Ready to move on? It’s been aaaages since I’ve seen it and I’m looking forward to walking through it with you all!
Firstly- Huge thanks to Jenbo aka Bitsy Beans for transc
ribing this episode – I really, really appreciate it Jenbo- it is a huge help- thanks for your help!!!
(thanks Learjet for formatting it to help me out too 
I’m so lucky to have your help!!)
This episode opens with a natural vista… just like the last episode.. only this time we’re on the coast..
Anyone recognise this?
Is St. Marie for real? I’m thinking not.. but the French West Indies are.. am I on the right track?? We hear some Caribbean music.. and see some quaint street images..
Next thing, we see a ceiling fan. The shot widens to reveal Lee searching a hotel room while a man is tied to a chair.. whooo a white suit.. is it polyester and does it travel in time? (like in Playing for Keeps?)
Looks like they are trying to convey how hot it is.. I do wish Lee would take off that jacket.. Not liking this white suit at all..
Lee: Come on, Moss. I am getting damn tired of playing games. Where is the list?
[Ahhh there Lee goes with his amazing interrogation techniques – I’m tired of you lying. tell me now because I’m tired. ahem.. ]
Lee: I know you’ve got it. You know how I know? Spaulding told me just before he died.
[Anyone enjoying sweaty Lee? Me? meh.. not so much.. I think it’s a little overdone.. I think I would have enjoyed it more without the jacket!]
Moss: I wish I knew what you were talking about.
Lee: Look pal you’re gonna be making a lot of wishes if you don’t start talking. Now where’s Barnstorm? Huh?
[So Lee is looking for a list. A ‘Barnstorm’.. ]
Grrr Lee is getting cranky.. has his white cranky pants on!
He gets a bit rough with Moss’ shirt there.. ahem..
He studies Moss for a moment..
then he seems to make a realisation. 
Lee reaches for a nearby lamp and brings it close to Moss’ face.. uh oh.. is Lee going to start actually torturing this mossy dude?
Love the close up on Lee here.. It’s like for a moment he is in an action adventure searching for the Lost arc or something..
Just for a second.. If I can blot out that awful white suit..
Nope.. he just waves the lamp in front of Moss’ face..
And we see a close up on Moss’ eye.. SMK loves to do weird stuff with eyes!
That baddie Sinclair with his contact lenses still gives me the creeps! [Brunettes are In]
Lee puts the lamp down.. suddenly rather pleased with himself. 
Lee: Well, well, well Gunther, say good night.
Lee punches Moss – and in one blow he’s unconscious.. man.. why doesn’t it work that way in the action finales?
Whoa.. what comes next is pretty brutal stuff.. I’m getting a sense the grittiness we noticed in The Triumvirate is still present.. maybe here to stay?… hmm.. I guess I’ll see..[haaa get it ‘see’!] I am not a huge fan of it..
Still, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t share an image of what happens next – ewww! Cast your ‘eyes’ on this! 😉
With Moss out cold, Lee pulls his eyelids apart.. Ewwwwww!!!! 
Not sure why.. but Lee is happy about it, and it brings him closer to the list he was after I guess.. I seriously do not remember.. I think it’s probably been a good four or five years since I’ve seen this ep…or any of the remaining season 3 episodes! Whoo hoo!
Moving on to the airport, and Lee is seen being escorted out of customs…
Customs official: We apologise for the inconvenience, Mr Stetson but, uh, you understand.
[Lee is travelling under his real name?! Hmm..okay..]
Lee: Thank you.
Customs Official: These searches are conducted purely at random.
Lee: No harm done believe me. So au revoir, huh?
Lee turns away looking extremely pleased with himself.. he seems to have gotten through customs with ahem.. Moss’ eyeball..haaa 
The customs official walks over to a man in grey to report back about this not so random search.
Neumann: You absolutely sure he was clean?
Customs official: We searched him most thoroughly.
[I could say something here.. but.. I won’t!]
Neumann: You sure?
Customs official nods and leaves. Then, there’s a PA announcement this Neumann guy has a phone call..
Neumann: Neumann speaking.
Moss: Stetson got to me. He has the list.
[ah.. Look! Moss still has two eyeballs.. I see! whahahaa.. just how many eye puns can we fit into an episode guys?! I guess.. we’ll seeeeee!!!]
[Phew.. I’m also glad Lee left Moss alive – but he could have at least tied him up so he couldn’t make phone calls until Lee got out of the country?! lol. Rather ‘short sighted’ of Lee!]
Neumann: That’s impossible. We had him searched before he got on the plane.
Moss: The list is on a pair of contact lenses. He’s probably wearing them. You’ve got to stop him.
[Ahhhh contact lenses.. My goodness SMK loves contact lenses.. we’ve had three creepy eye moments with them now – Sinclair as previously mentioned, and Francine’s Magda moment..]
Neumann: Telephone Washington and arrange for someone to meet me at the airport. I’ll deal with Stetson there.
Moss: Yeah.
They hang up. [Is Gunther Moss suppose to be German? His accent is quite convoluted.. ]
Back to Washington and Amanda is doing paperwork in the bullpen (not in the Q bureau huh..)..
That look with the full skirt, cinched in waist and shirt screams Victorian to me – the only difference is the skirt length. 
Amanda has the figure to get away with it.. and considering some of the monstrosities she wore in season 2 I can’t complain too loudly.. and I do love Amanda in pink Err Sorry I digress!
Francine approaches Amanda.
Francine: Taking care of Lee’s paperwork?
Amanda: Yep.
Francine: Good. Copy everything to Billy.
Amanda: Okeydoke, I’m already doing that. Francine?
[Yeah, stop telling Amanda how to do paperwork 😉 ]
Francine: Mm-hmm?
Amanda: When did you say Lee would be back from….where did you say it was?
Francine: I didn’t say anything. I don’t know.
Francine walks off quite pleased to have seen through Amanda.
[Aie! Amanda should know that wouldn’t work with Francine.. I think it’s possible Francine does know, and she’s just not telling – because she likes knowing something about Lee that Amanda doesn’t..then again.. maybe not! IMHO- Amanda must be really missing Lee! We haven’t seen this before have we?! ]
Amanda sighs.. she’s antsy.. And lol what’s with her tiny little desk?! No computer? hmm.. guess this is not her usual spot.
Amanda isn’t ready to give up getting the intel. She gets up and heads to Billy’s office giving a new cheery knock on his door.
Billy: Yes, Amanda?
Amanda: Yes, sir. Uh, sir, it’s about Lee…
[ahhh Billy.. he gives a quiet little knowing smile – me thinks we are all doing the same thing as Billy right now ]
…Sir, you know I know better than to ask any questions, sir, and normally I wouldn’t because normally I would be able to just keep my ears open and I’d be pretty well able to pick up on was going on but not this time sir. It’s been three days and I haven’t got a clue.
[lol no attempts at subterfuge with Billy.. she’s pretty honest with him I think ]
Billy: Amanda, something occurred out of the country. Lee barely had time to pack a bag let alone fill us in with the details.
[That must be why he was wearing that awful white suit.. he packed in such a hurry he didn’t look at it properly!]
…It happens all the time. He’s all right. He made his status checks.
Amanda: Thank you, Sir. It’s just not like Lee to drop out of sight.
[Sight. Hmmm.. another reference to eyes… Let’s ‘see’ if all these eye references will ‘show’ us something about Lee and Amanda’s story this week
Hmm this is a new experience for Amanda.. wondering where Lee is and what he’s up to.. I had in mind that Lee would often drop out of site throughout the time Amanda has known him – she says it’s not like him. but I think it’s because of her new view of Lee she is now seeing things differently – she’s going to need to get use to this huh?!]
There’s a knock at the door..
Billy: Come.
It’s Francine with new intel.
Francine: Just came in on a coded relay.
Billy: It’s alright.
Francine: All right, well, Lee is on Flight 445. He’s coming in from Sainte Marie. And he’s requested a pickup.
Billy: What’s his status?
Francine: No problem, A7. He’s going to be at the South Terminal Level Three at 4.00. Shall I send somebody to pick him up?
[That necklace is quite restrained for Francine.. I can’t get a good look at that brooch.. maybe later..
Gee.. Just who could pick up Lee?! ]
Amanda: I’d be happy to go, sir.
[I love how she says this rather understatedly.. Of course.. Billy sees right through it ]
Billy: Are you sure it’s no trouble?
[That trophy behind Billy? is for being the best matchmaker in the spy biz 3 years running ]
Amanda: No problem, sir, no trouble at all…
…In fact I would probably be heading out that way this afternoon. See you later.
Amanda makes a quick exit.. lol.. is it close to 4pm? Or is she planning on getting out there early?
Billy is enjoying watching Amanda pretend she isn’t excited to be seeing Lee again.. she was going to be out there anyway? rofl!
Billy gives Francine a look.
Francine gives Billy one back.
Hey – at least her look is no longer ughhhhh!!
Not sure what to make of it.. guys???
There seems to be some resignation here.. or acceptance.. even if she is not terribly thrilled about it like Billy is
We see Amanda’s car leave the magical IFF car park..
LOL the music seems very upbeat – fresh.. All seems to be signalling to me that big changes happened in The Triumvirate.. Lee and Amanda? They’re happening!!! lol.. And.. I’ll pause here for the moment.. Can’t wait to hear from you guys!!!!
"Just walk with me.." 
I find it funny that no one commented on how concerned, loving and caring she was toward Lee, especially when they brought him in. That moment when the nurse says, “You have to let go, now.” I felt Amanda’s stress and love toward him. My friend said the same thing. Just seemed really a deeper moment.
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I’m not so fond of Lee’s sweaty look. It looks like they sprayed him with oil – he’s THAT shiny!
I’m loving Amanda’s eagerness to pick up Lee at the airport. I think it’s hysterical that she says she’s going out that way anyway…
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I have always wondered about Francine’s attitude towards Amanda in general; like, to me it goes beyond … I guess … normal would be the best description I can come up with. She is the only person who never really warms up to Amanda, where (at least from my observation) everyone else at the Agency seems to quickly take a liking to her.
I have always wondered why this is? is it because Amanda is the kind of person Francine wishes she could be? Is it because she has some kind of secret feelings for Lee (though I dont think so).
Thoughts?
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Hi NormaP! The best I’ve come up with is Francine has to work really hard to get where she is, especially in a career that as seen as best done by men. I am assuming she’s had to prove herself over and over again and actually had to be better then the men she worked with to show she is not some dumb blonde bimbo. And here comes Amanda, chosen by accident, gets to work with the best field agent without having to prove herself. I am assuming Francine hears a lot about how wonderful Amanda is, how fantastic her cookies are, how she is great for morale, etc. etc and that not only chafes, but must get really old hearing. I also think, in Francine’s eyes, Amanda’s contribution to solving the cases have purely been dumb luck and coincidence.
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Hi norma p! And welcome to the blog! Yeah, Francine really hasn’t warmed up to Amanda much at this point, although in Fast Food for Thought they seem to make a connection. It may have been short-lived, but it’s there. I think Francine has worked really hard to get where she is, but Amanda seemed to stumble into and has very little training or qualifications. I think she may be jealous of Amanda from a professional point of view.
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I thought things might improve after Fast Food, too. But it was also pretty obvious that Francine wasn’t really comfortable with that moment of connection. It was probably easier for her to go back to their previous relational dynamic. It’s well established, and they’re both comfortable with it. (Yes, even Amanda. I’ve noticed that she has never really seemed to feel bothered, offended, or victimized by Francine’s attitude or words. Annoyed, yes. Shocked at her rudeness sometimes, yes. But I think she has a pretty good handle on Francine’s personality, so she just takes it in stride and returns the zingers whenever she has a chance.)
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Welcome Norma! I agree with Cindy’s and BJo’s thoughts on this. I think Francine has her viewpoint on agency and agency life and Amanda doesn’t fit that perspective. Furthermore, Amanda doesn’t try to change who she is. She just works on learning the job. Lee and Billy see this different perspective as an asset. Francine I think is still sorting it out.
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Welcome Norma!
Great to have you join us!
Interesting thoughts on Francine!
I don’t know that I could say I agree or disagree that Francine never warms up to Amanda- because the walk through all the episodes is not over yet and we don’t jump ahead here.
But.. has the question of whether Francine has warmed up to Amanda by the time we get to The boy who could be king ( the current episode we are walking through) – that is one we can definitely explore together!
I have a question for Norma and anyone else interested… Is there anyone Francine has warmed up to? and… what does this look like?
I’m curious to hear all your answers!
Man, I think we need someone with a passion for Francine to write a blog post or two sharing their thoughts on Francine’s journey up till now.. anyone interested? If so, I would be happy to publish it! byeee!
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This could be a good topic for a thread at Ned’s. Have you been to the forum at Nedlindger’s? It’s listed under the blogroll.
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Fab idea Jestress! Here’s the link Norma if you’d like to stop by and say hi.
The Nedlindger’s forum gives people freedom to start threads on topics of their choosing, and it isn’t restricted to sticking to where the walk is up to. This blog isn’t really set up for that.
So if you check it out let us know and say hi! bye
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Soooooo I am massively, massively behind!!! Good job I already know how it ends seeing as how I watched it I don’t know how many times lol I tell ya subtitles are incredibly handy for transcribing! Not perfect but definitely helped.
Sweaty Lee…..it’s no no for me. If he was that bloomin’ hot why not take the jacket off?! I keep expecting Crocketts theme to start playing and to for Lee to show off a pair of espadrilles 😂
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Glad to see you stop by, bitsybeans! Maybe they didn’t want to show sweat-stained arm pits??? Eeew…even on Lee that would not look good.
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Okay, that explanation I can get behind. 🙂
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Now I’m gagging over my breakfast at that image. Suggestions: a nice snug black t-shirt would solve all the problems (plus look much better than this jacket!)
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It’s a good time to be massively behind bitsybeans.. I’m pretty slow with the walk at the moment!
Great to hear from ya! rofl at the Miami vice reference whahahhaaa!!! Armani that suit ain’t 😉
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Hi all and thanks for the welcome! I am sorry I didnt mean to imply jumping ahead (I know that is a no no LOL) I was referencing all the past episodes, in particular, over the limit, where she is all like “WOW Amanda, that was great shooting!!” and she was all smiles about it, while Lee was still, I imagine pissed off about their earlier exchange, and her not listening to him (good thing she didnt, tho!!!).
I am not a fan of Francine, but like amanda, I do strive to understand the motives behind her attitude. I think she sees the agency as a family, and Lee as … I guess kind of like a “brother”? so to speak (in the way the retirees at Birchwood call the younger agents ‘Niece’ and ‘nephew’), so maybe her attitude is stemmed from thinking that Amanda is not “good enough” (we know of course that is NOT true 😉 ) for Lee and ‘not in his league’ so to speak … I guess … ???
In the first and 2nd seasons, Lee shared, to some degree Francine’s views regarding Amanda, he also dismissed her work with the agency as “spy fantasy”, good thing wise Billy saw different 😉 he saw that Amanda could be good for Lee … and how right he was.
And yes! I have found the forum, and I have joined there, too!!!
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Okay, I’m back to playing catch up again. Fortunately I have some time because we have a snow day today. I hope to drop in on Ned’s later and update what’s been going that’s kept me away for a bit.
89 comments! Wow! I’ve read through them and see that no one likes sweaty Lee. I’m not a fan either, but this opening scene did remind me of BB’s Frank Buck character that he did in Bring ‘Em Back Alive, just before SMK. Saw a video recently that had an SMK vibe to it. The guy who played the early Rostov was in it and Frank ended up in a white tuxedo. But I wasn’t a fan of the mustache. Oh well.
I’m not sure how I feel about Amanda’s attire. Much of what she wears I think is pretty much true to that time period. We recently did an 80’s theme dress at our school and what everyone wore seemed to be all over the place. There were so many different styles back then and all of it was okay. I do think that Amanda’s attire has transitioned somewhat based on the fact that she is spending more and more time at the Agency and less and less time at home. Last episode she was bemoaning the fact of missing some things in her boy’s lives. I’m assuming that the scouting, PTA, Mothers For A Safe Environment and other charitable activities are less taking less precedence in her life. What gave her life meaning then has given way to what’s giving her life meaning now.
I agree that Amanda is sort of wearing her emotions on her sleeve a bit and that while she may thinks she’s hiding it, she isn’t at all. Not sure of where Francine is, but I don’t see her as being mean spirited in what she’s doing. Francine has always been focused on the job at hand and making sure to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. She’s a by-the-book kind of agent, so she is just following protocol. I think even if it had been someone other than Amanda she still would have been tight-lipped. On to the next post and another cup of coffee.
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The image of Amanda standing right in the bull’s-eye of that glaring red map just cracks me up for some reason. But can I just say, I really love this episode! A warm welcome to the new arrivals!
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The best outfit in these opening scenes goes to Francine. Although she’s got that gold chain thingy on her chest that looks a bit odd, I like the rest of her outfit. The only thing better about Amanda’s look is her hair. She does look good in pink, but the fabric of her skirt looks more like drapery fabric. I guess that pattern is very 80’s like. I remember wearing lots of long pleated skirts to school on game days. I hated that rule. And I still really don’t like skirts.
It’s interesting that the big map on the wall behind Amanda is of Moscow. I even checked out a real map of Moscow and it’s a pretty good macro rendition, even down to the green areas. Nice!
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I can’t say I enjoy watching Lee being brutal and torturing someone (no matter if bad or not). It just doesn’t fit in to what I think is acceptable behaviour for a hero (fighting I’m ok with), I was quite shocked the first time I saw it.
Amanda is very obviously smitten here and I think her worry is making her less careful in keeping her feelings hidden. (Don’t really like her outfit much, I think it is a bit prim – Franchine’s outfit looks ok for once).
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Hiya Michele – reading you loud and clear! [Michele has been having trouble posting comments here] Hopefully the issue has been fixed – and we’ll all enjoy hearing from yo more often 🙂
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Thanks Iswod for fixing this.
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I agree Michele, I squirm a little at the brutal violence.. plucking contact lenses out of someones eyes? ewwww..
Also very ewww to then go and put them in your own! eek!!!
Beautifully put!!
Yep! that fits in with the Victorian vibe I was getting! oh well at least we don’t have the hair don’t and earbuttons.. I can live with this 🙂
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Hi everyone, I’ve been following this site for a few months now and just wanted to say how much I enjoy everyone’s comments! It’s the bright spot in my day. I’ve been a SMK fan since last fall when I came across it while looking for something to watch from the ’80’s. The thing I enjoy the most about the show is Lee’s manners. Very few men today open doors for women, help them down stairs or over uneven ground the way Lee does for Amanda, even before he had a romantic interest in her. Anyway, thanks for providing such terrific insights into the show!
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Welcome, Lily! I’m glad you said hello and glad you enjoy the blog – it’s a great place to have some fun 🙂 I hope you provide your insights in the future!
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Welcome Lily! All these lovely new commenters. What fun!
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Welcome Lily!!!! you’ve joined us at a rather swoony time in the walk 😉 I hope you have your smelling salts handy! 🙂
lol Lee? Manners? doesn’t he come a long way from Season 1 -where Amanda laments that man has the worst manners 😉
I look forward to hearing any thoughts you’d like to share with us as we walk through the episodes Lily – and so glad you are walking with us 🙂
Don’t forget to check out the Nedlindger’s forum too – where smk fans here stop by to chat about stuff that doesn’t really belong in the walk itself: See HERE a thread on Nedlindger’s where many of us have shared our experiences of discovering or rediscovering SMK..
If you are interested – it would be fascinating to hear your story over at Neds! bye!
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Welcome, glad you joined us 🙂
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Welcome to this wonderful forum. I have to admit i appreciate the lack of foul language, the reletative restraint used for more adult themes and yes, there was a more gentlemanly additude towards women (if somtimes a little patronizing)
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yes! Not just in the show, but in the online community also 🙂
err the online community is never patronizing 😉 but I so agree that there are moments in smk where the sexual politics are irksome.. while we’ve come a long way.. some of these issues remain.. so I find this a particularly fascinating thing to keep an eye on as we continue our walk.
edited to fix quote
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Welcome Lily! And I totally agree with you. I love Lee’s manners and how he is always about being such a gentleman! Such a wonderful characteristic in a man 🙂
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Sweaty Lee combined with that white jacket is not a sight for sore eyes. And my eyes do hurt when I see Lee fiddling with Moss’s eyes. I don’t care if Moss is a baddie – as a former contact lens wearer, my eyes water in sympathy at Lee’s brutal treatment. Sorry, BJo, the sight of Lee’s hands do not help.
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Hi Learjet.
Learjet pun count = 4! 🙂 Outstanding!! Very Eye Catching!! 😉
Hi Everyone – LOL… I’m suppose to be working here.. I look forward to hopefully getting back here tonight to respond properly – loving hearing from you all!
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Yes, I got on an (eye)roll 😉
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I’m with you, learjet, this vision of Lee is not a fave. I agree with whoever said it looks fake and that Moss should be the one really sweating. I think that Lee’s hands should be cropped individually when used for comparison purposes so we don’t have to see this again!
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But I guess I am wondering if this gritty, sweaty, disgusting n=view of Lee doing a gross part of his job is on purpose. Its what he does… he drops out of site and has to go to slimy places and do gross, violent things, even after he does romantic, gentlemanly things like escort Amanda to her reunion.
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I guess I think sweaty grimy Lee doing the less-than-palatable parts of the job should be in a grotty t-shirt and jeans, not a white linen jacket.
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Interesting question Morley ( as always! 🙂 )
I look forward to seeing how this pans out..
I too was struck by Amanda’s new insights into what being romantically involved with Lee is going to entail (him leaving at short notice, no idea where etc..)
It comes with the territory! Lee did say there were parts he didn’t like – I’ll assume it’s the plucking contact lenses out of unconscious guy’s eyes and then wearing them yourself that Lee would have included in this category 😉 eww!!
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BJo I think you have a hankering to do a Lee’s hands post!
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That’s an interesting camera angle they have used in the establishing shot of Lee and Gunther in the hotel room. Looks like the camera is mounted on the ceiling. Seems like someone – the director? – was giving the look and feel of this episode a little more thought than usual.
It occurred to me when looking at this shot that this opening scene also has a film noir feeling about. I have always admired Humphrey Bogart and maybe the other reason I am attracted to Lee’s fashion look in this scene is it is slightly reminiscent of Bogart in Casablanca.
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Yes!!!! so true Kiwismh!!! I think you’ve nailed it with the Film noir reference.
I know there are iconic shots through the ceiling fan in Apocalypse now.. would that have film noir elements?
I found this article: http://courses.washington.edu/crmscns/noir.PDF
a quirky, funny read.. looks like it has a notation that it’s from the NY times back in ’94..
They identify the ceiling fan as pure film noir.. interesting!
For anyone interested.. I think we could go through this checklist and check off all the elements we see in this opening sequence! [ low lighting- check!]
Casablanca? Oh cool.. good call! Yes I like that! 🙂 Reminds me of Lee and Amanda in DOA 🙂
Lee: Look our feelings don’t add up to a pile of chicken salad in this crazy mixed up world…
swoon
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I love the films of the 40’s, especially the gritty stuff with Bogart. Given that they had very strict censorship in those days, they got away with some really risque stuff by camoflaging it in the sub-text or subtle innuendo. (“You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and… blow” ~ Slim (Lauren Bacall) to Harry (Humphrey Bogart) in To Have and Have Not )
Apocolapse Now – I wouldn’t have called it Noir but it is really dark. Maybe it does have a Noir feel. It’s been a while since I last viewed it – harrowing stuff if I remember correctly. I have been meaning to watch it again but figure I need to be in a really upbeat mood to watch it ’cause it is so harrowing and dark. I liked Martin Sheen in it, Harrison Ford was in it too, and of course Marlon Brando.
Oh, and of course I had temporarily forgotten the dream sequence in SMK – another very Bogart reference. 😀
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One hates to be in the minority that is being a Francine fan, but I think they fact she shares that look with Billy at the end suggests she came in with that message immediately because Amanda was in there. She definitely saw through Amanda’s ploy five minutes before but also admitted she didn’t know where Lee was either. If we’re doing vision gags, I’d say she’s been seeing Amanda in a new light since her work on PE and the Triumvirate. Her jokes have shifted dramatically from “amateur housewife” cracks to comments about interrupting something cozy in the last few episodes as she becomes aware she’s now odd man out.
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Or another possibility – Francine DID know where Lee was. But she couldn’t tell Amanda because – clearances. So she came in with news about Lee when she knew Amanda was there because she knew Amanda wanted to know but she couldn’t tell her outright until someone higher up (Billy, in this case) gave their okay.
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That would have been really nice from Francine. 😀 I like this idea, although I ‘m not a Francine-Fan. Even she changes over the time, quite slowly – verrrrrry slooooooowly, even Lee seems extremly fast in comparison – but she changes… 🙂
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I can work with that – I know you know Francine better than I do. 🙂
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I do think Francine and Billy know where Lee is – but only after he flew out in a hurry. And she couldn’t tell Amanda because she is only a part-timer with a stinkin’ guest pass. Still. Another generous theory about Francine. Interesting. Between you and Janet, you’ve got me thinking about this.
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too funny BJo!
Oh. My. Gosh.
I hope we get to say bye bye to that stinkin guest pass soon!
I’ll be doing a happy dance when it happens!!!
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You and me both!
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Yep that works for me.. and ties in well with Janet’s idea!
Hiya Knell – great to see you stop by.. it’s been a while!
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Interesting theory, Janet. I’ve never even considered something like that before, and I am a Francine fan. Old habits die hard 😉 But I like this theory of yours. I do wonder what is going on in Francine’s head about these two.
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I always thought that Francine’s little smirk at the end of that scene was because it appeared to her that Billy had indulged Amanda’s fantasy. I think she has noticed the change in Lee, but she just can’t take it seriously and so the fact that Billy let Amanda pick Lee up kind of grates at her, because of her own opinion about what is happening between Lee and Amanda and maybe due to the fact that she may feel slightly protective of Amanda… as a fellow woman who fell for the playboy?
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Yeah we know Francine and Lee dated but it seemed to be a bit of a fling.. you know.. one of those neither is really serious type deals.. did Francine ‘fall for the playboy’ ? to me this is not clear at this stage, I don’t know if I get a clearer picture on this in future eps. we’ll see… but right now – I’m not certain Francine had her heart broken or anything..
I’d be guessing (based on what I’ve seen so far- of course!) that Francine would assume if something is going on – it would certainly not be anymore than what Francine had shared with Lee at one point 😉
Francine protective of Amanda? Hmm.. when it comes to Lee? at this point? I don’t know. Maybe. I’ll ponder this one!
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I’ve watched that exchange and Francine’s look to Billy after Amanda leaves his office. What I mostly see is pity or maybe sympathy is a better word. It’s obvious to Francine that Amanda has got a thing for Lee, which Francine probably thinks was predictably inevitable and just one more reason for her to look down her nose at Amanda. I don’t think Francine thinks Lee could ever return her feelings and therefore Amanda is just setting herself up for hurt and disappointment. Amanda’s been around long enough to know Lee and his womanizing ways. Thinking back to their time in the freezer, I also think Francine thinks she knows Lee better than Amanda, and therefore knows what’s coming for Amanda. We’ve never seen it on sreen (I don’t think), but I wouldn’t be surprised if at some point Francine had warned Amanda about Lee or said things to tell Amanda ‘just how Lee really is’ when it comes to women. Maybe she snuck in a few jabs when she gave her the negative of that photo from JEG.
Of course, Francine is completely clueless about the inner happenings of Lee and probably wouldn’t believe it or believe that it would last anyway if she did. I think Billy’s a bit more tuned in because he wants Lee to grow up and find a woman like he did with Jeannie – to find a happiness like that. Francine just can’t see it because I think she has no idea what it would be like. At this point in her life she may be feeling resigned to a life with no marriage and no kids because of her job, and she probably thinks that will be Lee’s life as well so anything with Amanda is just a temporary dalliance.
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I watched this moment where Francine comes into the office again.
My interpretation is that Francine knew where Lee was. Billy knew where Lee was.. so when the relay came in Francine wasn’t sure if she could say in front of Amanda what it referred to.. but Billy gives it the okay.
I don’t think I noticed that when I was writing the post and pausing it often.
having taken another look at the scene – I think it hints that Francine is softening toward Amanda. I think she knew where Lee was – but she didn’t rub in that fact or really hint at it when Amanda asked.. she could have – and could have made some remark about how Amanda isn’t one of them (like she did earlier in the show) – but she doesn’t. Which I think is positive 🙂
This sounds good to me! I can go with this! After all, why bring it in when Amanda is there if you don’t want her to know? You’d wait a moment wouldn’t you 🙂
haaaa good one! 🙂 I tend to think Francine is seeing Amanda differently after their run in with the freezer and ecstasy assortment in FFFT 🙂
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I LOOOOVE this episode!!
Also I had a belt just like Amanda’s except it was gray. I wore it with my Catholic high school uniform to look cool. Also had a thin faux leather tie that I wore to school. Ah, the 80s….
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Ahhh Marylin, they say confession is good for the soul.
Feeling better?! whahahahahaaa…
Thin faux leather tie? whahahahaha.. oh that’s genius!! We saw Amanda in a tie in Burn out wasn’t it? a red one? with the red skirt? maybe we’ll see more.. eek! I’ll brace myself! tee hee..
I love to laugh at smk 80’s fashions.. but I can’t cast stones because I have my own 80’s fashion sins too 🙂
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Um, ok, then I confess that I still have a belt like Amanda’s and I have worn it within the past 2 years, with a t-shirt dress that I also bought in the 80’s. Some people would call the look dated, but I prefer to think of it as a fashion statement! 😉
I actually find Amanda’s look to be lovely and classic for her willowy figure. I do prefer flowing skirts to the 80’s a-line look, but they were not appropriately business-like (i.e. way too feminine, wrong message) for the emerging female work force of the 80’s.
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Hey Raffie! Yep, I hear you. There are a few things from the 80s I really wish I kept. No harm in thinking they might come back or just keeping things we liked, because we like them. With a few exceptions (probably the same as other people’s exceptions), I like Amanda’s look/dress.
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Hey Raffie!!! So wonderful to see you stop by!!
Ohh don’t mind me.. I complaint but I much prefer this belted 80’s look to some of her other looks.
True, it is good that it accentuates her positives!
Hey some belts or looks are just classic/ not dated!.. even looks we saw in the 80’s IMHO – remember that belted jacket when they do the pinkie grab? I think that’s totally wearable today.. what does everyone else think?
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Hey Iwsod, you know I never ever mind!! And yep, I’m trying to play catch up once again. February is always a crazy busy month, but this is one of my very favorite episodes so I don’t want to miss this part of the walk even if I personally need to make it a sprint!
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Hi I’ve just noticed that you have done this post exactly 30 years since it aired. How old do I feel
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Holy eagle eyes, Batman! Great catch, bluewire, and welcome to the blog! I wonder if iwsod did that on purpose and wondered if anyone would notice?
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lol you give me too much credit BJo 😉
Bye guys.. I’m off to work and will be back when I can to reply to comments 🙂
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I noticed we were walking through Triumvirate around the 30 year anniversary. You timed the starting of this one well, though, so good job, Iwsod! Yuku forum has the anniversary dates of each season’s episode as they’re approaching. That’s how it caught my eye.
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Welcome bluewire!!! I love your handle! 🙂
30 years ago exactly? oh umm errr.. yeah! I did that on purpose!!! 😉 errr.. well done noticing!
[okay okay I had no idea and it was a fluke – but fabulous catch bluewire and thanks for sharing it with us!]
I look forward to hopefully hearing more of your smk thoughts in future. now your first comment has been moderated you should be able to comment without delay in future 🙂
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And yet another welcome!!! Yahoo! Welcome Bluewire!
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I’m picking it’s a linen or linen/mix suit Iwsod. I don’t mind it, but then I was rather fond of Miami Vice back in the day, and this suits sort of reminds me of that style of 80’s clothing. Plus, I am pretty sure he wouldn’t want to be wearing polyester in that heat!
Not so keen on Amanda’s look but I think they are constantly wanting to remind us she is a mother/normal person.
I like this grittier feel in SMK. Even the suggestion of the most thorough body search at the airport was edgy stuff for SMK. Lee Stetson or not, I’m not sure I would have volunteered for that search duty given the “thoroughness” implied. 😉 Clearly it didn’t bother Lee, though – a small inconvenience to get whatever it is he came here for – “the list” “Barnstorm”. In fact, he’s looking very together for someone who was drenched in sweat and beating up on a guy just a short while earlier, and he hasn’t even changed his suit! Unless he brought two identical suits with him. 😀
However, leaving Gunther free to wake up and make phone calls is a major fail on Lee’s part. In my mind I change this so that the phone call comes through after Lee’s plane has left, i.e. it’s taken Gunther that long to get himself untied or whatever and get to a phone.
Billy is wise enough to noticed the growing closeness between L&A, so I think he is quite knowing here at Amanda’s interest in Lee’s whereabouts and her eagerness to meet him at the airport. I agree with whoever said that Francine simply sees Amanda as still having a silly schoolgirl crush on Lee, whereas I think Billy is aware that Amanda’s feelings run much deeper than that. He will also have noticed how much Lee has changed in the last couple of years too, so I think he suspects the feeling between L&A might be mutual.
And finally, I feel the need for a random Seinfeld reference here because I suspect we can all agree that this character looks like he is going to turn out to be a major pain in the proverbial… “Neumann!!”
PS. I’ve created a new thread at Neds for favourite scenes from other TV shows – starting with Newman!
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Yeaah!!!!! but Miami Vice was in Armani… Armani!!!!!!
this? me thinks it’s not Armani!
Here’s a publicity shot of BB as a Miami vice wannabe..
It always makes me laugh this one!
Ew ewwww!!!! This is hilarious! Yes.. one moment it’s all ick.. and the next it’s pristine (even after a thorough search at the airport 😉 ) Maybe the suit can time travel after all?!
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Miami vice wannabe… ?? Ahem, my dear Iwsod, Don Johnson never looked half as good as BB in the Miami Vice threads. 😀
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Yeah you know.. for me.. anyone other than Don Johnson trying to do it just looks ridiculous!
BB trying to do it just makes me laugh 🙂 but you go ahead and enjoy by all means 😉
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Someone pass me a fan!! I love this picture of BB. Never saw this one before!! ❤
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Funny, Hollywoodi, I really don’t like this look on BB. At least there are no sunnies to compound the problem. And the top isn’t pale pink. And we can’t see him wearing white shoes.
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While this is not the normal style we see BB in, any clean-cut, sexy looking photo is hard for me not to swoooon over 😉
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I agree that clean-cut BB looks better than Don Johnson with what my mother still to this day calls “designer stubble” {cringe}
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Not a fan of this pic of BB. Not really his style. I was a big Miami Vice fan and to me only Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas could pull off those suits and that style. The show was a bit edgier and so was the styling. This just doesn’t fit my idea of Lee Stetson or BB for that matter.
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I don’t particularly care for this sweaty Lee, it actually looks like Vaseline or something that has been rubbed all over him to make him look sweaty. 🙂
I always found it strange when I watched this episode, with as close as Lee and Amanda were obviously getting, why he couldn’t have made a quick call to her to let her know that he was going out of the country on assignment. Why did she have to be kept in the dark? He didn’t have to reveal any of the details, but they were partners (of sorts) and that should seem like something common to do. “Hey, just letting you know I am on assignment, will be out of pocket for a few days”.
I don’t know, I guess we wouldn’t have then had this great scene with all of Amanda’s eagerness to go to the airport to pick Lee up if they had gone that way. Just a thought.
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Hi jhahn0904! Nice to meet you. Yeah, it does seem kind of strange that he wouldn’t let her know, since he considers her his partner. I guess he must have been called away urgently – maybe in the middle of the night and he didn’t want to call to wake her?
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I always took it that he couldn’t tell her… need to know, you know?
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Hey BJO, this is Gruvy granny (AKA jhahn0904), I don’t know what happened but when I tried to post from a different computer it made me sign in to WordPress and I just got so confused and put in my email as my username. I don’t know how to fix it, I don’t want to have to go by two different names when I post or comment. Anyone out there that can help me, I am all ears!
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Oh, hey, Gruvy granny! I cannot change your handle for you behind the scenes of the blog. Or if I do have the power, I am ignorant of it…which is probably a good thing 😉
Try this link:
https://en.support.wordpress.com/change-your-username/#change-display-name-nickname
If this doesn’t help you, I would suggest you email iwsod at iwsod@optusnet.com.au
Good luck!
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If that link doesn’t work, or you’re not comfortable emailing any of the blog moderators, you can always ask for help at Ned’s.
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Hiya Gruvy Granny – I’ve emailed you so check your inbox – I think I’ve maybe identified what’s going on..
I’ve also manually altered any comments from your other handle to gruvy granny.. but hopefully the issue is okay and you won’t need this in future. bye! let us know how you go!
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hiya Jhahn – are you usually posting under a different handle here? if so we can fix it for you 🙂 email me: iwsod@optusnet.com.au if you prefer..
If you are posting here for the first time: Welcome!! 🙂 So glad you found us!!!
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Welcome! Welcome!! This is getting really fun! As if it wasn’t fun before!
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This is one of my favorite episodes, but Amanda’s outfit is such a pet peeve of mine. In itself the whole thing isn’t bad at all. Springy, figure flattering, etc. It’s just that from some point on in the series, she wears this outfit (or a similar button down top mid calf A-line skirt) with this exact belt (they have a couple of different colors) at least 50% of the time. Perhaps, it’s that my mom wore this same type of outfit during the late 80’s as well and it seems so matronly to me. Even though Amanda is a mom, I don’t see her as being matronly. That, and my mother has terrible taste in clothes (do I reveal too much about myself here – 🙂 ) I enjoyed the variety of season 1 and 2 outfits. Some were great, some were awful but at least there were some. Hope I’m not getting too far ahead with this thought.
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My mom had the same skirt. In denim. In fact I think she had a few identical skirts. I think that Amanda actually would have looked better in Francine’s outfit in this season (sans the chain brooch!)
Gailgail, do share more of your thoughts on the fashion horrors of S1 and 2 in Amanda’s Apparel and Francine’s Fashion Faux Pas posts (under the “Topical SMK” Tab at the top of the page 🙂
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I agree with you about the outfit
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Yeah, this outfit once or twice, fine- but over and over again shows a serious lack of imagination and style on the wardrobe department’s part.
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Maybe we can come up with a character driven explanation for it.. that we will like?! which.. will help us to overlook the blandness of it all?
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Its like her sweaters in season 1. I have a family member who buys a style she likes in various colors, I wonder if Amanda does this.?
I don’t mind her style so much. Its simple, but it is also feminine, it isn’t frumpy anymore, but it isn’t fashion driven. I like the way it shows off her figure without being flashy. And back in the 80’s and early 90’s tucking tops into a skirt like that to show off a trim waist was the thing to do. These skirts are a lot better than the clothing she wore with that hair don’t. Back to the “disassociation theory” of mine. I think Amanda is back in touch with who she is and I like it that she has come out on the other side looking feminine and pretty while at the same time upping her professionalism at work, all while falling in love with quite a man.
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I think that also sums up what Lee sees in her.
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Oops…I added a space. That top paragraph was Morley’s and should be italicized.
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put two of these >> at the start of your quote and then after the quote press space bar twice.. and you’ll get the quote function which will italicise it for you. I love it. I can just copy and paste what others have said and it speeds up my replies 🙂
I’ll edit your comment and add the quote function
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Just how fast do planes take off from this airport that it was too late for these airport guys to haul Lee back and take away the contact lenses? I’d love to not spend 2 hours killing time after I clear security these days!
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Yep, makeup department overdid sweaty Lee. IMHO, eyeball man should have been the more sweaty one, he was tied up in a chair, being interrogated – but, what do I know? Maybe Lee was coming down with a nasty case of tropical food poisoning (been there, done that – it was brutal!)
Billy’s no fool – he knows exactly why Amanda is in the office. I like how he tells her Lee has made all his check ins.
I figure Francine just puts Amanda’s enthusiasm to pick up Lee as a case of a huge unrequited crush on Amanda part (a la season one). Denial is strong in that one 🙂
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And I wanted to add that I had several ‘superhero belts’ like Amanda’s in various colours and widths. I loved them.
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I’ll come back and comment more later, but I just have to say that in that picture where Lee is poking around Moss’ eyeballs, we get to see Lee’s real hands. And I think they look very similar to some of those really good hand shots we’ve wondered about in the past. This is a good evidentiary support (ha!) for the person who ends up doing a Lee’s hand post.
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Woohoo! Thank you, Iwsod! Nice treat for me this morning. 🙂 Haven’t watched this episode in a while. I’ll probably do that this weekend.
Yeah, I’m with you. Sweaty Lee…nah not so much. Although I will say he cleans up nicely. I like the images of him coming through the security. He looks gooooooood!
Amanda and Francine both look great here. No more evening wear for Francine at work, I guess? Seems like her leg healed with no further need for physical therapy and such (?). Or this is set ahead in time just a little? I just LOVE Amanda’s eagerness to see Lee. She’s missing him. Awww. I like that we’re seeing continuity of their story. We’ve seen signs of her feelings before, but usually she’s less obvious with her romantic feelings. I don’t know if she’s even aware of how it’s coming across here. Obviously, Billy and Francine have wondered about them. I think she’s let Lee see a little more of her feelings, but only Lee. Meanwhile, who is she going to confide in? We know she can’t tell her family. She has no choice but to bottle it up, but here it’s like she’s reached the point where she can’t hold back. I’m anxious to hear what others have to say.
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Random thought…I think Billy would have volunteered Amanda to pick him up if she hadn’t jumped at the chance.
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Yah, I’ve been wondering about Francine, too. There should have been at least a little limp, I guess? Wasn’t she supposed to be on crutches for a while? I mean, even when there aren’t any complications – aren’t you supposed to not put too much weight on an injured leg, lest you burst the stitches or something?
Well, maybe that’s the reason why Francine didn’t immediately try to volunteer to pick up Lee – she’s happy to just sit at her desk and not move around any more than she has to?
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At least with Francine wearing dark navy (black?), we know she won’t be shot this episode. 😉
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So it’s Lee who gets shot this episode ’cause he wears a white suite? I really hope he won’t!!
Do we now have some kind of colour-code as
White/Cream/bright colours = gets shot
Black/Navy/dark colours = gets not shot
or does this colour-code just hold true in the case it’s Francine?
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Hopefully, just Francine.
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Ouuuch – poor Francine 😉
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She just needs not to wear white pajamas to work and then she’ll be fine.
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Lee had on a cream colored sweater vest in the Long Christmas Eve. Can’t talk about the other example since it hasn’t happened yet.
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True.. but time does tend to fly on smk when someone is recovering from a gunshot 😉
[Lee got shot twice in season 1.. it was a tough season 😉 ]
For me, I don’t see Francine volunteering to pick up anyone from the airport. too menial!
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And he was stabbed with a bendy knife… a tough season, indeed.
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Whahahahahaaaa!!!!! ahhhh.. I love the Bendy Knife.. and yes Season 1 was a tough phase for Lee – good thing he had Amanda to give him some tlc 😉
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Well, the bullet did go straight through (if I am remembering correctly) so that obviously means no lasting effects other than ruined pants.
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And two (!!!) nasty scars at Francine’s thight. 😥
Cindy, you’re remembering correctly, btw. 🙂
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That’s what Billy said. But I would still expect a little limping, even if she’s eager to get off the crutches and get back out into the field. Pity, those were nice pants too. Well, we know she’s done worse, right? Funny, but the worst problem I have with wearing white is coffee.
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Funny, but the worst problem I have with wearing white is coffee.
Yeah, I guess you are not that often shot at – at least I hope so, sara. AND you don’t wear creamy PJ’s at work, so it’s just plain ol’ coffee you have to deal with instead of some nasty blood…
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it looked to me like when she got shot was from the side – so if it went straight through it should have gone into her other leg too.. haaaa..
Poor Francine!
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