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Post by JJ77 on Jan 25, 2010 21:33:21 GMT -5
I know this is kind of being discussed on the alby & dale thread, but I also noticed it's begun to focus more on the "gay" story line than the characters , or the original topic.
Since so many people seem to have a strong opinion on including gay love in big love I thought i'd start a new thread to discuss just that. Might be interesting...
Are you bothered by the gay love scenes this episode? and if so why? what i mean is , is the issue that they're being shown at all? or that you dont think it's relevant to the story line? etc.
Personally I dont see gay scenes as "pushing the envelope" at this point in time... although i know some people feel differently. So I dont have an issue with it in a general sense. It doesnt bother me to see two men / women kiss, lying in bed together, etc. It's not my personal preference, but I also wouldnt ever find myself being a sister wife , or living on a compound , ya know?
I did feel like it was a bit over-done though. At one point I was basically just rolling myeyes going "what they're gay so they never get out of bed?" gimme a break... lol So maybe the writers DO feel they're pushing the envelope, or are trying to gain some new viewers, or stirr up some talk about the show? who knows?
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Post by spiritualtramp on Jan 25, 2010 21:40:05 GMT -5
It's HBO, so really, who knows what the motive is. It's not really over the top if you ask me, and nothing compared to some of the [hetero] sex scenes from the first two seasons. I think these scenes were used to prove a yet undisclosed point. That maybe Alby is starting to feel genuine feelings of love for another human being. And also to show how pivotal his sexuality will be this season.
I think it's also partly a way for HBO to test the water on including other minorities of the sexual and relationship world --- who could see them going down the polyamory road? Threesomes, anyone?
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Post by Alex on Jan 26, 2010 3:19:20 GMT -5
I'm excited about Alby's new love interest. Makes him seem almost human...and hot.
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Post by miceelf on Jan 26, 2010 9:29:02 GMT -5
I think the writers are using the homosexual story line to compare to the polygamy story line -- this is something we do behind closed doors, it's a secret, no one must know. The kiss between Alby and Dale was supposed to shock us, unsettle us. Maybe to make us consider our own prejudices and attitudes because think about it -- how many men think lesbian love scenes are hot, but are disgusted at a love scene between two males?
I also think the kissing scenes and pillow talk scenes between Dale and Alby are to establish the development of a relationship. The closest thing Alby has had to a "relationship" is probably with his psycho-wife Lura, and she is evil. His previous homosexual liasons all seemed to be anonymous meetings in public restrooms, or in the bushes at a park.
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Post by BigLoveRocks! on Jan 26, 2010 12:51:06 GMT -5
I think a gay viewer would view the gay scenes as pretty hot...Just like I view the hetero scenes as pretty hot.
I don't mind it... I just wish we were getting more than JUST gay sex scenes this season.
However...Alby smelling his breath like that and then telling Dale how he could still taste him on his lips with his son behind the little curtain thingy was just gross lol! I wouldn't want to see Bill telling Margene he could taste her pussy on his lips and smelling his breath. Its just a bit much lol!
I do agree the writers are showing how closeted homosexuality fits in with religious groups.
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Post by marionj2 on Jan 26, 2010 15:31:33 GMT -5
So did Alby take the photo for a sweet memento, or blackmail?
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Post by Angel on Jan 26, 2010 16:54:06 GMT -5
What's interesting that I haven't seen mentioned on the boards (any of them, and thank you, btw, whoever put these together!), is that Alby is finally getting the opportunity to actually *think* about his faith, and what happens after death, and where teh soul is. Dale is teaching him that it's not about the power wielded on the compounds, but rather about "our Father in Heaven", and how they can overcome the sins of the flesh, even as they know that it's a temporary problem because the body is temporary.
This storyline is interesting to me, simply because my brother was gay for 20 years, and then discovered the Mormon faith. He and his wife have been happily married for 12 years now, and have two beautiful kids. It fascinates me to see the journey.
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Post by rissmeek on Jan 26, 2010 18:19:37 GMT -5
So did Alby take the photo for a sweet memento, or blackmail? I hate to say it but I think it was a sweet memento. He looked really happy and in love, maybe not love but something like that. It kinda reminds me of all the pictures teen couples take of themselves.
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Post by BraidedPonyTail on Jan 26, 2010 18:25:52 GMT -5
I definitely rolled my eyes. Was it just me or did the scene seem kind of forced or fake? I didn't come away believing there was real passion between those two guys.
Would love to hear more from Angel about her brother that was gay, turned Mormon and is now straight and married. How did that happen? How does he explain his transformation? How can you believe you are gay for most of your life and then change your mind? I'm asking out of curiousity and not being judgmental. It just seems sexual orientation is fundamental to our definition of who we are.
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Post by kambria on Jan 26, 2010 20:19:10 GMT -5
Given Alby's past actions and his reputation as a "shady" character, I would say that Alby took that picture for "insurance" purposes and possible black mail. I could see that picture coming up as a key element in a future episode. Alby might try to use it against Dale, or maybe Alby's wife, Lura will discover the picture and confront him about it. There are several ways that picture could cause some future drama.
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Post by BigLoveRocks! on Jan 26, 2010 21:44:05 GMT -5
I think it might be a little bit of both... Alby wants a sweet momento but at the same time...That sweet momento can turn into SWEET BLACKMAIL...Should he ever need it. Alby is an interesting character the way he works. I think his entire existance is "double life" no matter what or who he is involved with.
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Post by withay on Jan 27, 2010 2:35:37 GMT -5
I only thought of it as a "sweet momento" that could be a problem if the wrong person saw it. I did not think that Alby took it for blackmail purposes though it might end up being used against him and/or Dale.
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Post by dove85 on Jan 27, 2010 14:10:36 GMT -5
i think alby is actually smitten with this guy, and the sexual tension between them is hot (i'm a straight woman in case you're wondering). i think that this is causing a kind of psychic fracture, similar to what nikki is experienceing, in some ways, with alby. it's hard to predict what this will mean for his character as so far, we have only seen a certain side to him. after the death of roman, both the grant children are revealing more of their inner tumoil and vulnerability, which we could only assume was there previously judging by their almost sociopathic behaviour at times!
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Post by BigLoveRocks! on Jan 27, 2010 17:03:10 GMT -5
Alex, Angel, Dove85 and BraidedPonyTail...Welcome to the board! I hope we'll be seeing you all more often!!
I agree, Alby is totally head over heels for Dale.
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angel
New Member
Posts: 7
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Post by angel on Jan 27, 2010 19:12:26 GMT -5
"Would love to hear more from Angel about her brother that was gay, turned Mormon and is now straight and married. How did that happen? How does he explain his transformation? How can you believe you are gay for most of your life and then change your mind? I'm asking out of curiousity and not being judgmental. It just seems sexual orientation is fundamental to our definition of who we are. " Sorry -- haven't figured out how to do the cool boxes that quote messages. My understanding, and I apologize if I get this wrong, for I'm not Mormon and have not studied it indepth, is that Mormons believe the soul chooses the conditions it will experience in life ahead of time. However, through prayer and hard work, you can change your mind, so to speak, from what was decided before you became a physical being. My brother believes that because of the way our dad was when he was little (rather abusive), he made the determination quite young that he never wanted to have children, so he couldn't hurt his own children in the same way. It led him to make it impossible for him to have children - by only seeking the company of those of the same gender. In going through the process of learning about the Mormon faith, he realized that he could be a good father (which I could have told him -- he made an awesome big brother), and opened himself up to the possibility of a relationship with a woman. It was an 8 year process, and he was far more ready to be a father than a husband, but they've done really well, and he's a great dad. It probably helped that his partner went through the same process at the same time, and they have remained good friends. He's a priesthood holder, and quite a wise and wonderful man. 'course, I've always thought he was, sexual preference having nothing to do with that. Hopefully that answers your questions.
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