Queer as Folk: Throwing back to Brian Kinney
The Queer as Folk reboot is slated for release sometime in the spring of 2022 on PeacockTV. While it was airing, Queer as Folk was considered transformative, revolutionary queer television and we were here for every second of it. The character of Brian Kinney (Gale Harold) was like nothing we had seen on screens before. We watched it while it was airing and we have re-watched it several times since. This show holds a very special place in the hearts of many, so there is a lot of pressure on the reboot.
At the Q+ Magazine offices, we’re pretty excited about the reboot, but we also understand why everyone is waiting with their eyes wide open. Preferring to err on the side of optimism this time, we decided to throwback to the legendary Brian Kinney in anticipation of the upcoming reboot.
Love him or hate him, fans of Queer as Folk have strong feelings about this character. Here are five things about Brian Kinney’s character that made him the unforgettable chameleon that he is.
His honesty
Look, sometimes it turned him into an outright asshole, but Brian’s honesty is definitely one of the pinnacle aspects that makes his character so unique. He tells it like it is, regardless of who the audience is.
He is honest with Justin (Randy Harrison) from the very beginning about the nature of their relationship. He tells Justin that he doesn’t do monogamy or really relationships at all, and lets Justin make the choice for himself about whether he wants to stick around.
Spoiler alert: Justin does and actually manages to weasel his way underneath Brian’s skin, effectively changing the game for Brian forever.
He is brutally honest with all his friends about their flaws and the state of their lives, and he is unapologetic about the life he chooses to lead. Don’t like it? You know where the door is.
Perhaps the only person on the planet that Brian isn’t very good at being honest with, is himself. This is evidenced most as his relationship with Justin changes over the course of the show and Brian is forced to grow and change. But he doesn’t love Justin right? Right.
His commitment to Gus
Brian was just supposed to be the sperm donor for Lindsay (Thea Gill) and Melanie (Michelle Clunie). So it was quite a shock indeed when Brian realized that he didn’t want to sign away his parental rights as Gus’ (Logan and Keagan Hoover) father. So okay, maybe he isn’t a perfect role model as a father. He shows up to Gus’ birth high on ecstasy and brings Justin, who he met just that night. So like, there is definitely that aspect of first fatherly impressions.
But thereafter, Brian is definitely always there for Gus and actually puts Gus’ needs first when others around him, including his mothers, are too emotionally invested to do that themselves.
There are a lot of things about Brian Kinney that are questionable, at best, but his commitment to Gus is definitely not one of them. Even narcissistic, selfish, narcotics-using assholes can make great fathers too. Ask Brian.
His confidence
This is something that is both good and bad about Brian. His unwavering confidence gives him the ability to go out into the world and do what he wants and get what he wants almost every time. Not a lot of people have the confidence that he does.
Some say it’s an enviable trait. Imagine being able to get what you want almost all the time. Well, that’s certainly Brian. However, some say it’s also what makes him such an insufferable bastard that many can’t stand.
Justin often struggles with this aspect of Brian’s character, even if he doesn’t say it in so many words. It’s clear that this is what attracts him to Brian, but it’s also clear that Justin is often hurt and infuriated by the choices Brian makes because he knows he can.
The creators of Brian’s character carved this aspect of him perfectly. Not many people can exist in this space and still have a cult following of people that love him.
His love
Even though he really, really doesn’t want you to know this, Brian loves deeply. Despite the fact that he tried really hard to fight it, he loves Justin. He loves him so much. Justin is one of the only people in the world that is able to get Brian to say it.
He loves his friends desperately, especially Michael (Hal Sparks) and Linsday (Thea Gill). He even loves Ted (Scott Lowell) and Emmett (Peter Paige), even though he tries really hard to pretend that he just puts up with them for Michael’s sake. And of course, he loves Gus.
Brian tries so hard to project this image that he is a stone-cold, heartless bastard but all one has to do is look below the surface to know that isn’t true. Brian has a lot of love to give to those lucky enough to get it.
Gale Harold was outstanding as Brian Kinney. We can’t imagine another person being able to bring this enigmatic character to life any better than he did, so we have all eyes on the reboot to see how this goes.
Queer as Folk is currently available to stream on Showtime. If you like our content don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram!
