Maddie didn't deserve David...

[angelsofia]

I finally watched ML from beginning to end. I watched the first two seasons anxiously. Then I took my time with season three because I had read about what had happened to the show towards the end and I hated the idea of entering the beginning of the end, as so many had described that seasons 4 and 5 were. I watched all the extras first --I just love listening to Bruce's voice. And I began putting the puzzle together. There are a few pieces missing but none of that matters anymore. I thought I wouldn't be able to handle the ending of the show, but I'm glad I forced myself to watch every episode. Seasons 4 and 5, with all the heartaches aside, were really amazing. Not half as bad as I expected. The plot were interesting, the show was still hilarious, specially some of the chase scenes. I began a love-hate relationship with Bert. I really liked him during season 4 and kind of hated what they did to this character towards the end. It wasn't a bad idea to have some Agnes-Bert episodes, but I just hated that some of the scenes were really dumb, and instead of adding to the character, it made him look unnecessary, like a lifeless puppet. After watching all of it there is to watch and most of the extras, I came to the conclusion that Maddie didn't deserve David. She never accepted him for who he was, she wanted to change him into someone he wasn't --De-Dave him, as Agnes once accused Maddie of doing to him. She was very selfish and insecure from beginning to end. In season 4 I cried (or got teary-eyed) when I saw all the pain she inflicted on David. David always wanted Maddie, from day one. And when they finally got together, she was incapable of making him happy. I've never seen anyone be treated like David was and remain in love and for the first time I was glad I missed all that drama when it first aired. It would have driven me nuts! It wasn't enough that he said "I love you" many times, that he tried his best to make things work, that he fought for the relationship and that he begged her to come back to him when she left without an explanation. And when she finally got some sense, she boarded a train to head home and married the first stranger she met. Not satisfied with that, she tried to convince David that she was deeply in love with this man after spending three days with him. Up to that moment, before she told him that she was married, he was the David that we knew and loved: the one crazy about her, happy to see her, willing to move forward together. And then she said those words that changed everything forever: "I got married". Not only she said it, but she was gloating when she said it. It felt like she wanted to hurt him. She wasn't ashamed or worried about his reaction. But David's reaction was priceless, he saw through her act and said the words that I was thinking: you're nuts! And on top of that, she got the nerve to get mad because he didn't get mad. If I have to pinpoint a moment in which their relationship enter a comma, I'd say that was it. It was really infuriating to watch, even after 20+ years. Props to the writers and Bruce and Cybill for their acting because I can honestly say that I was furious with Maddie. And from that moment on, I just wanted David to be happy. I liked Terry, there was something cute about the two of them together. He was genuinely happy when they were together and unlike with Annie, it wasn't just a fling. Oh, Annie, by the time she appeared, he wanted to move on. And who can blame him? Maddie really acted like she was insane. I didn't like Annie much, but I didn't hate her either. On the other hand, I did hate Maddie's desperate way of trying to get David's attention. I really disliked that she had not a single nice thing to say about him to Annie (or anyone for that matter). And yet it was clear that she was crazy jealous. The whole thing just didn't make sense. It was REALLY creepy when he found her in his bed, I mean...really?!Towards the end it truly felt like they were better off apart once and for all. I would have loved a scene in which they ended up in each other's arms, in the wedding, dancing into immortality with some unforgettable phrase, like when he said that heaven wouldn't feel the same without her or something like that. And an "Oh, David" from her, followed by a line like "now it's just you and me, kid" and a kiss. But on the other hand, I don't think Maddie would have ever loved David for who he was. And David did love Maddie, in spite of all her craziness, just the way she was, though he did tried to change her, but it was only for the better, so she could enjoy life more, be happier. The only thing I regret is that I got the feeling that Maddie and David never really talked after she got back. They screamed at each other a lot, specially when Terry was having her baby and even ended up kissing but it just didn't feel real. I wish he would have really gotten it out of his system although even that part was well portrayed...guys don't like to talk like women do. Not must guys I know, anyway. Aside from that, and I can't believe I'm going to say this after advocating for a reunion for a long time but after watching it all: I rather keep the ending we got than change it. I suspect I'll be watching the show from time to time, whenever I feel the need of a ML dose.

[ilovewilliscirca88]

Thanks for the write-up. Good to hear your observations watching this series today. So funny you mentioned the 'comma' in their relationship...I just wrote about the 'Jump the Shark' moment for me in this series here: moonlighting.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=dvds&action=display&thread=83 -- and that exact moment when Maddie tells David "I'm Married" is it.

After that, IMO, he just hated her...and with good reason. They were always trying to paint David's character as a commitment-phobe, afraid of intimacy, unfeeling, uncaring...jeez, he was none of those things when it came to her. He was committed to her the day they met (and loved her from that day)...she was the one always running away, threatening to sell the business, and every time, he went after her and convinced her to stick it out.

Don't get me wrong, I love Maddie, but you are so right...she couldn't accept David for who he was, she thought she deserved better than him, and she just got in her own way every time.

So sad, so frustrating, but a series full of beautiful moments and the best chemistry between to lead characters ever!

[angelsofia]

Hi there! I haven't had the chance to read everything that's in here. That's why I missed your post but it's great to find someone who agrees with me. That's what I was hoping to find. I wrote this very long post right after watching the last episode. I watched the last two seasons in a matter of days and I just needed to let out my frustration. I went back and watched that moment again and Maddie wasn't gloating and she did seem a bit concern after she told David she was married but that's it, everything else stands.

You made a great observation, Maddie thought she deserved better than David and that's why she couldn't come to terms with her feelings for him and move forward.

To me, this is the greatest show I've ever seen and it will remain that way. What makes it so frustrating is that the first time around I was only able to watch up to season three so to me they ended up together. Now that I've seen the rest, it's like I got two different endings but I don't regret watching seasons 4 and 5. I just wish the writers had treated the show differently.

[finefinegoodgood]

I dont think Maddie thought she deserved better than David. She loved him for who he was. I think she was just afraid that she would change David...and I dont think she wanted to change him. She feared, i believe, that being a husband/father would change him into something he wasnt and something that neither of them wanted him to be. (Thats where the dream on the train comes in). Although, it is fustrating that she married Walter. Just stupid on the writers part. I wish they would have listened to Cybill. Wonder what would have happened had they listened to her? How would the series have been differant if she had come back unmarried?

[ryangie97]

I have to chime in here I still get so worked up about this all these years later. I think there was a part of Maddie that felt David wasn't good enough for her. That came to play in the Sam arc and David knew this. "You want a poster. Well you deserve another poster." Even in Heiress I think she was dealing with this a little but by the end of that episode she appears to have accepted that she loves him and seemed happy. So what happened??
I agree when she returns on the train she is fearful of David becoming domesticated and boring or "de-Daved.". He is the excitement in her life. It was almost like she wanted a safe husband so she could have David and all the excitement and heat he brought to her life on the side. But marrying Walter!?!? Ugh so stupid. How great it would be if suddenly some old footage appeared of the show taking a different direction. Why oh why Glenn?

[beesnbears]

Boy this topic has been bounced around a few times. Here is my two cents:

Sometimes it's hard to see and understand why Maddie did and said some of the things she did and said. When I try to comprehend it I think about Maddie and where her life was before David and after three years of knowing him.

She was raised in an upper middle class family, nice house, nice neighborhood, basically provided for with some extras. Her parents seem to be somewhat conservative...or maybe "old school" for that time during the 80's. (maybe the right word is traditional?) As a very successful model she did well for herself as evident by her large house, etc.. We don't know much about her love life other than the lobster-bibbed plastic surgeon in the pilot or the morning after the disastrous date where we see her toss flowers in the trash or conversations we are privy to between her and David about her past relationships. But, I think it's evident that she has in mind what type of man she'd like to share in her life.

But after three years of getting to know David her feelings began to change. Feelings she fought tooth and nail because, I believe, those feelings were so intense they scared her. Maddie was independent, successful, and just beginning to enjoy life as a former model when she was thrown into bankruptcy. We know the story, but her life changed drastically when she took over a detective agency that was practically bankrupt itself.(as an aside I think she had tremendous courage to do so...and the fact that Addison was so dang charming...infuriating, but charming...and handsome)

But was she happy? Well, we know she was miserable once Sam came into the picture and she struggled with her feelings for him because of her feelings for David. Why? I think because she knew she loved David. But, was he really the type of man she was suppose to be with? How would her parents ever approve of David Addison as more than a business partner?

Now throw in an unplanned pregnancy. She flees to Chicago and learns of this while trying to figure out where her relationship with David is going. Never mind that Cybill was taking maternity leave because Maddie does come to the realization that she needs to go back to LA. Why? Because I believe she is ready to admit or accept that she really does love David and wants to make it work with him. Also I get the impression that her parents make her feel that they approve of him. She finally has a plan and catches a train to LA. But what happens? She dreams that David is dedaved because of a sense of obligation to her and a baby he think is his. She gets cold feet and unfortunately marries Walter after three days on a train. Why? I like to think its because she loves him and couldn't stand the thought that she forced him into becoming something he didn't want to be....that she didn't want him to be.

Dismissing the writers choice of direction from here to the end, I like to believe that Maddie felt David could make her happy and was unbearably miserable after the loss of the baby. I think she wanted to try to patch things up between them, but roadblocks were constantly thrown at them. Dare I mention she who shall not be named?

Roadblocks in and of themselves are ok. They make for suspense and the fun of watching two people make up. Unfortunately, when they aren't tossed aside we never get to see where those two people are going.

Just my little'o opinion! I love that we still talk about this!

[ilovewilliscirca88]

Thanks BeesnBears - I like the breakdown of Maddie's background and thought process - it does help to make a bit of sense out of it all. Also, I understand that Walter Bishop was the most clear roadblock she could put between her and David - he could talk her into anything, but what can he say about a marriage? Can't really debate that!

I just wish the writers...and at the end of the day we have to blame the writers...didn't have her treat David with such disdain and seemingly taking pleasure in his pain (because the audience had so much sympathy for him after what we saw in season 4 and it really did vilify Maddie (as Cybill saw at the time)).

Maddie and David had trouble communicating their feelings, yes, but we know from their past how much affection they had for each other - all the times they were there for each other, supported each other and generally cared about each other - Maddie would have protected his feelings a bit more, I think. And when she punched him in the gut for the final couple times ("The baby's not yours and I'm married) David was just done with her - and the spark between them was gone.

I love that we still talk about this too...but, what's done is done I guess, can't change it - DAMN!

[finefinegoodgood]

Theres always FanFiction...it can be changed that way! Bees....get busy!!!

[ilovewilliscirca88]

Yes, I've been reading some of the FanFiction just to erase some of the memories -- sometimes I actually get confused when I think back...'now did that happen in the series or fan fiction...?' haha, so fun.

[finefinegoodgood]

HA! Me too ILW!