Hi Everyone! Here’s the tag of Dead Men Leave No Trails!!! I’ll publish this one for us all to enjoy over the holidays, give people away a chance to join in and then, we’ll start the next episode around 1 January…
So, on with the tag!
Will we get a Lee and Amanda kiss for Christmas??!!!
We find the corvette parked out front of Amanda’s.
I guess Lee parked out front knowing the coast was clear. What a luxury it must have been for him 
We find Lee and Amanda in Amanda’s kitchen.
Their backs to camera.. matching blue jeans..
Lee was not wearing jeans in the last scene. 
I think he was wearing this shirt though.
He changed into jeans for his little normal dinner?
Anyway, it’s quite a special moment. Lee standing on the other side of that kitchen window.. so many times he had been on the opposite side of that glass – the glass between him and Amanda. Now? No glass
Amanda rinses a plate and hands it to Lee. Lee dries it with a tea towel and says: Two years ago, Ari Gershen headed the anti-terrorist unit that went after Sallee… [some smk continuity! Yes that opening pink shirt sequence was two years ago!]
…He was also one of the organizers of that reception tonight.
[Shouldn’t the ‘organiser’ terrorist chaser have been involved in the security and known about Sallee having infiltrated it? Oh dear.. don’t think too deeply here Iwsod.. just go with it..]Guess Ari was one of these dudes:
Amanda: Ah hah. So Sallee wanted revenge. 
(Amanda hands Lee another plate.) [I love that she’s not waiting on him!!!!
What do you think of this scene so far? Lots of them standing with their back to camera.. umm.. why?!
Aaaand Really? Sallee wanted revenge because someone tried to kill him? Sallee seems to kill people all over the place, but takes it very personally when someone tries to kill him! LOL. I guess at least this way we don’t have to bother with the whole – who hired Sallee and let’s nab that baddie also!]
Lee: Yeah. That, and notoriety.
Amanda: Hmm. 
Lee: By taking out as many people as he could… he’d have both… with spades.
(Lee hands Amanda the tea towel and claps his hands together seemingly happy with having completed that little domestic task ) 
[How could Sallee get notoriety if everyone thought he was already dead?! I guess he could reveal himself later.. but being ‘dead’ seemed a pretty good status for an assassin no? oh whatev. I’m glad it’s not elaborate just for the sake of it. And who can care when we are about to get a Lee and Amanda kiss finally..maybe… any moment now… right??!!!!! ]
(Lee picks up a couple of cups and saucers)
Amanda: Yeah.
Lee: Ah! Here we go… And I thought you told me that you were just gonna throw something together. 
[Oh my gosh.. how chuffed does he look! Amanda has cake!]
Amanda: Well, there was a bake sale to raise some money for Jamie’s soccer team and I baked a cake, and then I… baked an extra one.
(They take a seat on the sofa together.. Lee puts down the coffee and Amanda hands him his slice of cake.)
Oh my gosh. Lee is all dimples here!
Lee: Yeah. Looks good!
Amanda: There ya are. Homemade, and I hope you like it.
Lee: Mmm.
(While Amanda starts digging at her cake with her fork. Lee licks his lips.. and looks over at Amanda’s cake.)
Lee clears his throat.
Amanda stops and looks up..
At…. this!!!!
[Okay everyone – what’s Lee thinking here? tee hee..]
Le starts smiling.. whoooo haaaaaaa..
Hooo haaaaa.. He’s giving her the look!
Amanda smiles back. 
There’s no hesitation here. She’s ready!
Oh my gosh.. it’s going to happen people! they are going to have their first legit kiss!!!! 
Amanda puts her cake down on the coffee table, Lee watches her closely as she does.
– Lee licks his lips Lee’s lips are ready!
Lee puts his cake down too.
Lee reaches for her : Amanda…
[What do you make of his tone of voice here? yes it’s husky with desire, but what of the tone? I’m getting a ‘we should have done this ages ago’ kind of vibe. how about you? ]
Lee doesn’t finish his sentence. Seems her name was enough.
Amanda responds reaching out to Lee also.
Amanda leans in to kiss him – it seems very natural I think. Relaxed even. I’m impressed at Amanda’s fortitude here! 
I love how Amanda puts her hand on his cheek 
Soooo close..
And.. Oh wait! Noooo what’s that? A door slamming??!!!!
Neither seems to notice.. they are a tad absorbed in each other and what’s about to happen!!! Maybe it was a neighbour’s car door!
We then hear a closer noise.. like the movement of floor boards or something and Amanda jumps. Oh no oh no oh no!!!
Curse these writers!!!! no kiss??? Again???!!!! Noooo!!!!!
Amanda: It’s Mother! 
Lee: Ohhhhhh!
Amanda: Out the back. 
Amanda motions to Lee to get out. How sad!!! After all the togetherness, and enjoying being in Amanda’s home with her, rather than on the outside looking in, Lee is suddenly kicked out. LOL. No Kiss.. and No Cake!
Lee: Yeah…
Lee gets up, jumps over the back of the couch (LOL yes walking around it isn’t masculine enough )
Whoo hoo! 
He heads out the back door while Amanda takes the two coffee cups to the kitchen sink. 
Amanda: Quick. Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!
Lee pulls the back door closed very quietly.
Amanda places the cups and saucers in the sink and then runs to the back door. LOL – the two pieces of cake are still on the coffee table!
Amanda, pulls the back door closed quietly, just as Lee did.. Only to suddenly find Lee grabbing her arm and pulling her toward him. Amanda gasps with surprise. 
Whooo haaaaa.. Are we gonna get that kiss after all?? Or is flippin Dotty going to come out and interrupt another kiss?? Love how Amanda lands right in Lee’s arms. Where she belongs so natural! 
They both pause where they are.. 
..as we hear one of the boys inside
Jamie or Phillip: Hey, Mom, we’re home!
[I’m thinking Lee decides here ‘it’ isn’t going to happen now. Yes. No cake tonight Lee..
Rofl.. oh and errr.. maybe no kissing on the couch like he had planned 
drat. No kiss at all???!!!!! ]
Lee smiles… it’s all a bit disappointing and awkward.. and oh well.. there will be another time!
We see Dotty walk into the kitchen..
Dotty: Amanda? There’s a beautiful silver sports car parked in front of the house.
Aie! she’s right there! Dotty calls out like she expects Amanda is upstairs. 
Go Lee you are going to get discovered!!! Do you think there’s an element here of him not seeming to mind that so much?
Why is he still here? what’s he waiting for? Whooo are we gonna get a kiss after all???!!!!
Back to Lee and Amanda.. moving closer.. it’s looking more likely we’ll get a kiss now!!! 🙂
Closer…. [don’t come out Dotty! don’t come out!!]
Hoorah!!!!
We get a brief kiss.. a very sweet, and lovely brief kiss-
That smile of Lee’s screams utter contentment doesn’t it. Even if it’s not the way he thought it would go.. it’s still the kiss he wanted.. because.. it’s Amanda
And.. lol with Dotty jabbering away in the distance..
Dotty: Wouldn’t it be fun if it belonged to a new neighbour? Hilarious irony – great writing.. injecting some humour here and combining it with romance.. and a ton of sexual tension!
They begin to move away from each other a little. 
But.. Lee suddenly gets super intense again.. grrrrr could he grab her and go in for another??? 
We already got a kiss.. but the will they or won’t they continues!
Lee shifts.. and seems to be fighting a battle here to walk away. 
He tilts his head, is about to go in for one last kiss,
but resists and keeps walking.. No! If he goes in for another he might never leave!!! 
Seems Amanda raised her head happy to oblige.. Not caring a toss about being discovered by Dotty. 
Amanda kinda laughs to herself..
Amanda turns and watches him leave, smiling away.. 
I think she’s thoroughly enjoying this time in their journey together and is relishing the suspense and anticipation of it all.
I cannot wait to hear what you all make of this tag!!!!!
I think Amanda is happy they at least shared a brief kiss, and it’s obvious Lee is crazy about her, and they are both ready and on the same page.. here we had a little step forward.. but their passion for each other is still yet to be demonstrated. ‘Promise’ is still in the air! And.. the promise of what’s between them and going to be realised soon is wonderful. I love that Amanda is so confident, contented and is just enjoying every moment!
It doesn’t look like they can put a lid on this much longer!!! Maybe next episode??!!!!
Lee? whoa.. he came so close here to losing control. but.. he resisted – why? I’m happy to see there’s no fear, no negative emotions here that are in the way… I guess he is happy to wait to get that proper unrushed kiss on the sofa a little longer. So he contented them both with a brief kiss – confirming that he really wants much more- but now isn’t the time!
Oh what a roller coaster this tag has been! I’m thinking they will!!!!! they won’t!!!! They may!!!! They are!!! Briefly!!! but noooo… Oh wait.. they may again!!!! noooo .. they won’t! rofl!
Oh and btw – beautiful silver sports car… 2 pieces of cake on the coffee table. Two cups in the sink.. I think Dotty is taking notes..
Oh my gosh. I am sooooo tempted to go on and just watch the next ep!!! but.. I’ll resist!!! there’s no way I can watch an ep and then pretend I haven’t while I blog about it. too much effort lol.. soooo I’ll take inspiration from Amanda.. I’ll be strong.. and I’ll wait for the really good stuff that’s coming eventually!
What do you all think about this scene? this ep ? the journey so far?? Very swoony.. I must find my smelling salts..
"Just walk with me.." 
Oh sheesh, y’all, I think I just had a huge light bulb moment about the title of this episode!!! (Get it? LIGHT BULB!?! 🤣🤣🤣)
For real. So dead men leave no trails, right? But what about men who feel so refreshingly alive? They must do the opposite- and leave trails! Indulge me if you will: First in the tag, Lee leaves his Corvette right out front (“trail” #1). Then he leaves quite the trail of cake and coffee as he has to rush out (#2). Then the brief kiss on the back porch is like a trail leading to what’s to come for he and Amanda in days ahead (#3). Ahh, Lee Stetson is leaving many trails, for he is feeling the complete opposite of dead. Very alive indeed. ❤
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Can’t. Stop. Looking. At. These. Screenshots.
I keep having thoughts I think are worth sharing and then I accidentally look at one of the screenshots again and every thought I had flies out of my head. To quote Iwsod, sdfgghjkibehfhakdhfjsiaaanfbfigkjs.
Ok, come on, Mommynificent, pull yourself together and say something intelligible (and stop trying to spell words like intelligible or we’ll never finish this comment.)
So much to love in this scene. I’m continually amazed at how much nuance there is with so little dialogue. They just don’t make TV like this anymore! I love all the things you’ve all pointed out! Love the trademarks, clagjanet! They make me giggle now throughout the series every time Lee starts in on either one! And Valerie, you’re right that Amanda takes one coffee and one cake to the sink! I never caught that before!
Iwsod, you asked what Lee is thinking when he gives her the look. I think he’s thinking, “What are we doing??!! Why are we talking about cake when we finally have some time alone?!” And I think that’s the gist of what he starts to say to her, but she knows what he is thinking and is thinking the same thing herself and just leans in for a kiss. He’s all too happy to comply!
I wish so much (and I think deep down Lee does too) that when they heard her mother and the boys, that Amanda had said, “why don’t you stay and meet them?” It could have been so easy and natural for Amanda to introduce him as a man she works with who had come over for dinner. They weren’t in a compromising position or anything and I just think this was the time it should have happened. I love, love, love the little kiss we got of course, but I think in the grand scheme of things, Amanda being willing to introduce him to her family at this point would have meant so much to him and I would have waited a little longer for a kiss to see that happen.
One new thing I noticed this time was Lee’s reaction when one of the boys hollers, “Hey mom, we’re home.” Lee could so easily and understandably have shown a little frustration at their interruption, but instead he gives that indulgent smile that makes me weak in the knees. That little smile shows me he wants the whole package – not just a hot night with Amanda but everything that comes with being part of a family, poorly timed interruptions and all.
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Love what you wrote here!
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hiya! you crack me up!!!
I love how you totally speak smk and Jwwm! lol.
thanks for sharing your thoughts. yeah it would have been easy for Amanda to ask if he’d like to stay and meet them…. soooo why didn’t she?
What do you all think?
i confess it has been ages since I watched this ep – and to be honest since I watched any smk. but that is about to change as I get ready to write nightcrawler posts!
I think Amanda was very careful with what she ‘gave’ to Lee – she held back in their relationship… one of those big meaningful moments is her introducing Lee to her family… which we haven’t seen in the walk yet.
If I were to guess how her character would approach this, I’d guess that she would not introduce him into the lives of her family without some kind of explicit commitment from him about whether they are going to have a relationship. Mr ladies man had to earn it, Amanda is very protective of her family… and wasn’t going to introduce him in without an understanding between them.
If I remember correctly, at this point they are right on the edge of expressing that ‘understanding’ – so…. it’s pack yourself up and off you go- my family is coming. haaaaa… I actually kinda love that she doesn’t let him into her family so easily!
wow it’s been ages since I talked smk! It feels a bit weird I’ve had a crazy busy year but you know- it’s a happy vibe for me to find myself here again!
How are you all?! Yeahhhh I haven’t started writing nightcrawler. Hoping to start on it this weekend as I think I might actually have time! hope you are all well!
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Iwsod is back! Yeah! Love your comments about Amanda being careful with her family and Lee. She’s always been a mama bear, ferociously protective of those she loves.
Oh boy, more SMKland deep dives to come! Cheers to all!
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What a double treat this morning to hear from Iwsod and to hear that you are starting on Nightcrawler!! I am so excited! But I’m also determined to catch up on the walk by the time you start so I better get going!!!
I like what you’ve said about Amanda protecting her family and I totally agree that’s what she was doing. I just think I might have protected them differently in her place. It seems like it will be really hard to all of a sudden introduce them to someone she’s already deeply involved with. I would personally much rather hear from my daughters or my mother towards the beginning of a relationship as opposed to meeting their significant other when they’ve already decided to get married or have even already gotten married, but I can see how Amanda would make a different choice. (I’m speaking hypothetically here about my preferences, not hinting about how the introduction happens in future episodes which I can’t actually remember anyway. 🤪)
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Holy cow. This scene gets my heart fluttering Every. Single. Time. ❤ sigh
I never know what in the world they are talking about at the sink because I’m totally just anticipating the moments to come. Goodness, this is a lovely tag. Salts and chocolate, please.
It is really something amazing to think back to them in Season 1 here. Like early season 1. This is the same woman who ended the first episode by asking him if he had a good vegetable man, and the same man who stared at her like she was from another planet! I love the growth of these two so very much!!!
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I love this tag! (well, who doesn‘t???) It made me comment here for the first time 🙂
I‘m reading this blog for a while now, going through the series I like to read lwsod‘s walkthroughs and the comment section. I was trying for a while to just watch one episode and read here everything on it but the last few days at home made it impossible for me not to binge watch some 20 episodes 🙈
But I will try to slow down in the next round again 😁
Thank you for this blog lwsod and all of you commenting here!
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Hi Esther, welcome!!! So glad you’ve jumped in and joined the fun!! 🙂
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Thank you, I‘m glad I finally took this step 🙂
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Hi Esther!! Your binge-watch makes me feel so much more normal, so thanks for that transparency!! 😂 I was on a crazy binge-watch in the fall myself…like 5 eps a day. Not sure how I pulled that off!
Anyway, would LOVE for you to join the rewalk we started recently! We just started this week with Waiting for Godorsky in Season 1.
Ah, and thank you for a little glimpse at this scene to end my day. This is one of the best parts of their journey, imho. ❤
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Hi Amandarambler, thank you, I join gladly on the walk! Even though I‘m soon (like tonight) on to season 4, I always start missing season 1 around this time, so it‘s perfect.
I‘m in Europe (in Munich, you might heard of it, it‘s close to Salzburg and Tegernsee… ;-)) so I guess I will comment in a different time zone than others.
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I’ll join the party and say hi too! I’ve also been reading for a few months now, right after I got my DVDs and started reliving my favorite show!!!
I love this blog so much and love reading everybody’s thoughts! I always think I’ll add a comment but usually someone has already said what I was thinking so I never have. So today I decided to just say hi and that I want to be a part of the community of SMK lovers! 🙋🏻♀️😁
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welcome mommynificent!
I hope you’ll jump on in and share your thoughts on the episodes we’ve walked through so far! hey you may agree but you can always share that too no?
Great to meet you and thanks for the kind words.
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I’m a little late in catching up with the walk, but I am now finished with “Dead Men Leave No Trails”, which is one of my favorite episodes! Definitely in my top three, for sure, so I had to comment! First, Hi everyone! I’ve missed the walk and all of the commentary that goes along with it, for the few months it was on hiatus. Perfect episode to get back on track with! Pretty much everything that I wanted to say has been said! To this day, when Dotty and the boys come bursting through the door, I sigh as if I was first watching it… haha! Such a pivotal point in their relationship, and here comes the FamSquad, once again! But I love what we got,,, that adorable little kiss in the back of the house. Just love it! ❤
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That’s the great thing about the blog, Hollywoodi – it’s always here! I don’t see how there is an SMK fan alive who could watch that final scene and not feel some sort of something!
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FamSquad! LOL! (That might make the JWWM glossary of terms)
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FamSquad. snort
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Bwahaha! I love it! I say it all the time!! Hah!
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Woohoo! Love this tag! Squeeing along with the rest of you!!!
So they both changed into something casual. I love the shots of Lee’s jeans from the back and boy do they look good! Did you all notice that Amanda’s wearing ‘Lee’ jeans? I’m sure she’s worn them in other episodes. I remember the 80s with all those jean ads and actually caring what brand of jeans I wore to school. Anyway this makes me wonder if she had a snicker moment as she changed out of her last outfit and put on her pair of ‘Lee’ jeans to have a nice steak dinner with Lee. 😉
I like how Amanda leans in first on the couch. They’re still in that awkward first stages glow of a relationship, but she has no hesitations. I do wonder how this would have gone if Dottie had shown up maybe 2 minutes late. I also interpreted Lee’s “Amanda” as maybe wanting to talk first? Anyone else get that? He didn’t object to the ‘not talking’ though. That kiss outside where Lee grabs her and pulls her toward him then they have the sweet peck will always be a favorite. Her smile at the end is priceless. New love. They both deserve this. 🙂
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I also wonder what might have transpired if Dotty didn’t interrupt. What if Dotty and the kids came home the next day as planned? Sigh, not a fanfic writer so I’ll end my speculation there.
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I’ve been thinking more about this tag and what transpired between Lee and Amanda to what happened with the near miss kiss in Utopia Now. I was frustrated with Utopia Now, but in a different way. It was too easy for Lee to try to explain it away with them being in a dangerous situation and just seeking some warmth. He wasn’t there yet and you could see he wasn’t ready. Amanda tried to wake him up a little, but it just wasn’t the right time for anything to happen.
My frustration heroes because I can see them easing closer and closer to that point. At least there was a kiss, small, but oh so meaningful. There was no backing away or hesitation on Lee’s part or on Amanda’s. So while it was frustrating it was much more satisfying.
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This episode was never shown in the UK so the first time I saw it was on a very dodgy copy I had bought from Canada. The picture quality was so bad that I still wasn’t sure if they had kissed at all. It wasn’t until I got the official DVD that I finally managed to see it. It was well worth the wait!
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Yep, us Canadians can be pretty dodgy 😉 (And that would have driven me nuts, not knowing if they kissed or not)
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Oh Bluewire! that sounds like torture!!!!!!!!
I bet it was fabulous when you finally got to watch it in wonderful clarity!!!
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Also, since no one else has, compare and contrast the way he pulls her around the corner and into his arms with the way he did exactly the same thing in the park when Sallee was following her. What went on around that corner that we didn’t see? I’m betting it was the Head-Tilt, Exasperated Look™ before he leaned around to see if Sallee was still there.
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Oh, I like this!
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I like this too!!!! good one clagjanet! 🙂
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Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!!!! SQUEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! I love this tag. I admit, this is how I always imagined Lee and Amanda would begin their romance, as normal people in a normal way. I love that Amanda takes initiative to approach Lee, geez, if it was up to him he would have talked another ten minutes about something he felt should have been said. A little less conversion a little more action here Mr. Stetson. I love the fact that he is her partner in that he is helping her do the dishes, not expecting her to serve him. I find that respectful and it makes my heart melt. I love the look he gives Amanda over the cake, like “it’s really not the cake that whets my appetite ‘hint, hint'”. I love the way he says “Amanda” like he wants her but, as clagjanet said, you know The Speech is coming. I love that he jumps the sofa (bet BB wishes he could still do that) in some manly way, maybe to impress Amanda. I love the way Amanda jumps right into his arms in one smooth jump. I love the kiss, the “I’m so tempted but I must resist” almost kiss and the way Amanda squeezes her eyes shut like she is silently “squeeeeeeing” to herself, perhaps thinking ” he finally kissed me!”. I love this whole tag (can you tell?).
The script had it a bit different. It states that you can see the remains of a candlelit dinner on the table and Amanda brings Lee cake as he remains seated on her family room sofa. After the bake sale conversation regarding the cake takes place, Lee looks at Amanda and says “You’re really something else. ” Amanda gives her regular self deprecating comments but Lee continues to compliment her actions today. He apologizes for being so upset with her earlier in the day and she lets him off the hook by saying she realizes that his angry comments means he cares. They get to nearly kiss when Dotty and the kids come home. Same escape pattern begins but Lee pauses at the door. Amanda urges him to leave, but before he does he insists on telling her something. He tells her that “I’m very glad you’re alive”, he kisses her ” soundly and with feeling and then disappears into the night”.
I like the “soundly and with feeling” kiss but I’m glad for the scene that the actors gave us. This is the declaration I was talking about in an earlier post. Not quite an ” I love you”, but almost. Thoughts
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Totally agree. A sweet kiss that wasn’t prompted by a near death experience is much more satisfying in my books.
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Oh, I agree. What was filmed was much more effective even though it contained less dialogue. That is the genius of SMK, BB and KJ have become so good at the non verbal communication, even good enough for us to understand it.
I am still wondering what Lee was going to say if Amanda hadn’t moved in to kiss him but I don’t think he would have said what was in the script. I need to spend some more time with the episode and watch this scene a few more times (tough) and then I will have to listen to Lee’s thoughts so I can work on his Scotch Thoughts story. I will have to figure out what he was going to say ( if Lee even knew) soon.
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I can’t wait to hear what you think Lee said. (Goody, goody, goody!)
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And I can’t wait to hear what Amanda has to say!
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Me too 😉
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Wonderful to hear your thoughts Iluvsmk! glad you are back with us!
tee hee.. loved that you were squeezing!! 🙂 we are right there with you!!
Ahh I wonder if Lee being upset with Amanda earlier was that scene you mentioned earlier – which was changed.. Where Lee gets really mad at Amanda for Sallee almost nabbing her?
I admit, I’m very happy with what I got- and my opinion is the changes they made were for the better 🙂 But.. I still love to hear the alternatives – and thanks so much for sharing iluvsmk!
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Yes, iwsod, that was the part of the episode I was speaking about. It’s very interesting reading the scripts. Sometimes it’s a huge contrast to what we saw but I love the extra insight into the scenes and characters. 😄
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I always felt like this moment was the start of their relationship.
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I think that from the time Lee pulls Amanda out from her back door until the time he leaves Amanda standing there gleefully smiling after him just may be my all-time favorite scene in the whole SMK series. Love everyone’s comments!!
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I so totally agree!
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Your comment about how he pulls her out the door made me realize that The Kiss also finally took place in shared territory. These two have always had their own spaces (Amanda inside the house with her family, Lee in his apartment or in his spy element, usually with no one) but there are two places that are all theirs: the backyard where they have so many late night conversations and the Q Bureau where we will shortly see.. But hush, I’m getting ahead of myself.
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Funny! I was pretty much doing the same thing!!!! but combined with some squeezing!! 🙂
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Same. Speaking for those of us who have worn out their VHS tapes on this scene, thank God for DVDs, right?
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I love this small, soft kiss. There is just something about the look and chemistry that Lee and Amanda share at this moment. More about this kiss at the end of the season.
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I loved the ending but part of me wishes they would have had this passionate kiss… even if it was a quick one… oh well LOL.
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I know. That kiss was extremely measured. I wonder why?
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I think that wishing was intentional.. us the audience shared that wishing with Lee and Amanda! 🙂 hang in there Norma! we’ll get our wish eventually!!!
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“Homemade, and I hope you like it” Oh he has learned to love it! Yes, I love the Corvette parked right out front and the two of them both on this side of the window, doing domestic things together. But its the perfect blend of spy and domestic, they are talking about the case while they are cleaning up dinner together. I bet Lee was completely relishing in trying that one on and I wonder if Amanda was testing how natural and comfortable it was to have this man next to her in her home.
I used to not like the way it was Amanda who moved so fast towards that kiss on the couch. I felt like she was too eager and I wanted Lee to really make the first move. I think I began to feel better about it after changing the episode order around so that there was a steady build to this moment and then it didn’t matter who moved in first. And now it just looks to me like a mutual movement begun by Lee saying her name. I need to re listen to how he says it, but I think there may have been more he thought he needed to say. Obviously Amanda didn’t need to hear it and now I like it that way. Amanda gets him and I think she does feel very comfortable with where they are at, and she can go with the flow. I do like that. And yet, I still feel like there is so much more that Lee wants to be able to communicate to her and didn’t get a chance here and I wonder if he even knows how he is going to go about it. Maybe that was why he hesitated again in that last part outside. There is so much more and they have only just brushed up against it in that sweet little kiss. But that is enough for this moment, at least they have begun…. I bet neither of them fell asleep too quickly that night 😉
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Hi Morley, I probably missed this, but what did you think the correct order was for this episode?
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Maybe this coming after Three Little Spies?
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There is a fic series out there that puts Spies before Boy/King and it sure makes their physical interactions more logical… But now back to not looking ahead.
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Yeah, I move them around a bit and I bet we will discuss that when we finish with this season. It did help me to rethink order. I bet Iwsod has her own thoughts on this one… 😉
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You’d win that bet Morley! 🙂
I’ll wait till the end of season 3 to explore this fully 🙂
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Loved how you shared with us your changing view over time on this one Morley! 🙂 I look forward to hearing your stories and what you come up with as you explore these two wonderful characters and their journey together!
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When I saw this episode originally (waaaayyyy back in the 1980’s) my thinking immediately leapt to the next episode. After all, there’s no way, even in SMK-land that they can back away from this display of their love. The next one’s got to be it! So, my sole purpose in life for the following 7 days was to ensure that no matter what, and I do mean, no matter what! – earthquake, flood, fire, pestilence, the arrival of the 4 horseman of the apocalypse – I was going to not miss the next episode of SMK…
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I remember thinking the same thing.
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Me three! I think I burned through my VHS tape replaying this scene. Total SQUEEEEE!
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Me four.
Back then we (my parents) didn’t have a VHS – so there was no tape to watch over and over again… 😦
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So glad you could take a little break from your busy life to share your thoughts with us Kiwismh!
I had this exact thought when writing the walk!!! but.. I suspect the episodes are a little out of order.. but.. we’ll get to that eventually!
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I say “Bravo!” to whoever decided that what we really needed to open this scene was a nice long look at that butt. And it can be whichever butt you like looking at – I’m not one to judge – just enjoying the view. 😉
I assume that they are discussing Sallee this late in the meal because Billy has just contacted them to tell them what had been figured out. With no Sallee to tell them why he did it, it would have needed a bit more investigation to put the pieces together. (Not of Sallee, he’s definitely RIP – rest in pieces). So I like to think that maybe the look he gives her is because he’s been flirting all through dinner while she’s been rambling and dodging and has now been reduced to rambling about making cake and he knows exactly why. When she looks at him, she sees that too and realizes how ridiculous it is to be stretching out conversation about cake and that he’s silently calling her on it. A large part of her smile here then is laughing a bit at herself for how that’s played out. So, she carefully puts down the cake so there’s no possibility of being distracted by spills or accidents, and turns back to give him her full attention. Then,after he mirrors that, he sees she’s braced for The Speech™ and reaches out saying her name – and she reacts instantly and instinctively to pull him in closer before he can change his mind or say Something Dumb™.
The scene is indeed a lovely little bit of business, not least because it is done almost entirely without dialogue but with such emotional depth in the way they look at each other. So swoon-worthy!
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“The Speech™” and “Say Something Dumb™.” So funny, yet so true
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rofl clagjanet! loved the trademarks! teee hee.. and so true!!!!
Love this observation!!!! indeed!!!! to have little to no dialogue is so clever, and powerful!!! they did an amazing job! 🙂
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i love this episode and tag so much. Funny story, I lived in AZ during the original run and we got primetime at 7pm. This episode was during March Madness, so it aired LATE AND IN PROGRESS. The episode joined in progress (for me) with Lee and Amanda at Millicent’s apartment. And then the tag!! I was like what did I miss????
Funny the discussion about the speech. When the fandom was active in the late 90s, I made a friend and we argued constantly about this. I said he wasn’t going to say anything, and she said he was going to to say something before they kissed. I guess our debate was more common than we realized :).
I also love that they were doing the dishes together vs. the script which seemed to imply she was doing them alone.
And while the kiss isn’t passionate, I love it’s so clearly the start of something.
And then 3 little spies – ARE YOU KIDDING ME.
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Loved, loved, loved this scene. It was so organic and natural. And when Lee leans in again and then breaks off – so delicious!!
I also liked the way the plot was about a woman with unrequited love (Millicent) and then Lee and Amanda realize they are attracted to each other.
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OH MY GOODNESS was I ever excited and frustrated at the same time with this tag!! I was so excited about what might happen. To transition from the normal people discussion to washing dishes together was so awesome. Lee moving from being on the outside to being by Amanda’s side was so wonderful.
Lee’s look said that the only sugar he wanted was from Amanda and she was more than willing to give it to him. As frustrated as I was I ended up being okay with how it all went. There was just so much swoony-ness to it all. That slow build is what kept us hanging on and tuning in each week. I loved the playfulness they each had and the promise of more to come. I loved how he waited for her and that she also went out to see him off.
I can’t imagine how they made it through that whole dinner without giving in to some sort of temptation. Dotty was truly being Dotty.
Side Note: I think Amanda took one coffee and one slice of cake to the sink. She was already thinking ahead to what her mother might see. I rewound a few times to check that out because I thought the same thing of Dotty.
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No proper kiss and they didn’t eat the cake either? Poor Lee…although he looks pretty happy from their brief kiss. I tend to think he’s being playful when he pulls away without giving her a 2nd kiss.
My thoughts about the beginning of the scene where they are doing the dishes and we see a lot of their backs: this is the position where we normally see Amanda, doing dishes and looking out. How often has Lee been lurking in the bushes, “pssst”ing or waiting for Amanda to notice him outside. And at last he’s inside. Plus he’s taking part in “normal” household activities (drying dishes) after their “normal” dinner, followed by homemade cake (not from some fancy bakery.
I love the Dotty in the background, talking her usual nonsense, while Lee and Amanda scramble to right themselves. They’ve used this device before in SMK, but this is a whole new way of using it. And I wonder what happened when Dotty say the two abandoned cups and two plates of uneaten cake! Or did Amanda hide them in the cupboard 😀
This scene is SMK gold from start to finish: cute, funny and romantic. It doesn’t get much better than this….
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SQUEEEEEEEEEEE! I am totally hyperventilating here – it is THAT good! Sallee wanted revenge? Who’s Sallee. LOL!
I love that Amanda goes in for the kill on the couch. Oh yes, she’s been waiting for this moment for a LONG time (as have we!).
I remember screaming NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! watching this the first time when Dotty and the boys came home (DRAT that woman!) and then being immediately rewarded with the sweetest, shortest and scotching hot kiss I have ever seen. And your screen shots capture this moment beautifully.
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