The Color of Maddie: Rate this episode

[davnee]

This episode is not bad. It has some good banter, but I just can't give it more than a 6 because it still feels bland compared to earlier seasons. They try in this episode to get back to the old formula, but the tone isn't quite right.

Some observations:

- I agree that Cybill does not look as good this season. Bad hair. Bad makeup. A really bad dress in this episode. Loss of the filter. They all conspire with father time and the fatigue factor to take away some of her allure. But I'd add to that the physical direction she is getting. Maddie clomps around alot during this season. I attribute this in part to the over-stoogification of the show during this season. I really miss the physical slickness and grace of Maddie. I hate the way she kicks open the car door in this episode or falls butt first into the wet concrete. The moments of physical comedy this season are less charming because they are less of a counterpoint, less of a send-up of who Maddie is day in and day out. The Season 5 Maddie is a klutz and a yukker on a daily basis, which makes the slapstick just feel redundant.

- The "pals" theme doesn't bother me in theory, because it is exactly the kind of stupid thing Maddie would come up with to try and rationalize and control her relationship with David. And David comes up with the response I'd expect with lampooning her and with trying to infuriate her by claiming he knows her better than anyone. The accounting of her intimacy track record is great. But I don't know if it is the delivery of the actors, the direction they are getting, or a lack of commitment by the writers, probably all the above, but the beloved formula falls flat. Maddie never does quite sell the denial of her true feelings. David never does quite sell his knowing, insouciant sabotage of Maddie's house of cards. And Mount St. Maddie never does quite blow. I think the scene where Maddie talks about them being on the middle rung of a ladder with no way off and no idea where they will end up is very telling. It's like they are admitting that the passion is gone and that the relationship needs to find a new footing. Season 5 would fumble around looking for that footing, never commiting itself to recapturing the sexual tension, and it didn't take a genius to predict that the "pals with a past" footing would be a ratings loser.

- I hate, hate, hate the bicycle race. More of the gratuitous slapstick that was typical of Season 5.

[Johanna]

I rate 8. I don't think season 5 is anything like the other seasons, but this episode feels like a mix of things that have happened before. And I see flirting going on.

I actually think Maddie looks great in the first scene, it's one of my favorite season 5 looks on her. Maybe it is because she looks happy smiling, not sure. Wouldn't mind another hair-do or dress though, I can agree with you on that. It's always so cute when they acknowledge they know eachother better than anyone else in the world. They are more than good friends. (I'm not gonna say pal, but it beats 'former lover' cause that sounds so over and done with)
Maddie "hanging" on David at the pool hall is really funny, obviously they are enjoying themselves there. Same as the last scene when David is going to learn Maddie how to play pool. Yeah, that's what he thinks.

Bert and Agnes have funny scenes here too. Him answering the phone in what he would call a rhyme, and she is telling Maddie about her past, the football team, taking baths and naps.

[nazel]

Umm the magic isn't there anymore, I have no idea why, it's probably cause the actors are not into it anymore, especially Maddie, I think David is still David, it's just Maddie who seems kinda lifeless & different, it's really sad, that all we got was a few seasons of really good chemistry .. Gave it an 8 anyway, it wasn't that bad

[maddieaddisonjr]

I just rewatched this and was again struck by what many of you have already mentioned - the lack of tension/sparks between David and Maddie, and Maddie being a bit too mellow to the point of lifelessness. Their relationship here is a pale imitation of what it was. Also, it seems to me that neither of the actors are really into this - and I think they would have been if the characters' story had been crafted differently from the fourth season onward. I think Bruce and Cybill knew that Moonlighting was approaching a lunar eclipse.

[bertviola]

To me, it's one of the weakest episodes in the show(the worst for me is still the one with Whoopie, but not by far), so I gave it a 6. The ending is pretty weak and I think the overall back and forth tone of the whole season, plus the way they handled the aftermath of the loss of Baby Hayes and the whole wedding thing seems to weigh down on it for me. The whole "case" seems just too similar to so many others(someone is dead but isn't or it was a case of mistaken identity) and since Maddie and Dave go no where in this season, it's hard to enjoy. As a season 2 episode, this might have been better(but that goes for most season 5 episodes).

[ryangie97]

Rewatch continuing. Ok there were parts of this one that I enjoyed and brief moments when it felt like old times. At least I found myself smiling a few times. Some innuendos, a little flirting, the ending scene. Ok the "pals" comment? To quote Agnes "yuck" I hate the chase scene. When was the last time we had one that was actually funny? And what has happened to David's sexy voice? Most of the time he sounds high pitched and like he's trying too hard to be funny. There were a few moments he actually sounded like himself, the ladder talk being one of them. Anyone else notice this?