In Defense of Matthew

[tripp3235]

So much backlash against Matthew.  He's my favorite character, dear, sweet Matthew. Many think he's changed a great deal in S2.  Thanks to the war, that's inevitable.  Unfortunately, as eolivet has pointed out, JF decided to not attempt to flesh out Matthew's character in any great detail, just rendering a few war scenes here and there, and showing him

Comments

[teddy_tips]

I have to say that I pretty much agree with you on this, and that, overall, I really don't think anyone was much out of character in this season. In fact, I rather liked it. I mean, I feel like the biggest factor is the portrayal of passing time. In season one, we only went two years. Then there's a two year gap, then we go another two years. While we don't see the gap, there's effectively four years of FEELINGS to deal with! Which, I think, complicates things a great deal.

Really, of all people, I think Matthew's progression is the most logical. I don't find any of it particularly unrealistic, no, not even the singing. In fact, I really loved the singing /blush. Honestly, the only nitpicky thing that I might comment on was in one moment he can't talk about the war, and then in the next he's shocked at the state of wounded soldiers, which seems like a bit of a regression of thought. HOWEVER, that can fairly easily be explained away by the prospect that it's one thing to see things in battle, and another to see your home tainted by those distant atrocities. It's the invasion of the safe space that's shocking, as opposed to the brutality of the injuries. If that makes sense.

As for his break in ep.8...I really have no problem with it. At all. Like you said, MARY brings it up. Mary has lead him along, and along, and there is NOTHING more infuriating than trying to figure out someone's intentions when they play the game like she does. Also...sorry, but boys are a bit dim...sometimes. Especially when it comes to picking up on cues. They need a sledgehammer. In fact, I'm always more surprised that Bates understands Anna's little hints, than Matthew missing all of Mary's. She is so contrary. And it works! She wouldn't behave the way she does if it didn't work. She doesn't like it ("You should never listen to what I say") and evidently it's neither new, or unnoticed ("One day people are going to believe what you say" or whatever Lord G. says). So Matthew dithering about it doesn't seem strange to me. He's attracted, he WANTS to think she's attracted, but how much can he risk, and how can he admit to failing so miserably at moving on after two years, and a fiancee, only for Mary to rebuff him again, when, honestly, chances are she's not interested.

Anyway, rambling along to a vague point, I'd say that Mary talking about their relationship, and forgiving both of them in it is like the go ahead to try again after he's had such bad luck, what's one more moment of weakness? I thought the whole thing was rather romantic, and sweet, and not at all morally condemning.

Aaaand, also...There was something else, but I can't recall. Anyway. I am fascinated by this fandom and this show, and the characters, but have not really been able to find any discussions or overly active communities, so thank you for indulging me!

[teddy_tips]

Oh! My other little thing, is that Matthew dismissing Mary's nursing seems realistic for all the reasons you stated - he may think she's bound by duty, he was overwhelmed by other things, and deeply depressed, and Lavinia made a more elaborate show of choosing him, while Mary only spoke in vague hypotheticals. On top of it all, duder was on morphine, which is gonna blur things a bit. And he was probably on it for a good while. He probably DOESN'T remember much of Mary's bedsitting, especially in the early days (either the occasions she would come, or the time spent there). Also, Sybil's nursing. Edith's helping the soldiers. It would not be unreasonable to assume that Mary's stepped up too. He hasn't talked to her in two years, and probably feels he has no claim as to her behaviour (which is later reversed when he comments on her hair), and who is he to call her out for strange behaviour?