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Post by maddieaddisonjr on Jul 13, 2008 20:31:26 GMT -5
To the Bluemooners who remember seeing this episode when it first aired:
When you heard Maddie say to Walter "Let's gamble!" with that reckless look in her eyes (or the look of someone who's found a 'way out') and then the scene abruptly cut to her walking towards the Blue Moon office, did any of you suspect that she did something as outrageous as marrying a stranger? If that came as a completely crushing bombshell, what did you think her words meant? Or were you so wired and anxious for 'The Reunion' after such a long drought that you didn't give her out-of-character comment or Walter a second thought?
I don't remember seeing this episode back then. Maybe ML fell off the radar for me because there were no D/M scenes and no new episodes for long stretches of time.
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graycav56
3rd Level
I can't imagine not rewatching with you next week.
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Post by graycav56 on Jul 14, 2008 14:25:46 GMT -5
Man oh man. To me this was THE jump the shark moment of the entire series.
I NEVER thought that D&M getting horizontal was the problem, in fact, I thought it just opened the door for a new chapter in the series.
But the constant dismantling of the cool, calculating Maddie into this "nut job" she evolved into, despite the howls of protest from Cybill herself, upset the delicate balance in the show.
The writing this entire season made David out to be the long suffering, pious one and turned Maddie into this unrecognizable imitator. I kept looking for the pod!
Up to this point I felt the series could have been saved. After this, the band began playing on the deck.
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Post by maddieaddisonjr on Jul 14, 2008 16:10:50 GMT -5
What's interesting about the comment is the reckless attitude behind it. While her intention at that moment wasn't to marry Walter but to indulge in some 'distasteful' distraction, I think she was up for anything that would help her escape making a decision about David. She was afraid of making the wrong decision. But after four and a half months of brooding miles away...come on, you have to know by then what you're going to do. Maddie says she's a thinker, she had to deliberate and study before making a move. Yet she marries Walter. Sure, he seems as innocent and friendly as vanilla ice cream, but no one can know enough about a person to marry them after three days. She'll 'gamble' with Walter to escape David. Honestly, I don't find the idea of life with David as intimidating as that. I find it full of fun and challenges but not impossible for a lady with a backbone.
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Post by beesnbears on Jul 15, 2008 20:29:34 GMT -5
MaddieJR,
Good new thread!! When I heard her say that the first time I remember thinking---yes!!, Maddie is finally going to go have some fun and I thought that meant she was ready to relax a little and go get David!! Never in my wildest dreams did I think she would return to Blue Moon and and make her announcement of marriage to that little guy Walter!!
I remember being just as heartbroken as David, only he laughed to cover up his true feelings I bawled like a big baby!!
At one time I thought the JTS moment was the scene in the elevator in BAYAAHP, but I have since decided that the Walter announcement is that moment.
I do, however, think that they could have still saved the series or the storyline with proper character development had the writers chose the correct path.
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witness
3rd Level
"We're quite a pair, aren't we?"
Posts: 857
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Post by witness on Sept 16, 2011 2:21:30 GMT -5
Well, Maddie feeling repulsed by gambling was symbolic: she didn't like taking chances. So I suppose her comment meant that she was ready to throw a bit of caution to the wind, have some fun, and forget about these "problems" that were still plaguing her--after 4 1/2 months.
It took me DAYS to accept that the whole marriage thing wasn't another one of Maddie's train dreams. That would have been a whole other type of JTS moment, although not as ridiculous as Pam dreaming a whole season of Bobby being dead, then waking one morning to find him in her shower (Dallas).
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Post by sandra on Sept 16, 2011 3:26:53 GMT -5
That would have been a whole other type of JTS moment, although not as ridiculous as Pam dreaming a whole season of Bobby being dead, then waking one morning to find him in her shower (Dallas). OMG, that really sucked big time back then! I still remember that freeze frame on his face in the shower and me thinking uhm... really?? |
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Post by iluvdavid on Sept 16, 2011 5:17:32 GMT -5
What does JTS mean?
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Post by sandra on Sept 16, 2011 5:55:39 GMT -5
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witness
3rd Level
"We're quite a pair, aren't we?"
Posts: 857
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Post by witness on Sept 17, 2011 3:46:14 GMT -5
Susan, in case you were also wondering about "Jump the Shark"-- The precise moment when you know a program has taken a turn for the worse, gone downhill, etc.; the moment you realize decay has set in. Named for the Happy Days episode where Fonzie overcomes his fear of sharks by jumping over one while wearing water skis.  |
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Post by iluvdavid on Sept 17, 2011 8:12:01 GMT -5
Thanks for the explanation. I googled it lol!
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Post by bertviola on Nov 1, 2018 17:47:29 GMT -5
I remember that when I saw her walking to the office after that line, I wasn't sure if it isn't another "dream" she has. But I did have a feeling that she'll do something unexpected.
To me, the whole "train" dream was very symbolic that Maddie is actually still kind of a child deep inside. She never learned or wanted to learn how to be truly independent. Dave tried to teach her and even then, she often wanted to bail(sell the agency, marry Sam). Maybe for her to really gamble would have meant to go back home and be with David. If you compare Walter and David, they're pretty much opposites. Walter stands for stability. He stands for "continuing the way things are" and "not taking any risk or responsibility". While with Dave, she'd actually have to "run the train" and she can't do that/doesn't want to. I think it's quite symbolic too that she basically wipes out the entire office in her dream too(kind of what Dave blames her for later when he asks if she doesn't know how it affected everyone's life there). So to me, it actually isn't so out of character for Maddie to do this. She is a little girl who likes to pretend she is a mature, smart lady. But she's far too emotional and insecure for that and seems to refuse to grow up(probably because it's more convenient not to). Actually, I've seen this kind of behavior in a lot of women I met in my life(I hope no women on this board are offended by that, maybe you have friends like that too or can sympathize?).
So the "gamble" for me is actually quite ironic, because Maddie does the complete opposite of gambling. She opts for the "safe way" out for her. By marrying a systems analyst(steady income, but even he says it's sooo boring), she basically picks the "new Dave" from her dream/nightmare. She chooses to continue to live in (convenient and cozy) denial.
I really wish we would have gotten Maddie's parents to have a say in this(why weren't they at the wedding anyway?), they seem to be partially guilty too by spoiling Maddie all those years.
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