17/21 Season Three, Episode 22: All the World’s a Stage–Scarecrow and Mrs King

Cut to the theatre in evening, the marquee sign for Parisian Intrigue. 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002384584
Dotty and the boys are in the audience, the rest of the audience are filling in behind them.
[Hooray. Great to see some more of the family! ]3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002389689
[Where are Jamie’s glasses?!]
Phillip: Grandma, Mom’s not even in the first string.
Dotty: Honey , she’s an understudy, an understudy’s someone who takes over if the actor gets sick. It’s very important.3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002397097
Jamie: This is going to be boring if someone doesn’t get sick. [rofl!]
Phillip: Yeah3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002399699
(Dotty doesn’t reply. She just gives them a look.)3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002401701
[Mon Dieu Mon Dieu! I think she’s inclined to agree with them.. so chooses to say nothing! What do you think?]
Elsewhere in the audience, we find Krutiov watching also..
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002402902
He seems to be consulting his little black note book..
The lights dim and the play starts. 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002407107
Oh rofl. Jamie’s words about it being boring are still ringing in our ears when we start to hear very loud snoring. rofl! For a second I thought it was someone in the audience- already! Then the curtains open.. and the set and cast are revealed..
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002411511
The snoring is a soldier sitting there at the table. haaaaa.
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002416316
[Guys if there is hidden meaning in all this parisian intrigue I’m going to need someone to point it out. I’m not really engaged with it… Hopefully someone will be!]

We then cut back to Billy’s office.
Maria Von Clausen is pacing. lol at the close up on her legs, me thinks the director kinda liked her Winking smile 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002420720
Lee: You could have said anything, Dr. Von Clausen. Blood analysis indicates that he gave you a powerful new psychotrophic that the Russians are calling the déjà vu drug. 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002426126[mon dieu! a French name for a Russian drug.. now that’s psychotrophic Winking smile Speaking of psychotrophic – Aie… IFF doesn’t use drugs. They use stripes!!! Looooots and lots of stripes! everywhere! Stripes! 

Sooo  looks like Lee and Amanda have done nothing all day after Ernie the Camera identified Maria Von Clausen- eh? Oh whatev..] 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002431931
Billy: I’m afraid you’ve been compromised Dr. Von Clausen.
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002432732
Maria: I can’t believe Tony would do this.
Amanda: He was probably pushed pretty hard.
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002437137
[Ah I guess they are assuming this is the work of the brain bender himself.. the assumption seems to be Tony isn’t a bad guy – though how Amanda or IFF know this is anyone’s guess. Can’t Krutiov manipulate bad guys too? I guess Amanda could be defending Tony to comfort Maria to get through this.. ]
Lee: Which is Krutiov’s forte.3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002437337
[And stripes are IFF’s forte! I’m going to nominate Francine’s shoulder pads here for the SMK world record for shoulder pads – okay the stripes make it look wider! lol but only Lee wearing football padding in Sudden Death has been wider! IMHO the reason why Francine was not in a rush to get out of her happy hooker number has been explained 😉 ha! ]
Walter: When I searched him, he was clean!3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002440540
Lee: He could have hidden it anywhere. All you need is one thousandth of a grain of that stuff.3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002443743
This photo above would be a good meme Winking smile
Okay, I can’t resist.. 3
[BTW- Lee and Amanda saw Martinet take the flower reservoir and pour the drug! They aren’t to know it wasn’t the psychotrophic drug and instead the put you out drug!]
Billy: Let’s presume we have a level 9 security breach. Sound the alert Francine… 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002449349
(Francine nods and heads off to sound the alert)
…Lee, you and Amanda go out and round up Martinet and bring him in here…3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002453353 …I’ll work with Walter and get Dr. Von Clausen back under wraps.
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002456956
Amanda: Yes, Sir…  3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002458758
[Ah she looks so sad! Poor Maria, her work must be very important to her for her to put up with this kind of a life! Maybe Walter can comfort her Winking smile tee hee..]
Amanda walks closer to Maria,
[Love how the men close by look away to give them a moment!]
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002460560
Amanda rubs her arm comfortingly
(softly) …He probably had no control over this, Maria.
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002463163
Awh. So in character for Amanda to be sensitive to what Maria may be experiencing right now. This is not the first time Amanda has seen a woman betrayed by the man she loves – she’s hopefully improved on the way she supported Agnes Winking smile [I thought it wasn’t Amanda’s shining moment but I realise others may not agree about this.]
Maria doesn’t respond. [Personally, I think this is cold comfort! But appreciate Amanda trying! Do you think Tony had no control over this?]
Amanda leaves her to it, and heads off with Lee to find Tony.

Back to the theatre and that play!!
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002470370
Soldier: A pig, is it? Am I a pig?..
(We see Dotty and the boys. Riveted. Not. This play needs help asap!)3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002475775
…And am I to take it you think all Germans are pigs?
[Gosh – let me guess.. German TV didn’t air this episode on TV?! or did you change the nationality maybe? Any German viewers able to share their experience?]
Man at the bar: Mon Dieu, mon Dieu3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002477777
Soldier: Shut up, you fool!
(We see a wide shot of the audience.)
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002481381
[Stock footage!! – they actually look amused! Judging by the size of some of those bow ties, I’m guessing 1970s Winking smile )
…Barkeep, another bottle of this swill.
Chanteuse: You’re corruption is complete! Schweinehund!.. 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002488588
(lady throws a drink in the soldier’s face)
…You may as well wear your Schnapps along with your shame!
(the on stage onlookers applaud, and we see one of the ladies turn the photo of Paris from upside down
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002494594
to right way up.)
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002496396
[Wasn’t this the point where the Chanteuse was suppose to break a sugar glass bottle over his head?]
Man at bar: Mon Dieu, mon Dieu
Soldier (we hear in the background): Make him shut up about his God! His God. His God that kill that poor imbecile.3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002500800
(We see the back of Lee and Amanda making their way through the audience, and to the back of the theatre)
[They must have sped to the theatre! Phew. Good thing Dotty and the boys didn’t see!! I guess they are watching the stage, not the audience.. so this kinda makes sense.]
(Krutiov the krusty comb over spots Lee and Amanda)3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002502135
Barkeep on stage(in the background): Careful, Fritz. These customers of mine could happily slit your gullet and throw you in the cellar.
[Are we sure that Krutiov’s dialogue wasn’t better than this??!!! Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!]3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002503937(Krutiov whispers something to the person next to him.)
[I guess this is Mischa the 2nd.]3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_002504137
(Krutiov & Mischa2 get up and make their way toward where Lee and Amanda were headed.)
Soldier (in the background): They can scour the city for me. They’ll kill a hundred of you for one of us they miss.
Chanteuse (in the background): A bargain!

Okay, I’m going to pause here for the moment. Is it just me or is the loud over the top dialogue in the background kind of annoying? Mon Dieu! Any thoughts you’d like to share before we continue?

56 thoughts on “17/21 Season Three, Episode 22: All the World’s a Stage–Scarecrow and Mrs King”

  2. Iwsod, it’s so late I can’t cackle or everyone in my house will wake up, so I had to stifle my belly laughs into a whisper at your attack on stripes and Francine’s shoulder pads. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

    Also, Billy’s lines. Here he says:
    Let’s presume we have a level 9 security breach.
    Has anyone ever researched and complied all of the many levels of breaches and security alerts!?!?! Does one ever get used twice? Bless his heart! Being section chief would have to require memorizing a dictionary’s worth of those breaches and alerts and manhunt codes!

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  3. And a quick thought about the dialogue from the play… A pig is it? Am I a pig… Your corruption is complete schweinhunde! Is this not what we are asking about Tony Martinet??

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  4. “… the assumption seems to be Tony isn’t a bad guy – though how Amanda or IFF know this is anyone’s guess.”

    Not commenting on the right or wrong of it, but Amanda has quite a high regard for Tony Martinet the playwright; so, why wouldn’t that influence her impression of Tony Martinet the man?

    The Agency operatives see evil and treachery so often, perhaps they judge it by degree and outcome. Tony Martinet does not have a previous record of aiding and abetting treason against his nation and, to counterbalance his role in compromising S.D.I., the breach has been discovered in time to foil Krutiov.

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  5. I think she’s inclined to agree with them.. so chooses to say nothing! What do you think?

    Totally agree! At least that is what I do when I agree with a comment by my kids but as a parent am not “allowed” to let them know that! Lol

    Oh, that shoulder pad meme is priceless!!!! ROFLMBO!!

    I must say that I’m a little disappointed we don’t see any anger from Maria here. I guess she’s in shock poor thing. I guess the anger will come later. Perhaps she’ll get a chance to throw a drink in Tony’s face in the future if Lee and Amanda bring him into the Agency for questioning.

    Do you think Tony had no control over this?

    I think the point of Krutiov being the puppet master is that he can control people with his psychological equations and words. I’ve always thought that Tony was being manipulated by Krutiov through Valentine whom (hope that’s right, Morse) Krutiov was also manipulating. But I think Krutiov can only go so far. Tony knows what he is doing is wrong, as does Valentine. And Tony tried to force a different outcome than Valentine planned for when he recorded the tape onto his answering machine. So Tony does seem to have some level of control. Perhaps he would not if he had interacted with Krutiov directly?

    I don’t know, this whole pupper master thing is quite weak IMHO. It just seems like lots of standard blackmail if you ask me. I don’t think it matters what color pants Valentine wears.

    In that old audience screen shot, the woman in the bottom left wearing the black dress and tiara (?) looks like Joan Collins – lol.

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    1. haaaa thanks glad you liked the shoulder pads meme. I had to get it out! 😉

      It’s like the massive earbuttons of season 2 have been replaced with massive football shoulder pads!

      Enjoyed hearing your thoughts on Tony. Yeah I think Tony trying to take back some control was not forseen by Krutiov.. I think he decided to take back some control once they started threatening his life and Maria’s. But even in that, I think he was valuing the play equally or more than Maria’s and his safety..

      I quite like the whole Krutiov being a master manipulator story line! But then, I find the psychology of it fascinating.
      I think where Krutiov’s methods are a little different to you our garden variety blackmail is that he is much more subtle.. he seems to set people up emotionally and psychologically so they are then less able to resist the blackmail. It’s a psychological form of persuasion rather than an ultimatum – though Krutiov uses that eventually…
      If Tony had been approached by Krutiov when doing his little community theatre gig, and told if he drugged his girlfriend and committed treason, he could then get funding for his big come back play- Martinet would have run a mile I think. It’s a persuasion technique – I think it’s called the foot in the door technique- You get someone to agree to something small.. then something just a little bit bigger.. and so on.. until you are asking for something so big that – had you asked for it initially the person would have told you no!

      The first scene with Valentine and Martinet, where Martinet is worried about the backers wanting to make changes to the script and Valentine fixes it – saying ‘leave everything to me!’ – It is all part of the manipulation of Tony.. something small happens, and Martinet relies on Valentine and trusts him to fix it. And.. it briefly seems he has..

      I think Krutiov wants to create the illusion that his ‘victim’ has no control over the situation because Krutiov is so clever – but this is just an illusion.. [I think this is Krutiov’s little performance when ‘all the world’s a stage’]

      When Krutiov mentions how Valentine always walks with his left hand in his pocket, and tells him to wear his blue suit – I think neither of these things mean anything in themselves, but they are a way to convince Valentine that Krutiov is omniscient, and it’s a way to control Valentine – It’s all mind games.

      rofl Joan Collins?

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  6. From Maria’s reaction I can see a bit more of how deeply she felt about this relationship. It’s obvious that she works a great deal and the fact that she has a security detail shows how important the work is. She didn’t have a normal relationship with Tony and only stolen moments, and those moments had to be planned down to the last detail. To find out that you have been compromised and most likely used most likely by the man you love, is a horrible and devastating feeling.

    Amanda is a very empathetic person. She understands what Maria must be feeling and was trying to ease some of her distress. At what point could Tony have said something to someone or even Maria? The excuse is that he was pushed and had no control. If that is the case then I can understand the “puppet master” description. The big question is whether or not Maria is willing to accept and forgive that excuse.

    I love how Phillip uses a sports reference to Amanda’s role. The shoulder pad meme is awesome.

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    1. I like what you say here, valeriejw, especially the first paragraph. Devastating is a very good word for it. It makes me less disappointed that we see no anger or fight from her here. It is too early.

      I wonder how much Amanda’s empathy here is now shaped by her job as a spy. For three years now she’s watched as people have been manipulated romantically to get secrets. She’s done it herself. I think she knows first hand how people can be easily manipulated and how a person can do the manipulating if they are being forced to by a bad person or as part of a job.

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  7. Ok, I’m going to play Devil’s Advocate regarding Amanda’s attempt at comforting Maria. She is aware (while Maria is not) that Tony was subjected to extreme manipulation by the “great” mind-bender Krutiov; consequently, she feels compelled to suggest he had no control over his conduct. National security prevents the provision of more details but perhaps, if and when Maria talks with Martinet again, she might be inclined to listen to what he has to say and what was a sweet romance might be saved. Betrayal always hurts but you might get past it easier if coercion was involved. Heck, coercion is a defense in criminal cases in my neck of the woods. Calling Dr Star Wars by her first name just made the comfort more personal, more woman-to-woman. Or, perhaps it was less about comfort and more about making her feel less like a fool. Can’t save her heart but maybe she can save a little face…

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  8. I have no clue about what the play means nor have I applied my mind to trying to understand it, but I just love the whole hilarious over-the-topness of it. It is actually one of my favourite scenes. I’m really not sure why. I also love Dotty and the boys’ facial expressions, whinging and comments on it (so normal a portrayal of family life; love those moments on SMK)

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    1. I have no clue about what the play means nor have I applied my mind to trying to understand it,

      +1!

      but I just love the whole hilarious over-the-topness of it. It is actually one of my favourite scenes. I’m really not sure why.

      -1!
      Thanks for sharing you love this Learjet, I need to take another look at this scene, and just sit back and enjoy, not analyse, not be writing blog posts.. I think I’ve lost the fun in it through the process of putting together blog posts and starting and stopping! I’m missing out!
      I usually love a bit of farce! 😉

      I also love Dotty and the boys’ facial expressions, whinging and comments on it (so normal a portrayal of family life; love those moments on SMK)

      +1 again! 🙂

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      1. Agree completely with your +1s and -1s, iwsod. I would like to throw a drink at that soldier and the screaming chanteuse. Both of their voices are so loud and like nails on a chalkboard to me. Dotty and the kids are the best part of these play scenes in this post.

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  9. Would be interesting to hear from our German readers re this dialogue (dialog, for you Americans). Although the word “Germans” is mentioned, I think it is understood that Nazis, or the Nazi ideology is what is being attacked here. The German occupiers are simply the tangible representation of this,and this is what the play is trying to convey. Plus, the resentment of the French towards the occupiers is very real. Yes, it would be worth a 100 lives to get rid of one German (Nazi).
    Mon Dieu, mon Dieu. Like it or not, my deciphering of these neo-absurdist scene is that pleas to God (whatever one you believe in) won’t make a blind bit of difference to the the upside down, topsy turvy, murderous world at war – hence the continually spinning picture. The “Mon Dieu, mon Dieu” guy at the end of the counter is representative of inertia, inaction and a blind hope that without doing anything something will change. He is useless to the French cause and an inconsequential nuisance to the Germans.
    Your comments, Iwsod, reminded me of an episode of Fawlty Towers where a group of German tourists were staying at the Towers. Basil was his usual bumbling, over the top self. “Don’t mention the war. I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it, all right.” 😀 That line never gets old.

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    1. I like these ideas about this play. And then, of course my brain has to apply this to what it might be suggesting about our favorites, Lee and Amanda. Blind hopes, inaction are no longer useful or tolerated. And all this also in light of what has just transpired between Tony and Maria, betrayal and political access through an intimate relationship. Maybe we are all supposed to feel as though things are desperate and bleak unless they can break through. Was that embrace after the fight enough??? will they ever get ( or take) their break? I don’t know if that is what TPTB were suggesting, but why not play with it?

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    2. My DVD has this episode in German so I am assuming it was shown on German TV? I have all 4 seasons of SMK on DVD with 9 Episodes not dubbed into German, with the comment that they were not broadcast on German TV.
      I watched the episode again in German and the translation is Ok, and you get the feeling the play dialog is absurd so it fits into the background while Amanda and Lee do their thing. I will not attempt to open the ‘Barn Door’ on the what the play is trying to convey in regards to French Mon Dieu, Mon Dieu and the German(Nazi) thing.
      Oh yeah, the shots of the audience, looked an audience from an early Mel Brooks film.

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      1. Where did you get the German language episodes? Are you in Germany, or are they available elsewhere?

        I haven’t been following this episode well since I’ve had so many other things going on lately, but we’re getting closer to my favorite parts!

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        1. Hi Jesress, BJo here. Not sure why your comments went into moderation, perhaps iwsod can shed some light. Perhaps you signed on using a different email? Either way, it shouldn’t happen again now that I’ve approved these. Glad to see you on the blog! 😀

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          1. Yes I think Jestress was signing in with a different email. Thanks for approving Jestress’ comments – and welcome back Jestress! Have missed hearing from ya!

            Hi everyone!

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            1. I didn’t think I changed e-mails, but things have been a little buggy since I started using that one for my book blog. Actually, blogs, now that I think of it.

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              1. LOL this one went to moderation. I can see you are using a wordpress address of some kind to log in.. If you are consistent you will have no troubles is in future once a comment from an email or wordpress account has been approved 🙂

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        2. I live in Germany(30 years now) and I bought all 4 DVD sets in Germany. 2 from Saturn, the other 2 from Amazon(am I allowed to write that?).

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          1. (am I allowed to write that?).

            Absolutely! Short deviations from the blog post we can manage.. just keep in mind that longer deviations/off topic explorations should head over the Nedlindgers for further discussion.
            i.e. should people wish to have an ongoing discussion of dvds, languages, regions – it would be best if someone created a thread at Nedlindgers for people to discuss it – then shared the link to it here to tell people to head over there for chatter about it.
            That way, JWWM stays reasonably on track, and fabulous unrelated to blog post conversations can continue 🙂

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        3. I actually have the German language episodes. I ordered them on ebay as it was easier to get them that way at the time than at home….!

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      2. Thanks for sharing this Donald – really interesting! I was curious!
        Oh and I so agree about not wishing to open the ‘barn door’ 🙂 I started wondering about the man at the bar with his Mon Dieu, Mon Dieu – but he seems ‘neutral’ – aha. so what country does this represent??!!! And then I though. Hmm nah don’t want to go there!! 🙂
        Others can go there if they like though of course 🙂

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    3. Sorry, I’m a little late to this part of the party – I’ve been out of town for several days, so I had no time to rewatch the German version ’till today.

      We usually don’t have any problems dealing with our past, so the Nazi-Theme isn’t an issue we try to avoid. So, yes, for all who wonder about it, this episode was shown in German TV back in the 80’s.
      The dubbing of the stage scene is quite ok. At least at lot better than the interview scene between Tony Martinet and Amanda I mentioned some posts earlier.

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    4. Great comment, kiwismh – helps me to understand somewhat the whole point of this absurd play.

      On another note, we Americans spell it dialogue too. At least that is how I’ve only ever spelled it.

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  10. LOL
    Did they ran out on ‘I’s at the marquee sign for Parisian Intrigue?

    The left sign reads ‘Parisian Intr gue’. I already noticed it the last time we saw it, but we already went on to the next scene when I noticed it, so I thought I’ll wait till it would come again.

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        2. You bet! It’s in keeping with the theme, right? What beautifully offsets the absurd is the scriptwriters calling the theater The BEVERLY, knowing Beverly Garland would be in the audience playing her role. She’s a gem!

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    3. What an eye for detail! I missed that but did notice how the outfits that both Maria and Walter are wearing during the meeting at IFF are the same ones in the picture that the angry Russian guy showed of them at the start of the episode.

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      1. Whahahahaaaa Joey you also have a great eye for detail! 🙂
        Hey everyone, I think Joey has joined us down the rabbit hole!! Welcome welcome Joey! Someone pass Joey some chocolate 😉

        Krutiov is truly a powerful man of great insight – and now we know why he is able to predict behaviour and manipulate people: Krutiov can travel through time!!!!!!!! 🙂 Now that’s a brain bender 😉

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    4. LOL, I always figured that was done to look more authentic, like a letter had fallen off. But now that you mention it, there are a lot of “i”s in the title and they may very well have run short. Isn’t that when one finds a number “1” and inverts it instead?

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  11. I know Amanda is supposed to be the empathetic supportive one – but I’m still surprised she’s already on a first name basis with Maria – surely they only met in the last few minutes? Way to reduce the scholarly female professional to downtrodden victim of romance.

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    1. I guess that’s one way it could be viewed, I didn’t think about that – so interesting to ponder!
      I figured it was just one woman speaking to another and given my own culture is quite informal with the names – I didn’t notice the first name basis! But.. I may have noticed had Maria been in a military uniform and high ranking.. so maybe I should have noticed! I mean she is the boss of the star wars program!

      I do think comforting someone by saying – gee your boyfriend drugged you and committed treason- He must have been leaned on pretty hard to do that – is very cold comfort! He did it! How hard he was leaned on is likely irrelevant to Maria!

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    2. Haha! I never thought of that either! But I think you are right! Why is she using her first name here?? It is weird that she’s not using Dr. Van Clausen here! Now that you’ve pointed this out, I don’t like it!! lol

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    3. I suspect a deliberate script change because offering sincere consolation is better done on a personal level. If done on a professional level, it often just seems, well, scripted.

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      1. hiya Raffie! wonderful to see you are catching up on ATWAS! 🙂 Look forward to hearing your thoughts on the ep as a whole.. and.. that ending! 🙂

        Good timing.. as it’s likely we’ll be starting Season 4 in the next couple of weeks! 🙂

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  12. love that meme!
    I am not sure if I can extrapolate anything from this play’s dialogue, but I’ll give it a look in a bit and see…

    Poor Maria. And I like the way the actress played this. She looks so forlorn. I wonder if Amanda’s attempt at comfort isn’t a bit more informed by what she has learned about being in relationship with someone at this level of the international scheme. Not that she has real first hand experience… yet. But I bet she knows a bit more now than she dd back then when poor Agnes had her own experience. Maybe she has learned more about what patience and love have to do with each other when international espionage is at play… or hoping to understand how it all comes to play.

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    1. Please do Morley! I’m pretty uninspired by this play.. it’s all very clever and all. I don’t know why but it’s kind of wearing thin rather than being funny or interesting. I don’t think I felt that the first time I saw it.. but maybe repeat viewings of the absurdity is either loved or loathed…

      Loved to hear your thoughts- I also thought Maria’s reaction was well played.. Kind of answers my questions about whether this was genuine – then again, maybe she is so forlorn because of the risk to her program and her country 😉 haaaa.. but Amanda seems to know that her reaction here is because of her feelings for Tony – so I’ll go with Amanda’s insight, as she tends to be on the money and a bit of a lampshade for the audience when it comes to understanding guest stars.

      Yes at this point, Amanda has seen what the heartbreak in the spy biz can be like – and I like that she offers comfort to Maria, but isn’t all super motherly (I think!) – will you be okay? can I make you a cup of tea?! No, she leaves all that to others- Amanda has a job to do! 🙂

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      1. I am sure a huge part of Maria’s pain has to do with the despair that her position might never allow her to have an intimate personal relationship. Will they ever really love her or will they only ever be trying to use her? I wonder if any of that type of thinking might also shed some light on what Amanda was trying to say and if any of this sheds any light on thoughts that Lee and Amanda have had, are having, fears that they have or have had…

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    2. I wish they hadn’t cut Lee out of that scene. I see him at the door of Billy’s office and he is watching Amanda go to Maria. I wonder what his expression would have been as he watched their conversation?

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So what do you think??? :)

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