Back with some more SMKy goodness!!!! Post 7, and we are 20 minutes into this episode!! 
I kinda like this pace! Thoughts anyone?
On to suburbia, and Dotty is fussing and trying to put newspapers under Amanda’s feet.) [lol. It’s water big deal.]
Dotty: I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how untoward this looks, dear.
[So judgy judgy.. Get used to it! I adore Dotty but this Dotty? not so much..]
Amanda: No, Mother, you, you don’t.
(Dotty turns away and Amanda unrolls some paper towel and feeds it to Lee through the open window. 
LOL he’s hiding in her bushes… probably shivering… he’s having a great day!)
Dotty: I can’t imagine the kind of people that belong to this club of yours. What kind of a club did you say that was again?
(Lee gestures for more towels. Amanda gives him some more.)
Amanda: Uh, marine life, Mother. To save the clams. (whispers:) Get off the tulips!
(Dotty turns around again, just as Amanda finishes unrolling the paper towels… 
…Amanda jerks her head back in the window.)
[Okay, I think Dotty should have seen this rofl. I’m going to pretend Dotty knows something is up already and is choosing not to comment and play along.
Maybe Dotty is an agent too. It’s not like she could tell Amanda haaaaaa.]
Dotty: I didn’t know clams were an endangered species…
(Amanda shrugs, then walks into the dining room. Lee shivers behind the bush and sneezes.) 
[The above capture is flippin hilarious!!!!!]
…Gesundheit.
(Suddenly she looks up, realizing that Amanda left the room. 
No no it’s okay, Amanda’s right behind her! phew.
Amanda approaches Dotty clearly stressing, but completely overlooked by Dotty rofl.)
Amanda: Mother, where is it?
Dotty: Where is what? You know, you missed Dean’s call.
[Ugh. I’m not a fan of Dotty lecturing Amanda.. glad this eases off as the show progresses!!]
Amanda: The package that I left on the dining room table.
Dotty: I mailed it… 
(cue a quick glimpse of horrified Lee hearing this all from the bushes.) 
…Did you track water out there?
(Dotty goes to check for footprints. Amanda walks slowly over him.)
Amanda: I hadn’t heard from you, didn’t know who you were, 
[Lee is too funny here, he looks like he has lost all language ability!] 
…didn’t know what it was, so I thought I would send it to a nice, safe place.
(Dotty enters. Amanda whirls away from the window.)
Dotty: After all, you had it all wrapped up to send to Aunt Minnie in Maine, so I tried to help you. I don’t drive, Amanda, so it was no picnic.
(Dotty leaves.
Amanda also seems quite stunned at this turn of events!!!
she smiles and fortifies herself to turn and face Lee at the window.. Lee’s head pops up into view. Amanda turns and faces him.)
[Does anyone find Dotty funny here? I wonder if I have in previous viewings, I can’t remember. I’m just finding her annoying in this viewing, and boo hooo it wasn’t a picnic. No one asked you to do it. Hear that violin playing??]
Lee: Is this the dumb thing you almost did that would have made me laugh?
(Yup. Basically Lee… 
Only now no one is laughing.. )
Next thing, we see Billy in his office.
[lol the transcript says this is Billy’s bedroom and I can see why – soooo many toys in people’s offices at IFF in the pilot! haaaaaa. 
Seems this early Billy is a bit of a train buff,
no actually more of an indiscriminate transportation buff!
Oh and a casual dresser!]
Billy: Let me repeat back your suggestion. You’d like me to call the postmaster, ask him to get out of bed, go downtown, open the post office, and let you go rummaging around through a couple of bags of mail, is that fairly accurate?
Lee (back in Amanda’s shrubbery): Yeah.
Billy: Are you by any chance aware that the limousine that you wrecked today belongs to the assistant to the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff?… [uh oh. the level of doo doo Lee is in just got even deeper!! Billy is not okay with this, he is so not okay with this he sounds like he’s okay with this and is about to burst with how not okay he is with this. Rofl.]
…And that I have been here all evening explaining that the joy-riding gigolo who totalled his car was one of my men?
[Joy riding gigolo. Oh that’s gold!]
Lee: I was working, Billy.
Billy: In a tuxedo?!!!!!!!
[I love this line!!! haaaaa. It’s SMK at it’s best isn’t it!!!! ]
…No, Stetson, I will not call the postmaster, because agents under suspension have no business going through other people’s mail.
Lee (laughing): Gee, Billy, you’re not saying I’m suspended??
(We cut to outside the post office. Amanda is standing over Lee, holding a flashlight. Lee is working at the lock on the door.)
[Whoooo Lee has that jacket on that he was wearing in all the promo photos. Amanda’s redone her hair too.
I note that for me, this is the first time Amanda has seen Lee not wearing a costume of some kind – waiter, pirate, tuxedo wearing gigolo – they were all covers…
This is the real Lee Stetson!! finally!!!
And… they’re breaking into the PO! haaaaa]
Amanda: You’re suspended?!
Lee: A temporary setback.
Amanda: Isn’t this illegal?
(Lee finishes on the lock. He stands up and opens the door.)
Lee: Yes. Come on.
Amanda: Ohh whooooo..
[First episode and already Lee has Amanda breaking laws 😉 and she does it. Hmmm I vaguely remember something about Amanda being a rule follower. well… she’s following Lee here, not the rules! ] 
Lee: Go on.
[Aha! this shot of Lee with the torch is in the opening credits!!!
In response to earlier the comments from Macca the dog, and 80’s girl – yep I agree!! There are moments in the credits that are not included in episodes!!!! but I guess this is not one of them 
Maybe we can come back to this at the end of the episode if someone could remind us please? I may forget! Someone want write a blog post about it? go for it! Sorry I digress.]
(The torches illuminate a room full of parcels. In a shambles.
Amanda shines it on her watch.)
Amanda: We’ve been here three hours.
(Claudia commented: Apparently time flies when you’re having fun.)
[I’m thinking – why are you not wearing gloves? you guys have touched every one of those packages, and you don’t seem to be going for the leave everything as you found it approach!!]
…I don’t think we’re ever going to find your package.
(Lee stands up from behind a pile, shining his flashlight on a package.)
Lee: You wrapped the lousy thing. I was sure you would spot it. 
[Lee’s wearing his cranky pants.]
..They must have gotten here before we did.
Amanda: Who? [oh rofl. neckieh, your comment on the previous post about Amanda’s who sounding like an owl was gold! so funny!!]
Voice: Hold it.
(Amanda gasps. Whoever belongs to the voice shines a light in Amanda and Lee’s faces.)
…Don’t move.
[I love how Amanda instinctively moves back closer to Lee when they’re discovered. awh. like she instinctively trusts him to look after her underneath all his gruff. Even when wearing his cranky pants
And he has his arm wrapped right around her. awh..]
Next thing we are back at IFF. Billy is yelling at Lee, 
lol while people walk around? this is just weird!)
Billy: If you just hadn’t broken into that post office . . .
(We see Amanda watching through the window, out in the corridor. She looks nervous for Lee’s sake.. and she turns to walk around and reveals Francine is sitting patiently in a chair outside the Internal Affairs Section. Francine doesn’t seem to be concerned for Lee one bit. Cool as a cucumber.)
Amanda: So, do you like this work? 
(Francine looks up from her ‘Mideast’ magazine. Then she looks back down again.)
[Rude!!!! and yep this is in the open credits, Francine being rude. Appropriate!] 
(Amanda persists)
…. I mean, do you get out a lot, or is it mostly tapping phones?
(Francine looks up at her, annoyed, like Amanda is distracting her.)
[Go Amanda! You keep annoying Francine! ]
Francine: What is it you say you do, dear?
Amanda: I’m a mother. And I’m a den mother. I’m looking for work. Actually, I do a lot.
Francine: Sounds like it. I guess I should have taken time for some of those things, but, uh… You know, I believe that it is never too late for today’s woman to do anything she wants to do… 
[Amanda listens politely]
…So, now that I am a successful professional, I’ve decided to go back to school.
[rofl. I am all for women having self determination and autonomy I agree with Francine there – but Francine your judgy attitude toward Amanda is a bit of a fail for female equality.]
Amanda: Ohh!
Francine: Learning how to cook.
[Okay this is pretty funny, I think- right sure, a PHD or something? nope learning how to cook haaaaa. This doesn’t really gel for me with the whole Francine is better than doing domestic chores – but I guess at this stage we don’t know that, and it’s a plot contrivance because well cooking is well… relevant. and that’s all I’ll say ]
Amanda: Good for you.
[I love how Amanda doesn’t belittle her just politely responds. Wow. just wow. haaaa]
Francine: That Mrs. Welch on TV? She’s giving me private lessons. You know, Nancy R. won’t boil an egg without her.
(Amanda smiles awkwardly)
[Me thinks this conversation is scary! rofl. run Amanda! haaaa] 
Amanda turns and awkwardly moves away from Francine.
[Interesting that though in different rooms, Lee and Amanda share the same body language here. I wonder if that’s intentional.]
Once at a safe distance we hear Amanda remark to herself…
Amanda: Nose job.
[Soooo this is hilarious but also – it tells me while Amanda is polite, she has a ruthless streak of her own! And.. doesn’t like Francine..]
What do you all see? Do tell!!
I think Francine deserves it because she was snobby and talking down to Amanda.. lol.
Oh Francine if only you knew just how much of an impact on your life this woman who you dismiss so easily will have. Francine doesn’t see Amanda coming ]
Thoughts everyone?? Back with more soon!!
"Just walk with me.." 
In the post office, they got Bruce to say the wrong dialogue
one they don’t know Amanda took it home with her.
two they don’t know what it looks like three they don’t know what adress Amanda wrote on it.
four they don’t know that Dotty took it to the post office to be mailed.
So how are they supposed to find something, when they don’t know what it looks like and they don’t know where it is, unless they have physics on their payroll, their out of luck.
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#re-watch2025
Gosh. Dotty puts newspapers under Amanda’s shoes in the kitchen, on a tiled floor and makes a huge fuss about how inappropriate it all is. Yeah, what? A wet Amanda in her kitchen, or more like what the neighbors might think. I don’t like Dotty at all in this pilot episode. Not only is she too nosy, but in my opinion, she is at times intrusive in Amanda’s life – and that has nothing to do with a mother protecting her daughter.
However, what Amanda is doing behind her back is just too conical. She passes meters of paper towels through the window to Lee, who is sitting in the bushes, hoping to finally get his package. He is soaking wet, too. But Amanda’s maternal instincts won’t allow the poor man to possibly catch a cold because of it. And yes, Dotty would (should) have seen what Amanda was doing, but she didn’t say anything.
I had to laugh 🤣 at the word “G’sundheit“. I didn’t even know Americans knew it, or even used it. [Dotty actually drops the e [ɛ] in the pronunciation.] I laughed even harder at the horror on Lee’s face when he hears the package has been sent. I can’t even describe how hilarious I find him in that moment. Moreover, here again I can see the tumbleweeds wandering through his brain… and a faint western theme song playing in the background.
Lee: Is this the dumb thing you almost did that would have made me laugh? Yes, Lee, that’s the dumb thing Amanda almost did. His voice in that moment is just too funny. Significantly deeper than in any other moment before. 🥵*Goosebumps*
Lee seems to be panicking about it.🤯Why else would he call Billy at the office to get the postmaster out of bed about a package? He could have just intercepted it at Aunt Mini’s address in Maine. Doesn’t the agency have any contacts there? Am I being too logical? Billy, however, is absolutely not amused at this point because “the joy-riding tuxedo-wearing gigolo 🤣 wrecked the limousine of the assistant to the Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.” Oh, Lee, you really are in trouble – and under suspension.
At least he took the time to change his clothes before breaking into the post office, with Amanda’s help. I wonder what he did to convince her to commit this burglary with him (other than the fact that she knows what the package looks like).
Amanda: Isn’t this illegal?
Lee: Yes. Come on.
Three hours? Really, those two spent three hours looking for the package?! Wow. I’m afraid the mess wasn’t caused by the postal workers… I guess they both had a lot of fun (as Claudia already said).
Oh yes, and more physical contact between Lee and Amanda. She’s startled, and he hugs her. Whether that’s instinctive trust or not is hard to say. I think it is more likely that HIS protective instinct is kicking in at this point. After all, he got her into this situation. I would also flee into his arms, despite his cranky pants. *🫠*
Cucumbercool Francine🥒. Yes. Hmpf. I understand that she is completely unmoved while Lee is getting his dressing down from Billy – in public (Oh boy, Billy really is mad at him.) while Amanda tries to make small talk with Francine. However, she is sitting on her high horse and looking down on the little suburban housewife/mother/den mother from there (just as Lee literally did on the stairs in 1/10). I love Amanda for her politeness and for not stooping to Francine’s level in this situation. Oh dear Francine, you have no idea what you can – and will – learn from her.
I agree with ARLINGTON on some points. Yes, facing danger is definitely a bonding experience and Amanda is (still) trying to help Lee.
Nevertheless – I wouldn’t say that Amanda “has already decided to keep this information from her mother“. I rather feel that she is adhering to Lee’s rule (from 1/10) “you can’t mention me or this conversation (or his job, or the whole thing) to anyone. Not your best friend. Not your therapist. Not even your husband“. 🧐
But I don’t see the two of them having a relationship at this point. They are a union of convenience, born out of necessity. Lee considers her an “emergency,” and in a way, that is what it is.
However, I agree with NECKIEH – there is definitely a (real and extraordinary) connection between these two people.
PS: Yes, IWSOD, there are quite a few moments not in the credits… or rather, moments in it that are never shown in the series.
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As I said in the 6/10 post facing danger is definitely a bonding experience.
Because, hey, next thing she’s letting him be at her house and she’s trying to help him dry off. She’s not trying to get rid of him! She’s helping him! And I agree it’s a funny scene. But interesting how she’s already decided to keep this info from her mother. Why is it she didn’t tell her mother about the stranger and the package to begin with?
By now I would say Lee and Amanda have a relationship. It is being defined here.
Then they’re at the post office. Amanda is willing to break in with Lee! Wow. Such trust. And they get caught. Lee’s arm goes around Amanda’s waist. Yep. The first time. The protective instinct. (The touching at the train station & the dancing were not significant in that way at all to me.)
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The kitchen scene is hilarious. I love how Amanda is rolling the paper towels off the roll to Lee, and not necessarily paying attention to what Dotty is saying. As for Dotty, I agree, I find her very annoying early on. Ugh! I’m glad she eased up, trying to control who she dated.
Lee’s expression when he hears Dotty telling Amanda she mailed the package, it too funny, he looks livid in a cute little way. Then when he’s talking to Billy, he asks if he can call the postmaster to open the post office. He’s outside the window, cold and sneezing.
Inside the post office after they break in, I love how Amanda trusts Lee, when she moves backwards to him, when they hear someone entering. It’s like an automatic reaction. Even in the first episode, we see how much Amanda trusts Lee, as if they’ve known one another for a while, they had a true connection from the beginning.
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I always laugh when I see Amanda unwinding the entire roll of paper towels out the kitchen window. Too bad she didn’t have another bath towel like the one around her neck. Francine is so dismissive of Amanda. Ugh.
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I laugh uncontrollably every time I hear Billy call Lee a joy-riding Gigilo!! Makes me spit coffee all over the place!
Part of the charm of SMK (IMHO) was the clandestine nature of their relationship. The first few seasons, with Lee hiding outside and Amanda trying to him and Dotty at the same time was priceless.
I love that Amanda tagged Francine for the snob that she is immediately. The nose job comment is great. One thing about Francine and Season One that I never cared for was how frumpy she looked. To me, a modern career spy should have looked very cosmopolitan.
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Love this!! ❤️
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Oh, as good as those two actors are, I’m sure the body language thing is intentional. An early glimpse into just how well they’re going to end up working together!
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I look forward to the walk every Sunday! I’m already in SMK fever! The little things you pay attention to…wonderful!
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Hi tigger232! Welcome! So glad u can join us 🤗
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Shallow comment: Amanda’s hair looks adorable in the scene where she confronts Francine. If I were Kate Jackson, I would have fought tooth and nail to maintain that look as long as possible.
Joy-riding gigolo will never not make me laugh – mostly because Lee was joy riding what looked like a baggage handling cart. It’s not like he was out galavanting in a Ferrari.
I love that we immediately see what will be a recurring theme: Lee hanging out in the backyard, just out of view of Dotty. For the first three seasons Lee being Amanda’s personal Snuffleupagus (with respect to her family) is such a great long-running affect of the show. Particularly in contrast to Dean whom the family DOES see but the audience does not.
The later shattering of that dynamic in the fourth season (amongst other flaws) really kicks the legs out from the show in a way that they didn’t recover from. Lee wondering how to spend the weekend with the boys is just not as fun as Lee appearing / disappearing from Dotty’s flowerbed as this pilot scene shows. “I didn’t know the clams were endangered” is hilarious. How on earth did Amanda land on saving the clams as the first of many lies told to her mother?
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So much of this is absolutely hilarious because Lee’s just lost and he’s like “what have I gotten involved with”, but as he will find out, the best people come out of unexpected places and Amanda is one of those people! Personally I always found Dotty annoying because she pushed Amanda to marry another man that she clearly didn’t love and she wasn’t ready after the divorce,how about asking Amanda what she wants because that’s what matters the most!I love Billy yelling at Lee because he was working hard at impressing Amanda in his tuxedo,he put on the charm with her but she saw the man underneath!To be honest when isn’t Lee wearing his cranky pants? It’s always been immediate that they will protect each other because in the post office Amanda leans back to Lee and it’s almost like his arm was waiting to envelop her because no matter what he will keep her safe as best as he can!It never ceases to amaze me how easily Lee and Francine dismiss Amanda so early in the show and yet Amanda is the one who really helps them both grow in so many ways!
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Great to hear from you AmandaPearce38!
rofl- I just finished walking through Krushchev list and he had progressed from wearing his cranky pants by then lol, I think! I will probably be referring to Lee’s cranky pants often in season 1 – I’m not used to this early Lee, it’s always a shock to go back around to season 1 again after dwelling in season 4 space for quite a while..lol. Seems this is my experience again haaaaa. don’t mind me!
Awh I love this!! In the last few posts somewhere I was feeling Lee wasn’t showing enough care for Amanda’s safety.. but here, it seems to be instinctive – he’s maybe not saying the words and coming across as uncaring at times, but then he goes and does little things like this arm around her here and I see – ahhhh hang on a minute, it’s just a little hidden.. but it’s there!!! We just start off seeing glimmers of it maybe.. Hmm we’ll see.. maybe we can come back to this in future… often! rofl.
So true – I find it discomforting to watch, but it’s also good that we have some tension, the characters have to go on a journey or it’s not a very good story huh! And so true, Amanda shines regardless of their early opinion of her, which makes me love this character even more. It’s not easy being effective when others dismiss you.
Something women can experience professionally still today.. I don’t remember Amanda ever letting it get her down.
I could learn a thing or two from this fictional character!
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