WRONG PARTNERS

[maddiehayes]

In critical studies of romantic comedy, they talk about the “wrong partner”, that is, a would-be suitor or a possible but unuitable partner for one or other members of the couple. In ML there are several instances of wrong partners for both Maddie and David. We know they are wrong because M and D are meant to be together. But if we though in real-life terms, it seems to me some of these wrong partners would not be so.

Wrong partners for David were: Lillian (Knowing Her); Terry (4th season); Annie (“She-Who-Cannot-Be-Named”, 5th season). As I see it, both Lillian and Annie were unsuitable for David. Lilian was a cheat and a murderer, Annie was (sorry) a slut. Yet Terry would not have been a bad choice, she was a kind, caring, compassionate girl with a sense of humour, she was cultivated…and really cared about David.

Wrong partners for Maddie were: Sam, Walter Bishop

The truth is both of them were very nice people. Maddie was really fortunate that, in spite of her temper, she always attracted good-hearted men. Both are very patient, understanding…However, it is true that Sam did have the looks, and was very interesting at an intellectual level (he could really turn you on, think of the look on Ms. Dipesto’s eyes when she meets him).

We would have hated if M or D had ended up with either Sam or Terry, but the truth is that turning them down proves in a way the strength of their passion, however dangerous passion may be…

What do you think?

[queensgirl]

You may have something there. On paper, one or two of these relationships look like they would have made a go of it, if nothing else were in the offing. My brother said, although he didn't like the idea, he thought David was going to wind up with Terry if Maddie didn't come back from Chicago right snap quick.

And you can't get much of a better catch than Sam. Maddie as much as says, in "Heiress," that David is "not who I'm supposed to be with." (Ouch!) Think about it: Sam is handsome, caring, funny, and he's in the space program. Maddie can perhaps be forgiven for being a little overwhelmed where he was concerned.

Each of them was tempted--and unfortunately, succumbed--to the pull of something that appears to be a simple solution. (These would be the sidetracks.) Still, you don't keep returning to something if there is no reason. If there is no real calling, you do not need to answer. By that I mean the attraction between the two of them.

There is a difference between superficial happiness and the deep-down variety. It is precisely because real love is so compelling that it can be so frightening. It is often portrayed that Maddie was the only one who had problems with the seriousness and immediate depth of her feelings. Not so. "In our different ways, we are the same"--look at it another way and she and David are in fact a lot alike. They both have volatile tempers. They both have certain attitudes toward relationships--fear, immaturity--that most people try to discard before they're old enough to rent a car. But the heart of the story clearly is when they put all this aside and try to get through to one another.