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Post by lin212 on Mar 3, 2009 21:35:30 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? Ah, yes, the silence. It is such a powerful thing. When Maddie is trying to explain her presence in his room, David seems to have a huge question mark on his face - "what is she doing here?" "why did she come?" Maddie's spontaneous trip to NY is so out of character that he is baffled. In the next scene, Maddie asks the simple question, "What happened?" As David reveals the details of his past, Maddie says nothing, but her face is full of compassion. When David says, "the baby didn't make it", she is visibly moved. Her last words, "I'm sorry" are truly heartfelt. It seems that David's silence causes Maddie to ramble on and probably say more then she intended. Maddie's silence, on the other hand, shows her concern for David and her genuine interest in his past. It allows David to bare his soul and open up to her - to trust her with this piece of his heart.
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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 21:38:37 GMT -5
11. In the hotel argument, Maddie shouts, “I was looking forward to this funeral!” One of the classic lines of the series.
What do you think were her expectations?
I think by this point Maddie was back into full curiosity mode, wanting to know more about the ex and this was her only chance, or so we thought, to find out.
What is at stake for David in going alone vs. taking her?
I also think by this point Dave had decided he wasn’t going anywhere near that place. If he was going to go, he would have taken Maddie, for support, thinking that he could keep up the story about Tess bailing for another dude. That was pretty certain, unless, of course, Tess was there with her significant other.
(Brings up a timing issue here, of which there are numerous posts on the main episode thread. Census are done after the turn of a decade. Dave says this was the early 70s and they split 9 years ago, making it the mid-late 70s. I wonder what kind of census was actually going on!)
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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 21:39:12 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! Gray, I don't remember what I felt then but now, I totally agree! When Maddie said "it's not like we're...", (I can definitely fill in the blank) that was an opening baby! I love the way she backs away when David is going down to get her room released. Maddie sat there and awaited his return in the same spot...ON THE BED! (deep sigh)
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Post by lin212 on Mar 3, 2009 21:44:07 GMT -5
By the way, gray, LOVE your avatar. Keep 'em coming!
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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 21:47:50 GMT -5
10. David and Maddie each experience an unplanned pregnancy. What do their respective reactions reveal about their characters?
David from early on was a responsible guy when it came to family matters. He proved this by marrying Tess, and staying with her when the baby was lost.
Maddie, ever the control freak, totally lost it when she faced the same situation. Well, maybe not the same, but she proved throughout that she just did not like things to not go as planned or predicted. And this was a whopper!
Interesting though, how in both instances, they decided to go ahead with the pregnancy. Tess didn’t go to the home for wayward girls and Maddie didn’t take any other actions, although she DID go to Alex and Virginia’s Boarding House for a few months.
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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 21:50:17 GMT -5
By the way, gray, LOVE your avatar. Keep 'em coming! Thanks Lin, I'm full of them. Yeah, I could photoshop my noggin in there a bit better with closer color and contrast, but that would defeat the purpose. I WANT folks to see how silly I am! Yeah, I'm a 14 year old kid in a body rapidly heading to 50! But what a ride!
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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 21:51:03 GMT -5
11. In the hotel argument, Maddie shouts, “I was looking forward to this funeral!” What do you think were her expectations? What is at stake for David in going alone vs. taking her? Maddie's expectations may have not been the purest, LOL. I think Maddie was overwrought with curiosity about David's wife, his life during that time and basically marking her territory. Maddie going to this funeral with him would allow her to meet his friends, maybe hear some childhood stories from another person's point of view and get an honest background on David; thus the angst to better understanding his inner workings. David would have only benefited from taking Maddie with him. I agree with Gray, he had already decided he wasn't going and he knew Maddie wouldn't have just let that fly. Maddie had come all that way too, he knew this was an argument waiting to happen...although an argument ensued, it still ended more abruptly than if he would have said, "lets go to the museum instead". A side comment about this scene...did anyone else notice how long David looked at her at one point during the argument...waiting for her to turn around and look at him? I tell ya, that just did something to me, the silence between them...the look of anxiety on David's face because Maddie won't look his way...the disappointment and hurt Maddie displays....just awesome performances as a whole!
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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 21:52:35 GMT -5
By the way, gray, LOVE your avatar. Keep 'em coming! Thanks Lin, I'm full of them. Yeah, I could photoshop my noggin in there a bit better with closer color and contrast, but that would defeat the purpose. I WANT folks to see how silly I am! Yeah, I'm a 14 year old kid in a body rapidly heading to 50! But what a ride! LOL, I just noticed it, the questions have me geeky and distracted! Too dam cute Gray!!!
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Post by sinceifell4u on Mar 3, 2009 21:57:36 GMT -5
12. Maddie chooses not to confront David about Tess in the scene in the airplane. Does this mark a change in Maddie? IMO, the tone in which David responds after Maddie says his name with that child like twinge, let's her know he doesn't want to talk about it anymore. This does mark a change, if even for a short while for Maddie because she respects his wishes by not going further.
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Post by jpen on Mar 3, 2009 22:00:52 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! Gray, I don't remember what I felt then but now, I totally agree! When Maddie said "it's not like we're...", (I can definitely fill in the blank) that was an opening baby! I love the way she backs away when David is going down to get her room released. Maddie sat there and awaited his return in the same spot...ON THE BED! (deep sigh)I agree with both of you! That pause, after she says, "It's not like we have that kind of relationship. It's not like we're..."--she looks up at him, and it's SO obvious she's waiting for him to jump in--to acknowledge that there's something between them. When he doesn't, she sort of nods to herself, and announces that she should really go home instead...and you can see how disappointed she is. Then, he says "Don't go" and she STANDS THERE, so close to him...Man, he is missing the signals right and left! I think he's just so overwhelmed with the fact that he was thinking of her, calling her, and then she appeared--kismet, baby!
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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 22:08:49 GMT -5
Didya notice that jpen is now a 2nd level member.
Woo Hoo!
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Post by lin212 on Mar 3, 2009 22:08:50 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. Couldn't have said it better, gray. This scene is so sweet. IMO, Maddie's love for David is so evident in her eyes as she glances up at him. She doesn't want to cause him any pain by rehashing this part of his past. This is the soft side of Maddie that we don't see very often.
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Post by lin212 on Mar 3, 2009 22:12:02 GMT -5
Didya notice that jpen is now a 2nd level member. Woo Hoo! Good call, gray. Hip Hip Hooray, Jen!!
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Post by jpen on Mar 3, 2009 22:15:47 GMT -5
Didya notice that jpen is now a 2nd level member. Woo Hoo! Good call, gray. Hip Hip Hooray, Jen!! Thanks, guys! Just like American Express--"Essing" has its privileges, doesn't it?
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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 22:26:09 GMT -5
Well cats and kittens, I have to finish up a presentation for tomorrow, so I must bail. But I will check back later and of course, respond to any attacks upon my character, upbringing or unflinchingly insightful posts.
Until then......au revoir.
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