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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 13:50:00 GMT -5
Okay, I know I am super late to the party, yet here are my answers any way. As has been discussed many times before, the title comes from the novel “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand. It is a tale based on the philosophy of objectivism which relies heavily on the concept of individualism and a belief that work is one of the ways to make a person valuable to society. The hero of the novel, John Galt, grows tired of being like everyone else and vows to stop the engines of the world.
The title of her book comes from the following passage contained in the novel....
""Mr. Rearden," said Francisco, his voice solemnly calm, "if you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of this strength, and the greater his effort, the heavier the world bore down on his shoulders – what would you tell him to do?"
"I … don't know. What … could he do? What would you tell him?"
"To shrug."Two questions come to mind: 1. How does Phil West fit into this description? How does David? Or how about Maddie? Phil West feels like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders working for this big investment banker. Phil's employer doesn't care what it takes to maintain the job, so Phil has sacrificed a lot to get this mans attention and get ahead (knees buckling and bleeding under the weight of expectation). When Phil doesn't lock the Rolodex in the safe, he has the weight of his bosses business on his shoulders because it is the basis of business, your network is your net worth. David is the eternal optimist, therefore his optimism is his strength. David garners the weight of Blue Moon's existence with his optimism because he has to have it for Maddie too. Maddie buckles under weight and will quickly throw the atlas from her shoulders (Blue Moon), if it wasn't for David who acts quickly to catch it when she just gives up (because he sees what she can't see). David smelled a rat with Lew LaSalle and I believe he told Maddie (don't quote me) ~if Lew LaSalle was interested in Blue Moon, they had to be on to something~...LaSalle had to know they were a rising force in the industry.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 13:58:02 GMT -5
2. Why in the ML version does Atlas “Belch”? IMO, the weight of Phil having to find the Rolodex is too much to bare; he's about to give up until David's pep talk at the dump. Just as a belch is the remnants of digested food, it smells and you regather what you have swallowed. Collecting the Rolodex from the dump was as a belch because David and Phil had to wade through life's residue to find the Rolodex (atlas, the key to Phil's whole world); as it is also the key to David's because he feels finding it will end his troubles by out shining Lew LaSalle Investigations...thus showing Maddie they were better than LaSalle, therefore they don't need him.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:03:11 GMT -5
5 Is David’s reaction to Maddie’s news anger or disappointment? IMO David's reaction is more anger than disappointment. David's angry that she sold the agency and really hadn't consulted him. He's angry because Maddie is still attempting to get Blue Moon and David out of her life after almost a year with no thought of recourse of how it will affect everyone else. David is a bit disappointed in the fact that Maddie seemingly has no feelings of loyalty to what they've built over 10 months; he's disappointed that she basically is acting like a spoiled brat.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:09:56 GMT -5
7. How would you describe Maddie and David’s relationship as we begin this episode (from each one’s point of view)? Is there a change by the end? David and Maddie start this episode nicely (for a short while)...they both really know each other by now. Maddie tries to sweet talk David with breakfast but seeing him makes her weak: I think she changed her mind about telling him but he knows her, so he pushed to get the truth of why they were meeting. By the end, Maddie is thankful to David, she recognizes his ability to read situations and his foresight. Maddie's line about having someone to call when she's in trouble says volumes to her respect for Davids ability to get things down when the chips are down. David blushes because he is happy she feels that way, that she would call him if she's in trouble.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:13:44 GMT -5
8. Let’s just slobber over the scene on the stairs, shall we? David and Maddie look really comfortable with each other on the steps, no walls...no barriers...just them in the raw and vulnerable. Talking about their day and the disappointments therein, like a couple would do...so wonderful....(sigh ) Oh I love when and how Maddie asks David to let her work for him...he plays hard to get for a second, so cute.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:16:49 GMT -5
7. How would you describe Maddie and David’s relationship as we begin this episode (from each one’s point of view)? Is there a change by the end?I really think this is a watershed episode. At the beginning, Maddie sees David and the gang as just employees, necessities of business. By the end, she realizes that Blue Moon is not just a place she spends time…it has become part of HER. She is a Private Investigator doggone it, and, although admittedly not a very good one, that is what she is. When she asks David to hire her with Addison Investigations, she realizes that it is not the 9 to 5 that gets her motor running, it is the banter, the impossible situations, the peeking in windows, the jumping from rooftops that tunes her fork. Woah, right on point Gray man, right on point!
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:24:16 GMT -5
4. Maddie describes her first response to Lew LaSalle as YAY (from the script)……was her response YAY as in yes (yea)…. Or YAY as in hooray? Maddie's response to me is Yay as in hooray, no more debt and responsibility that is costly; hooray to living the good life again. Maddie's tone on the other hand does not match her practical enthusiasm. It lacks the luster of the pros and cons she had dealt with individually; seeing David's face and realizing it would change everything she loved about the place in her life. Like Gray said, Maddie knows Blue Moon and it's inhabitants bring a joy she's never experienced before...a freedom with David she had never allowed herself to feel. As I said before, David makes her weak...she can convince herself of anything when he's not around but when she sees him, everything almost goes out of the window. That's the conflict we see through the entire series, that's why she keeps her running shoes on; Maddie can't be around David if she is going to make a decision that doesn't flow with his way of doing things because he charms her into doing what he wants.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:28:17 GMT -5
6. What do you think of the “buddy” images sprinkled throughout the episode? Do you think this episode might have spurred the decision to get David a sidekick in season 3……aka Herbert?Interesting concept and one I had not thought of previously. But you know, I can see your point. I am sure that even by this time, the producers realized the need to bring in a few more characters to lessen the load on Bruce and Cybill. Of course, they never DID bring in a sidekick for Maddie, well, not until Annie. Yeah, I know, she and Agnes had some moments, but not the amount of screen time that Dave and Bert did. I always looked at Agnes as Maddie's side kick. Although they didn't spend the time together that David and Herbert did, yet and still...Maddie has Agnes' admiration and loyalty...that's what side kicks do, right? PS...Annie, side kick, "HA" ~that broad tried to steal her man, if that's a side kick, I don't want one, lol
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:33:45 GMT -5
3. In her heart of hearts, there is no way that Maddie could believe that David would welcome the news. As she tells David of Lou LaSalle's offer, however, she seems really upbeat and tells David that she has good news. It's almost as if she is trying to delude herself that this will be a great move. Of course, she is under the impression that everyone would stay on at Blue Moon and things would continue to operate as usual. I don't think she fully realized what changes her decision would unleash. Great point Lin, she would have the best of both world's...financial security and her David + quirky Wobblies. You can tell she's under the impression that everything would be the same; Maddie's reaction to David leaving shows she felt selling Blue Moon would benefit everybody. Like, she was giving them security too...in weighing the pros and cons, Maddie had obviously convinced herself the move was for the good of all at Blue Moon.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:35:38 GMT -5
Then, too (and I could be reaching here), there could be a play on the culture differences between Maddie and David. In Maddie's world, Atlas might shrug, but in David's...well, you get the idea. LMAO, good one Jpen, good one...
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:38:34 GMT -5
8. Let's just slobber over the scene on the stairs, shall we?This is one of those scenes that you just sit back and take in. The chemistry is electrifying as they sit so close, nearly touching, admitting to their mistakes. When David says that he better get going, you can just feel that he is trying so hard to maintain his composure. And then there is Maddie - a little provocative as she says "first thing in the morning?". Hmmmm...is that an invitation? Perfection!Yup Lin, she's making sure he doesn't leave...and he easily picks up the hint...total perfection!
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:50:11 GMT -5
3. Was Maddie really under the illusion that David would accept her news well, or was her breakfast attempt designed to snow him…a flirtation? Or was she snowing herself? HA! Poor delusional Maddie! Oh David lets have early breakfast together , David of course was probably like hmmm what is going on here? His mind wandering It's definitely the last thing David ever expected to hear from her. Did she really think he was going to jump for joy at her news. Well at first he kinda does cause he thinks Lou wants both of them, to David they are a package deal, but not to Maddie, not yet anyway. So he is thrown when Maddie says only her, and he feels kinda like one of the wobblies i guess. Cause Davids feeling more than business with Maddie, it's deeper and he thinks she feels that way too.Yup poor Delusional Maddie !Rose...I promise I hadn't read your answer before I posted mine...Maddie was sooooo delusional, lol. And OOOOOOOOO, you nailed how it seems that Maddie threw David in with the Wobblies as expendible...WOW...he had to be feeling all types of stuff emotionally because he loved her from the gate. In seeing more of the episode, it's clear that Maddie never intended on letting David and the Wobblies go, she only intended to have financial security for herself and job security for everyone else. Maddie thought it would be business as usual (she'd still be in her office, David in his, Agnes out front, Wobblies in their row), of course misled by LaSalle's slick talk. Maddie never really had good discernment in that area until being with David for a while. David definitely taught her the ropes of business by showing her to look beyond the words and well dressed demeanor; but at the hearts of men and their motives.
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 14:55:43 GMT -5
5 Is David’s reaction to Maddie’s news anger or disappointment? He doesnt consider himself really below Maddie, he is a boss to the wobblies too, so David feels he should be treated as an equal to Maddie. Granted we know it takes a LONG time for David to become full partners with Maddie. He should have been full partners way before S&S that dont ya think? And well David is feeling deep down more than just friends with Maddie too. So it's alot of differant emotions for sure from DAvid. Maddie didn't think of David as anything less than a partner until it was convenient, IMO. When she needed leverage, then it was an issue she used to attain it..."it's mine, mine, mine"...it gave her a sense of control because in all actuality, David ran the agency ...Maddie just made decisions (am I making sense?), lol
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 15:00:59 GMT -5
7. How would you describe Maddie and David’s relationship as we begin this episode (from each one’s point of view)? Is there a change by the end? David knows he has feelings for Maddie beyond the physical. He wants to prove to her.... again....that they can run a successful business, but he also wants to eventually move their relationship into other territory. He's just not sure how or when. What I see though is his desire for her to be happy. We are shown glimpses of this in earlier episodes as well. What question does he ask her after she tells him she sold the agency? "Are you happy?"Ummmmm Bees, he did ask that, almost brought me to tears, that is so love! Siiiiggggghhhhhh...
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Post by sinceifell4u on Feb 26, 2009 15:07:14 GMT -5
Another comment on the scene on the stairs or actually after they have gotten up from the stairs - Maddie asking David to hire her and then her response to David when he asks why she would do that. Maddie goes into that little speech quoting David from the earlier office scene..."because I see what you can't..." As I think about it, it is pretty rare for Maddie to be such a cheerleader for David. Most of the time she is pointing out his shortcomings. I am trying real hard to remember any other time in the series when she is so supportive of him and expresses confidence in his ablilties. Very sweet. Yeah Lin, that was also great...he was touched by that...to David, that shows Maddie actually listens to him. David probably thought Maddie really doesn't value what he says...the fact she repeats his words verbatim, made him blush.
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