Michael and Ben are a main pairing in the Showtime drama series Queer as Folk and are comprised of Michael Novotny and Ben Bruckner. Their relationship is tested when Ben reveals he is HIV positive, but they stay together and build a life together.
Summary[]
Ben Bruckner is Michael Novotny's first customer of his comic book store. After hearing Michael's passion about comics, Ben invites him to speak at his class, and they become romantically involved. After struggling with Ben's HIV status and the peer pressure of his friends and mother, they rekindle their relationship.
Generally, Michael has learned valuable lessons from his prior relationship with David Cameron, and more than succeeds his relationship with Ben. Such as being more certain on issues and his opinions, his bravery, becoming domestic partners, and even making an investment on their first house. During the final seasons, they marry in Canada on the bike marathon, adopt Hunter while they co parent with Melanie Marcus and Lindsay Peterson as fathers to Jenny Rebecca.
Storyline[]
Season 2[]
Michael and Ben first meet at his comic shop.
Ben meets Michael Novotny as his first customer during the opening of Michael's comic book store. After a natural rapport with Ben in the store, and finding out he is a instructor of gay studies, he invites Michael to speak in front of his class about comics as he has seen that he has passion and knowledge about them. At first, Michael is apprehensive and skips, but is convinced by Ben. Michael ultimately goes before the class and lets his words about comics flow even letting his personal interest come out about superheroes in tights bringing a smile to Ben's face and knowing more of Michael's true quirky nature. Ben show him his book and autographs it to him and Michael thanks him. Seeing Ben's ardent look in his eyes as he gives him the book, Michael is clear that he has a preference for him and decided to thank him more with a kiss.
They began to date and find great companionship in each other, however, He struggles to come to terms with Ben's HIV. However, he has honest affections for Ben as he can't forget him. After several failed attempts at dating other men, Michael realizes he is in love with Ben, and that he will have to accept his HIV status. Michael fights for Ben. Michael tenaciously wins him over, by playing basketball with him terribly in order to bribe him to go out with him which works. While out, Michael even confronts the friends of his circle over Ben and everyone stands silent. Before ben decides to leave, Michael bravely serenades to him in an improvised karaoke song proclaiming his affections for him which leaves Ben blushing and feeling his affections.
Ben showing Michael his book, RU12.
After finding out Ben was HIV positive, she forbid Michael to see him when he brought him for dinner. Michael states, "This is the reality. You're just going to have to learn to deal with it." Debbie started asking Ben personal questions concerning his HIV status which upset and angered Michael. Debbie reverses the statement on Michael said earlier saying, "This is the reality. You're just going to have to learn to deal with it." Despite her saying this, he continues to see Ben.
Justin finds out that Brian has been with Ben before sexually; shocking the gang. At first, Michael says it doesn't bother him, but overtime, the curiosity of their encounters outweighs him and he becomes very insecure due to feeling inadequate in comparison to Brian. Ben find out from Ted and Emmett that Michael harbors emotional feelings for Brian, but has never been intimate with him and it affects him in a few different ways. In this episode, Michael resolves his insecurities about Brian and is able to move on and love Ben while having an unconditional love for Brian.
Michael goes to talk to his mother whom is working the diner. Debbie defensively says that she has a right to date whoever she wants. Michael agrees, but also refers to Ben and tells her that he has that right as well. Despite this, Debbie is cordial towards Ben, but not friendly. After initially declining she appears at their place for Ben's birthday just to see him in a rare outburst due to his health. At first, very upset at this until he collapses in class and is hospitalized due to complications from his HIV medication, Debbie sees how devoted Michael is to Ben and realizes that Michael's happiness is more important than her worries. She shows up at the hospital for Ben and the two finally begin to bond as she fed him soup at his bedside bringing a smile to Michael's face.
Season 3[]
Ben moves in with Michael, and Brian comes over looking saddened. Ben suggests going out with him to cheer him up. Brian oversteps and attempts to hang out with Michael every night which almost leads Ben to move out.
Michael tells the news from Lindsay and Melanie about them wanting him to father their next child. Ben is excited for him, but is also saddened on the inside due to the fact he wanted to be a father, but his HIV status prevents him from becoming one.
Ben learns that the man who gave him HIV has died which greatly upsets him and drives him to begin using steroids and exercise obsessively. Ben's increasingly erratic behavior begins taking a toll on his relationship with Michael, especially when their is talk of children. In a desperate attempt to get through to Ben, Michael threatens to infect himself with Ben's used needle in order to get him to stop taking steroids.
Ben's rage continues and they argue. Ben pushes him away and is upset about his ex partner's passing. Michael confronts him coming home, and has a needle in his hand pushing the idea that Ben needs someone "more like him" and pretends to proceed injecting himself with a used needle. When Ben tells him to stop, Michael shouts "You stop! Stop hurting yourself and us!"
Ben and Michael later begin providing shelter to a teenage prostitute, Hunter Montgomery, after encountering him soliciting outside their apartment. Ben feels a special bond with the troubled youth, especially after learning Hunter is HIV positive as well. Michael is initially less patient with Hunter's presence in their home, but the couple grow to accept Hunter as a member of the family.
When hunter enrolled in school, his unfit mother locates him and stops by their residence when he isn't around. Hunter reacts badly when told that his mother has visited Ben and Michael. When asked for the reason for his reaction, he accuses his mother of having forced him to commit acts of prostitution from an early age. She becomes irate with Michael and Ben when they refuse to give Hunter's location. She gets the police involved and Michael makes a decision to flee with Hunter. They hire Melanie as their lawyer and they have the hearing. She does win custody initially, but the judge hears her callous and homophobic remarks regarding Hunter's HIV status "You dirty little f----- ... Are you trying to give it to me?", and awards custody to Ben and Michael.
Ben and Michael become Hunter's legal guardians by the beginning of the fourth season after winning custody from his abusive mother.
Season 4[]
When Michael and Justin get a deal for a movie adaptation of their comic book, Ben becomes extremely envious, mainly because his own book, Gentlemen in Paris, can't get published. Ben even has a debate with Brett Keller at Babylon due to his anguish of the rejection of his book.
Ben begins secretly meeting with Anthony, a former student who flirtatiously offers praise for his work. However, Ben is horrified when Anthony reveals that Ben's novel inspired him to intentionally infect himself with HIV. Ben write a short story of the ordeal. Michael praises his story and to two embrace while slow dancing to a CD Hunter bought them at the Mall.
Ben and Michael get married
Later, Ben and Michael travel to Toronto, Canada for the start of the Liberty Ride. On the bus ride up to Canada Ben asks Michael to be his husband. The two get married in Canada, but they experience trouble in returning to the United States as their marriage will not be recognized once they return.
Season 5[]
Ben and Michael move into a house on a traditional street, to which Brian accuses them of being 'conformist homosexuals'. This does not matter to the couple who are proud of their new home and two children. However, this does not last long as after Hunter's HIV status is revealed at school and his ex-girlfriend starts dating someone new, he decides to leave home. Ben takes Hunter's departure particularly hard and becomes extremely distraught and angry with both Michael and himself, until they receive an e-mail from Hunter a few weeks later. Ben later tirelessly parades to stop "Proposition 14" which would take away gay civil rights and is present during the bombing of Babylon which severely injures Michael.
During the vigil for the Babylon victims, Ben displays uncharacteristic rage when he brutally beats up a counter-protestor who began mocking Michael's near death. When Brian is driving Ben home, Ben encourages Brian to make amends with Michael. When Michael refuses to attend Brian’s wedding, Ben reveals how concerned Brian was in the ER and nearly assaulted a doctor who refused to take his blood due to being gay. Deeply touched by this news and Ben reminding Michael how much and how long Brian has loved him convinces Michael to meet with Brian and their friendship is restored. Hunter reunites with Ben and Michael after the bombing and the couple legally adopts him in the series finale. Ben is seen in the final scene happily watching Michael and Brian dancing together at Babylon.
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- They are portrayed by starring cast members Hal Sparks and Robert Gant.
- They are in a committed relationship from the second season onward.
