Single Father Episode 3 Picspam/Review
I don't have much time to do a big write-up for this episode and I know I've been overrun by the last episode, but I do have many pretty pictures and at least a few thoughts about episode 3. I don't think that anyone will object to a picture heavy review, yes? (One note: I don't have much of the hotel scene in here since I'm saving it for an improperly shallow picspam of eps 3&4. *g*)
In episode 2, we saw Dave completely lose his ability to cope with life which continues in this episode as he gets pushed from situation to situation. What interesting about this episode, and the series as a whole thus far, is how little agency he has about anything in his life. Dave is a very passive character which is an unusual choice to put at the center of a series and even more unusual for it to be a male character. Most of the passive characters we see on tv and in literature are female characters who are then acted upon by an active male character. Dave is acted upon by all the other characters - Anna, Robin, Sarah, Rita, Stuart, and so on; to the point that we are left wondering what he wants in his life versus what other people have decided he wants. And maybe the point is that previous to Rita's death he never thought about it much (beyond wanting Rita herself -- he was active on that) and now, in the midst of grief for her, he's not together enough to make decisions. *throws up hands*
As we see in the episode, some of the passiveness is him abdicating his responsibilities. Running out of money is a case in point. How do you run so completely out of money that you don't even have enough to fill up your motorcycle? Only by diligently avoiding avoiding the subject I would think. He's spent so much time not thinking about his business and avoiding his finances that he has backed himself into corner where he needs to accept handouts from Robin and hope that his financial settlement is substantial. If it's not, he could lose everything.
However, some of his lack of agency has to do with the people around him deciding to take over. Even when he objects, it doesn't do much good since they've already determined what is best and they are willing to override him by any means necessary. The situation with Robin determining that Stuart's firm must be the one to take over his suit illustrates this nicely. Dave wants Robin to continue his suit and very much doesn't want Stuart at all involved. So what does Robin do? Threaten Dave with an ultimatum: accept it or find a new lawyer. And just look at the Lucy storyline. Every step of the way in this episode someone else has been pushing him along: Stuart, Lucy, and Anna all take decisions out of his hands. I really hope that the last episode has Dave finally getting his agency back and pulling himself together.
Okay, now to start the pretty! As I said, I don't much in the way of commentary though I do have a thought or two about the different scenes. For this scene the thought is very small. Just that he makes some very adorable faces when he realizes that he just invited his girlfriend's boyfriend along for a day out. Yeah, great choice!
Little Evie timebomb causing some worried looks. And then Anna losing all her sympathy points from last episode. You don't get to decide to tell Lucy about her father!! Dave is so much more understanding with her than I would be. Though he's not completely happy...
Angry, I think you had an affair with my partner Dave. Followed by lunch at the rich, snarky family's house. They seem too nice. I don't trust them.
Oops! No money. Dave you're a bit of an idiot. A pretty idiot but an idiot nonetheless.
That's right! Dave doesn't need any agency! Push him around! He likes it or at least can't do anything about it. *sigh* He does continue to look quite adorable though.
Ah, flirting Dave. Yum. Eye crinkles; tongue; face rubbing; hair ruffling.
*sniff* Now we have angsty Dave. David Tennant quite definitely deserves his acting credit for the sad scenes in this series.
Mmmmm...naked Dave. My favorite kind.
And then he has to ruin the afterglow by grumbling about Rita. Why would anyone want to hear that? Especially her best friend? Not his best move. Either way, David Tennant's naked chest does make it difficult to concentrate on this scene. If they wanted us to appreciate plot points, they would have had him put on a shirt first, right? Instead I spent most of the scene appreciating how good he looks shirtless.
A bible? Where exactly did that plot come from? Yes, he wanted to join the choir as well so not a complete shock but I get the feeling that there is A LOT MORE story in the writer's head than we ever see and what gets out doesn't always make proper sense. However, it seems as though no one let the other characters in on the plot either since they seem as surprised as I am. :D
The ultimatum scene. Mostly here for the dimple. Yay, dimple! And the hand!porn...and the cap of Dave drinking a beer.
All caps made by pineapple_sky
In episode 2, we saw Dave completely lose his ability to cope with life which continues in this episode as he gets pushed from situation to situation. What interesting about this episode, and the series as a whole thus far, is how little agency he has about anything in his life. Dave is a very passive character which is an unusual choice to put at the center of a series and even more unusual for it to be a male character. Most of the passive characters we see on tv and in literature are female characters who are then acted upon by an active male character. Dave is acted upon by all the other characters - Anna, Robin, Sarah, Rita, Stuart, and so on; to the point that we are left wondering what he wants in his life versus what other people have decided he wants. And maybe the point is that previous to Rita's death he never thought about it much (beyond wanting Rita herself -- he was active on that) and now, in the midst of grief for her, he's not together enough to make decisions. *throws up hands*
As we see in the episode, some of the passiveness is him abdicating his responsibilities. Running out of money is a case in point. How do you run so completely out of money that you don't even have enough to fill up your motorcycle? Only by diligently avoiding avoiding the subject I would think. He's spent so much time not thinking about his business and avoiding his finances that he has backed himself into corner where he needs to accept handouts from Robin and hope that his financial settlement is substantial. If it's not, he could lose everything.
However, some of his lack of agency has to do with the people around him deciding to take over. Even when he objects, it doesn't do much good since they've already determined what is best and they are willing to override him by any means necessary. The situation with Robin determining that Stuart's firm must be the one to take over his suit illustrates this nicely. Dave wants Robin to continue his suit and very much doesn't want Stuart at all involved. So what does Robin do? Threaten Dave with an ultimatum: accept it or find a new lawyer. And just look at the Lucy storyline. Every step of the way in this episode someone else has been pushing him along: Stuart, Lucy, and Anna all take decisions out of his hands. I really hope that the last episode has Dave finally getting his agency back and pulling himself together.
Okay, now to start the pretty! As I said, I don't much in the way of commentary though I do have a thought or two about the different scenes. For this scene the thought is very small. Just that he makes some very adorable faces when he realizes that he just invited his girlfriend's boyfriend along for a day out. Yeah, great choice!
Little Evie timebomb causing some worried looks. And then Anna losing all her sympathy points from last episode. You don't get to decide to tell Lucy about her father!! Dave is so much more understanding with her than I would be. Though he's not completely happy...
Angry, I think you had an affair with my partner Dave. Followed by lunch at the rich, snarky family's house. They seem too nice. I don't trust them.
Oops! No money. Dave you're a bit of an idiot. A pretty idiot but an idiot nonetheless.
That's right! Dave doesn't need any agency! Push him around! He likes it or at least can't do anything about it. *sigh* He does continue to look quite adorable though.
Ah, flirting Dave. Yum. Eye crinkles; tongue; face rubbing; hair ruffling.
*sniff* Now we have angsty Dave. David Tennant quite definitely deserves his acting credit for the sad scenes in this series.
Mmmmm...naked Dave. My favorite kind.
And then he has to ruin the afterglow by grumbling about Rita. Why would anyone want to hear that? Especially her best friend? Not his best move. Either way, David Tennant's naked chest does make it difficult to concentrate on this scene. If they wanted us to appreciate plot points, they would have had him put on a shirt first, right? Instead I spent most of the scene appreciating how good he looks shirtless.
A bible? Where exactly did that plot come from? Yes, he wanted to join the choir as well so not a complete shock but I get the feeling that there is A LOT MORE story in the writer's head than we ever see and what gets out doesn't always make proper sense. However, it seems as though no one let the other characters in on the plot either since they seem as surprised as I am. :D
The ultimatum scene. Mostly here for the dimple. Yay, dimple! And the hand!porn...and the cap of Dave drinking a beer.
All caps made by pineapple_sky