We left the gang on the way to the airport to stop the evil General Patterson from getting away with his nefarious deeds! We find the General has arrived at the airport hangar and is loading his light aircraft to fly himself out of there with his jammer… That hangar looks familiar doesn’t it??
Ahhh I see why.. look what I found in Need to Know (Episode 4.10)
It’s too funny.. looks like they just stuck an N on the end of it!!! Playing Hangar scrabble or something – double bonus points to set design!! Oh smk! I love this about you!! 
I am thinking it is seen in another ep too.. ‘Amblin air’ springs to mind.. but I can’t place it! Anyone? And we had Alabam Air in I am not now.. though not the same hangar I think.. man.. all these A’s!!
Lee, Amanda and the Colonel arrive at the airport- what luck that they weren’t driving the two seater vette at the time! 
[Nice catch Jeanine! again! ]
Lee: Well there’s no one around. They must be inside.
Col: we’ll blast right in there Lee, We’ll surprise the hell out of them!!
[hmmm.. he called him Lee.. not skip! Good!!]
But Lee is the voice of reason here…
Lee: No.
At this the Colonel looks at Lee.. a little surprised IMHO!
Lee continues: It’s better if I see what the situation is first.
The colonel is very emotional: Forget that!! They’re not expecting us!!!!
Lee responds without getting angry- Go Lee!!!
Watch Amanda’s face here as Lee responds. It’s like oh boy here we go!! Of all the times for you two to fight!
Lee: Excuse me Sir, but this is not some dogfight over Korea!
We cut back to the Colonel.. he’s now listening intently to Lee
Lee continues: this is my territory! Not yours.
Lee looks to Amanda and taps her on the shoulder as 
he says to the Colonel: Besides, I don’t want to endanger the life of a civilian. [Hmm funny! I 
don’t mind Amanda being called a civilian here! ]
Lee doesn’t realise what he just did! It came so naturally! At this last line of Lee’s Amanda gives him a quiet little smile – Lee just shut his uncle down, and put Amanda’s safety as top priority! He could have been tempted to play action hero and prove to his uncle he is not ‘playing’ at James Bond.. but instead he keeps his head – Would you say at this moment- Lee has truly grown up into a man?? I would!!! His own man..
The camera cuts back to the Colonel who is quiet, thoughtful..
and (brilliant acting) realising Amanda was right: Lee is his own man with his own way.. it’s not about being better.. and we see the Colonel fully realise that Lee is now his equal – and he lets Lee take the lead here Maybe the Colonel is a little chastened that he, the gentleman, forgot about Amanda’s safety for a moment.. without realising, Lee showed him up there too!!
Col: Alright. What do you want me to do?
That is huge!!!! The Colonel is waiting for Lee to give 
the orders!!!! Lee is so focused on the job at hand, he doesn’t seem to realise the huge change that has just taken place!
Lee: just give me a chance to work my way inside. I 
may need you to mop up. Ready? Let’s go.
LOL.. It’s just like he’s talking to Billy! Interesting.. Lee doesn’t tell Amanda to stay in the car!! It feels to me like Lee’s big moment 
where he saw the Colonel differently was when he did his u-turn and decided to help the Colonel whether he liked it or not.. And for the Colonel?? It happens here
Apart from the significance for Lee and his uncle.. I find this action finale to be incredibly lame!! I could happily ‘skip’ it yep pun intended..
Lee and the Colonel leave Amanda in the car and head a 
little closer to the hangar to check it out.. cool music though.. it’s like they combined the scarecrow theme music with a military slant.. v cool!
Inside the hangar, Patterson is getting Mauntel and the other baddie to load the Jammer onto his twin engine plane.. 
Back outside, Lee and the Colonel stop to settle the plan.. Lee decides he’ll go ‘up and over’ and tells the Colonel he can go around the front.
Lee: wait for me.
Lee holds his hand up… as they talk they get closer and closer to each other here.. and finally, the Colonel reaches out to lightly touch Lee’s hand.
[ohhhhh myyy that is so lovely! Because Lee often does that to Amanda when things are serious!!]
Col: Okay.
Lee: Take care Huh.
Col points to Lee: you take care.
A very sweet moment!!! Is it just me or is Lee very loud in this moment and the Colonel is very hard for me to hear! I may not have gotten his dialogue exactly right – but .. close enough!
We see Amanda is watching them go their separate ways from the car.. Lee heroically starts up over the roof.. He stops up high – so we the 
viewers can be shown this is indeed Lee.. not stunt Lee! and Lee gives someone a nod.. Amanda? it was probably mean’t for the Colonel, but with the slant of the room I don’t see how he could have seen it!
Patterson gets ready to move his plane out of the hangar, and magician Lee has managed to move from on top of the roof to inside the hangar! 
Or actually I think outside was Lee.. inside could be stunt Lee
Aha! There’s Lee! [I guess I can’t say ‘real’ Lee..because 
Lee isn’t real either! ROFL!!!] Amanda sees the plane is about to leave the hangar, so she moves the car over to block it’s exit – 
okay – anyone think Amanda driving the car looks weird?? she’s sitting in the passenger seat?? and driving the car?? help??
Oh yeah!!! Loooots of stunt Lee! phew! BB must have gotten off early that day! The light’s all wrong, it’s 
obvious the other baddie is on a set somewhere, not in a hangar.. anyway.. Lee starts fighting Lt Mauntel.. The col fights the other baddie (the one who killed Sgt Ballard) but Lee finishes with Mauntel and takes a leap at the nameless baddie.. freeing up the Colonel to deal with his old buddy Patterson..
Whooo we get a stunt colonel also!! rofl!!!
Ahhh is this an homage to Indiana Jones and his bullwhip here?? where Lee (stunt Lee) and the nameless baddie fight near the propeller?
Ohhhh dear.. mirror mirror on the wall, what’s the lamest of them all?? This!!!!
Amanda watches Lee be inched closer and closer to the plane propeller from the car. A distance away, Amanda sees the Colonel is 
in just as much trouble and no help at all..
From still far away, Amanda 
sees a red trolley on wheels in the hangar!
Why yes!! it is the solution to this deadlock! Lurve the zoom in on it waiting 
there… with deadly force… in the corner… of the fake hangar set! Why there is 
even no debris around it so it can be wheeled unimpeded! Amanda leaves her car.. runs all the 
way over to the red trolley.. 
She pushes the red trolley 
into the back of the legs of the baddie fighting Lee- and 
gives Lee a chance to break free, get away from the 
propeller and finish him off.. Ohhhh dear.. yes because just throwing something at the baddie would not have been enough?? I find this terribly lame and random! Give me the bad guy coincidentally putting his foot in the middle of the rope (like in car wars) any day over this one – this is the worst idea for an Amanda errrr ‘contribution’ of any episode- ever!!!! At least we didn’t get a clown whistle to go with it.. LOL.. actually maybe that would have improved it!
Oh wait! Amanda does give another contribution.. A 
huge ‘ Leeeeeeee!!!’ from the fake hangar (!) to point him towards the Colonel who is 
about to be snuck up on by Lt Mauntel!
The Col finishes off Patterson…Lee punches Mauntel.. and The Colonel comes in with a second punch to Mauntel- sending 
him flying.
The Colonel yells at Mauntel: that’s for the Squadron!!
Drat.. if only he had also yelled at Patterson: that’s for the ugly elephant foot lamp you uncouth greedy baddie you!
As Amanda makes her way over to them..
Amanda (ever the encourager): Well.. looks like you two make a pretty good team!!
Lee wordlessly smiles at Amanda.. and the Colonel responds: Well, I’d say we all do!!! [The Colonel is a feminist? I love it!! ]
The Colonel turns to Lee.. Lee smiles: yeah!
Cue the triumphant music!! they shake hands! whoo hoo!! and Amanda watches on happy with the men’s new understanding of each other!!
Tag time!!! We are back at the Armed Forces club to finish things up.. Notice, they are sitting by the window this time- where Lee wanted to sit the first time they went there!!! Seems the Colonel has not demanded his preference!
Amanda is dressed in all white again???!!! Interesting.. yes we definitely need to explore together the evolution of Amanda’s wardrobe at some point!!
The Maitre D’ pours the wine.. and we see the Colonel have a taste while Lee watches and waits for his verdict!
Col: Mmm! Not bad!
[Roflmbo!!! now where have we all heard that before???!!! surely this can’t be a coincidence? Kudo’s the to female writing duo on this ep – you have knocked it out of the park with these little touches!! I love it!! –I’ll bet they didn’t write the lame action sequence!]
The Maitre d’ leaves them.
The col continues: Excellent!
We see from a distance Lee and Amanda share a smile together at this exclamation from the colonel..
Man! I wish the camera was closer!!!
The col again continues: You were right Lee. [no more skip!!!] the 81 is a better vintage!
Wow.. he let’s Lee pick the wine too (just in case we didn’t notice the window seat!!) and admits that Lee was right??!!! This is surreal!!! Lovely to see the Colonel is finally showing his respect for Lee that he has till now, kept hidden (in that toolbelt of his no doubt..)- maybe Amanda has helped him to see that it’s okay to show it
We cut to Lee wearing a huge smile!! and a reaaaaally ugly jacket!!! Gahhh!!!! But.. nothing can detract from that winning smile!
Lee: now there is something to drink to!
Amanda: ahhhh I’ve got a better idea. Let’s drink to family.
Everyone holds up their glasses.. and in unison Lee and the Colonel cheer: Here Here!!
Amanda: why don’t you two make a pact not to be such strangers.
The colonel agrees.. saying they shouldn’t let another 3 years go by between visits – ahhh sooo that means this is year 1985. I love that the Colonel knows exactly how long it’s been! and I also love the thought that if they did wait another 3 years, Lee and Amanda would be married by then!!
Uh oh.. we see, Lee and the Colonel are still Lee and the Colonel! tee heee.. they start clashing over who will stay with who and where over Christmas.. 
teee hee.. and love Lee’s dig about sleeping on a military bunk
Lol, they are still themselves.. though the fighting is now much more good natured! They will continue to clash over who decides what! tee hee!! thank goodness Amanda is there to save the day yet again! Is there a red trolley handy Amanda??
Amanda interjects- holding up her wine glass and saying flatly: family.
Amanda continues: here!. here!
Everyone cracks up laughing.. I love the Colonel’s huge belly laugh- very much like Billy’s when it gets going no? Sooo we get a cute little ending..
I agree good one Amanda!!
Well this episode has grown on me.. the whole confusion of the boyfriend/girlfriend cover initially left me cold.. but nowadays, I have mellowed greatly towards this episode – how about you?
It is such a wonderful insight into Lee’s history that I can’t help but treasure it.. and it is wonderfully written and performed by everyone.
Except the stupid red trolley incident! argh!
LOL this could become the new catchcry for when something is cringe worthy in SMK- uh oh!! It’s a red trolley incident!!! 😉
For me, I am still confused by what happens with the Lee and Amanda being in a relationship thing – it just kind of gets lost along the way.. maybe SMK leaves it open for us to decide for ourselves what we want.. I comfort myself with the thought that – for Lee’s uncle- Lee and Amanda only needed to act normal, and the Colonel believes they were a couple!!!
So I see this episode as being a big step for Lee and Amanda – Lee at his most vulnerable asks Amanda to help him.. and she completely steps up and proves herself to be trustworthy, sensitive and definitely on Team Lee! Amanda saw little boy Lee at his least swashbuckling swoony heroic and still was able to genuinely tell him that he is a good man – who anyone would be proud to have as a son. She gave him what he needed, and built him up It’s really quite monumental for Lee’s character that this episode takes place!
Also, as I’ve briefly mentioned before, I believe the theme of this episode is acceptance.. and forgiveness.. I’ve always felt Amanda’s acceptance of Lee just how he is the bedrock of their connection – it’s where it all develops from.. In this episode, it is on full display as Lee bangs car doors and makes a bit of a fool of himself, stands at attention to his uncle.. and struggles to behave like a man with his uncle.. All this- and Amanda’s acceptance and valuing of Lee never waivers.. infact, it only grows!!!! you can’t get any better than that can you?? Yep.. That is the kind of woman you could fall in love with, and want to spend the rest of your life with- right Lee??!!!
We saw with Amanda’s misstep over Lee using her ‘mon amour’ perfume, that Amanda is not perfect either – and Lee was able to express his unhappiness with her choice to share it the way she had.. But he also readily accepts her apology and he knows she just made a mistake – she wasn’t looking to score points (a la Francine) – he trusts that she has his best interests at heart This too showed that Lee more and more, is accepting Amanda for who she is..
The scene in the hotel room ‘call me in an hour’ ?? also highlights the deep understanding these two have of each other now – and showed to me that Lee’s acceptance of Amanda is growing He is beginning to show signs of not wishing Amanda was different to how she is.. like IMHO he has done in the past.. and this brings me to Expectations..
The core of Lee’s and the Colonels’ relationship troubles were expectations.. unmet expectations on both sides.. and a lack of acceptance on both sides.. we’ve already covered this so I won’t rehash it- other than to say the tag initially seems cutsie.. but it leaves us with a great message – the two men end the episode with a better understanding of each other, but they do not magically become best friends – they will learn to adjust their expectations as during this episode they have each learned to accept the other for who they are – and not wish they were different or try and change them.. The laughing at the end with Amanda’s joke is wonderful – as it says: Ohhh look at us!!! we are impossible!!! To laugh at ourselves and our faults could be seen as the ultimate acceptance of who we are.. so the more I think about this tag- the more I like it!!
So why was Amanda there at the dinner? Okay.. the pragmatist in me says- Lee and Amanda are always together in the tag!! that or one is thinking of the other in the tag.. but.. why was Amanda at the dinner?? Because she was still Lee’s ‘girlfriend’ or just because she had now formed her own friendship with the Colonel in addition to Lee’s?? and shared adventures?? Hmm?? It seems to be all left open.. I’m going to go with the idea that there is a missing scene, where Lee comes clean that he and Amanda are very very good friends only as I want the Colonel to know the truth of their relationship and still want to enjoy seeing them together and.. there is no doubt the Colonel thinks Amanda and her muscular forearms (from all those tennis lessons) are great!!! What about you?? LOL-Bjo please let us know how you go convincing your children to let you tie them up and get them to flex their forearms and escape!!! roflmbo!!!
The episode does raise a number of continuity issues for the series as a whole…. one thing that bugged me that no one has mentioned (maybe it’s just me!!) – is why was the Colonel not at Lee’s funeral in Remembrance of things past???!!!! but.. oh well!!
I really do wish we’d seen the Colonel back again later in the show!!! oh well..
Is it just me or does putting Spiderweb after this episode make good sense?? Especially given the level of trust Lee is revealed to have in Amanda in Spiderweb?? Or.. it could be seen that Lee trusts Amanda in this episode, because he has already grown to trust her more in general, and so Spiderweb can go before.. Hmm.. Thoughts Anyone??
As always I’m busting to hear your thoughts on this episode!! All ideas and thoughts are welcome!!!!
Brace yourselves everyone.. the hair-don’t is coming!!! but.. so is alot of smk goodness!!! whooo hoooo!! Byeee for now!!
"Just walk with me.." 
#2019rewatch
My parting thought, as “A Relative Situation” comes to a close, is how beautifully this episode sets the stage for our belief in Amanda’s unwavering trust in Lee during “Burn Out” a couple months later.
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#2019rewatch
Amanda (ever the encourager): Well.. looks like you two make a pretty good team!!
Lee wordlessly smiles at Amanda.. and the Colonel responds: Well, I’d say we all do!!!
…And I think that is the loveli-EST thing about this episode. That the Colonel and Lee and Amanda have worked as a team. Not just to solve the case. But to lay the groundwork create a familial situation that all three of them are comfortable with and bettered by being a part of. A place where they can each be themselves – flaws and strengths, alike; some emotional walls starting to come down – and still be accepted and cared for. For it is not just Lee and the Colonel who long for such a space together. Amanda, too, in addition to whatever her feelings for Lee are at this point, (her reaction and countenance at the phone call at the beginning hearing about a potential jealous girlfriend to me said some things…but that aside) she is also now in a season without her father. So although she has a lovely relationship with her mother and the boys, I think she is also coming from a background where we are given clues as to a special relationship with her father, and he is now no longer there to be a part of her life. I think that history maybe gives her an even stronger desire for Col Clayton and Lee to have such a relationship also, and for her to be able to be a part of helping these two men grow closer is a special thing to be a part of. (Added bonus is that she unknowingly also helps lay a foundation for her future uncle-in-law…??…is that an actual term?) Plus it must be very encouraging for her confidence that Lee chose to bring her into his family dynamic in such a capacity as he did, and quite touching, as she cannot yet reciprocate by bringing him into her family. I think this episode helps propel the professional confidence we begin to see Amanda develop throughout the end of Season 2 and also allows Lee’s armor to chip away at a more rapid place. To me, there’s a firm establishment of each other as a “safe place” as a result of this episode.
Another Amandarambler Amandaramble. 😁
I have always really held this episode as a really pivotal episode, and have loved spending time with it during the rewalk!
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Please ramble anytime! I love your insights.
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#2019rewatch
Again, thank you Janet! Also, I noticed a typo in the end of my ramble: it should have said “more rapid pace“, not place. 🤣
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#2019 rewatch
Lee is certainly sending the Colonel conflicting messages about Amanda’s place in his life when he says “I taught her everything she knows” and then follows that up with referring to her as a civilian here. Either way, I have no doubt he leaves town convinced they are a couple – whether they know it or not.
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Exactly!
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Test results are in!!!
Ok – I convinced my daughter to be the flexing tennis muscle theory! I even took a few pictures, but I’m afraid to post because even if I crop out her face she’s in her pj’s and I don’t want to end up on some child predator watch list! Ack! Wish I had thought to put her in sweats or something….
Anyway, after tying her up like Amanda was, she slipped out very easily! And she isn’t even taking tennis lessons to make those forearm muscles bigger….LOL…try it for yourself and you’ll see what I mean! Even with normal sized muscles, the closer you get to your wrist the smaller your arm gets, right? So just about anyone could have slipped outta those ropes!!!
Let this be a lesson to ya – if you want to keep someone tied up, don’t do it this way!
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This is priceless, really! So funny! I hope you daughter is not too traumatized, or maybe she may romanticize the spy business after this. Kind of reminds me of the Myth Busters tv series. I wonder what they would have done with SMK?
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My daughter was not traumatized at all – she was a surprisingly willing participant. And she already romanticizes the spy business! I keep reminding her that it is a tv show and it is not real. In the pics I took of her, you can see just a bit of her open and laughing mouth after she has escaped the ropes! She enjoyed it very much! Not sure if I shared, but she is making her way through all 88 episode herself and has just finished watching No Thanks for the Memory in S4. It’s funny to watch her watch, she is still at the age where she partially covers her eyes and is a little embarrassed when Lee and Amanda kiss. 🙂
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I’ve always been of the mind that the “pretend couple” story didn’t need further explanation to the Colonel. I think he accepted them as a couple and nothing further was said or referred to from that point. With all the excitement, there really was no need to bring it back up. I think Lee and Amanda probably occastionally shared a meal together after a late case, much like two colleagues would have – friendship only, of course. 😉
In this case, I think the Colonel would naturally invite them to dinner before he left, and they would naturally agree (after a significant look). I’ve enjoyed pondering future updates from Lee to the Colonel. He may have simply downplayed the relationship, as I think he would have been prone to do. “Well, you see, sir. Now that we are partners at work, you know …”
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Ack! The Amblin Air thing is driving me crazy! I think you are right – it is in one of these dang 88 episodes and I can’t remember which one. It’s not WOTSTW – I checked. It’s also not at the beginning of TBWCBK when King Eddie plays his trumpet…grrr…I should be sleeping already!
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Iwsod, great write-up for an otherwise lame-o fight scene/tag. The last 5 minutes of this one could have been soo much better. I do love that Lee and his uncle come to a new realization and respect for one another; it’s just too bad the colonel never makes it onto another episode. His actor did a great job.
I like all of what you say after too – all very good points. For me, I think the colonel still thinks Lee and Amanda are an item. Even if Lee *tried* to come clean and admit they were both very very good friends I’m not sure that he would have believed it. Or if he had, he would have thought, ok, but let me know how that turns out for you in a few months…. My preferred explanation is that Uncle Bob invited both Lee and Amanda out to celebrate the fact that he’s not going to be court-martialed anymore because of the help of these two regardless of the status of their relationship.
Hahaha, I haven’t tried tying my kids up yet…I will tomorrow. I even know where our rope is 😉 Today was Father’s Day in the US, so we spent the day doing daddy things and seeing as how is not a fan of SMK, well the rope theory didn’t come up! I must share that when we were all out today, we drove by a vette just like Lee’s vette (silver and everything!) and I loudly pointed out to my kids, “There’s Scarecrow’s corvette!” They kids were both thrilled but my hubby just rolled his eyes….ha!
I’m not sure where I am on the order of this ep versus Spiderweb. I need to watch them back to back and see what kind of a feel I get….my initial thoughts are to put ARS after, but I’m not sure if I’ll feel that way in the morning…
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I am also in the “Spiderweb” before ARS camp. No real reason, I think it just works better that way (ARS they seem more comfortable with each other, he had faith in Amanda’s innocence in Spiderweb, but here he’s sharing his past and family with her.)
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I agree with you both on the order thing, Spiderweb before ARS. Their relationship is more comfortable in ARS and I think they build the trust issue nicely in that order. I know there is the searching through people’s personal, private things, but after being ordered to search Amanda’s house maybe it can become a thing of humor for them considering it is part of the job and Lee did tell Amanda in Spiderweb not to get caught up with hurt feelings.
I also think the Colonel never got told about the boyfriend/girlfriend act, mostly because I bet Lee and Amanda forgot about it and the Colonel wouldn’t have any reason to doubt its veracity. That is just my gut feeling, and I think I wrote something like this before, but it kind of leaves us all asking who knew the real truth about their relationship anyway, Lee and Amanda or the Colonel.
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I just finished watching ARS and Spiderweb in that order and I would still put ARS second for the reasons Cindy and Morley stated above, especially the trust building and familiarity in their relationship. However, I didn’t see anything to contradict ARS going first. The only odd thing in Spiderweb that does make more sense to me coming after ARS is the scene in the bullpen after the shoot-out at Chez Tayir. Amanda tells Lee that she’s glad he wasn’t hurt and he says he’s glad she’s okay too. Then Amanda does this little smiley/wave thing that is kind of awkward to watch because Lee’s reponse to her doesn’t seem as heartfelt as hers to him. It seems odd to me because I don’t recall Amanda ever being that direct to Lee about his physical well-being and then acting like a young girl with a crush. I could justify that scene easier if the closeness in ARS had already happened. With ARS second it just seems weird to me. Then again, perhaps it’s just coming from Ship of Spies and that cover kiss/technial non-marriage.
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I always chalked that part in Spideweb up to left over tension/ emotions from SOS. I think that is pretty believable. Even though Lee tried to iron it all out during the tag of SOS, I don’t think that was entirely possible for either of them. Lee might tend to overcompensate with projecting an extra detachment while Amanda would not know how much concern/ intimacy to show (intimacy being a platonic mutual care for one another based on shared experiences)
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Hahaha, Morley – I had to really think about the ‘Lee might tend to overcompensate with projecting an extra detachment’ bit, but I do get what you’re saying! And I like how you defined intimacy there – very apropos. Extra detachment plus lower level of intimacy equals no real change in or statement about their relationship! Now that’s an equation I can understand – 😉
[Hi bjo, I fixed your typo- if it’s not right let me know 🙂 Iwsod]
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Hi Everyone!!! I am very caught up in personal matters at the moment 😦 .. so I’m not around much this week – but I am LOVING reading all your comments on this fabulous episode!!!
Raffie I was tickled pink to hear from you!!! Your thoughts [on post 11 of this episode I think it was] on that deleted scene between Lee and his uncle have completely changed my view of that scene!! With a huge payoff like that – I am sad it wasn’t in there now! 😉 Hmmm Raffie’s theory of Lee’s development is a beauty! Anytime you want to put a few of those thoughts together into a post – just say the word!!! I agree that Lee is growing.. and is not yet ready for a relationship with Amanda..
I liked Morley’s idea of the colonel having a conversation with Lee about settling down.. a bit of a ‘lampshading’ moment – as tv tropes likes to call it! 😉 we get a few of those from others though.. LOL.. Pearl thought Amanda was ‘the missus’! 😉
Hi Valerie -I am right there with you in finding the compulsory action finale a bit of a yawn.. I am sometimes tempted to skip them when writing up the episodes!! but.. it’s like a car crash sometimes -I’ve just got to watch! got to groan at red trolley moments – I agree that it shows how dated SMK really is!!!! At the same time, I would not want to change it for the world!! and finding funny little mistakes in them are fun! I enjoy watching Francine Morph into a man – that is always very satisfying!!! HA!!
Valerie here here! Lee is more accepting of Amanda.. it is wonderful to watch isn’t it!
Thanks for sharing all your thoughts on the ARS/Spiderweb order everyone- very helpful!!!.. I’ll get a post up on that as soon as I can! 🙂
Ahh I’m so sorry I can’t respond to your comments half as much as I would like to at the moment guys – but please feel free to keep chatting amongst yourselves – I am very excited to see that Bjo now has the most number of comments of anyone here – based on the last 1000 comments- whoo hoooo BJO! congrats!! I am really glad you overtook me!!! I always thought – oh no!! People here enough from me in the posts!! I hope I am surpassed!!! and it has happened hooray!!! I truly am excited to see me getting further and further down that list guys! 🙂 I really want to hear from you all!!! 🙂 Anyone want to try and outdo Bjo?! 😉
Okay well I must go for now.. sorry I’m not around much 😦 at the moment..
It looks like Cindy’s post is next..
Then Bjo’s.. then I’ll be back with ALSALS!
byeee for now! I hope you are all well,
Iwsod
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What a wonderful episode! The “Amanda as girlfriend” cover story never bothered me — I thought it was a necessary plot device to get Amanda and Lee’s Uncle together. I do appreciate how the powers-that-be decided that Lee and Amanda should just act naturally in front of the Colonel. No over-the-top hand smooching, excessive public displays of affection or endearments. It is obvious to the Colonel (and anyone else) that these two people genuinely care about each other, are comfortable together and are a couple (and in a way, they are, even if they don’t realize it yet).
The only thing I think would twig the Colonel’s suspicions is Amanda does not match Lee’s original description of her — extremely jealous and protective of the time they spend together — but he would correctly attribute that to Lee trying to avoid having dinner with him.
I don’t know whether they fessed up or not, or whether the Colonel suspected they weren’t romantically involved but he had to be so relieved and happy Lee has Amanda in his life.
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Cindy: Here! Here! 🙂
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I agree about your theory on expectations IWSOD, Lee and the Colonel aren’t going to change overnight but both seem to have seen each other in a little bit of a new light 🙂 Sure they will still butt heads but with a better understanding of where the other person is coming from.
I am ROFL at the red trolley incident. Why not get a wrench or something (it’s just like my dads Snap-on mechanics trolley) out of it and clonk the bad guy on the head. But that wouldn’t be as much fun as pushing it halfway across the hanger now would it………
Can’t comment further as its getting late, try and check back tomorrow.
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I am not always fond of the requisite fight/action scene at the end of each show. They are usually not well done and I can’t wait for them to be over to get to the tag. Maybe with all we see now with technology and special effects has jaded us. I’m sure other shows during this time period had the same issue of cheesiness.
I think that Lee uses the term “civilian” when referring to Amanda is a way to be persuasive with the colonel in deflecting an argument. The colonel would better understand that and go along with him than if Lee had referred to her as his friend or girlfriend. I love how Lee doesn’t tell her to stay in the car this time. She never does anyway…Dancing Weasel.
Again, I think that Lee is letting his guard down more and more with Amanda. In Spiderweb he was a little hesitant even though he didn’t truly believe that Amanda was betraying the Agency. He is even more accepting of her and of making her a priority.
I agree with the acceptance theme. I think it also applies to Lee in accepting himself and who he has become. I can only think that he didn’t want to enlist in the military as a way to be defiant of his uncle, but he chose a career that has some risks so that he could prove that he is a man and be seen as a man. But he now knows that he doesn’t have to prove anything and he learns how to stand up for himself with his uncle. He was playing the little boy role in more ways than one.
I think Amanda is at the dinner because she helped them both learn how to accept each other and she has become sort of a bridge and a buffer zone for them. After what they’ve all been through is this episode I would think it odd for her to not be there.
I apologize for these long responses, but it’s just so nice to be able to chat about this show.
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I agree, my first impression of Lee’s “civilian” reference was to speak in a language that the Colonel would understand. It’s a nice by-product that it showed a concern about Amanda … I don’t know if that concern was part gentlemanly and part professional, or mostly all professional, but regardless, we can still see Lee is evolving in this episode towards being a gentler, more sensitive partnership.
I like how you described Lee’s choice of jobs, Valerie. So true that while being defiant would drive Lee away from choosing the military as a career, but it makes a lot of sense that he would still lean towards a career that reflect the values that he grew up with (love of country, “manliness”, bravery, etc).
Yes, Iwsod, I really am still here! And now I’ve caught up for the time being (although will fall behind again because I’m out of town next week, argh), and hopefully if I can survive this very crazy June. I think July will be calmer … sure hope so!
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Just some quick thoughts… I always viewed Lee as holding people at arms length because it was too risky to let someone closer. He has experienced letting Amanda closer gradually and this episode is almost like proof to him that it can be ok to do so. His experience with Amanda has probably also warmed him to the idea of family, which he probably tried to put on ice in his life. So now, at this point he is capable and ready to take these steps of acceptance and allow himself to care for his uncle. And it also helps him to become a more integrated adult, because he is repairing a childhood relationship. And that can lead to more whole relationships with others.
I wondered as we went through this episode if there was an unwritten scene of a conversation between Lee and his uncle in which the Colonel would try to give Lee some unsolicited advice about his relationship with Amanda (assuming the Colonel still thinks they are a couple). Something about what a great catch she is and how Lee shouldn’t let her get away, maybe he should think about settling down. I wonder what a scene like that would look like.
I also liked the way the Colonel said that all three of them made a great team. I thought that was significant.
And with my luck the red trolley would have hit Lee instead. Amanda is really very lucky with her aim.
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