From: lewis@linac.fnal.gov (June Cummins Lewis)
Subject: Re: NX 4.2, 10/5 episodode
Organization: Fermilab, Batavia, IL
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 16:47:06 GMT

In article <1992Oct6.135740.2847@newsance.att.com> kimi@newsance.att.com (Kimiye Tipton;ball of confusion) writes:
>
>Well, it was average to low on the NX scale, probably a 5.0 since
>stereotypes of most of the characters were used instead of breaking
>any new ground.  With the exception of Fleischman, of course, and I'm
>still trying to figure that one out.


This is pretty funny--I thought this was one of the better NEXP
episodes.  I'd give it a strong 8.  What I most liked about it was
the acting--I thought all the actors did a great job, including
Shelley, who I usually just about ignore.  Even with the same tired
subplot between her and Holling, I though she just sparkled,
especially in the speech she gave Holling about not wanting to be just
a sex symbol.

>Who wants details?  Hit that space key...
>
>
>Maggie was particularly poorly written, being used as an idiotic feminist 
>mouthpiece again (and I'm quite proud to call myself a feminist-- it 
>doesn't have to mean anti-male).  They could have shown the dichotomy
>of wanting to be wanted for who you are while still being worried about
>how good you look, and done it with more humor, subtlety, and wry self-
>knowledge (or at least a glimmer of it-- if Maggie doesn't learn
>something from acting stupid, what's the point?)  Her only good
>scenes were the ones with Joel, where she provided the perfect foil
>for his personality change (as she always does).  
>

When the debate about Maggie's behavior during the Juneau episode
started, I was the most strident voice on the net, I believe, to
criticize how Maggie acted in that show (or how the writers wrote her
character).  I still think that episosde was degrading to women,  
perpetuated dangerous stereotypes and was politically irresponsible 
(no one should try to change my mind--we've been through this 100s
of times and I still feel this way).  BUT I was not at all offended
during this episode.  I particularly liked that scene between Shelley
and Maggie in the clothes trailer; I even watched it twice!  I'm
trying to figure out why my reaction was so different this time.  I'll
let you all know if I do (like you are all dying to hear).

>Rob Morrow did a fine job of proving that Fleischman in a good mood
>can be just as/even more annoying than Fleischman the malcontent.  

I thought his acting was terrific--he sustained that buoyant
personality incredibly consistently and delivered those punchy lines
without a slip.  

>Okay, so usually, when Maggie begs for a compliment, and Fleischman
>says, "You look like you always do", he often adds "beautiful" or
>"great" or something.  This time he stubbornly refuses, refers to her
>dress, and then pleads insanity with a large dose of contempt (for
>himself?  for her wanting flattery?).  She turns away mad, and he just
>turns away.  Then we see the wide view of the room (deja vu "Slow
>Dance"), and neither of them in sight.  I just don't know.  Seems
>like the writers are trying to pretend that the end of last season
>didn't happen.  Or worse, they're trying to negate it.  Aaah, maybe
>the plan is to have them really hate each other because they're both
>so close to loving each other... (feel the stretch...)

I think the opposite--during that last scene when Joel reverted to his
old self and pretended he hadn't really desired Maggie, my first
thought was "of course, that's because of the way she treated him
after Juneau."  Remember, from his point of view, she totally blew him
off when he expressed sexual interest in her.  True, there were more
sparks during the wedding episode, but maybe Joel thought that coming
on as strong as he did during his manic episode was more like his
obvious expresssion of interest in Juneau--the one Maggie so haughtily
disdained.  I didn't think his reaction was a stretch at all, but it
was pretty rude, nonetheless!

Well, I guess this just goes to show how different all our reactions
can be.

June
-- 
"Saying that men talk about baseball in	order to avoid talking about their
feelings is the same as saying that women talk about their feelings in order
to avoid talking about baseball."
			--Deborah Tannen, author of _You Just Don't Understand_
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