Moving on with this episode from that oh so swoony Lee and Amanda scene… We see a vista of Washington DC..
Looks like it’s winter..?
We then see an exterior of IFF. Not winter..
We find Billy sitting on his sofa in his office, listening to something with headphones. 
Francine enters.
[What do the fashion police make of this little nonsemble? Who was it that labelled this the flight attendant look? IMHO you nailed it! 🙂 ]
Francine: Billy, here’s the material on Food for Flight. It doesn’t look like-
(Francine realises Billy isn’t listening)
… Billy? 
(Billy looks up.. )
Billy: Wrap me up in barbwire, show me your love 
Francine: What? 
Billy: Slip your arms around me like a heavy metal glove 
Francine: Heh, Billy, what are you talking about? 
[rofl! I’m so glad that not for a second do we the audience think this is Billy coming on to Francine!]
Billy: I don’t know… [whaaaahahahahaaa!!!]
…I know I’m a little older. I understand that tastes change.
Francine: Heh? 
Billy: But this…
…Randall Skylar’s latest album…
(He gives Francine the headphones for her to have a listen) [80s headphones! ahhh those were the days!]
…The man who’s behind Food for Flight. 
Francine (loudly over the music): Oh, right. “Barbwire Love”. Yeah. Single sold 13 million copies. The album is double-platinum. It’s gonna go triple. 
Billy: People pay money for this? [rofl!!! Billy is so funny in this scene!] 
Francine: Lots of it. Skylar has already made $10 million and he has donated a dollar for every album sold to Food for Flight. [that’s 13 million dollars! Hmmm what’s going on with this math??!! ]
Billy: So this thing is legit? [define legit 
]
Francine: Well, on paper it looks like one of the most effective relief organizations around. Here,..
(Francine hands over the dossier)
…Skylar is the face for the group. But there’s a woman named Pam Jentry. She’s the brains behind the administration and PR… [Aha! so we have a guy heading the organisation, but a woman is really running the show.. hmm.. could this relate to the three spies and their assistants set up?! I guess we’ll see..]
…She’s put together a team of assistants. They’re mostly veterans from other aid efforts. Nobody is making a lot of money on this. And a matter of fact, uh, most of the workers are volunteers… 
…All in all, it’s pretty impressive. 
Billy: And big.
Francine: Hmmm…
Billy: It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack with one arm tied behind you. Why don’t they just let us do our job without tip toeing around? We’d probably get to the bottom of this thing…
[Me confused. Who isn’t letting them do their job? who is requiring they tip toe?! Is the mission top secret and they can’t question anyone? I don’t get it… help? ]
(the phone rings)
..Melrose here…
(Billy stands up- whooo it’s someone important. Or his domineering uncle. Oh wait.. that’s Lee!) 
…Yes sir… (Billy listens)
…We have the agents in place, sir, and we’re doing everything accor- (Billy listens)
… I see…(Billy listens)
…Yes sir, I understand. That does complicate things… (Billy listens)
[My goodness.. lots of Billy listening.. I guess this is to up the tension. what’s the spanner in the works?! ]
…Yes sir…I will…Well, thank you, sir. 
(Billy hangs up)
…That was the President…
…He just put a lot more powder in our powder keg. Get Lee and Amanda. 
Oh my gosh!!! what’s happened??!!! What does this mean!!! gahh!!! the suspense is killing me!!!
(Francine does as she’s told.. she’s not so anxious to find out this latest development!). 
Billy is thoughtful, and waits for Francine to leave the room. 
He then picks up the headphones to listen to some more Barbwire love! rofl! 
Oh rofl! He then proceeds to start bopping! rofl!!! Billy the bopper he is!! 
Whahahahaaaaaa!!!!
The scene ends here.. and we cut to the plane touching down on the runway. 
The team to find the detonators are all seated together. Maybe now they are in LA I’ll get to see the Hollywood sign
Lee: All right. Let’s go then.
They all get up to leave, except Petrovich who is in conversation with Nadine, he finishes what he was saying to her and also gets up. 
Nadine stays put.
Looks like Petrovich and Lee have changed into something more comfortable (and ugly!).
Amanda notices Nadine and pulls up Lee by the arm- getting him to stay behind a second.
Amanda: We seem to be leaving somebody behind. 
Lee: Petrovich!
[I think this might be sacrilege, but.. I can’t stand this outfit on Lee!!! even if he is in jeans!!! These jeans are awful! Is it just me?!]
Petrovich: Yes?
Lee: What’s going on here? 
Petrovich: She’s going to stay here to file a report to Moscow. 
[is it just me or does Chang look mighty fine?!]
Amanda reacts with an ‘ohhhh’ 🙂
Lee reacts with suspicion.
[Iwsod reacts to that awful outfit! That jacket??!!!! that shirt!!!! those jeans. Oh nooo!!! Iwsod’s been given a big Kapow!!]
Chang and Jin Sung share a look, and he motions with his head for her to stay behind too. Which she acts on immediately. She walks by Petrovich back to the table.
Jin Sung: Excuse me. (to Lee and Amanda to let her pass)
Lee: And where is she going? 
Chang: She’ll stay also to complete some paper work. 
Petrovich: You don’t trust me. [duh!]
Chang: No, I don’t…
…But it is not a unique distrust…
(Chang looks at Lee) …I suspect all of you. 
Grrrrrr!!! Checkmate Petrovich and Lee! lol.
Amanda interjects..
Amanda: Excuse me. I have an idea. Why don’t I stay here…
…and then the three of us can stay and three of us can go?..
…Then there’ll be a balance…
(Petrovich and Chang don’t respond. you can’t tell an American she has a good idea ) 
Amanda just decides for herself: … It’s a good idea.
She turns without waiting for a response. LOL. go Amanda.
Lee: Yeah!
Lee gives Amanda a response, without taking his eyes off the other two!
We see the three little spies leave. Oh my we get quite the view of Lee from ‘behind’ umm..
I am guessing at the time, these jeans must have been hunk clothing. Umm.. but err they ruin the view for me! That should be a crime!!!
Off to Beverly Hills! 
I guess we now get shots of LA streets and it really is suppose to be LA now haaaa. 
We see an exterior shot of a mansion. 
It’s incredible how little I remember of this episode! But.. this mansion does look familiar.. has it been the exterior of something else? I should have kept a folder of all exterior shots by episode so I could compare! But.. I didn’t!
We find the three little spies being shown in by a babe.. 
Petrovich: Bourgeois decadence. [eyeroll.. so cliché!]
Chang: Capitalist excess [Love the manbag Chang!]
Lee: And good ol’ American rock ‘n’ roll. The guy behind this Food for Flight is Randall Skylar, one of the legends in American music. And this is what you get when you come a legend. 
[ahhh stereotypes! Communists despising wealth, and an American defending it. Just once I’d love to see an American agree this is decadence! or have a Russian admit Americans have good music . I guess it all underlines that different cultures define ‘success’ differently – but, so do different individuals within a culture. At least all three can agree ‘success’ would be finding the detonators!?]
Petrovich: “Barbwire Love” 
Lee: Yeah, that was his double-platinum. Don’t tell me you’ve heard this stuff? 
Petrovich: He appeared in Moscow once. I read a newspaper report on the performance. Disgusting. 
Lee: It’s sold 10 million copies… [Therefore it’s not disgusting?! I think something can be both disgusting and popular! ] …Ask around you know you may find a bootlegged version in Moscow. Heh. 
[whoooo Russians secretly loving the ‘disgusting’ American music huh.. another cliché! My goodness I’m in a mood. It’s that flippin awful outfit! I wouldn’t say it’s ‘disgusting’ but I’m also pretty sure it didn’t sell 10 million copies .. Okay, I’ll comfort myself that Lee is looking gorgeous in the great outdoors. Love to see him outside! whatever the outfit. I’m glad Lee doesn’t seem to care about Petrovich’s tastes
Seems Lee has knocked off 3 million in sales – Francine said it had sold 13 million singles lol.. ]
Petrovich: Hmmm….
Someone calls out to them. But.. this post is big enough. I’m going to pause here for the moment. Anything you’d like to share about this part of the ep? or the ep so far?
"Just walk with me.." 
Okay I guess I’m in the minority, but I love casual Lee with his jackets, jeans, and plaid shirts. Or when he just wears a striped buttondown shirt with no jacket, even a suit jacket or sportcoat. I think he looks even hotter casual than when he’s dressed up.
The communist agents not being able to like the music is more than just a cliche. Western influence is very frowned upon, even if it’s something innocent like the arts. For a long time the Soviets and Chinese didn’t allow any kind of frivolous music, even if it was just a love song. All their operas, etc. had to be about glorifying the state in some way. As recently as 2002 for sure (I don’t know about now), Chinese skaters had to have their music and programs approved and could have to redo a whole program if it was too Westernized. They had to have “Chinese characteristics”. For someone in a position like a government agent, it could be big trouble if they were overheard liking Western music.
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I do love Billy in this scene, I love the way he says those lyrics with that look on his face. And I do like that there is another disconnect pointed out. We sure are getting a lot of those. Cultures, generations, male/female, political ideologies…. etc. And yet we just saw that beautiful connection between Lee and Amanda on the couch. I also like the way Amanda just does what she know she should. And I can’t help seeing her “mom” sense in that one. “That way it will be even.” Moms know instinctively how to settle those “it’s not fair” moments. And Lee makes no exceptions to her plan. Those two are connected…
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Thanks for sharing these thoughts Morley! Always great to hear your take on things!
I’ve been enjoying your SMK binge 🙂 tee hee..
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Me too!
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Funny, your SMK binge seems to have triggered my smk binge 😉
I wonder if my smk binge will trigger someone else’s smk binge 🙂
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Let SMK bingeing abound!!!
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Like I need an excuse!
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“Billy the Bopper”…haha…well he probably does like music since he can play the Sax so well.
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I found the scene with Billy quoting the lyrics to be quite funny. It was his delivery that got me. I crack up every time I see it.
Iwsod, not sure if you planned it, but some of your comments come at hilarious moments. When you first talk about how bad Lee’s jeans are, you ask if it’s just you and then Petrovich’s response is “Yes”. Then when you mention how fine Chang looks, you have Amanda commenting “ohhh”. It made for an interesting read.
I do like Chang’s comment about it not being a unique distrust. He seems to be cooler and calmer than the other two spies, definitely better dressed.
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Just saw that. Too funny! And after Amanda’s “oooohhhh” response to Chang, we have Lee ‘looking suspicious.’
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LOL 😀
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Nope! completely unplanned 🙂 maybe I was subliminally influenced but can’t take any credit for it haaaaa..
A JWWM coincidence! 🙂
I probably wouldn’t attempt to interact too much with the dialogue and bounce of it like this to make gags – as I think it could read as confusing for the reader. I’d make it very obvious that’s what I’m doing, and I’d have to make sure things make sense for the reader without them getting the gag – which is lol maybe more effort that I can put into things at the moment. lol 🙂
However, if your mind works that way – and you see these things, really great to have you share it with us! What a fun little interplay!!! Do share anymore you come across 🙂
rofl. definitely better dressed! 🙂
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Francine’s reaction to this song makes me roll my eyes. I think that she’s not a huge fan or else wouldn’t she have recognized the lyrics from the song instead of thinking Billy might be coming on to her?
Or perhaps in such a bizarrely out-of-context situation, Francine just didn’t realize what Billy was saying?
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Hi 2Goldens, I think you’re right in that this is what the writers planned to convey. I think maybe I have a higher opinion of Francine than the writers and would expect her to realize what’s going on and to not be so enthused about a rock and roll song. I think that Francine’s character in general trends from highly capable and sophisticated spy to be a little more “average” as the show grows in episodes. I wish they didn’t do that. She makes a great foil for Amanda, but I think they could have kept her season 1 character more intact.
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Well … the 80s werent really known for their sleek fashion statements LOL. Is it bad that I think Chang looks the best out of all of them?
About francine not recognizing the lyrics … she might not have been a fan of the artist, and just known the song, if it’s going double, or triple platinum, chances are you couldnt turn on a radio without hearing it, so she might have been familiar with it, but it’s hard sometimes to decipher lyrics when they are spoken, rather than sung … because they take on a different vibe.
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Nope! I agree! 🙂
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Francine’s reaction to this song makes me roll my eyes. I think that she’s not a huge fan or else wouldn’t she have recognized the lyrics from the song instead of thinking Billy might be coming on to her? The lyrics are kinda unique – I would think a fan would immediately pick up on the song given that he has those “huge”, red headphones on his head and is clearly listening to music. It is only after she hears the song that she realizes what he is listening to. Then she goes on to react like it’s a great song and she really enjoys it. It doesn’t fit to me. Seems like she’s trying to pull something off – like being way “cooler” or younger than she really is. Her initial reaction to Billy and then to the song are all just weird to me – I think the writers were maybe just trying to play up Billy here and make him really funny – which they definitely succeeded at! But poor Francine – first that outfit and then those lines….
I think maybe they are having to tiptoe around because they don’t want anyone in the press to know they are investigating Food for Flight in connection with stolen nuclear detonators. If it turns out not to be true, then it could potentially devastate what appears to be on paper a very effective aid relief organization, and the Agency could wind up with a lot of egg on its face. And we wouldn’t want to have to see Lee with egg on his face….
Hahahaha – Billy’s domineering uncle – funny!
Lee’s see=through white jacket looks like half a Tyvek suit to me. Where do they get these outfits??? Amanda looks pretty – if you ignore the humongous shoulder pads and the clashing white on off-white double collar thing. I know it was an 80’s preppy trend to wear two collared shirts like that, but I don’t really care for it.
It’s kind of funny here that Amanda is the one to suggest that she stay behind with the Russian and Chinese woman. I got the feeling that Lee really didn’t want to go out with the two jackals without Amanda – she is his security blanket here after all. But of course, Amanda has to appear to be the level-headed, clear-thinking one – Lee is too wound up and his instincts are screaming at him so he can’t hear his own inside voices telling him that Amanda needs to stay back and that he can handle himself on his own with these two.
Ugh – agree – this conversation here at the mansion is so cliché. And boring.
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Interesting! Now Lee is mixing with the two jackals I don’t sense his intense fear of them.. I almost keep needing to be reminded of it…
LOL yes maybe Lee was hoping Amanda could stay close.. good call!
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I wondered if Lee was having reservations about leaving Amanda alone with what he is concerned might be two jack-gals. But then Amanda made the suggestion herself and he seemed to reluctantly agree that it was a good one.
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Sorry Lee … you know I still love ya LOL.
I dont know about anyone else … but I will be wiling to put up with Lee’s not-always-for-the-better change in wardrobe in lieu of his POSITIVE change in attitude (especially towards Amanda LOL).
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Me too! With his positive new attitude, it doesn’t matter nearly as much what he is wearing. Reminds me of that saying that talks about the fact that you can’t dress up a pig with lipstick or something. In this case, we’re no longer trying to dress a “pig”, we’re dressing a much better man, so we can forgive the grandpa outfit more easily.
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Yep! 🙂
Like … his nice clothes and the importance he placed upon ‘looking good’ in the first part were almost like a … statement to where he was as a person and as a man. Then as his priorities started to change, so did the importance he placed on garments. Of course he still CARED what he wore, but it just … wasnt as important anymore. I think the ‘domestic’ scene in DMLNT was a HUGE flag that what he wanted and what he wanted Amanda to see was changing.
That is my take on it, anyway 🙂
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Hey Norma & BJo,
Beautifully put!
Man that Lee is looking mighty fine in that grandpa outfit!! 🙂
It’s true the clothes can’t diminish the attractiveness of such a man!! 🙂
Now I have visions of a pig wearing lipstick haaa thanks BJo! 🙂
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I’m loving that blue shirt on Lee, but everyone knows that my fashion “sense” never got out of the early 80’s…. and the checked may-not-be-flannel-but-looks-like-it look was big then.
The “barbed wire love” scene with Billy and Francine is cute. Yes, it’s very good that we aren’t led to believe that Billy is coming on to Francine (thank you, SMK), but it is fun to watch the thought bounce around Francine’s head! In an episode that seems to be spotlighting cultural gaps and gender gaps, here we are getting a cute picture of another gap, the gap between Billy’s age group and Francine’s. Poor Billy — he’s trying so hard to get it!
I know it’s stereotypical, but I still get a kick out of the Russian and Chinese perspectives on “Barbed Wire Love” and “Food for Flight”, as compared to the American perspective. It’s also interesting to consider how much this has changed in 30 years. One of the reasons I enjoy this episode so much is its many very real glimpses back into 80’s culture.
Also smiling at the 80’s prime time sexy bathing suit — a very tame black one-piece. How times have changed!
Great line by Chang — “But it is not a unique distrust. I suspect all of you.” Well, at least he’s honest, but it sure seems like there is an excess of testosterone in the air. So much male posturing still going on.
Finally, yes, go Amanda! I think you hit the nail on the head, Iwsod. No self-respecting Russian or Chinese man is going to admit that an American woman has a good idea. And there is no point in Amanda waiting for a man to bless her idea. She sees what needs to done and she does it. Girl power!!!
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rofl. your fashion sense is still in the 80’s?! tee hee..
Yeah Lee does look good in blue!
Oh where would smk be without stereotypes! it would probably be a three hour episode! 😉
So agree! and.. I like that these women seem to have some meat on them! Not like these days on tv!
Whoo hoo! Love it Raffie!! 🙂
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“I’m loving that blue shirt on Lee, but everyone knows that my fashion “sense” never got out of the early 80’s…. and the checked may-not-be-flannel-but-looks-like-it look was big then.”
Sure, a deeper color of blue jeans would be nice, but that blue shirt brings out his dreamy eyes. Then the camera places Lee outside against the backdrop of the deep blue winter skies in SoCal … I can only quote the king of “good ol’ American rock ‘n roll” himself: “Well my hands are shaky and my knees are weak, I can’t seem to stand on my own two feet … I’m in love, I’m all shook up! mm mm … mm yeah”
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Oh man, Billy gets me howling every time with this scene. The look on Francine’s face and her delivery of her lines is hysterical.
And yes, I totally agree — Lee’s outfit is offensive and he should remove it immediately. Ha!
And poor Martha Smith. There’s a heck of a lot going on with her outfit.
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I just spat my water out! why didn’t I think of that?! 🙂
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Best idea, Cindy! Rather than spending a night in the fashion prison, he just has to disrobe. 🙂 I will say the shirt isn’t bad. There’s one image from the back of Lee’s jeans that’s decent (or maybe that’s the man and not the jeans.) 😉 That jacket would work better on Amanda. Maybe with one of her casual outfits.
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I agree that the shirt is OK. But the jeans/jacket combo make Lee positively dumpy. There is making Lee look more like a family man vs a playboy, and then there is dumpy, dowdy and grandpa-at-38. He’s crossed over to the later.
Learjet’s fashion rule: the ONLY item a man should wear in white is a shirt. No jackets, trousers (even in the 80s) and (worst of all) underwear. Especially if an impromptu swim may occur in the line of duty…..
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Agreed! Men’s white dress shoes bother me. I know when guys wear all white uniforms, it’s sort of necessary. I still don’t like it.
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Totally agree, but I would suggest that a white undershirt is acceptable. I can’t imagine a man wearing a colored one under a dress shirt. Then again, I can’t imagine a man not wearing an undershirt under a dress shirt. But maybe that is an American thing?
Examining Lee’s outfit more closely, it appears he may not be wearing a white undershirt – unless it is a V-neck. Hmmm….wouldn’t want to be the one responsible for getting the armpit stains out of his shirts….
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I’ve never heard of a man wearing an “undershirt” under a dress shirt (unless it was very cold). If my husband tried that stunt, he’d have to take over the laundry. Two shirts in one wearing? That’s beyond the call of duty!
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My stepfather had that weird habit all his life.
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I never thought I’d see the day.. but.. I agree Learjet – Poor Lee is looking like a dumpy grandpa! eek!!
Can I just put this one down to an 80s context???!!!
rofl at the fashion rule Learjet! what about white socks?
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Ughh, it’s all too hideous to behold.
Francine’s got the dots, she’s got the stripes, she got the plaid, she’s got the solids, she’s got the hair, she’s got the ear-bling – all going on in one train wreck of an outfit.
As for Lee and Amanda… 😯
Well, let’s just say the Fashion Police are officially checking into a Home for the Bewildered for the duration of this episode. 😦
Agree Iwsod, Chang is looking the finest.
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Chang just needs to smile and he’d be almost irresistible.
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Soooo True. He is mighty fine.. 🙂
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Rofl!!!! Hope you are coping okay from these horrors Kiwismh! 🙂
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I’m snort-laughing at the fashion police’s verdict on this one! I think I could cope if Lee would just take off that awful white jacket. The shirt and jeans I could handle.
But seriously, when the three men walk into the party, it’s like Lee and Petrovich lost a bet to Chang so he got to be the only one who looked like he was capable of dressing himself. He looks so hot and they look so dumpy, it’s downright hilarious.
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