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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 20:55:18 GMT -5
The "bender" incidents highlight David's irresponsibility. This is significant in this episode because it is in direct contrast to the portrait of a young David who takes responsibility for his actions and marries Tess. I immediately think of David's line, " I can be the picture of responsibility if I want". His words are a foreshadowing of the story he tells Maddie later on in the episode. Absolutely Lin, good break down with the quote, great answer!
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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 Mar 3, 2009 20:56:41 GMT -5
4. This question relates to the dream/dance sequence. At this point, Maddie does not know the details of David's relationship with his ex-wife, yet in her dream, she imagines the ex as the “bad guy.” It's interesting that she doesn't blame David for the break-up. What does this tell us about Maddie's opinion of David?
I LOVE this dream sequence for lots of reasons. I love the “Beatniks” in the Village clothes, the music, the dancing, the link to the story, soup to nuts spectacular TV. You’d never get away with this today.
I like the way that Maddie dreams that the former Mrs. Addison is a hottie, believing that anyone David would have married would obviously be pretty high on the old looker scale. I think her feeling that Dave would not be the bad guy goes to her knowing that he is really a pretty traditional, conservative guy when it comes to these issues. (Well, until the Annie fiasco where he throws it all away, but I digress).
So no matter what the reason for the breakup, it would not have been the fault of the family oriented Addison, that’s for sure.
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Post by jpen on Mar 3, 2009 20:57:35 GMT -5
4. This question relates to the dream/dance sequence. At this point, Maddie does not know the details of David's relationship with his ex-wife, yet in her dream, she imagines the ex as the “bad guy.” It's interesting that she doesn't blame David for the break-up. What does this tell us about Maddie's opinion of David?Ooooh jpen, such meaty Qs tonight! I'm blown away by the thought you put into these, way to go!! Maddie's dream was telling in many ways. I really love the fact that you asked this question, by the way, because I never really thought about this point. Maddie has had enough time to get to know David by this time, literally and instinctively. Though she wouldn't consider herself an intuitive person primarily - rather a thinker - the David portrayed in her dream has positive characteristics Maddie would never admit to out loud, or even to herself. I believe that by this stage in their relationship, Maddie subconsciously knows David is above all, loyal and trustworthy and would never be the one to cheat on his partner - outwardly of course, she would say that he's a womanizing slug. To her, a dream like that would've seemed like a nightmare because the dream is revealing things about him and her that she would be loathe to admit to herself. Thanks for the kudos, manitoba, but I gotta give credit where it's due--that Q is lin's, and isn't it great? As is your response...I love the idea of Maddie knowing something in her heart that her mind is not ready to recognize. Brava!
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Post by lin212 on Mar 3, 2009 21:03:49 GMT -5
3. In the argument in her office, David and Maddie have the following exchange:
David: The fact that the way I choose to be differs from the way you choose to be does not give you any right to get on your morally superior high horse!
Maddie: Well, that’s kinda nice for the irresponsible team, isn’t it? You count on the rest of us to cover for you, so you’ll be free to do whatever you please!
Do you think we are supposed to agree with one character or the other? Do their positions alter during the course of the episode?Man I am on Maddie’s side this entire way. She has tried on numerous occasions to get David to be more responsible (My Fair David, Symphony in Knocked Flat, etc) and here is our hero, off the wagon once again. Except this time his indiscretions didn’t cause him to lose a date, or ruin a “fine” evening, it cost the company cashflow…and he had zero excuse. Agree on this one, gray. David was grasping at straws to rationalize his behavior. Time to grow up, Dave!
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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 Mar 3, 2009 21:04:29 GMT -5
9. David’s telling Maddie about Tess is a big deal. Why do you think that he couldn’t tell Maddie the whole truth?
Ummm, well…
SOME guys just couldn’t handle their wives/girlfriends leaving them to, ah, play for the other team. OTHER guys would just say, “Hey! No other man could compete with me so she HAD to switch sides….know what I mean?”
ANOTHER group would have attempted to make a Super 8 movie called “A Guy, His Wife and the Census Taker”
But not the traditional Dave. The breaking of the vows is still a violation of the first magnitude.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 21:05:39 GMT -5
4. This question relates to the dream/dance sequence. At this point, Maddie does not know the details of David's relationship with his ex-wife, yet in her dream, she imagines the ex as the “bad guy.” It's interesting that she doesn't blame David for the break-up. What does this tell us about Maddie's opinion of David? Oooooo, good throw guys!! Imma catch it short and sweet...Maddie knows he is the most caring guy she's ever met...and she knows David is very loyal and will go to great lengths to sustain something he loves and/or believes in...so his ex must have committed some terrible wrong. Maddie knows the type of situations they have been in and David has never left her side...I mean she fired him for God's sake! It didn't even faze him. On a side note, Maddie feels nobody has the right to think David has wronged them but her, LOL. The wrong he may do is for her to judge...I just love "Maddie Logic"
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graycav56
3rd Level
I can't imagine not rewatching with you next week.
Posts: 948
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Post by graycav56 on Mar 3, 2009 21:09:19 GMT -5
6. David leaves his buddies to call Maddie, to check in with her. What does his one-sided “conversation” tell us?
I consider this another bit where he considers THEM as an US. He assumes that she is concerned about him, thus the call to calm her nerves. Then he wants to let her know HE is worried about HER, with the line at the end. I thought this was a great little scene.
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graycav56
3rd Level
I can't imagine not rewatching with you next week.
Posts: 948
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Post by graycav56 on Mar 3, 2009 21:14:32 GMT -5
12. Maddie chooses not to confront David about Tess in the scene in the airplane. Does this mark a change in Maddie?I think it relates to what she says in the hotel room: MADDIE'S SPEECHI mean, I understand…that there are things we’ll never talk about. There should be things…pieces…pockets of our lives that are private. I…I mean, I certainly…have plenty of things I’ve never talked to you about. She realizes that, for whatever reasons, David decided to keep this thing, this piece, this pocket, private. And she respected that. There was nothing to be gained by confronting him. She knew the truth, and that was good enough for her.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 21:17:23 GMT -5
8. Silence is so crucial in this episode; in fact, what is NOT said is at least as important as what is said. David says nothing throughout Maddie’s speech; Maddie is quiet while David tells her about Tess. However, in both cases, their facial expressions and reactions seem to speak volumes. Two questions come to mind: a) What does the silent partner seem to be thinking, in each case? b) What is the effect on Maddie of David’s silence, and vice versa? a) In David's silence I think that he is trying to compose himself...he can't believe she's there and so sincere and talkative. David is juggling his feelings yet is interested in knowing why she came. In Maddie's silence, she is seeking the answers to the many questions she's asked herself since David told revealed his marriage. b) The effect on Maddie from David's silence is awkwardness. His silence makes her even more uncomfortable (then just showing up unannounced) because she doesn't know if he wants her there. The effect on David from Maddie's silence is totally opposite, it's very comfortable to him. The easiness he's been looking for from Maddie...he is able to be open because he doesn't sense judgment, yet a genuinely lent ear.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 21:19:08 GMT -5
6. David leaves his buddies to call Maddie, to check in with her. What does his one-sided “conversation” tell us?I consider this another bit where he considers THEM as an US. He assumes that she is concerned about him, thus the call to calm her nerves. Then he wants to let her know HE is worried about HER, with the line at the end. I thought this was a great little scene. I agree, and this is confirmed for the other side's feeling as well because she shows up!
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Post by manitobadesigner on Mar 3, 2009 21:20:20 GMT -5
4. This question relates to the dream/dance sequence. At this point, Maddie does not know the details of David's relationship with his ex-wife, yet in her dream, she imagines the ex as the “bad guy.” It's interesting that she doesn't blame David for the break-up. What does this tell us about Maddie's opinion of David?Ooooh jpen, such meaty Qs tonight! I'm blown away by the thought you put into these, way to go!! Maddie's dream was telling in many ways. I really love the fact that you asked this question, by the way, because I never really thought about this point. Maddie has had enough time to get to know David by this time, literally and instinctively. Though she wouldn't consider herself an intuitive person primarily - rather a thinker - the David portrayed in her dream has positive characteristics Maddie would never admit to out loud, or even to herself. I believe that by this stage in their relationship, Maddie subconsciously knows David is above all, loyal and trustworthy and would never be the one to cheat on his partner - outwardly of course, she would say that he's a womanizing slug. To her, a dream like that would've seemed like a nightmare because the dream is revealing things about him and her that she would be loathe to admit to herself. Thanks for the kudos, manitoba, but I gotta give credit where it's due--that Q is lin's, and isn't it great? As is your response...I love the idea of Maddie knowing something in her heart that her mind is not ready to recognize. Brava! Thanks, it is such a dichotomy, isn't it? Well I guess that's why we always want to shake her stupid!! Great Q, lin!
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graycav56
3rd Level
I can't imagine not rewatching with you next week.
Posts: 948
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Post by graycav56 on Mar 3, 2009 21:21:09 GMT -5
8. Silence is so crucial in this episode; in fact, what is NOT said is at least as important as what is said. David says nothing throughout Maddie’s speech; Maddie is quiet while David tells her about Tess. However, in both cases, their facial expressions and reactions seem to speak volumes. Two questions come to mind:
a) What does the silent partner seem to be thinking, in each case?
I'll parrot Since on these. I think David, in listening to Maddie, was trying to figure out what in the world makes that honey blonde noggin tick. No line of questioning was going to provide him the kind of insight that Maddie was spewing voluntarily, so why stop it?
Maddie, listening to David, was doing likewise. If Dave was going to lay out the case for this surprise marriage, and its demise, she wasn’t going to interrupt. What I find interesting is how Maddie willingly listened to all the details of this teenage tryst, while she was immediately repulsed with the tale presented in The Son Also Rises.
b) What is the effect on Maddie of David’s silence, and vice versa?
I think Maddie thought David was so disgusted he could not respond, thus her desire to depart.
David considered Maddie’s listening to be therapeutic, and that his relating this bit of history brought them closer together.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 21:25:45 GMT -5
10. David and Maddie each experience an unplanned pregnancy. What do their respective reactions reveal about their characters? IMO, this reveals David and Maddie are the same, they just react to situations differently. David went responsible when he was faced with having a child. Maddie on the other hand freaks out and just leaves a trail of irresponsible spontaneity that wreaks havoc in the lives of the whole Blue Moon family. They basically reversed roles in their responses to the unplanned pregnancies.
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graycav56
3rd Level
I can't imagine not rewatching with you next week.
Posts: 948
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Post by graycav56 on Mar 3, 2009 21:30:35 GMT -5
7. I have transcribed Maddie’s speech in the hotel room; it will be in the following post if you want to go over it. What do you think Maddie is hoping for here? Do you think she ends up saying more than she has intended?
I hope you don’t take this wrong ladies, but I always thought that Maddie was actually thinking of “getting lucky” with David. I remember watching this on its first run and thinking we were going to be surprised with them going horizontal right there, right now. It was all set up. Dave was kinda bummed, but it wasn’t a close relative, so the morbidity factor was out. Dave was also thinking about his failed marriage, for whatever reason that was, so an evening with the Blue Moon Girl would surely make him forget THAT issue. They were out of town in a nice hotel…no wobblies to worry about.
But that was what we EXPECTED to happen. Shoulda known better!
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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 21:33:00 GMT -5
5. What does the scene in the bar reveal about David and his past? Is this consistent with the portrait David paints later on? *A note here: “Top Cat” was a Hanna-Barbera cartoon from the early 60’s; Top Cat (or T.C.) was the leader of a band of alley cats. ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Cat) For the record, I just loved Top Cat! This is so fitting in drawing a picture of David being Big Man on Mulberry Street. I feel it is completely consistent if in regards to his and Maddie's discussion of "why he can't take her to this funeral" . Yes Maddie would be a hell of ornament to hang on his arm and make the fella's swoon, to get the sweetest revenge on his ex, yet he has a need to keep his life with Maddie separate from his past...Maddie is his now and his future. David doesn't desire to mingle her with those unpleasant memories.
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