13/13 Season Three, Episode 02: We’re Off to See the Wizard- Scarecrow and Mrs King (Morley’s order: Episode 04)

59 thoughts on “13/13 Season Three, Episode 02: We’re Off to See the Wizard- Scarecrow and Mrs King (Morley’s order: Episode 04)”

1. I remember seeing a post for this ep at one point about why we view Paul different as a womanizer compared to Lee and it got me thinking.

   I think the big difference is the respect level. To me, Lee is more of a serial dater than a womanizer. He’s not into commitment, but when he is with a woman, he seems to treat them with respect. Look at the trouble he takes to prepare for Randi Baby. And he always tries to get the door for Francine & Amanda as early as the second ep. There’s a womanizing character on another series I used to watch and he wouldn’t be caught dead doing that. In a lot of ways, Lee’s dating style reminds me of a grown-up version of Archie from the Archie comics.

   Paul Barnes, comes across as more like the James Bond kind with women.

   I thought their individual reactions in this ep to the women’s deaths spoke volumes.

   Lee’s tone of voice when he says things like, “Anne Marie Johnson and Stacey Smith,” “Those women were friends!”, “We were supposed to have dinner tonight,” and “I only worked with her a couple of times.”

   By contrast, we see Paul react to the death of the woman who he JUST had sex with the night before and he barely reacts other than a cold, “She knew the risks. They all did.” I get that you have to be professional on a case, but come on! You can at least allow an intial reaction. If anything, you’d expect Lee to try and put on more of a professional facade in Billy’s office and he doesn’t even try. And even Lee looks stunned by how cold Paul’s reaction is, and this is Mr. “Remember What I Told You About Feelings.”

   Just my take on the differences.

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   1. I 100 percent agree with you that Lee is not a “womanizer.” Not in the least. I have a different perspective on Paul, though. He does not come off to me as a man who does not respect women. Quite the opposite, in fact. He made a young female agent, Dorothy, a key member of a squad of elite, commando-style agents in the mid-70s. I would think that was pretty much unheard-of at the time. If Dorothy was her real name and not just her code name (which I don’t think is ever established, actually), he might even have named the whole Oz network after her. To me, he seemed lovely and respectful in his interaction with Pamela. I also don’t think he slept with her that night, though he was angling for an invitation (not that I would care if he did sleep with her, it would not change my opinion). I think his harsh statement that “she knew the risks — they all did,” was said out of anger and frustration — it was his way of dealing with being very upset about losing a fellow agent. Billy and others at the Agency have said similar things at other times. But that’s just the way I see it! I really just like Paul very much and wish we could have seen more of him.

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2. I took it as Lee mostly believed Paul was bad, but decided to go with a safeguard because he was having second thoughts — especially with everything he was going through. I think that’s why he looked so conflicted in the apartment — probably trying to figure out what to do.

   As far as the continuity regarding Lee’s age is concerned, I did figure out a way it could technically work. I don’t remember if we were told WHEN in the year Dorothy died. This ep is set in fall 1985 when, based on Lee’s passport birthdate, he was 35. But his birthdate is given as in June. If Dorothy was killed in May or earlier, 1975, Lee would have still been only 24 as he wouldn’t have had his birthday yet. (I know, I’m grasping at straws here!)

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3. This scene seals the ep order for me. Over The Limit is first and I think we know Lee is definitely interested in Amanda now and is ready to accept it, but is also taking things different and slower as a further demonstration of just how much he has changed in regards to dating.

   They could have had him and Amanda walk through a rose garden instead and show he does better with the scent. Instead we have a tie in of him giving roses to the woman who has stood by him through all of this. I find that very telling.

   I think Lee couldn’t bring himself to kill Paul and brought the fake gun as backup. We could tell he was mentally and emotionally conflicted throughout the episode and he does make a point of changing weapons, which I think was actually real and not a writer’s trick. I think he wanted to have it out with Paul once and for all and wanted to bring him in without having to kill him so that worst case scenario, he could tell him off in the interrogation room and wouldn’t lose his career over it. At the same time, if he had to kill Paul for real because Paul shot at him, Lee was prepared with a real gun.

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   1. Oh CRAP! I forgot about the rose in Over The Limit. Okay, now I don’t know what to think because the whole Leslie phenomenon just doesn’t make sense anymore. AAARRGGH!

      Why couldn’t they put her in the James Brand episode?

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4. My favorite part about the tag is the way Amanda strokes Lee’s arm lightly when she says, “Well, even the great ones have to know when to let go.” I love these little nurturing touches that provide him with acceptance and comfort. This shows Lee that despite his tarnished past, she still cares about him unconditionally. She’s not going anywhere, and she’s his friend. Lee is learning he can be honest with Amanda. This scene shows how their friendship is deepening. The little kiss is just the icing on the cake. I don’t think it’s given in a romantic way – it’s kind of like how she’d kiss her mother or one of the boys – an automatic sweet gesture of affection for someone she cares about.

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5. #Re rewatch🤣
   This is not one of my favourite episodes of S3..hated Paul Barns character. Hated the storyline…Then again,what else is new abt these horrid writers🤷‍♀️…that’s not important. The fact that i always fast forward to Lee and Amanda’s scenes..
   This episodes truly had some amazing Lee Amanda moments…Not much dialogues needed..only body language and eye-speak😍😍
   I loved the “BLACK BOOKS APOLOGETIC look he gave Amanda..absolutely romantic..and her ITS OKAY,I UNDERSTAND look was equally swoony..
   This actually tells me that they’ve been going out on their so called dates quite a bit and getting past their barriers..before this whole incident..
   He regrets his past non committed affairs and she knows that he does.

   They understand that they are at a different place in their relationship..They know they care alot abt each other and they want to be there for each other emotionally and professionally.

   The sweet peck on the cheek crumbles all walls and barriers of fears and uncertainty between them..

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6. Gotta be honest – the teenager in me still sees a whole lotta romance in this tag! The way he never lets go of the roses so he can kinda touch her hand and then how he rests his hand on her leg when she goes to kiss his cheek. I’m not much of a swooner, but pass me a helmet for this one, please!

   I’m realizing as I go through this walk and through my DVDs for the first time that my teenage experience of this show was unique and certainly better than the way they were aired. I never saw the show when it aired but caught it later in reruns over six or eight years. I had no idea what season or where any of them fell in the airing or writing order because I just caught them when I happened to see them on. So my brain just ordered them in the way they made sense based on nothing but the relationship which was all I cared about! 😁 So at this point, when this tag happened, he was totally head-over-heels in love with her to my teenage-eyes. I certainly see a lot more nuance now that I’m older and watching “in order,” but honestly, my old way was less confusing and maybe even a little more fun! 🤣🤣

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7. Pingback: 19/19 Season Three, Episode 13: One Bear Dances the Other Doesn’t – Scarecrow and Mrs King | "Just walk with me.."

8. You know after going through this episode I don’t think it did come after OTL. The fact that Leslie would have originally been intended to be in it when Lee blew her off at the end of OTL for one. Another thing how Lee tells Amanda earlier in the episode that’s why he can’t stand the smell of roses like it’s knowledge she already had but she holds a rose out to him in OTL, like she knew that wasn’t an issue anymore because he had shared roses with her like he did here. I could even see how what he went through here with women who were close to him here dying making him back off in his relationship with Amanda and not wanting to pursue her even though he wanted more of a real relationship like we see in OTL. If he had already dated Leslie a few times it might spur him on to make things work with her rather than pursuing Amanda. However, it doesn’t sit that well with me that he and Amanda shared such an intimacy in this episode and he gave her roses only to continue trying to make a relationship work with someone else. Good a man as he is, he’s still got a little bit of cad in him. I write it off to as much experience as he has with women, he doesn’t have very much with actual relationships and even less dealing with his own feelings.

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9. Before I say goodbye to Wizard and move on to our walk through ALLA… I’d just like to once again say a huge thank you to Kiwismh – who transcribed the dialogue in this whole episode alone
   – Kiwismh- We Salute You! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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   1. Thanks Kiwismk – esp for the Russian!

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      1. No problemsky Comrades. 😀

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         1. Ok now I”m just having corny thoughts about Shtetson jokes. Spasibo…

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            1. Uh ohhhh Learjet needs some.. Dishipline!!!!!

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               1. Off topic, sorry Ishtwod

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                  1. rofl you cracked me up!! 🙂

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               2. I forgot I am webmistress here and at times ‘crack the whip’ as some like to say 😉

                  I was actually just sharing in the joke and Emily’s Russian General being from the department of Dishipline.. man she cracks me up!
                  Maybe I should do up a funny meme of her suggestion we stay on topic whahahaaaa..
                  All is well! (Sorry I should be more careful! maybe I need some Dishipline!!)

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10. Evening everyone 🙂

    I haven’t really been keeping up reading and posting but I have to say much of this episode I always found one big yawn 😮 for me it’s the tag that redeems it as much of the reasons IWSOD rants about bug me too. It’s just stupid.
    Anyway I never saw the roses as romantic (no matter how red they are) but a sincere thanks and acknowledgement that Amanda always has his back. Maybe suggesting Amanda could possibly be his new Dorothy? Who knows, that could be a bit of stretch there.

    Anyway sorry I’ve not been around much here or on Neds, life just generally getting in the way. Am going to get back into the SMK game because I have missed all your lovely discussions 🙂

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    1. Hi Jenbo/bitsybeans! lol!

       Wonderful to hear from you! Ahhh yes I know what you mean.. there are aspects I am not terribly motivated to discuss myself- good thing we all like different things and so there is usually someone happy to discuss whatever – phew! 🙂

       reassuring to hear that you too haven’t clicked with the action finale.. such a shame because it could have been reeeeaally good- and it’s a significant episode! Oh well..it is what it is! And the tag is wonderful! Just imagine if we’d gotten the tag that was in the script??!!! argh!! 🙂

       I hope we’ll get to hear your take on the ep order! I’ll be publishing that post later today.
       I’ve missed you too Jenbo!

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11. Sorry iwsod the action sequence was too long for me and I just skipped to the sweet tag to read 🙂 Lee has grown so much and he is thanking Amanda for being there for him…swoon!!!

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    1. Love your honesty! I didn’t have that luxury! 😉

       I’m glad I didn’t skip it.. but I can’t see myself revisiting the airport sequence again any time soon!!!

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12. ROFL at the “evil bait and switch” of the plot device! I’m with you, iwsod, I think the nasty writers did want us to think Lee was really unhinged and then kind of salvage the situation by revealing that he had enough foresight to pack a non-lethal weapon. But, as you pointed out, it would have carried more weight if he had not used the lethal weapon first! A little badly stitched together, and what it does for me is makes Lee’s actions too believable to really think he’s faking. And, either way, I remain convinced that Paul wasn’t in on it, because then why shoot him at all? Takes out an extra pair of hands right when Lee could have used them! It’s a good thing Serdeych is such a lousy shot. Maybe after he misses Lee on the airplane wing, Lee will re-think whether he was really trying to kill Amanda in her car.

    I like the tag we got as opposed to the script version. So much more depth and meaning. I don’t think it needs to be romantically-oriented, although it could be seen that way, and Amanda making the move to kiss Lee — even on the cheek — is not something she would have done too much earlier in the show.

    I think the crux of my whole confusion over the order of these two episodes (Wizard and OTL) is in the tags. Both end with what could be considered a new beginning, and it would have made better sense to me if the two kinds of “new beginning” were switched in relation to the episode (not sure if that’s making any sense).

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    1. Yeah, I’m not hep on the whole “Tin Man is heartless” thing, either, though I get where the writers were going. There’s a world of difference between this Tin Man and the WOZ Tin Man.

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    2. I like the tag we got much better than the scripted tag, too. I wonder how much input KJ and BB had in what we actually saw. I’ve read that they had ideas where they wanted the characters to go.

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13. I haven’t read through all of the comments yet so I apologize if I repeat what anyone else has said. As to the possible plan between Lee and Paul to smoke out Serdeych, when I very first saw this ep I was much younger, less jaded, and most likely believed that it wasn’t all an act on Lee’s part. To a certain extent I still think that it wasn’t all an act.

    There was a lot of tension and stress in this ep, especially on Lee’s part. There needed to be some sort of release and not just a good night’s sleep. I think back to LAF where at the end Lee told Amanda how he was over what he was feeling for Eva. There was such a joyous physical release for him and he sort gave a cheer about it. I tend to think that Lee was giving in to some sort of physical release in this overly extended action sequence. I mean would Serdeych have really been able to see Lee’s hand shaking that far away?

    I do think that after the confrontation in Paul’s hotel room, Lee getting knocked out, and then sleeping on some of those events gave Lee some pause about what was going on. Considering his earlier feelings regarding Paul, Lee had to have some qualms about truly hurting Paul and maybe he tried to reconcile some things in his mind and give Paul the benefit of the doubt he had.

    One of my issues with part of this episode is the constant reference to the Tin Man being heartless. I know it may be semantics, but I tend to think that if someone is being heartless they are being cruel. Yes, there’s also some unfeeling in there. But the character of the Tin Man in both the book and the movie was not heartless. He didn’t have a heart, but in both cases was very caring indeed. But Serdeych was just plain cruel.

    I do love the tag, so much goodness there in Amanda’s gentle touch and light kiss. In a lot of ways she is still making it safe for Lee to be open and is not pressuring him in any way. Also, it’s so great on Lee’s part to show her how far he has been able to come and how much Amanda helped in that progress.

    I think it best to post most of my Wizard of Oz book/movie/SMK comments on Ned’s and I’ll do that later, but I did want to say one or two things as it relates to Lee. In the book the Scarecrow describes how his life had been before Dorothy arrived. He felt he had a lonely life, felt deserted by those who had made him and because he had no brains he felt he was incomplete and not a man. In the end the Wizard tries to tell him he doesn’t need brains that he is learning every day and his experience is bringing him knowledge. To me a lot of this sounds like what Lee has been experiencing and maybe why he felt so close to Dorothy. Maybe she helped to ease that sense of loneliness. And as he has gained experience as an agent and also had Amanda in his corner he has been less impetuous and less likely to act before thinking.

    At the end of the movie Dorothy says that she learned that if she ever goes looking for her heart’s desire again she won’t look any further than her own backyard. Sounds like Lee and Amanda to me. I will head over to Ned’s later to add a few more thoughts about the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

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14. Playacting – for me the playacting was only in the final scenes, since they just seem too over-the-top for me otherwise. The rest of the episode was Paul pursuing his obsession of catching Serdeych, and Lee struggling to come to terms with his feelings concerning Paul and Dorothy’s death. I think Lee attacking Paul in the agency opened Paul’s eyes a little to where his obsession was leading him, so he was finally able to think clearly. Lee’s eyes are opened after he’s whopped by the wizard. (I think their discussion happened while Paul was getting Lee back to his apartment.) Lee’s confusion about the whole matter insured his “playacting” at the airport had more depth – there was still a little question in the back of his mind, which was banished after the first shot. (He knew what direction Paul’s voice was in, so the shot had to be from Serdeych.)

    I’m not fond of the whole Paul v. Lee thing, but I can make it somewhat plausible if I add in the fact that Lee is struggling with something he thought he’d put on the backburner so long ago. Add in the fact that he is beginning to deal with his emotions toward Amanda, which include his soul-searching about his entire dating life (which began before this episode, IMHO). All this adds up to a bad time to start seeing dead people. Serdeych’s timing was spot-on, though I don’t think Serdeych realized how much. Manipulation requires as much chance as planning. I think someone can only plan so far.

    I can see so many sides to this whole issue, so I get the frustration folks are feeling. Short of saying “the writers weren’t communicating well,” this is just how it plays in my SMK-verse. I like to make things make sense even when they don’t. 🙂

    The tag – oh, the tag. I do like this tag very much. To me, the roses mean so much here. In my SMK-verse, Lee and Amanda have gone out once or twice on “exploratory” dates. Lee is exploring moving the relationship forward, so the presentation of red roses does two things. It demonstrates that he has now dealt with his past and is ready to move forward, and it’s a little gesture to Amanda that he’s inching forward with her. In addition, he wants Amanda to be proud of him, and she is. Amanda receives it as a gesture of his putting Dorothy to rest. Her kiss is an acknowledgement that she is proud of how far he has come. This is such a special moment between them. Squeee, indeed – gdosigijasulkdr!!!

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    1. I totally agree with everything you said (although I see the tag slightly differently in terms of where Lee and Amanda are, but we all have a slightly different take on that too, don’t we 🙂 ). I like the way you listed all that Lee was coping with in this episode. It sure was a biggie for him, hard to watch but I think it was necessary. in order for him to truly go forward. Oh, and I also agree that he has been soul searching for a while now. I kind of think it started in SOS (maybe just a bit), then picked up a bit more after ALSALS. Between season 2 and 3 he really started reevaluating things. And now he can look with clarity at his past life and where he wants his life to go. Stage is set (for the most part). Yup, the Scarecrow has got his degree in Thinkology! Yay!

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15. Here’s the tag in the script I have :
    INT. AGENCY – Q BUREAU – DAY
    Lee’s sitting alone in the room, his feet propped upon his desk. For the first time in a long while he seems relaxed, almost serene. Like there’s been a big load lifted off his shoulders. He’s staring at a picture –the nice one of he and Dorothy we saw earlier. There’s a knock on the door. Amanda sticks her head in.
    AMANDA :Knock, knock…
    Lee glances up, smiles.
    LEE : Come on in…
    Amanda does, holding something behind her back. Lee doesn’t really notice. He’s still looking at the picture. Amanda crosses, lays a single red rose in front of him. Lee looks at her, surprised.
    AMANDA : I know, I know, but roses are so beautiful. It’d be a shame to never smell one again.
    Lee just stares at the flower. He picks up a folder, puts the picture inside it, stares for a beat longer, then closes the file. As he opens the drawer to his desk and puts the file inside, Amanda wanders around the office, looking for something.
    LEE : Paul Barnes is resigning.
    AMANDA : I know. I saw him downstairs. And he’s retiring, not resigning.
    LEE (shaking his head) : How can a legend retire?
    AMANDA : I think it’s wonderful. He looked so relaxed and happy.
    (pointedly) Everyone’s gotta let go sometime, big fella. Even the great ones…
    Lee closes the drawer to his desk, stares at it for a moment, thinking. Across the room, Amanda’s found a tarnished old football trophy cup. She picks it up, reads the inscription.
    AMANDA ‘Lee Stetson — Most Valuable Player.’
    (to Lee) Hey, I didn’t know you played football.
    LEE (shrugging) High school, a little in college.
    (smiling) I haven’t touched a football in years.
    Amanda crosses to the desk with the trophy.
    AMANDA : Like I said, even the great ones know when to quit.
    She puts the trophy on the desk in front of Lee. He stares at it for a long beat, picks up the rose slowly and puts it into the trophy. As he does, Amanda beams. A beat later, so does Lee.
    FREEZE FRAME FADE OUT THE END

    I prefer the filmed version as it illustrates the progress Lee has made in this episode, and it shows the depth and intimacy of Lee and Amanda’s friendship at this point.

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    1. Me too. I don’t like the continuity muddle about football either (What happened to Sandy New…?spelling). The real version does show Lee’s progress more. And he looks so relaxed (and is humming, no singing with mental health!). I can totally understand why the roses have to be red (since they were during the death of Dorothy), and I suppose that’s all there is in the colour. But I would never see red roses as a gesture from a purely platonic friend.

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       1. Yes, I suppose that’s a small part of the reason why there was a little re-write, since Lee aka Sandy Newcombe had a football in his hands less than 2 years ago.
          I said in a previous comment that I didn’t think there was specifically romantic intent here but I guess I really do think Lee is opening himself now more to the thought of eventually having more than just a friendship with Amanda. He wants to show Amanda he has laid the ghost of Dorothy to rest – hence the roses – and it seems they were red roses at the airport all those years ago. But maybe the red roses here are also his first foray into romantic territory with Amanda. Maybe he wonders what her reaction might be to a romantic gesture from him and he figures he can do so here without creating any awkwardness or expectation, as he has other entirely valid reasons (as set out above) to make a gift a red roses to her on this occasion.
          I think he is pleased by Amanda’s response, but he’s not sure where he’s going with this line of thinking at the moment. He’s just happy and enjoying the fact that he’s made her happy.
          He’s got a great deal to think about I think with everything that’s happened recently.

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          1. I am so glad we got the tag that they filmed. I like it so much better! Simple and full of meaning.
             Does anyone else notice the way those roses are wrapped? It is like they are wrapped in a paper towel. That is how I will wrap up a bunch of flowers that I have picked from my garden to give to someone, if I can’t put them in a vase. As far as I know that is not how a florist would present a bouquet of flowers. They would wrap them nicely in cellophane and put those little vials at the bottom of the stems. To me the way Lee has them makes it look very informal. Maybe he stopped by the rest home in OTL and asked that little old lady if she could cut him a few (of course that is if you see OTL first 😉 )
             As for how Lee is thinking about Amanda here. I get the feeling that there is so much going on inside of Lee, concerning Amanda and what he has just gone through, that it will take some time to bring things into focus about Amanda. But, here, I do think he is enjoying their relationship right now and his little foray into expressing himself with her has gone very nicely. He should be very happy about that. Good for you, Lee.

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             1. I hadn’t really paid attention to this before, Morley. I guess I just assumed they were in some kind of protective paper. It would add a nice layer after OTL if he had gone back to get some of Ms. Carswell’s flowers, wouldn’t it?

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                1. Hi Debilyn, hi everyone!
                   I was thinking it was tissue paper..(so the thorns don’t hurt!) My grandmother use to give me flowers wrapped in tissue paper. Maybe you guys call it something different.. hmm..

                   I agree the flowers are very informal – which to me, fits in with it being a friendly thank you. Not a romantic – I’m open to explore something with you in future.
                   To me, Lee is ready to explore something – but he isn’t thinking of Amanda specifically, IMHO -other than to try and convince himself not her! not her!!! she’s such a close friend I can’t screw that up!! I don’t know what I’m doing!!! you know?
                   I’ll go into this more in the next post – as I think these events take place before over the limit.

                   I’m thinking Mrs Carswell would have been happy to give Lee roses.. only I don’t think he’s met her yet 😉 and when Amanda gives Lee the rose in OTL- that adds a great extra layer to the moment 🙂

                   I was wondering about the use of red roses in the episode.. as they are usually linked to romance aren’t they. I am not seeing significance in Lee giving Amanda red roses – as they were red roses all over Dorothy – so in the context it makes the link obvious.
                   at the same time.. I can’t help but wonder if the show was teasing us a little here – because it leaves open the speculation that whoooo did Lee mean more? I mean they were RED roses!!!
                   I do think they love to tease the audience a bit.. and drop things in for people to latch on to if they want to!
                   I think when I first saw this tag I had latched onto it! lol!! but I’m experiencing the show very differently this time through.. and see their coming together as happening much more slowly.

                   LASinLA’s very early comment pointing out the roses were in the drawer that the black books were in earlier is interesting too! 🙂 Hey LasinLA! It is interesting!!!
                   I like to see this as foreshadowing – (read this with me putting wizard before Otl) – we don’t know it yet, but through everything that has gone on Lee has made a realisation- he wants to pursue a real relationship where he can have the possibility of being himself with no covers – the black books represent his past.. the red roses now represent his open future: so by replacing the black books with the red roses- it could foreshadow that Lee has put the black books behind him, and is now open to a new future and different less superficial relationships.
                   Love me a bit of foreshadowing.. but usually I don’t get to see it as I haven’t watched ahead – but lol watching wizard, I have watched one episode ahead – OTL.. Hmm maybe once we are finished this walk, we should do another one- opening the whole show up for discussion (would need to create a new blog..but that’s easy enough to do) Oh well I can ponder that one.. it will be a few years before we are finished probably!

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                   1. I agree with your teasing us with the red roses theory. I think most women respond emotionally to the sight of red roses specifically. And it certainly hooked me in successfully. I just love this tag. And the look on his face…..swoon!

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             2. Hey Morley, I agree with your view here of where Lee is at – He is seeing Amanda as a wonderful friend. Very precious.. but more than that? I think he is not ready for it… but.. this ep is a big step in that direction – healing his past so he can begin to think of his future 🙂

                I agree well done Lee!

                Amanda accepts it well, IMHO assuming it is a friendly gesture – which she accepts with friendly affection. I suspect if she had read anything into it at this stage Lee would have freaked out!

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          2. oh! my! Gosh! kiwismh!
             I sooooo want to respond to this – but my response would include ALLA’s events.. soooo I’ve taken note of this comment and I’ll hopefully come back to it.

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    2. I’m with you, Kiwismh. the filmed version is sooo much better. The tag as the script had it just doesn’t have the same oomph.

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    3. I’m glad they didn’t film the script version. I feel that way about most of seasons 3’s script version of Lee & Amanda’s relationship!!!

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    4. Thanks kiwismh! Transcriber extraordinaire! 🙂

       It’s amazing how much has been changed- it’s more or less been completely re written – to me this suggests they really rethought the whole show at the start of season 3 – it feels like they upped the pace of the progress- but well.. of course we all may see that progress slightly differently 😉

       Yeah whose bright idea was it to have Amanda not Know Lee had played football? purlease! their first kiss was in the football episode! get real! 🙂

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16. “What is it with Baddies and fabulous boots??!!!”*
    Is it just the women? Do the guys get the fancy tea services (and/or the baddie phone) and the gals get fab boots?

    “I’ll put it down to Trauma!! again!!”
    Give the guy a break… he got whacked upside the head by Paul–probably got a headache and/or some double vision going on. “Dorothy? Why are there two of you?”

    “I’m guessing that is not BB on that wing there. “
    Yeah–the jeans look a tad high-water… which seems to be the case quite often with Stunt Lee. 😀

    “Francine: I’ll drive.”
    Translation: I want to make sure we make it back in one piece–I really think Billy needs to revisit the Station One driving course!

    “Lee seems surprised that a legend could retire!”
    Isn’t Harry V. Thornton a legend–or is he exempt by virtue of being the Agency creator?

    I’m going to have to come back and explain my twitchy scalp (regarding Lee’s acting job) later, but I have to say that I heart the tag. 🙂 There’s so much there. The fact that Lee gives her roses after his admission to her of his aversion to them (that’s huge)… his thanking her… it’s all a major squee session!!! But mostly, I think I like Amanda’s little touch to Lee’s arm when she says “even the great ones have to know when to let go” –> she’s reinforcing for him that she thinks he’s one of the great ones–that he’s great. And their shared smile in response. That’s the really squee moment for me. sigh

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    1. Yep, love that tag. The touch on the arm is something that maybe wouldn’t have happened so naturally before OTL. And that kiss to me has always looked to me more like just to one side of his mouth – just barely… it’s a close run thing. 😉 That’s no simple kiss on the cheek. Not that I’m suggesting there is any romantic intention in this scene but I think that kiss from Amanda displays a depth of friendship and knowing beyond what most male/female “friends” share.
       It does to me at any rate, but others might see it differently.

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       1. If I want a kiss on the cheek, I offer the cheek. Lee didn’t move. But he also didn’t make it be anything else. He was just receiving and I think that is unique for him.

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       2. Yep, this is a lovely tag! The roses, the touch and kiss are special and convey such a depth of feeling and friendship. Squee is right!

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    2. ROFL KC thanks for the laughs!!!!

       Trauma is no excuse? 😉 well.. hmm.. how about the trauma of being wizard whopped?!

       Oh yeah! I’d forgotten about Harry – already! lol.. I’m not sure if Lee thought Harry was happy with is retirement (when he thought he actually was retired) – and then it turns out he wasn’t. but in the tag he sounds like he’ll certainly help Harry to enjoy it.
       Oh and Harry is Old.. like actually old. Paul Barnes is well not that old.. so maybe that’s part of it? I don’t know!

       Major squee session indeed!! oh so true – love what you’ve said about Amanda touching Lee’s sleeve as she says even the great ones need to know when to let go 🙂 whooooo!!

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17. The bit about Paul retiring is nice closure. It is as if Paul knew what he needed to do now, no longer driven to get Serdeych, he now knows it is time to let go and retire. Does Lee also have a sense of it being ok to let go, is that what Amanda is affirming here?
    I love the roses and I really love the tone of Lee’s voice as he says “Thanks.” I agree their is no romance here, no confusion. Just Lee saying thank you. But that in and of itself is huge, and very important and they both know it.
    Do they make rubber bullets for hand guns. I missed that, but I am willing to suspend belief there and think that TPTB messed up there. I still think that both Lee and Paul were putting on an act to draw out Tinman. I do not think that Lee was playing a different character though, like he has in other covers. This one was too close to what could be reality. I do think that the message that Paul left Lee was a plan, but it was one where they were going to have to choose to operate in faith with one another. Again, I think what Paul said to Lee while Lee was snooping registered.
    Lee was unhinged in Paul’s apartment. But I do think that Paul knocked sense into him. I do not see Lee as unhinged in that scene while he is by himself in his apartment getting ready. Yes, I do think he is resolute, but I think he is choosing to believe Paul. And actually to me, that kind of shows that Lee isn’t being a superman. He is choosing to trust another and take a risk. I think he is placing himself under Paul’s leadership again here and that seems rather restorative too.
    As for where Amanda is? I think she is relieved that Lee has made it through this. I think she is very surprised that he has given her the flowers because of how significant they are to what he has gone through, he knows it and she knows it. It is like when he tells her it is important to him that she cares.Those are bold moves on lee’s behalf, not in a romantic way, but in a significant friendship, “I am interdependent” kind of a way. I think Amanda would be very happy about that. I still don’t think she would risk her heart romantically with Lee (especially because she has come to a clear understanding of his dating habits now, I don’t know if she got any indication that Lee is going to stop that, other than he was embarrassed that she knew. She just tried to shrug it off and help him with the uncomfortable and unnerving circumstances that he was in), but she is pretty happy about their friendship.

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    1. Like what you’ve written here Morley. I don’t see Lee and Paul acting from the beginning of the episode – that would rather diminish the very real turmoil Lee was going through when he confided in Amanda. I would hate to think he was just acting distressed with Amanda.
       I do see something happening between when Paul knocked him out and the phone message from Paul when Lee was back at this apartment. I think Paul stuck around after he knocked Lee out, when Lee came to they had a conversation during which Lee realised the logic of Paul’s argument (out of earshot of the bug that was in Paul’s room, which he must have figured out was there…ugh, I can’t find the strength of weave a search and destroy story around that), then they hatched the plan to draw Serdeych into the open, for Paul to leave the message on Lee’s phone, the meet at the airport, the rubber bullets, and blah, blah, blah… Sheesh, this is a great story and an important episode for Lee’s growth (and Amanda’s unwavering support) but I wish they had taken the time to weave it together in a more believable way.
       The whole bit with the plane is ridiculous. Why jump on the plane, just shoot at the engine with your real gun and real bullets! Why risk wing-walking if the plane gets airborne? You’re not going to be able to get Serdeych if you’re hanging on for dear life to a bi-plane wing, now are you? I would have preferred to see Serdeych taken out by Lee quickly and professionally, without the far-fetched dramatics.
       I like this episode right up to where Paul knocks Lee out – from then on it just needs a re-write to make more sense.

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       1. kiwismh, I agree with you. About the rewrite, but also that the act began after Lee came to. I can’t decide if they had a pow wow, or if that was where Lee’s professional intuition kicked in (kick started by Paul’s words and his stun baton). But the dialogue and actions against each other at the airport, I do believe were an act. One informed by the emotions both knew had been stirred up, but they were only using them as tools, not allowing those emotions to really take over. I think this is where compartmentalization is a very good tool for people in this line of work to have and know how to use. Maybe that is another thing that both Paul and Lee accomplished; the proper use of compartmentalization.

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       2. Yeah all you guys who saw the acting – I can totally see what you are saying makes sense – it could have been a really great story. You know what this reminds me of a little? The trick in Our man in Tegernsee – where Lee had secretly called for Backup from Volkenauer and we didn’t know it – remember it?! Turns out Lee isn’t the impulsive risk taker we thought he was- he had actually gone to Volkenauer for help! – but there it worked out great!

          It makes sense they were acting from when that gap happened in the storytelling (between Lee being wizard whopped and us being shirtless Lee whopped)
          – I would agree this is what the writers/the show was aiming to do – lead us down the garden path and then have the big reveal that it was all an act.

          I just found it was poorly explained, and to be honest, I really didn’t like that they did that with Lee’s character! lol!!

          Kiwismh you’ve nailed it for me here:

          >Sheesh, this is a great story and an important episode for Lee’s growth (and Amanda’s unwavering support) but I wish they had taken the time to weave it together in a more believable way.

          Kiwismh also loved loved loved this:

          >I like this episode right up to where Paul knocks Lee out – from then on it just needs a re-write to make more sense.

          I agree!!

          Not remembering any of how wizard ended – I felt mighty ripped off.. Do you (kiwismh or anyone) remember what you thought the first time you saw it?

          I think I was not paying any attention to the plots the first time I saw it – I was blissfully happy about the progress between Lee and Amanda and who cares about the rest. LOL! oopsie.. this time around a closer viewing has left the sequence a bit meh! but.. I’ll just overlook it and focus on the good overall story and the tag!

          There were a few script changes with the tag too – someone into that like to transcribe it? the floor is open if you’d like to 🙂
          – seems there might have been quite a bit of rewriting going on for lots of reasons.
          I figure these first five episodes of season 3 were written early on , before production had started at all – so they are all kind of jumbled up.. the start of season 2 was a bit like that too.. Oh well! we got what we got!

          [edited to fix quotations]

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    2. Lovely comments Morley.. agreed the roses are hugely significant.. meaningful!

       I don’t know if they make rubber bullets for handguns. there was no reference in the episode to there being rubber bullets in the handgun – only in the shotgun.

       ‘restorative’ is a fabulous word to describe what this has all mean’t for Lee. love that!
       I even think I can agree with everything you’ve said about where Amanda stands at the end of Wizard!

       Glad to see you got past my rant in the post.. I Know you don’t have an issue with it so I imagine its not easy to get through..

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       1. I don’t mind your rants, Iwsod. You give us fair warning when you are going for a rant and so I can just read them as info for how you are viewing the story. I am just glad for a place to discuss (or rant) in detail my favorite show. Rant away!

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       2. Iwsod, you wouldn’t rant if you didn’t care so much. 🙂 I don’t think any of us mind, really. We might “argue” our side, but it’s great that we all see things differently and have a place to share it.

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          1. LOL thanks Morely and Debilyn for coping okay with my rant 🙂

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18. Just a quick comment for now: Does Lee get the roses from the same drawer that the black books were in??? Interesting . . .

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    1. Hmmmm. Definitely something to ponder LASinLA.

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19. apologies for the text issues.. I’m trying to fix it. wordpress is giving me nothing but trouble this morning! It’s Serdeych!!! He’s manipulating wordpress!!!

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    1. Text view – use the codes! The codes give you The Power!

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       1. I’ve been using code to fix it the last hour and it still kept changing on me – and inserting things I hadn’t touched. seriously wordpress was giving me a headache. I’m not touching the post anymore.. mysterious spaces etc can just stay that way.

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          1. Boo! Bad WordPress!!! (It gives me fits in my Patrols but messing with the codes always fixes it for me. Maybe I’m just a little too OCD and happy to play with font families and such…)
             Don’t give yourself a headache–we still get immense enjoyment whether the font is small, medium, or large!

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