"Secrets That I Never Want to Know" and "Making the Connection"
In my opinion, the only reason for this Tom/Lynette breakup is to give the couple new, fresher storylines. Otherwise, what is the point, right? With that in mind, I've decided to go through the breakup so far and assess the writers' success at changing things up for this couple.
The premiere started off establishing a multitude of things in direct contradiction with the finale. Tom and Lynette hadn't told the kids about the separation; despite the fact that they vowed to tell the kids before anyone else, apparently they blabbed the truth to the entire neighborhood; Tom moved to Bree's (correct me if i'm wrong there) instead of to the apartment he claimed was available to him. Although I could give the writers the benefit of the doubt and believe that this was logical given Lynette's fears, I'm more inclined to believe this was all for the sake was wacky, hilarious hijinks. And, don't get me wrong, while I loved watching both of them smack their feet off Bree's sprinkler system, it wasn't enough to convince me that the writers were already trying to backtrack from where they left this couple at the end of the previous season.
On top of that, the entire plot was reminiscent of the first couple of episodes of season six. At the beginning of that season, Lynette was determined to keep her pregnancy a secret, even from the kids. Tom went along with her somewhat unwillingly. Of course, it secretly turned out that Lynette was freaking out about the pregnancy, and the premiere ended with Tom shouting some sense into her. Eventually, they told the kids. This time around, Lynette was freaking out about telling the kids (and thus giving Tom the chance to actually leave the street), Tom was somewhat unwillingly going along with the plan, and it ended with him yelling some sense into her. Then they told the kids.
I pity anyone who didn't see this coming from a mile away. Even with that unexpected reunion midway through the episode, it was obvious how this one was going to end.
Speaking of, for me, the reunion between the characters was the one moment that really worked in this episode. Felicity Huffman and Doug Savant acted the hell out of that scene. It was really lovely to see the characters acting like their old selves, even if it was just for two minutes. And that kiss was basically out of this world in terms of what we've seen from these characters before. As they were doing their run of shame the following morning, I couldn't help but think that the thought of them getting off on a secret relationship and sneaking around for the better part of the first season would be a more interesting plot than what was inevitably around the corner.
Actually, despite the slightly repetitive plot, the main failure of this episode for me was how underdeveloped the character motivation was. Why was Tom suddenly a pleasant, likable human being again, after basically being angry, cold and distant at the end of last season? Why was Lynette so terrified to let Tom go farther than across the street, and yet when he finally offered to work on their problems, she shut him out? None of this was clear to me. It's still not. Don't get me wrong, I have my theories and rationalizations, but the show has not made it explicitly clear to me where the characters are coming from.
Finally, I was incredibly disappointed that we didn't get to see Tom and Lynette tell the kids about separation. Even though I was vaguely dreading that moment all summer, it was also the moment with the most potetial for drama and emotional connection; then it didn't happen. Talk about disappointing. Still, I walked away from the premiere feeling pleasantly surprised.
I cannot say the same of episode two.
So remember how I said at the beginning of this reflection that this breakup should be taking the characters in new and exciting directions? "Making the Connection" proved to be the exact opposite of this. In fact, I'd go so far as to call it "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow Part Two."
To refresh everyone's memories, the Tom and Lynette plot of the season five premiere revolved around Tom refusing to discipline the teenage twins. Lynette got pissed, manipulated the situation to try to force Tom to react how she wanted, and it ended with the two of them finally talking like rational adults and agreeing to get on board with how to raise their kids.
Wait...so...take out "teenage twins" and replace with "teenage Parker" and you have the exact same plot of "Making the Connection"! I kid you not. Tom refused to play the bad guy with the kids, Lynette tried to call him on his bullshit, and when he responded like a petulant child, she resorted to manipulating him. Finally, at the end of the episode, they sat down together and worked through this problem like grown-ups.
As if that wasn't bad enough, this plot further grated on my nerves by having this couple basically pinpoint the exact reason they're apart, agree to resolve it, and then NOT GET BACK TOGETHER! I mean, honestly, the only reason they are apart (at least given what we've seen/been left to infer) is because they are in the middle of one giant power struggle and can't let things go and compromise. At the end of the episode, they not only acknowledged this, but they agreed to stop doing it! Why? Seriously? For what other reason are they still separated? How many times are we going to have to watch them realize this before they get back together?
I had read before this season started that Lynette is going to go through big changes this year; that she's going to have to come close to losing everything to realize that she needs to change. If I'm supposed to be blaming her for this separation, though, I'm not. Both characters are acting moronically. It's incredibly frustrating to watch, and if I didn't love Tom and Lynette so much, they'd be annoying the hell out of me. My sister, who always liked the characters, but didn't ever feel the emotional connection I did, can't stand them right now. On the other hand, I am too busy blaming the writers for this mess to let myself hate these characters; I refuse to just because we're in the midst of this incredibly frustrating plot.
And incredibly frustrating is the only way I can describe it so far. We haven't learned anything new about the characters yet. The character motivation is basically nonexistant. The characters have already acknowledged the root of the problem, but I'm sure we'll have to watch them realize that another ten times. Given what we've seen thus far, I'm not looking forward to going much further into this season.
I'm still holding out hope that this plot will be resolved by the winter hiatus. Aside from the mystery arc each season, this show notoriously does not drag out plots. By episode ten, I feel that there are basically three options for where the characters will be: 1) they'll be reunited/close to it; 2) they'll agree to call it quits for good; or 3) Tom will be killed off in some tragic accident (hey, it is the last season). Given that it's the final season, I suppose it could go in any direction, but I still have enough faith in this show to believe these characters will reunite. Deep down, I have the hunch that all four women are going to get a happy ending.
Episode Ratings (based solely on Tom/Lynette):
"Secrets That I Never Want To Know" - B
"Making the Connection" - D-
Showing posts with label Tom and Lynette. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom and Lynette. Show all posts
Monday, October 3, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Community
Because this summer hiatus feels more unbearable than usual (need I explain why?), I've decided to start a Tom/Lynette community to help all the fans of this pairing to get through the summer. Featuring contests, fanfic, videos, pictures and more, I would love for you to check it out and (hopefully) submit something! I'm really looking for this to be a group effort, so sharing is strongly encouraged!
Community found here.
(I've never used tumblr before, so bear with me while I get used to the site!)
Hope to see you there!
Community found here.
(I've never used tumblr before, so bear with me while I get used to the site!)
Hope to see you there!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Days 4 and 5
I couldn't sign on to the site last night, so I'm just going to double the fun today.
First up, this lovely scene from "In a World Where the King's Are Employers."
What don't I love about this scene? It's just really sweet and lovely, and I almost want to cry every time I see it. I think I'll leave it at that.
Next up from "Love is in the Air":
I love the rhythm of their conversation here: Tom playing calm to her irrational behavior. It suits them. Part of the reason I like the early episodes so much is because they really wrote this couple as a partnership. It's nice to see them balanced here. And the sweet moment at the end doesn't hurt either.
First up, this lovely scene from "In a World Where the King's Are Employers."
What don't I love about this scene? It's just really sweet and lovely, and I almost want to cry every time I see it. I think I'll leave it at that.
Next up from "Love is in the Air":
I love the rhythm of their conversation here: Tom playing calm to her irrational behavior. It suits them. Part of the reason I like the early episodes so much is because they really wrote this couple as a partnership. It's nice to see them balanced here. And the sweet moment at the end doesn't hurt either.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Day Three
I wrote a steamier fic tonight, so I decided to pick a moment to go along with that: the infamous elevator scene from "There Is No Other Way." Not only do I think this is the sexiest scene between these characters, but I also love how they resolve their conflict in this episode. It's nice to see them actually speak to each other like adults as opposed their fight just dissolving into a screaming match. I also think it's an interesting comparison to look at how the show dealt with these issues in season two compared to the way they're dealing with them now.
This is one I could watch again and again (and have). And if you're interested, I also wrote a follow-up fic to this scene that can be found here.
Enjoy!
This is one I could watch again and again (and have). And if you're interested, I also wrote a follow-up fic to this scene that can be found here.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Day Two
Today I decided to upload one of my favorite "speeches" that Tom makes throughout the entirety of the series. Of all the ways they've supported one another over the years and stuck by each other through thick and thin, I think that what Tom says here sums it up perfectly.
This is from the season four episode "Free."
I think that my favorite moment might be the looks they give one another at the end. The silent communication between these two characters is so poignant (in any situation), and this is such a beautiful example of that. If nothing else, I always smile when I see this scene.
This is from the season four episode "Free."
I think that my favorite moment might be the looks they give one another at the end. The silent communication between these two characters is so poignant (in any situation), and this is such a beautiful example of that. If nothing else, I always smile when I see this scene.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Celebration Week
So as most of you probably know (or have guessed), the angst and drama between Tom and Lynette is really starting to get me down. And since I'm probably going to have to spend the entire summer dealing with that, I decided to spend this last week before the finale celebrating every reason that I love this couple.
I'm posting a new fic on my fanfiction.net account called "All the Pretty Little Moments." My goal is to do a chapter a day--all fluff; angst-free. And to go along with that, on this blog I'm going to celebrate one of my favorite scenes between them each day. Please feel free to comment, reminisce, etc. All I ask is that you leave the angst (and flames) out of it.
Enjoy!
Day One
One of my absolute favorite scenes between this couple is this one from "One More Kiss." It also happens to be one of my favorite episodes. Completely celebrating the fact that Tom is kind of the sweetest dork ever, these characters are great when they laugh (at themselves and at each other), and that I love seeing Tom a little scruffy.
I'm posting a new fic on my fanfiction.net account called "All the Pretty Little Moments." My goal is to do a chapter a day--all fluff; angst-free. And to go along with that, on this blog I'm going to celebrate one of my favorite scenes between them each day. Please feel free to comment, reminisce, etc. All I ask is that you leave the angst (and flames) out of it.
Enjoy!
Day One
One of my absolute favorite scenes between this couple is this one from "One More Kiss." It also happens to be one of my favorite episodes. Completely celebrating the fact that Tom is kind of the sweetest dork ever, these characters are great when they laugh (at themselves and at each other), and that I love seeing Tom a little scruffy.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Wading Through Spoilers
*The focus of this entry is on Tom and Lynette in a positive way. I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but please save any flaming on this pairing for another site. I'm just not in the mood. Thank you so much.
Spoiler Warning
I've been wading through spoilers because people have been leaving me ominous, vague reviews or emails that state that Tom and Lynette are going to break up before the end of the season. And while I'm glad that everyone knows what a huge fan of this pairing I am (and generally I really like to be forewarned, particularly of disasters), I hate how insubstantial these thoughts are. So of course I had to go investigate and see if I could find anything concrete.
And that meant going to the televisionwithoutpity forums.
*Sigh*
Don't get me wrong. I really like TWoP in general, but I can't stand to read about any shows I actually like on there. Everything is so negative, and for a show like Desperate Housewives, there's nothing but complaints, bitching, and an emphasis on how horrible the show is. I'm the type of person who reads something and it sticks with me for years, so I NEVER read the DH recaps on that site, and I rarely go into the forums. If I do, the negativity and complaints get in my brain and, as ridiculous as it sounds, I just can't let it go. Even years later, I will not be able to watch a scene without recalling what was written about it.
It's just like the time my cousin mocked (*MOULIN ROUGE SPOILER*) Christian's crying at the end of Moulin Rouge. Now I can't watch that scene without laughing. Yeah, I can't watch the death scene without cracking up. And that's one of my top five favorite movies ever. So you see my dilemma.
Anyway, I ventured into the forums and trekked through the many, many vehement comments that Tom and Lynette are a horrible couple and should break up and that Marc Cherry is lying when he says "America" loves them. Whatever. You can't make a statement that broad without someone disagreeing, but it's just as stupid to make the broad statement that "America" wants them to break up. I don't. No one I watch the show with does. I have talked to quite a few people online who don't. I'm sure there are people that would love to see Lynette dump Tom and run away somewhere and suddenly become this perfect, unflawed success, completely forgetting all of her kids and everything else in her life. And that's fine. Those people are entitled to their opinion. But I'm also entitled to mine, and I hate those broad generalizations.
So as I perused, trying not to read the really disdainful comments too carefully, I basically discovered squat. Supposedly a couple on the show is going to break up before the end of the season (so probably Gaby/Carlos or Tom/Lynette; I can't imagine they'll go there with Mike/Susan again [although the Paul/Susan pairing FASCINATES me!]). I really feel like based on where the show is right now, it could go either way, but I'm not sure which. I mean, Gaby and Carlos have already broken up once, so that feels repetitive. On the other hand, it is true that Marc Cherry has always stuck by his statement that Tom and Lynette just won't break up. I really think it could go either way.
(Also, there is some speculation that Renee and Tom MAY hook up? It all seemed to be based on flimsy evidence. And I feel like they've completely abandoned that whole storyline anyway, so why bring it back in the last hour of the season? It just doesn't make sense).
The other theory is that while Tom and Lynette are away in the B&B, they will realize they're both acting crazy, make up and go off into the sunset together.
Until next year of course.
I HATE both options (this ignores the Renee thing completely, because if they go there I'll probably stab my eyes out, so I refuse to contemplate it).
First of all, why are the Scavos the only couple on the show to ALWAYS get these quickie resolutions? If the writers are going to keep a couple together for all of these years, they really can take the time to actually have that couple delve into their issues and maybe at SOME POINT resolve some of them. They never do this with Tom and Lynette. Time and again, the couple faces some enormous conflict, and time and again, it's never resolved.
Case in point: the season 4 finale. After the cancer, the return of Rick, Kayla's turn to pure evil, and sending Kayla away, how did their storyline end? Tom gave a speech about marriage (which, granted, is one of my favorite speeches on the show), he and Lynette kissed and that was it. On to other, lamer plots.
There are a ton of examples of this: the miscarriage, Eddie kidnapping Lynette, Lynette not wanting to have the twins 2.0, the grocery store shooting, the original go-around with Rick, Tom's lies about Atlantic City, the stupid Renee "affair" from this year, Norah's death, Kayla (where she's gone or how she is), Lynette sabotaging Tom's job in season one, etc. All of these are either resolved with a simple kiss and make up, a fight that is never followed up on, or the plot is just completely dropped. Now, granted, this happens with other characters on this show too, but it seems to happen every single time Lynette and Tom have any conflict arc that lasts longer than an episode.
Basically what I think it boils down to is that the writers like to drag out the conflict over several episodes (case in point: this new job ridiculousness), but then everything needs to be resolved in five minutes or less. Why not take more time on the resolution? Why not let us see them actually work through some of their problems instead of brushing them under the rug? Then maybe we wouldn't have to watch them have the same argument for the 50,000 time.
Which brings me to my second point. While I don't want the Scavos to break up (aka: put us through a divorce that will inevitably end up with them back together anyway, *cough Gaby and Carlos cough*), I wouldn't hate if they were separated for awhile. Maybe they need to take some time apart to come back together. And no, that doesn't mean I want to endure terrible "dating" episodes (I hate Bree and Susan's single periods more than you can fathom), but it could lead to some new and interesting conflict. As long as the end game is still Tom/Lynette, I think I could live with it. I might even be able to someday admit that it was a good idea.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, hire some writers who actually see the potential in this couple. I refuse to believe that the fact that they're still a couple makes it impossible to give them a decent storyline. The writers seem to be stuck in a endless cycle of ridiculous one-up-man-ship over work, Tom bitching about his manhood, and Lynette being an emasculating bitch. These are not the characters I fell in love with.
I fell in love with Lynette because she was flawed and conflicted and smart and ballsy and so damn strong. I fell in love with a character who didn't manipulate her husband over every little thing; I fell in love with a character who could apologize; I fell in love with a character who was passionate and funny.
I fell in love with Tom because he was sweet and lovably clueless and completely in love with his wife and smart and a little goofy. I fell in love with a character who rarely whined; I fell in love with a character who had some kind of confidence; I fell in love with a character who compromised.
I fell in love with this couple because I liked seeing a marriage that reminded me of something real. A marriage that had flaws and pain and imperfections, but was also clearly founded on love and communication. I fell in love with this couple because Felicity Huffman and Doug Savant have fantastic chemistry, they're engaging actors and fun to watch.
I want that back. I want the writers to remember that you can't guarantee a laugh just because you use the word "emasculate" at least once an episode. I want the writers to realize that Tom and Lynette have so much more potential than what they give them. I want the writers to see that they've turned these characters into parodies of themselves.
Be a little creative.
For instance, in twenty minutes, I came up with these ten scenarios:
Ten Tom and Lynette Plotlines
1) Kayla returns
2) One of the kids gets sick and/or dies
3) Lynette decides to do something for herself (write a book or something)
4) Penny actually becomes a teenager and gets a personality (dealing with anything from her losing her virginity to partying too much to lying to joining a band...I don't care).
5) One of Lynette's exes comes back (in 7 years we've never met one). Maybe he's not such a nice guy?
6) Some kind of follow up with the Eddie storyline. Maybe his trial or he reaches out to Lynette from prison.
7) The introduction of a family member we haven't met (one of Tom's siblings?) or the return of Lynette's very briefly seen sisters.
8) The return of awkward couple interactions; maybe they befriend a couple with a secret and something goes awry.
9) Tom makes so much money from this job that he and Lynette are both able to retire. With the sudden luxury of time and fewer kids at home (technically Parker should be off to college after this season), they have to figure out what to do with themselves.
10) Some secret they share together from their early relationship is revealed. Together they have to decide what to do/how to handle it.
Honestly, my ideas may be total crap, but that isn't the point. The point is to prove that there are a multitude of other things that the show could be doing with this couple, but they don't because they're boxed in to one idea. If I could pay the show to never have another episode about Tom feeling emasculated, I would. Truly. But I'm not going to hold my breath.
I guess what this all boils down to is my frustration. My frustration with the repetitiveness. My frustration with lack of resolution. My frustration with the untapped potential of this couple. My frustration with where this storyline is going.
Sometimes I think that if the writers would just go back and re-watch season one...
C'est la vie.
So in the end, I never did discover what fate has in store for my favorite couple at the end of the season. I guess only time will tell.
Spoiler Warning
I've been wading through spoilers because people have been leaving me ominous, vague reviews or emails that state that Tom and Lynette are going to break up before the end of the season. And while I'm glad that everyone knows what a huge fan of this pairing I am (and generally I really like to be forewarned, particularly of disasters), I hate how insubstantial these thoughts are. So of course I had to go investigate and see if I could find anything concrete.
And that meant going to the televisionwithoutpity forums.
*Sigh*
Don't get me wrong. I really like TWoP in general, but I can't stand to read about any shows I actually like on there. Everything is so negative, and for a show like Desperate Housewives, there's nothing but complaints, bitching, and an emphasis on how horrible the show is. I'm the type of person who reads something and it sticks with me for years, so I NEVER read the DH recaps on that site, and I rarely go into the forums. If I do, the negativity and complaints get in my brain and, as ridiculous as it sounds, I just can't let it go. Even years later, I will not be able to watch a scene without recalling what was written about it.
It's just like the time my cousin mocked (*MOULIN ROUGE SPOILER*) Christian's crying at the end of Moulin Rouge. Now I can't watch that scene without laughing. Yeah, I can't watch the death scene without cracking up. And that's one of my top five favorite movies ever. So you see my dilemma.
Anyway, I ventured into the forums and trekked through the many, many vehement comments that Tom and Lynette are a horrible couple and should break up and that Marc Cherry is lying when he says "America" loves them. Whatever. You can't make a statement that broad without someone disagreeing, but it's just as stupid to make the broad statement that "America" wants them to break up. I don't. No one I watch the show with does. I have talked to quite a few people online who don't. I'm sure there are people that would love to see Lynette dump Tom and run away somewhere and suddenly become this perfect, unflawed success, completely forgetting all of her kids and everything else in her life. And that's fine. Those people are entitled to their opinion. But I'm also entitled to mine, and I hate those broad generalizations.
So as I perused, trying not to read the really disdainful comments too carefully, I basically discovered squat. Supposedly a couple on the show is going to break up before the end of the season (so probably Gaby/Carlos or Tom/Lynette; I can't imagine they'll go there with Mike/Susan again [although the Paul/Susan pairing FASCINATES me!]). I really feel like based on where the show is right now, it could go either way, but I'm not sure which. I mean, Gaby and Carlos have already broken up once, so that feels repetitive. On the other hand, it is true that Marc Cherry has always stuck by his statement that Tom and Lynette just won't break up. I really think it could go either way.
(Also, there is some speculation that Renee and Tom MAY hook up? It all seemed to be based on flimsy evidence. And I feel like they've completely abandoned that whole storyline anyway, so why bring it back in the last hour of the season? It just doesn't make sense).
The other theory is that while Tom and Lynette are away in the B&B, they will realize they're both acting crazy, make up and go off into the sunset together.
Until next year of course.
I HATE both options (this ignores the Renee thing completely, because if they go there I'll probably stab my eyes out, so I refuse to contemplate it).
First of all, why are the Scavos the only couple on the show to ALWAYS get these quickie resolutions? If the writers are going to keep a couple together for all of these years, they really can take the time to actually have that couple delve into their issues and maybe at SOME POINT resolve some of them. They never do this with Tom and Lynette. Time and again, the couple faces some enormous conflict, and time and again, it's never resolved.
Case in point: the season 4 finale. After the cancer, the return of Rick, Kayla's turn to pure evil, and sending Kayla away, how did their storyline end? Tom gave a speech about marriage (which, granted, is one of my favorite speeches on the show), he and Lynette kissed and that was it. On to other, lamer plots.
There are a ton of examples of this: the miscarriage, Eddie kidnapping Lynette, Lynette not wanting to have the twins 2.0, the grocery store shooting, the original go-around with Rick, Tom's lies about Atlantic City, the stupid Renee "affair" from this year, Norah's death, Kayla (where she's gone or how she is), Lynette sabotaging Tom's job in season one, etc. All of these are either resolved with a simple kiss and make up, a fight that is never followed up on, or the plot is just completely dropped. Now, granted, this happens with other characters on this show too, but it seems to happen every single time Lynette and Tom have any conflict arc that lasts longer than an episode.
Basically what I think it boils down to is that the writers like to drag out the conflict over several episodes (case in point: this new job ridiculousness), but then everything needs to be resolved in five minutes or less. Why not take more time on the resolution? Why not let us see them actually work through some of their problems instead of brushing them under the rug? Then maybe we wouldn't have to watch them have the same argument for the 50,000 time.
Which brings me to my second point. While I don't want the Scavos to break up (aka: put us through a divorce that will inevitably end up with them back together anyway, *cough Gaby and Carlos cough*), I wouldn't hate if they were separated for awhile. Maybe they need to take some time apart to come back together. And no, that doesn't mean I want to endure terrible "dating" episodes (I hate Bree and Susan's single periods more than you can fathom), but it could lead to some new and interesting conflict. As long as the end game is still Tom/Lynette, I think I could live with it. I might even be able to someday admit that it was a good idea.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, hire some writers who actually see the potential in this couple. I refuse to believe that the fact that they're still a couple makes it impossible to give them a decent storyline. The writers seem to be stuck in a endless cycle of ridiculous one-up-man-ship over work, Tom bitching about his manhood, and Lynette being an emasculating bitch. These are not the characters I fell in love with.
I fell in love with Lynette because she was flawed and conflicted and smart and ballsy and so damn strong. I fell in love with a character who didn't manipulate her husband over every little thing; I fell in love with a character who could apologize; I fell in love with a character who was passionate and funny.
I fell in love with Tom because he was sweet and lovably clueless and completely in love with his wife and smart and a little goofy. I fell in love with a character who rarely whined; I fell in love with a character who had some kind of confidence; I fell in love with a character who compromised.
I fell in love with this couple because I liked seeing a marriage that reminded me of something real. A marriage that had flaws and pain and imperfections, but was also clearly founded on love and communication. I fell in love with this couple because Felicity Huffman and Doug Savant have fantastic chemistry, they're engaging actors and fun to watch.
I want that back. I want the writers to remember that you can't guarantee a laugh just because you use the word "emasculate" at least once an episode. I want the writers to realize that Tom and Lynette have so much more potential than what they give them. I want the writers to see that they've turned these characters into parodies of themselves.
Be a little creative.
For instance, in twenty minutes, I came up with these ten scenarios:
Ten Tom and Lynette Plotlines
1) Kayla returns
2) One of the kids gets sick and/or dies
3) Lynette decides to do something for herself (write a book or something)
4) Penny actually becomes a teenager and gets a personality (dealing with anything from her losing her virginity to partying too much to lying to joining a band...I don't care).
5) One of Lynette's exes comes back (in 7 years we've never met one). Maybe he's not such a nice guy?
6) Some kind of follow up with the Eddie storyline. Maybe his trial or he reaches out to Lynette from prison.
7) The introduction of a family member we haven't met (one of Tom's siblings?) or the return of Lynette's very briefly seen sisters.
8) The return of awkward couple interactions; maybe they befriend a couple with a secret and something goes awry.
9) Tom makes so much money from this job that he and Lynette are both able to retire. With the sudden luxury of time and fewer kids at home (technically Parker should be off to college after this season), they have to figure out what to do with themselves.
10) Some secret they share together from their early relationship is revealed. Together they have to decide what to do/how to handle it.
Honestly, my ideas may be total crap, but that isn't the point. The point is to prove that there are a multitude of other things that the show could be doing with this couple, but they don't because they're boxed in to one idea. If I could pay the show to never have another episode about Tom feeling emasculated, I would. Truly. But I'm not going to hold my breath.
I guess what this all boils down to is my frustration. My frustration with the repetitiveness. My frustration with lack of resolution. My frustration with the untapped potential of this couple. My frustration with where this storyline is going.
Sometimes I think that if the writers would just go back and re-watch season one...
C'est la vie.
So in the end, I never did discover what fate has in store for my favorite couple at the end of the season. I guess only time will tell.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Spoilers
Or: Why I'm Afraid Desperate Housewives Is about to Jump the Shark
Those of you who read my recaps might remember how unusually calm I was when the the show first hinted that Tom and Renee had some kind of secret past. That optimism lasted until I read a spoiler that Renee still has romantic feelings for Tom, and since then I've been on a desperate search for specific spoilers. From what I have heard through the grapevine and read, everything specifies that Tom and Renee did have an affair. The indication seems to be that it was pre-series while Tom and Lynette were still dating. Of course, nothing is set in stone until it actually comes out on the show, but I'd bet a lot of money that what I've heard is probably right on track.
*Sigh*
There are so many things that I have to say about this, so let's break this down.
A History of Affairs
First of all, why does this show insistently believe that an affair will add a new, compelling element to any story line. It's not a guarantee to spice things up. Look at the show's track record:
Gaby and John Rowland
I was never a fan of John Rowland, but the fact is that this affair was intriguing for several different reasons. It was layered: a symptom of Gaby's marital problems; a testament to Gaby's and Carlos' selfishness in season one; a crime that added more drama; and, ultimately, proof that Gaby and Carlos' relationship really was built on love. This affair went a long way to define the Solises on this show, and for that reason it was effective and well-written.
Rex and Maisy GIbbons
This is another example of an affair that worked. Rex's affair was in no way emotional, and in that sense I think that it was easier to forgive. I'm not sure if this is a popular opinion, but I, for one, still rooted for Rex and Bree even after this came out. Bree's reaction to this secret was appropriate and, again, revealed a lot about her character in season one. It was not just a salacious secret meant to spice up the show, but rather a meaningful way to extend character and plot development
Carlos and Xiao Mei
In some way, I always saw this as a way to build on the idea that Carlos has more depth to him. One of his key characteristics is how he values family. However, the result of this affair--Gaby and Carlos' ensuing divorce--is a prime example of using an affair primarily to pursue a plot that doesn't work. One of my biggest complaints about season three of this show is that Carlos and Gaby broke up. It was obvious from the beginning that eventually they'd end up back together, and watching them date other people was never particularly compelling. I could write an entire entry on this plot, but I'll save that for another day.
Carlos and Gaby
I have mixed feelings about this affair. It was fun, for once, to root for the people having the affair. However, the drama with Edie and Victor veered a little toward the absurd by the end of this story line. Victor's death seemed like a trite ending; an easy way wrap up this plot in a nice little bow.
Bree and Karl
I know that this pairing was fairly popular, but this affair is the best example, for me, of a relationship meant purely to "spice up" the show. I don't feel like any of the characters grew or changed as a result of this affair. It resulted in Karl's death--the most irrelevant end of a character I've ever seen--and afterwards, Bree and Orson hardly discussed it. Honestly, it felt pointless. Not to mention that, for me, it made Bree extremely unlikable. While Bree's morals are stringent to the point of obnoxiousness at times, at least it makes her admirable. When hypocrisy results, however, it just makes her hard to watch.
Other Affairs
And all of that doesn't even touch on:
*Karl cheating on Susan with Brandy
*Karl cheating on Edie with Susan
*Susan cheating on Mike with Ian
And the non-affairs like:
*Bree and George
*Tom and Norah
*Lynette and Rick
*Mike and Susan (during the Katherine engagement of season 5)
In total, that's twelve "affairs" in this show's seven year history. That doesn't include the affairs of minor characters. Is it wrong for me to find that excessive? I understand that this show falls into the soap opera genre, but honestly, most of the affairs I've seen on Days have had more emotional resonance than some of these.
And now we'll be able to bump that number up to thirteen.
The Purpose
So Tom had an affair. Great. What is the purpose of revealing this?
Character Development
I can accept almost any plot (no matter how absurd) as long as it results in character development. Lynette's emotional affair with Rick in season three was hard to watch, but at least I feel like we learned more about her, Tom and their relationship by the end. Potentially, I could accept this too if there was character development. However, at this point in this show, I really don't know what we could learn about the characters through this revelation.
Lynette
It has already been fully developed that Lynette has no tolerance for affairs. Let's look at how many times they've already overused just the idea that Tom has had an affair:
Season One
*"Move On" - Tom has the hots for their nanny
*"Your Fault" - Lynette finds out about Tom's father's infidelity and overreacts
*"Fear No More" to "One Wonderful Day" - Annabel returns and Lynette obsesses over the idea that Tom will cheat on her
Season Two
*"One More Kiss" - Gaby kisses Tom and Lynette becomes suspicious and paranoid
*"I Know Things Now" to "Remember" - Lynette finds out about Tom's trips to Atlantic City, follows him there, believes he's having an affair, runs away and ends up back with him when she finds out the truth
Season Three
*"Sweetheart, I Have to Confess" - Norah kisses Tom and when Lynette finds out she literally kicks down Norah's door
*"Bang!" - Lynette's confession that Norah is after Tom inadvertently causes Norah's death
Season Five
*"There's Always a Woman" - Lynette thinks Tom is cheating on her until she learns that Porter is actually the one having an affair
Thirteen episodes out of one hundred and forty-one have dealt with this topic. That's 9% of the show (and that doesn't even include that really the first eight episodes of season 3 dealt with Tom and Norah). At this point, I feel like that's more than enough. I get it. Lynette has no tolerance for this. She's almost irrationally paranoid. But it's also been established that she is by far the most forgiving character on this show (see her forgiving Tom about Norah and Kayla for just one example). So how is the revelation that Tom cheated on her twenty years ago going to show me anything even remotely new about her? Based on her history, this is what I will predict:
1) Lynette is going to leave or kick Tom out
2) Lynette will be at war with Renee over this
3) Lynette will eventually forgive him
4) They will get back together
I don't expect to learn anything new about Lynette through this plot. In fact, I'll probably almost be annoyed on some level that she's going to throw away twenty years of marriage over that something that happened over two decades ago.
Tom
On the other hand, I feel like this entire plot is going to try to redefine Tom's character. There is character development and then there is character defaming. This, in my opinion, is the latter. How many times has Tom vowed that he has never and will never cheat on Lynette? How many times has he been in the path of temptation and refused to give in? The only instance of infidelity that Tom has ever engaged in is his affair with Lynette when he was dating Annabel. And, according to Mary Alice, it was only a few weeks into his relationship with Lynette that Tom realized he wanted to marry her. So at what point did he squeeze in this affair with Renee? Let's face it, Tom is the most faithful character on this show and they are retconning his history with this development.
Also, I absolutely don't even understand this pairing. Renee does not seem like Tom's type based on all of the history we've been given on his past relationships. I feel like just because she's connected with Lynette's past, I'm supposed to believe this is plausible. I don't.
Story Development
Where is the show going with this? If a plot is not going to develop the characters, it should at least advance the story. So in the saga of Tom and Lynette, where is this going to take them?
Possibilities:
*Tom and Lynette will break up and get divorced
*One or both of these characters will date other people
*Tom and Lynette will break up, bicker, and eventually end up back together
*The characters will actually stick it out and have to work through this problem
None of these options is particularly appealing to me. The first two, frankly, make me ill. The third seems tedious. And the fourth has already been done to death (see season three with both Norah and Rick). So what will be compelling about this plot? What other options are there?
Jumping the Shark
Most shows that last this long tend to jump the shark. It's a depressing, if true, fact. However, I've had high hopes that this show wouldn't succumb to the usual pitfalls of other shows. A brief look at my history:
Charmed
When It Jumped the Shark: Season 5
Cole and Phoebe's relationship was on the rocks, and eventually Cole was killed off. The episodes became unbearably "cute" and no longer followed a season arc. The characters became selfish and annoying.
When It Became Unbearable: Season 6
Just a year later, the writers broke up Piper and Leo. I actually see a lot of parallels between that and this debacle with Tom and Lynette. Although Leo didn't cheat on Piper, his decision to become an Elder was completely out of character and never properly explained. Then we had to endured a year and a half of drama before they finally got back together. Meanwhile, Phoebe and Paige became more and more intolerable, and the continuity went to hell.
The X-Files
When It Jumped the Shark: Season Eight
Mulder left. On a show built around two main characters, losing one of them proves to be detrimental.
When It Became Unbearable: Season Nine
Scully was relegated to a minor role. Doggett and Reyes became the main characters. Because the show was so driven by Scully and Mulder and their partnership, it really became unwatchable.
Other Examples
Scrubs jumped the shark when the characters became parodies of themselves; How I Met Your Mother made its characters so obnoxious it was hard to root for them (although they seem to be recovering this year); The Office stopped being funny; Gilmore Girls broke up Luke and Lorelai through the introduction of a secret child (I loathe that plot) and made Rory unbearable; and Buffy lost half of its cast when they spun off Angel (not to mention the introduction of Buffy's sister). These are only a few examples; there are many more.
To sum up: When will shows learn that they can only push the realm of believability so far? If you betray your characters, make them shadows of themselves, or try to make unpopular, dramatic changes for ratings (or boredom or writer's block or whatever), it isn't going to help your show.
Tom and Lynette are an immensely popular couple. Even in interviews, Marc Cherry has stated that he knows he can only push that couple so far without the audience revolting. Well guess what, you may have just reached that point.
Please, please prove me wrong.
Those of you who read my recaps might remember how unusually calm I was when the the show first hinted that Tom and Renee had some kind of secret past. That optimism lasted until I read a spoiler that Renee still has romantic feelings for Tom, and since then I've been on a desperate search for specific spoilers. From what I have heard through the grapevine and read, everything specifies that Tom and Renee did have an affair. The indication seems to be that it was pre-series while Tom and Lynette were still dating. Of course, nothing is set in stone until it actually comes out on the show, but I'd bet a lot of money that what I've heard is probably right on track.
*Sigh*
There are so many things that I have to say about this, so let's break this down.
A History of Affairs
First of all, why does this show insistently believe that an affair will add a new, compelling element to any story line. It's not a guarantee to spice things up. Look at the show's track record:
Gaby and John Rowland
I was never a fan of John Rowland, but the fact is that this affair was intriguing for several different reasons. It was layered: a symptom of Gaby's marital problems; a testament to Gaby's and Carlos' selfishness in season one; a crime that added more drama; and, ultimately, proof that Gaby and Carlos' relationship really was built on love. This affair went a long way to define the Solises on this show, and for that reason it was effective and well-written.
Rex and Maisy GIbbons
This is another example of an affair that worked. Rex's affair was in no way emotional, and in that sense I think that it was easier to forgive. I'm not sure if this is a popular opinion, but I, for one, still rooted for Rex and Bree even after this came out. Bree's reaction to this secret was appropriate and, again, revealed a lot about her character in season one. It was not just a salacious secret meant to spice up the show, but rather a meaningful way to extend character and plot development
Carlos and Xiao Mei
In some way, I always saw this as a way to build on the idea that Carlos has more depth to him. One of his key characteristics is how he values family. However, the result of this affair--Gaby and Carlos' ensuing divorce--is a prime example of using an affair primarily to pursue a plot that doesn't work. One of my biggest complaints about season three of this show is that Carlos and Gaby broke up. It was obvious from the beginning that eventually they'd end up back together, and watching them date other people was never particularly compelling. I could write an entire entry on this plot, but I'll save that for another day.
Carlos and Gaby
I have mixed feelings about this affair. It was fun, for once, to root for the people having the affair. However, the drama with Edie and Victor veered a little toward the absurd by the end of this story line. Victor's death seemed like a trite ending; an easy way wrap up this plot in a nice little bow.
Bree and Karl
I know that this pairing was fairly popular, but this affair is the best example, for me, of a relationship meant purely to "spice up" the show. I don't feel like any of the characters grew or changed as a result of this affair. It resulted in Karl's death--the most irrelevant end of a character I've ever seen--and afterwards, Bree and Orson hardly discussed it. Honestly, it felt pointless. Not to mention that, for me, it made Bree extremely unlikable. While Bree's morals are stringent to the point of obnoxiousness at times, at least it makes her admirable. When hypocrisy results, however, it just makes her hard to watch.
Other Affairs
And all of that doesn't even touch on:
*Karl cheating on Susan with Brandy
*Karl cheating on Edie with Susan
*Susan cheating on Mike with Ian
And the non-affairs like:
*Bree and George
*Tom and Norah
*Lynette and Rick
*Mike and Susan (during the Katherine engagement of season 5)
In total, that's twelve "affairs" in this show's seven year history. That doesn't include the affairs of minor characters. Is it wrong for me to find that excessive? I understand that this show falls into the soap opera genre, but honestly, most of the affairs I've seen on Days have had more emotional resonance than some of these.
And now we'll be able to bump that number up to thirteen.
The Purpose
So Tom had an affair. Great. What is the purpose of revealing this?
Character Development
I can accept almost any plot (no matter how absurd) as long as it results in character development. Lynette's emotional affair with Rick in season three was hard to watch, but at least I feel like we learned more about her, Tom and their relationship by the end. Potentially, I could accept this too if there was character development. However, at this point in this show, I really don't know what we could learn about the characters through this revelation.
Lynette
It has already been fully developed that Lynette has no tolerance for affairs. Let's look at how many times they've already overused just the idea that Tom has had an affair:
Season One
*"Move On" - Tom has the hots for their nanny
*"Your Fault" - Lynette finds out about Tom's father's infidelity and overreacts
*"Fear No More" to "One Wonderful Day" - Annabel returns and Lynette obsesses over the idea that Tom will cheat on her
Season Two
*"One More Kiss" - Gaby kisses Tom and Lynette becomes suspicious and paranoid
*"I Know Things Now" to "Remember" - Lynette finds out about Tom's trips to Atlantic City, follows him there, believes he's having an affair, runs away and ends up back with him when she finds out the truth
Season Three
*"Sweetheart, I Have to Confess" - Norah kisses Tom and when Lynette finds out she literally kicks down Norah's door
*"Bang!" - Lynette's confession that Norah is after Tom inadvertently causes Norah's death
Season Five
*"There's Always a Woman" - Lynette thinks Tom is cheating on her until she learns that Porter is actually the one having an affair
Thirteen episodes out of one hundred and forty-one have dealt with this topic. That's 9% of the show (and that doesn't even include that really the first eight episodes of season 3 dealt with Tom and Norah). At this point, I feel like that's more than enough. I get it. Lynette has no tolerance for this. She's almost irrationally paranoid. But it's also been established that she is by far the most forgiving character on this show (see her forgiving Tom about Norah and Kayla for just one example). So how is the revelation that Tom cheated on her twenty years ago going to show me anything even remotely new about her? Based on her history, this is what I will predict:
1) Lynette is going to leave or kick Tom out
2) Lynette will be at war with Renee over this
3) Lynette will eventually forgive him
4) They will get back together
I don't expect to learn anything new about Lynette through this plot. In fact, I'll probably almost be annoyed on some level that she's going to throw away twenty years of marriage over that something that happened over two decades ago.
Tom
On the other hand, I feel like this entire plot is going to try to redefine Tom's character. There is character development and then there is character defaming. This, in my opinion, is the latter. How many times has Tom vowed that he has never and will never cheat on Lynette? How many times has he been in the path of temptation and refused to give in? The only instance of infidelity that Tom has ever engaged in is his affair with Lynette when he was dating Annabel. And, according to Mary Alice, it was only a few weeks into his relationship with Lynette that Tom realized he wanted to marry her. So at what point did he squeeze in this affair with Renee? Let's face it, Tom is the most faithful character on this show and they are retconning his history with this development.
Also, I absolutely don't even understand this pairing. Renee does not seem like Tom's type based on all of the history we've been given on his past relationships. I feel like just because she's connected with Lynette's past, I'm supposed to believe this is plausible. I don't.
Story Development
Where is the show going with this? If a plot is not going to develop the characters, it should at least advance the story. So in the saga of Tom and Lynette, where is this going to take them?
Possibilities:
*Tom and Lynette will break up and get divorced
*One or both of these characters will date other people
*Tom and Lynette will break up, bicker, and eventually end up back together
*The characters will actually stick it out and have to work through this problem
None of these options is particularly appealing to me. The first two, frankly, make me ill. The third seems tedious. And the fourth has already been done to death (see season three with both Norah and Rick). So what will be compelling about this plot? What other options are there?
Jumping the Shark
Most shows that last this long tend to jump the shark. It's a depressing, if true, fact. However, I've had high hopes that this show wouldn't succumb to the usual pitfalls of other shows. A brief look at my history:
Charmed
When It Jumped the Shark: Season 5
Cole and Phoebe's relationship was on the rocks, and eventually Cole was killed off. The episodes became unbearably "cute" and no longer followed a season arc. The characters became selfish and annoying.
When It Became Unbearable: Season 6
Just a year later, the writers broke up Piper and Leo. I actually see a lot of parallels between that and this debacle with Tom and Lynette. Although Leo didn't cheat on Piper, his decision to become an Elder was completely out of character and never properly explained. Then we had to endured a year and a half of drama before they finally got back together. Meanwhile, Phoebe and Paige became more and more intolerable, and the continuity went to hell.
The X-Files
When It Jumped the Shark: Season Eight
Mulder left. On a show built around two main characters, losing one of them proves to be detrimental.
When It Became Unbearable: Season Nine
Scully was relegated to a minor role. Doggett and Reyes became the main characters. Because the show was so driven by Scully and Mulder and their partnership, it really became unwatchable.
Other Examples
Scrubs jumped the shark when the characters became parodies of themselves; How I Met Your Mother made its characters so obnoxious it was hard to root for them (although they seem to be recovering this year); The Office stopped being funny; Gilmore Girls broke up Luke and Lorelai through the introduction of a secret child (I loathe that plot) and made Rory unbearable; and Buffy lost half of its cast when they spun off Angel (not to mention the introduction of Buffy's sister). These are only a few examples; there are many more.
To sum up: When will shows learn that they can only push the realm of believability so far? If you betray your characters, make them shadows of themselves, or try to make unpopular, dramatic changes for ratings (or boredom or writer's block or whatever), it isn't going to help your show.
Tom and Lynette are an immensely popular couple. Even in interviews, Marc Cherry has stated that he knows he can only push that couple so far without the audience revolting. Well guess what, you may have just reached that point.
Please, please prove me wrong.
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