The hands on the neck and other ramblings

by elle

March 21, 1999

Okay, I finally saw the infamous hands on the neck scene (I was at work most of last week, and have about 3 more episodes to get through), and I had some thoughts.

Yes, it was creepy as all get out, but like everything else in the scene (i.e. "I'll take care of you"), it also had a lot of subtext. The neck is a really interesting part of the body, extremely vulnerable, and it takes a lot of trust for someone, anyone, to let another touch their neck. When they do, it can be extremely touching. Think about it, we might let others touch hands, waist, even face, but we only let those with whom we're intimate touch or kiss our necks. (I think this is part of our vampire fascination).

Clearly, Michelle and Danny don't have that level of trust as of yet. That's part of what they're getting over, and that's what's really disturbing about the scene, but I think there is that interesting subtext, can they reach that point? I have a really interesting poster which I don't hang that much anymore because it disturbs a lot of people of the Royal National Theatre in London doing Pygmalion. I think in the last scene Higgins tells Eliza something like, "I could wring the very life from you!" and has his hands wrapped around her throat (of course, he doesn't). The poster of that moment is really hard to interpret, is it a romantic moment or a violent one, and the Manny scene had me thinking about it again.

A few other thoughts:

I love PAS, I think he's an excellent actor, and I really enjoyed the wedding reception. BUT, if there's ever another scene in which Danny has to mambo, please (to PAS and TPTB), teach him how to do Cuban motion. There are many excellent dance studios in Manhattan (I'll do it :)). It was really disconcerting watching him not do the Latin motion, while all the extras were doing it. (Something along the lines of the fact Danny never speaks Spanish, while telling Michelle she should learn some). I wanted to reach into the television and choreograph something worthy of them.

Glad to see Danny not being dressed out of summer stock production of Guys and Dolls anymore.

I think part of Michelle that fascinates Danny is her idealism. In the scene in which she asks him what he likes to do, get to know you, date, blah, blah, blah, make the best of it, I think Danny was suspicious, yes, from what his mother said, but I also think that part of him was sad to see her give up, despite the fact that he had been telling her to do so.

Since everyone else is speculating on who killed Mick, I think it was the overly enthusiastic, ethically challenged FBI. Something about how they were getting into arresting Danny, who as far as they know, has done nothing (of course, if he really has been smuggling Cuban cigars, they have plenty).

Really looking forward to see more Rick and Danny interaction (two of my favorite actors and characters). Please have the Santos' at the Bauer barbecue.

Finally (if anyone is still reading), I know that PAS and JL will probably leave the show in a couple years for personal and professional reasons, but I really hope that they come back from time to time. Maybe Danny is "killed" off but really in the witness protection program, Michelle goes to medical school (we need another Dr. Bauer), comes back in a few years, probably is getting ready to marry Bill? (if recast), discovers Danny is still alive and tracks him down. Variation on morning sexy! scene?