QaF UK -- Cameron's Failed Quest

[butterfly]

"Cameron won't last. Still, leaves room for the next Cameron."

Cameron had as much of a chance of getting between Stuart and Vince as ice does to stay solid at 100 degrees faherenheit. He never had a clue what he was dealing with.

His first attempt to flirt with Vince (at poor Phil's funeral) mimics all his later attempts to win Vince -- he downplays Stuart. Cameron spends a lot of his screen time trying to pull Stuart off that pedestal that Vince has him on. But that approach hasn't a chance of working. What Cameron never grasps is that Vince is fully aware of Stuart's faults. He knows that Stuart is arrogant, demanding, and whiny. The Amish know that Stuart is arrogant, demanding, and whiny. This is not what you would call a state secret. Vince is not being used by Stuart at any point in series one -- they're in a very close-knit friendship that only lets outsiders in to a certain point.

But because the nature of their bond places Stuart firmly in the spotlight, it can appear as though Stuart is using Vince as an ego-booster. That's certainly how Lisa sees it -- a malicious bastard using the poor sod that's in love with him. But Lisa didn't have the right modifier -- Hazel did. Stuart's a clever bastard, not a malicious one. Stuart, in fact, is very rarely malicious, and when he is, it's for a reason. Now, he's very often a careless bastard ("How's Peter?"), but that's not out of an intent to harm. Stuart shags because he wants to -- he clearly likes sex a lot. But he has issues with love and sex coinciding and he's actually got a fairly good method for keeping emotions out of sex, at least from his end of things. If he's only there for the sex, and when it's done, it's over, then he's not going to get attached.

Because what Cameron doesn't know is that Vince isn't the person who dwells on Vince and Stuart's close shave with sex. The audience gets to hear the story told, but the importance is really in who's telling it, and how. Nathan accuses Vince of sticking around Stuart because they never finished that wank, but Stuart is the person who brings it up -- he can remember the details of it, when we've seen him unable to even remember his shag's names. In fact, it reminds me of the way he tells the story of his first encounter with sex. The important ones stick out.

But Cameron doesn't know any of that. What Cameron knows is this -- Vince is a sweet guy. Phil talked about Vince enough (mentioned where he worked, etc) to interest Cameron to hit on the guy at Phil's funeral. And Phil is one of the people who views the Stuart/Vince relationship as lopsided and unequal. So, Cameron knows ahead of time that Vince is a nice guy and that Stuart is a cocky asshole. Cameron's tired of the gay scene and wants to settle down. So, he decided to go after Nice Guy full throttle.

And he gets his first date with Nice Guy Vince (entirely due to Stuart, not that he knows that, either). And Vince keeps getting phone calls from people looking for Stuart. Over and over, Cameron hears Vince say, "I'm not with Stuart." He co-ops Vince's connection to the world of Stuart and tosses it in the water. Of course, this proves to be utterly futile, as Stuart just gets Vince a new phone on insurance. Cameron can't get rid of Stuart that easily.

But Cameron's trying to replace Stuart as the most important person in Vince's life, so he offers to go with Vince to Canal Street. Cameron tries to explain to Vince why he doesn't go to clubs anymore, but Vince is constantly being distracted. Then comes the scene where a drunken Stuart kinda sorta hits on Cameron.

There are three in-show perspectives for that scene:

a) Vince's perception -- that's just what Stuart does. He flirts as naturally as breathing. It doesn't mean anything.

b) Cameron's perception -- Phil was right, Stuart is not only a cocky asshole, he's a jerk who tries to fuck someone who is on a date with his best friend. Pathetic that he can't cede the limelight for a single moment.

c) Stuart's perception -- which is the only ambiguous one. Why did Stuart hit on Cameron? We know that he's more pissed than Vince has seen him in ages. What I think is that his world view is starting to shift. Vince is seeing someone who wants more than a shag -- well, Stuart wants to see if Cameron means it. Perhaps the question to ask is not why Stuart would come on to Cameron, but why Stuart got so drunk in the first place. And I think it's partly because Stuart is afraid, in light of his earlier conversation with Vince about gay men and sex, that he really is bad for Vince. Cameron's later attack on the foundations of Stuart and Vince's friendship wouldn't have had a chance of being successful if there hadn't been doubt to begin with.

From Cameron's point of view, there's no question about Stuart and his influence on Vince -- it's all bad.

Because Cameron only sees this perspective on the relationship, he doesn't understand why Vince can't let Stuart go after the birthday party fiasco.

And Stuart's actions at the party can only have confirmed what Cameron heard from Lisa -- Stuart comes across as a horrible person. Stuart's 'push' for Vince is also an insult to Cameron. He easily upstages Cameron's present before the ball drops. 'See,' Stuart says, 'you can only have Vince if I let you. Even though you're his boyfriend, he won't object if I kiss him, and it'll leave him more affected than any time that you've kissed him. You may have bought him something practical, but I got him something that spoke to his heart.' So, he shows Cameron that he'll always be better at knowing Vince, and then proceeds to out Vince to the girl who had a crush on him.

And despite this, Vince still can't manage to shut up about Stuart. When Cameron and Vince see Stuart's failed pick-up, Cameron dismisses it as 'pathetic', but Vince concentrates on Stuart's feelings in the matter. To Cameron, this is only confirmation that Vince was unfairly kept emotionally young by the manipulative Stuart.

Then comes the final phone call. Cameron is fed up with Vince, wants to 'fix' him and is upset that Vince won't let him. Cameron saw a weak man where there was a strong one. Vince just wasn't strong in a way that Cameron recognised.

It was doomed from the very beginning, because Cameron never had a clue who Vince Tyler was.

Comments

[mekare-enra.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! Amen :-)

*adds to memories*

You hit the nail on the head, yet again m'dear.

[killabeez.livejournal.com]

Ooh, she wrote more! *reads avidly*

And again, wonderfully insightful and eloquent. I love your observation of who brings up the story about the magazine photo and the mutual wank. Vince still has the picture, but it's in a box in his room and his expression when he sees it is fond and nostalgic, not like a guy who's hung up on the whole thing. You're so right, about Stuart remembering the important ones, too. *squee*

It was doomed from the very beginning, because Cameron never had a clue who Vince Tyler was.

You're absolutely right, and nor did he really want to, particularly, IMO. He was interested in Vince because he was "the nice one" -- before he'd ever met him. And I never saw any indication that that ever changed, particularly. He goes through the motions of trying to find out what Vince likes, but I get the feeling that Cameron himself doesn't feel that strongly about anything, or have much in the way of interests beyond making his life fit into a certain pattern that he thinks is the "right" pattern. The one thing we know he likes is traveling... so why would he fall for a guy who's practically never been out of Manchester? So, so doomed.

I always loved that line of Hazel's about making room for the next Cameron.

Even though you're his boyfriend, he won't object if I kiss him, and it'll leave him more affected than any time that you've kissed him. You may have bought him something practical, but I got him something that spoke to his heart.'

Eee! Yes. *g* Happy sigh. And even Nathan understood it.

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Quite a wonderfull little essay! Did you think of posting it at goodenough4me?

[rakshi.livejournal.com]

God, I love reading this. My DVD is in the mail... and I just bought my all region DVD player. I own a 46 inche TV. Shorty, I will be in QAF-UK heaven!!!

Keep writing! I love it. And I think you're right on!!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It was remarkably fun to see why Cameron makes complete sense. Perhaps next I'll try Nathan (I lie, Nathan's far too easy).

Thank you.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Did you think of posting it at goodenough4me?

Hmm. I could do, couldn't I? Perhaps I should.

I believe that I will.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

And aww... I love that icon. Sean and Elijah are such sweetness.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

And again, wonderfully insightful and eloquent. I love your observation of who brings up the story about the magazine photo and the mutual wank. Vince still has the picture, but it's in a box in his room and his expression when he sees it is fond and nostalgic, not like a guy who's hung up on the whole thing. You're so right, about Stuart remembering the important ones, too.

Stuart's always the one who brings up the sex, starting from the 'hard-on' moment on the roof. He's the one pointing out the potential for sex in their relationship. And Vince always tries to explain it away. Stuart is definitely not the person putting the brakes on in that relationship.

You're absolutely right, and nor did he really want to, particularly, IMO. He was interested in Vince because he was "the nice one" -- before he'd ever met him. And I never saw any indication that that ever changed, particularly. He goes through the motions of trying to find out what Vince likes, but I get the feeling that Cameron himself doesn't feel that strongly about anything, or have much in the way of interests beyond making his life fit into a certain pattern that he thinks is the "right" pattern. The one thing we know he likes is traveling... so why would he fall for a guy who's practically never been out of Manchester? So, so doomed.

So very. And it makes so much sense that he decided that this was a good time -- whenever someone dies, people tend to reassess their lives. Cameron saw a boyfriend-shaped hole in his life and decided that Vince would fit, before they'd ever met. Very bad form, but understandable. If Vince had been the man that Cameron had assumed he was, where nice guy equals pushover, then it would have worked. But Vince is used to being the emotional caretaker in relationships and he wasn't going to hand over the controls to someone else (I love Vince's indignation that Cameron said 'love' first and that it puts Cameron in control).