talk about how they might or might not see each other soon. Justin says that they don't need vows or promises to know that they love each other. They are both visibly sad, Brian almost to tears. After they make love in the loft living room with snow falling outside. The scene cuts to Brian sleeping alone after Justin leaves. It's a bittersweet open ending to their open relationship.
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- They are portrayed by starring cast members Gale Harold and Randy Harrison.
- In the show they have a 12 year age difference. In the first episode Justin is 17 and Brian is 29 years old.
- Justin looses his virginity to Brian during the first episode. Afterwards he follows Brian around during the first season.
- Michael doesn't approve of their relationship initially probably due to his longing feelings for Brian. This changes as they get older and Michael falls in love with Ben.
- During the first season Justin is 17 years old which is not seen as illegal but Brian does take a lot of jokes for dating someone so young. Today the legal consent age in Pennsylvania is 16 years old.
- Brian loves Justin eventhough he doesn't say it. He finds himself doing things for Justin he wouldn't for anyone else and misses him constantly when they are not together. For example, at the beginning of season 2 Brian finds his own way of getting revenge on the judge that convicted Chris Hobbs.
- They are in a committed open relationship through most of the second season. After Justin's attack his mom feels that Brian is the only person that can get through to him and ask Brian to take him in.
- Justin leaves Brian at the end of season 2 to date Ethan Gold and Brian has to pretend this doesn't affect him. The get back together halfwat season 3 and Justin officially moves in at the beginning of season 5, eventhough they had been practically living together all along.
- Aside from himself, Brian only loves Justin and Michael
- Brian payed for Justin's studies at the art academy and still keeps paying them while they are not together.
- Justin saves Brian from legal problems twice during the show. First by convincing one of Brian's employees not to sue him for abuse and the second time he convinces Brian's nephew to tell the truth about being molested.
- At the beginning of the second season Brian goes to the hospital everyday to visit Justin after the accident without actually going in. Justin never finds out about this.
- The Dangers of Sex and Drugs is the only episode of the show where Justin tops Brian
- The first time they do it in public is in the steam room of the bathhouses, that becomes Kinnetik Corps by the end of the show.
