|
Post by Cindy on Jun 3, 2005 22:52:11 GMT -5
Rate this episode.
|
|
|
Post by elvira on Jul 7, 2005 15:18:08 GMT -5
I liked it. Dana Delany was pretty good at being cold (and yet appealing). I've always liked this episode, especially the slapstick ending. ("Safe!")
|
|
|
Post by queensgirl on Sept 21, 2005 20:34:13 GMT -5
I voted 8. This episode spends most of its time on surprisingly serious character study, over and above its wild comedic ending.
David is startled by the reappearance of his former girlfriend Jillian, who is now stuck in an unhappy marriage. Notice how David flat-out lies to Maddie when he claims that the old relationship "wasn't even a fling, it was a 'fli.'" Once David goes to see Jillian, we learn there was much more to it than that. They had lived together, and she moved out on him with no notice. The "one lousy phone call!" speech as he follows her onto the balcony is a revelation. Quite apart from the callous party boy image David would like to project, he actually throws his whole heart into a relationship, and doesn't seem to question things too deeply--either he is looking for fun, or he is just too trusting. Now, it would never do for people to know that...
This marks the first but certainly not last time we learn of David being thrown over in favor of someone who had things going for them that the average-guy Addison couldn't seem to offer. Here, it's money and status; the story of his failed marriage (which we see in Yr. 3) was for different reasons but had a similar shocking effect. Still later, when Sam comes into the picture as his rival for the affections of Maddie, you can see one of the many reasons why that was so difficult for him to deal with. Every time he gets his hopes up, he loses, and with worse aftershocks each time.
He also seems to have an unfortunate habit of not being on the same page as the women he loves. They always seem to wind up on a completely different tangent from him, as far as what they think of him and what the reality of the relationship is. Does he ever learn to 'see this coming,' to have a critical or self-protective eye? Does he just have a lot of bad luck or a genuine taste for 'the wrong ones'?
It isn't obvious in the beginning (at least to me) that Maddie was getting jealous, although there are a couple of nice touches that show this effect further into the episode. (Aside from David's gloating little jokes.) In the scene where Jillian is leaving the police station, Maddie looks twice and flinches. Later on, Maddie asks Agnes if David ever showed up at work or called. (No on both.)
Ahem.
There is a strange conversation where Maddie talks about an old friend and how she had 'ruined more important friendships than this.' (She had once refused to be someone's maid of honor.) While David is talking about maybe 'going away' with Jillian--and am I the only one who could hardly hear him talking, or is this the way they deliberately miked it, for the confusion effect?--Maddie says she has a bad feeling about Jillian. She even says to herself, "You idiot," quite out of character for her. She is worried she may once again fail to help somebody when they really needed her--and of course struggling with the jealousy itself.
Even as it becomes more and more apparent that Jillian is not what she seems, David is very hurt by the implication of something bad about someone he still loves and wants to trust.
In a very angry and startling outburst, he tells Maddie, "You must think I'm very stupid...What does this look like up here, a hat rack? Listen, you little green-eyed snake..."
Ouch!
As the truth of the case is finally revealed, David is stung that he was so fundamentally wrong about Jillian, that although he thought he was happy, he was actually being viciously manipulated.
Jillian's speech about, "Think about it, you must have heard the second shot!..." is deliciously creepy. Dana Delaney plays the role excellently. For the first half of the show, you cry for her as the neglected and confused wife, and by the end we have this speech--just watch the look on her face, the way she stares and grins. It's completely unnerving, soulless and chilling.
But because this is this show, they almost have to end on some kind of happy note. You have to have laughs. Say the phrase "hearse chase scene" and almost any fan of t.v. for the last 20 years knows what you mean... Who but Dave would think to drive off in a hearse? And then Maddie almost gets sick... ;D "Moonlighting" was such a great show for doing things like that. It could go for the heart and still have you laughing your tear ducts out by the end.
David is left to deal with the deeply rattling news that his ex-girlfriend had led him to think she truly cared, while in fact had cruelly exploited both him and her husband as well. Although he does admit Maddie's suspicions were correct, all this mess still has to be just awful for him to sort through.
And so, he at first leaves the rose and note, but then takes them back again. All this turmoil must have pushed him right to the brink.
Good thing he comes back.
;D
|
|
|
Post by elvira on Sept 21, 2005 20:53:37 GMT -5
Thank you for this in-depth analysis, queensgirl! I'd love to see you do more of these for other episodes. I really appreciate all your insights.
I keep on saying, we've got a great bunch of folks on this message board . . .
|
|
|
Post by queensgirl on Sept 21, 2005 23:02:22 GMT -5
Thanks so much, very glad to. ;D Looking forward to plenty of fun discussions.
|
|
|
Post by gamera on Mar 8, 2006 9:02:43 GMT -5
an interesting episode seeing David's ex. interesting story with a funny ending, the funeral scene
|
|
|
Post by ysman on Mar 28, 2006 13:52:18 GMT -5
I gave this episode an eight. It had a little bit of everything in it: drama, comedy major character development and the first hints of David & Maddie developing “feelings” for one another. Plus it also had Dana Delaney, WOW. She always take my breath away.
|
|
|
Post by Veronica on Apr 6, 2006 12:24:31 GMT -5
I like this episode though I don't love Gillian I voted 8.
|
|
|
Post by rose35 on Jan 18, 2007 21:25:22 GMT -5
I wathced this one again last night. I never voted on it. I think i give it an 8. It's got great M/D scenes of course not enough. But you definitely see how jealous Maddie gets. As i was watching i also realised that it is kinda forshadowing of Maddie leaving David in the middle of the night with no goodbye the way Gillian did to him. And you see how upset David was by Gillian leaving him and he had 3 years to get over it and was clearly had not. As Harlan mentions something to Maddie about being heartbroken by Gillian leaving hm and he then says to Maddie oh you don't know what i'm talking about you must be a heartbreaker. Well very telling. JMO:)
|
|
|
Post by skipsquat on Jan 29, 2007 14:08:01 GMT -5
This episode provided a great glimpse into David's romantic past and Dana Delaney was perfect as the former girlfriend.
While I love the chase scene at the end of this episode, I am often thrown by two bits of dialogue spoken by Maddie while they are riding in the hearse. First she looks back and comments that they are being followed - by a lot of people. Then, she looks back again and exclaims that there is a casket in the back. Since the casket was awfully big, wouldn't it have been more logical for her to notice the casket before the lots of followers? Not a big deal, just one of those little distractions. *G*
I rated this one a 9.
|
|
Johanna
3rd Level
Stranger who? Stranger me? They don't get any stranger...
Posts: 671
|
Post by Johanna on Apr 22, 2007 12:10:43 GMT -5
I agree with others rating this episode, it is interesting to find out about David's past, and see the differences and similarities between Gillian and Maddie. Both strong women, but not exactly in the same way. I also adore the song This Old Heart Of Mine, and if it's intended to mean that David loves G and that he will always be there waiting for her, I take it that it's irony, just like Singing In The Rain that plays in the beginning when Maddie comes into the office not amused by the rain. I rate it 8. Any episode where David and Maddie gets closer, or realize how much they can depend on eachother is all I need.
|
|
|
Post by Frontier on Jun 25, 2007 14:33:47 GMT -5
I give it an 8, too.
We clearly see how David got hurt by his ex-girlfriend and - ironically - we get a glimpse on the woman that will hurt him even more in the years following.
|
|
|
Post by beesnbears on Mar 11, 2008 11:38:18 GMT -5
This is from an earlier post. It is a scene with one of those overlapping dialogs. I remember watching this over and over on VHS tape back in the day just so I could completely understand what was REALLY going on here. Anyway, here is the earlier post:
There is a strange conversation where Maddie talks about an old friend and how she had 'ruined more important friendships than this.' (She had once refused to be someone's maid of honor.) While David is talking about maybe 'going away' with Jillian--and am I the only one who could hardly hear him talking, or is this the way they deliberately miked it, for the confusion effect?--Maddie says she has a bad feeling about Jillian. She even says to herself, "You idiot," quite out of character for her. She is worried she may once again fail to help somebody when they really needed her--and of course struggling with the jealousy itself.
At the end of this, Maddie says, "I hope you don't hate me". David finally looks at her for the first time during the conversation. That moment of silence, even as short as it is, speaks a thousand words! I just though it was a really terrific scene.
But, as for the "idiot" part, I always thought Maddie was calling herself an idiot, kind of like----what am I doing---- because she felt she had said too much about Jillian. She then calls him an idiot at the funeral.
I don't know, just a different view I guess.
|
|
|
Post by funkycat on Mar 12, 2008 3:35:34 GMT -5
I agree that this overlapping dialogue is very hard to understand on first listen. I haven't watched this one in a while but thought Maddie said "You idiot!" at the end of the speech when David has left. I always thought she was chastising herself for showing a little of her heart on her sleeve and thinking why did I open up and tell David all that. Then the next time she sees him is at Harlan's funeral and if memory serves me correctly she says, "David Addison, you are an idiot." This was said with an ever so slight emphasis on the word 'you'. This always implied to me that she had decided that the boot was on the other foot and that she was back in the superior position she imagines herself to hold in her relationship with David. Just my 2 cents for what it's worth.
|
|
|
Post by beesnbears on Mar 12, 2008 10:51:19 GMT -5
Yes, funky, that is what I mean. I read my post again and I don't think I was very clear.....sorry!
But , I just love the way he finally turns to look at her and asks how she is doing.
|
|