Having just outmanoeuvred Petrovich (at chess no less!) Lee approaches Amanda seated in the cabin, quietly reading, and sits down next to her with a sigh.
Amanda: Trouble? 
Lee: Ah, just past history.
[Rofl! Check out Lee’s body language here!! I suspect the past history was Petrovich giving Lee a kick in the you know what!]
…It’s a job that’s gotta be done, hmm?
Amanda: Hmmm.
Lee hesitates a moment.. then seems to want to get something off his chest..
Lee (very quietly): Listen…
[Lee leans in a little.. and glances at Amanda’s mouth before continuing- me thinks KJ and BB are ramping up their portrayal of this couple with extra mouth watching 
ahem… where was I?! ]
…Billy’s worried about me, isn’t he? 
[Love to see Lee sitting sooooo close to Amanda and whispering to her whatever it’s about! If you watch Amanda here, you can just make out her eye lashes..
I think she looks down at Lee’s lips and back up again me thinks Amanda likes Lee whispering sweet somethings abouts anythings toos]
Amanda: No! 
Lee: Come on. 
Amanda: Oh, no!
Lee: He wants you to keep an eye on me to make sure I don’t single handedly destroy Détente. [Yup!]
[Looks like Lee looks again at Amanda’s lips.. and Amanda reciprocates Ahem… for a rather serious conversation there’s a whole lot of sexual tension going on here!]
Amanda: Oh, come on. Don’t be silly. [Ahem. I confess, it does actually sound quiet silly ]
They silently look at each other a moment. Lee’s eyes seem to be dancing all over Amanda’s features what’s going through his mind here? 
[Last time I saw this I had no idea there was so much gazing going on here slowing it down to pick the images certainly reveals new goodies!]
Lee: Huh? That’s okay…
[It’s off camera, but I think Lee grabs her hand and gives it a pat] 
…I’m glad you’re here…
[Oh my gosh!!! I think Amanda just melted! I know I did!]
(more lips glancing going on!)
…Friendly face makes a difference.
[Wow!!!! who can resist this man now?! I dare you to try! What a mature, open and wonderful man we see here! 
the fact that this line is whispered makes it even more swoony!]
Amanda: Oh, thank you very much.
(A bit more lip glancing going on!)
[Amanda’s a strong woman. She accepts the compliment. but doesn’t gush she’s perfect for Lee isn’t she! ]
Amanda gives him a big smile.. she’s totally on Lee’s side.. What an amazing gift to give a man who works in the spy bizz where he can’t (usually) trust anyone!
The scene ends with Lee looking at Amanda’s lips that are giving him a big smile.. hooooo haaaaaa!!
I wonder if this ties back to the Lois-Anne conversation, and entrusting your secrets, and emotions to another.. hmm.. Hopefully it doesn’t tie back to laughing as you fly across a room!
All the signs IMHO indicate Lee is 100% confident in his faith in Amanda, and hers in him. I cannot wait to hear what you all make of this little conversation. Such a small exchange but so full of meaning!!!!
I like to think Lee is remembering his past history with Petrovich and Chang, and comparing that to his situation now with Amanda by his side – he seems to be observing to himself that he is in a much better position now with Amanda by his side, and full of gratefulness and appreciation. I think he knows Amanda and his connection with her makes him stronger- not weaker- which is what IMHO I think Lee fought for a long time.. but here being so open and expressing his feelings with Amanda – Lee seems to have come full circle. He not only accepts Amanda he welcomes her, and is openly celebrating her being in his life (professional and personal). Now that is such an attractive quality in a man
I also think this must be extremely meaningful for Amanda. I’m reminded of Amanda’s conversation with Ballon (in Saviour) – when he tricks her.. Ballon sees Amanda’s need.. and exploits it.. I’ll copy and paste the little exchange here:
Ballon: Nope, we all know what a terrific contribution you have made to the success of scarecrow.
Amanda: you do?
………Did Lee say that? 
Ballon: he sees it a little differently to me. 
Amanda: Oh I know I know,
he thinks he doesn’t need me.
Even in the wonderful sofa scene in the Triumvirate, I don’t think we heard Lee directly say to Amanda that he was glad she was there with him, I think he said it indirectly. Here I think is the first time he has outright said it. I was reminded of this scene above with Ballon, because I think this moment is what Amanda dreamed of experiencing one day from when she first got involved with Lee and his work. It was really important to her that Lee acknowledge her contribution and that he needs her.. This is quite possibly the one thing she wanted to hear from Lee more than anything else (other than ‘I love you’ maybe? haaaa…maybe they are equally important to Amanda: I need you and I love you? thoughts everyone? No right or wrong answers! ). I think this is a huge moment for Amanda… and I like to picture that on the outside she is reserved and happy, but on the inside she is squeeing and cheering and singing hallelujah!
Here..I think it’s something like this:
and..
tee hee! [This is as close to fan fiction as Iwsod gets ]
What do you all make of this scene everyone?? thoughts? questions? gripes? insights?
"Just walk with me.." 
I like the way Lee starts this little exchange with Amanda with a reference to that other lovely couch discussion in Triumvirate, ‘Its a job that has to be done”. And this time he isn’t even hinting about things he likes about the job. He is walking through the front door and telling her flat out. And we all can see the change in his demeanor as he takes his place on the couch, I am sure that Amanda can easily tell that he has relaxed and softened as he sat next to her. She must recognize that it was do to her, and if she didn’t he just told her. Here they are doing exactly what the spoke of in the Cumberland, doing the work that they are left with and doing it together. Plus a reminder of that brief moment together is pretty powerful, I think they both know what was brewing then and is only simmering more now. This really is a lovely stirring of all of those very powerful aspects of their relationship, the professional, personal and emotional connection they are building together.
I think it takes a wonderful level of awareness on Lee’s part to be able to communicate that to her. I also think it takes a mature person to so freely acknowledge that his boss is worried about him, but he is okay with it because his boss has also brought Amanda in to balance him out. And this maturity is even more highlighted because you can tell how tightly wound Lee was earlier at the beginning of the flight. I think he may be a bit freer here because he has just bested both of the other agents and so he is feeling on top right now. But still, he is working on receiving Amanda’s place in his life and his work and he sure just took a huge step in doing so by sitting there with her and letting himself soften with her.
And I love the way Amanda instinctively knows how to be with Lee and yet, I think he did surprise her here. I love the way she is surprised by him. And because I place this in a different order, I think what he just said to her speaks volumes and helps her even to take more of her place on this case. I agree though, she must be doing flips inside.
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This is a great scene. You can just see all of the previous tension in Lee just dissipate when he sits with Amanda. She is his touchpoint, his anchor, and gives him a sense of balance. And it’s truly wonderful that he now sees it and acknowledges it.
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iwsod, In response to the “I need you” vs “I love you”- I hadn’t really thought of it before, but you make an excellent point. Amanda had the ‘I love you’ with Joe, but he obviously did not NEED her, since he was wrapped up in his career & traveling the world. To have some one like Lee (who also has an important career & travels the world), want AND need her would be a huge deal.
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Xiolaperry – I love this!!!!!!!!! Such an awesome observation! Yes!!! this was what she was lacking with Joe..
Lee is the whole package 🙂 and her relationship with Lee helps her to grow and flourish!!
Thanks for sharing this and sorry I didn’t get to respond for a while – so glad I got back here to tell you I loved this 🙂 bye!
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Also I remember thinking with Service Above & Beyond (especially since BB thinks that’s when Amanda started to fall for Lee) that Joe was a man whose words said love, but whose actions said differently. He was willing to put his job ahead of his family.
By contrast Lee is someone whose words sometimes aren’t the greatest (especially the first two years!) but whose actions always speak volumes. He implies by his words that he isn’t crazy about Amanda in the initial episodes, but his actions on the same eps always say otherwise.
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Lee could whisper sweet nothings about how bread is made and keep looking at her lips and it would be sexy. 😉
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Soooooo Trueeeee!!!! 🙂
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Also have never really noticed this scene – or certainly not it’s significance and huge cuteness factor. A definite advantage to the communal walk rather than the lone ranger home viewing experience!
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I love this about our walk together too learjet! 🙂
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I think the other thing that is getting glossed over in this scene is that Lee is a) aware that Billy is worried about him overreacting, b) aware that there is a 100% probability that Billy asked Amanda to look after him, c) aware that Amanda is lying about that to spare his feelings because she thinks (wrongly) that he’d be mad at Billy and finally d), Lee is fine with all those things because one of the things he’s learned from these two in the last few years is to recognize that he does better with their care and support than he did when he was doing his Lone Wolf routine. Instead of letting that be another thing getting under his skin, he’s learned to appreciate that aspect of both of them and is consciously letting it ground him (which is tricky on a plane, but there you go).
That said, he’s really glad Amanda’s there. 😀
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I like what you say here, Janet. I find it interesting that Lee knows that Billy is worried about him over-reacting (and Billy is completely correct in this – Lee really showed that he had a short fuse in the previous scene!) and yet doesn’t really take offence. Personally, I’d feel highly annoyed if my boss got someone to “hold me in check” and watch over me to make sure I didn’t over-react. But maybe Lee recognises that he’s struggling to control his emotions. Certainly, he wouldn’t take it as well if it came from Francine…partly because of the special personal relationship between him and Amanda, but also because he and Francine are (or were?) too similar – Amanda wouldn’t hold it over him in the way that I suspect Francine might!
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Thank you for bringing this up, Clagjanet. Sometimes when a scene is too drooly, the more sophisticated points get overlooked! This is a changed Lee that we are seeing here. A matured Lee. I think you nailed it with the Lone Wolf reference… I think Lee’s desire to be a lone wolf is gone, and it suits him. Where once he handled his vulnerabilities by denying them or hiding them and shutting others out, now he is willing to acknowledge them, even share them with others close to him. Not only is this a very endearing change in Lee, but it sets up a beautiful display of sexual tension, SMK-style.
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Hiya clagjanet – a brilliant recap of all that’s going on here for Lee! There’s so much in this little moment isn’t there!!!
Great catch with the Lone Wolf routine being gone – with Amanda.. but I guess also with Billy?
This ties back to that opening scene with Lee declaring that he needs help yes? And Billy thoughtfully but cryptically responds ‘I know it’.
[edited typo]
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Agree, this scene sizzles!! I know his hair is different but what else is it that makes Lee look sooooo much better (ok, hotter) in S3 than in S1? Beyond expressing his need for Amanda, which is ever so lovely, there is something very vulnerable about Lee in this scene. “I’m okay, don’t worry. I can be trusted and I won’t let you down, but I am so glad to have you beside me helping me through it.”
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Raffie I love this!!!!
Your comments reminded me of this fabulous moment: [post 7/13 from We’re off to See the Wizard]
Amanda: …I know I don’t have clearance but I was so worried about you….
…Look, you won’t talk to anybody and you just act like you’re some kind of a superman…
…and you’re not a superman, you’re just a man, but…
…you’re really a – a pretty special man…
This Lee the lone wolf trying to be superman is long gone now! He doesn’t try to be superman with Amanda anymore.. 🙂 and seeks out her support! swoony! 🙂
[And yes.. okay.. It was a good excuse to include a few images from that moment because he looks so darn dreamy!]
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IDK about anyone else … but I would have been gone if he had looked at me the way he was looking at her at the end of TBWWBK … LOL (another episode for another time, I know hahaha).
I love this, so sweet, so sincere, this Lee is so polarly different than the Lee we met in “The First Time”, it took him long enough, but now he can finally admit that he needs Amanda, not only professionally, but personally and emotionally as well … AWESOME! It is the relationship and the chemistry BTW the characters (and the actors too! because you can tell they both really do get on well IRL, you just can’t fake or “act” this kind of chemistry).
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Oh for sure!!!! I agree!! 🙂 You can chat about that tag it’s okay Norma we’ve already walked through it so it’s no spoiling. but then, if you want others to catch your comments about that tag then yeah good to add comments to that blog post so they can be found and enjoyed 🙂
I loved Norma how you described Lee as needing Amanda professionally, personally and emotionally. The ’emotionally’ was very powerful to me.. as here
Amanda’s presence is helping Lee to manage his emotions and get on with the job that must be done. thanks for sharing!
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Favorite scene in the episode. I went ahead and watched the entire episode about a week ago and completely forgot about this moment until I saw it. Can these two get any more smitten? Well, yes, I’m sure they can. I just love it! 😀 What I find most interesting is how obvious it is coming from Lee. I think she may be figuring out what’s acceptable in work company (hard to do when Lee’s looking at her that way).
I like this, Iwsod. 🙂 Especially the entrusting emotions to another. Amanda is definitely smiling and even a little giddy. Does laughing gleefully on the inside count? The flying just made me think of mile high club. lol…Okay, a little too soon. I’ll leave these two on their airplane and I’ll go hide in the gutter. 😉
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Uh oh… this sounds ominous! Let’s see if there is other things to like in this ep! I’m trying to keep my eyes open and hoping those of us who love this ep will help!
I have to say though, IF this scene is as good as this ep gets – then the ep is worth watching!! 🙂
Thanks Sara!
LOL… yeah too soon! 🙂 but.. well there was loads of sexual tension so I could see why your mind could head in that direction!
I was thinking of a child’s doll flying across the room laughing… and Lee not wearing his seatbelt and them hitting severe turbulence in the spy plane – Lee flying across the cabin: Not laughing! 😉
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Move over Sara, I’ll join your gutter mind. 😜
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Phew! Glad there are no right or wrong answers 😉 I do think they are equally important to Amanda. Given that she is a divorcee who is the only breadwinner for her family, I think it is very important to her that she be able to succeed professionally such that her family can maintain their standard of living. We’ve witnessed from time to time in episodes her money woes, and there is always a sense that there isn’t extra money very often for splurges. Given this combined with the increasing numbers of women who were entering the workforce in the 80s, I think Amanda wants to be valued as a professional by Lee.
Could she have a romantic relationship without him needing her professionally? Possibly is my answer. I think Amanda wants both – mostly because she knows he needs her or that she makes him better. She is the jam in his pb&j. A peanut butter sandwich is okay, but it is so much better with jam (or marshmallow fluff if you are like Dotty). Because Amanda knows this, I think she would not fully fall for him in the way that wants (needs?) to without his admission to her that he too knows this. I think she may start a romantic relationship with him without this admission, thinking it would probably come, but if it didn’t somewhere along the line, I could see it being an issue between them that could threaten the relationship if Lee would never see/admit it.
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me too! 🙂
Your point about Amanda providing for her family through her professional life is an excellent one IMHO BJo! I had not considered that! sooo true!
that’s Shakespeare! 🙂 I love it! haaaaaa…
good call!
enjoyed hearing your take on things BJo, interesting to ponder what it would be like if Lee hadn’t come to fully accept Amanda professionally!
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Oh GAWD – those headbands! I had forgotten how ‘special’ they were. I would say something about the other screen caps but I keep forgetting to breathe and sort of pass out. * fans self *
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rofl! Headbands? are you okay Cindy??? Ciiiiindy!!! 🙂
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All I know if Lee Stetson kept looking at my lips like that I would be a goner.
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