Let's do a review of all Manny scenes post-break-up, shall we? :-)

by kristi

April 07, 1999

Since I contributed to mucho Drew-talk around here, I feel it's my duty to make up for it somewhat. :-) (Too much Drew can be hazardous to sanity IMHO.) So picking up where Melissa left off (re: her comparison of the break-up scenes with the Towers'), I've decided to do a short review of all Manny scenes since their break-up. Well, it's not a real review really, nothing coherent, but it gives me a chance to gather my thoughts a little bit. I'm only commenting on those I saw, so if anyone wants to expand please join in.

* Morning after: Danny was clearly taken by surprise to see Michelle there (esp. with his wallet) so he didn't have time to have his shield up and I think that affected the mood of the scene a lot, how highly charged it was with yearning and longing on both sides. That and the fact that they probably weren't used to the idea of separation yet. Guess you need practice for that. You could clearly see the two of them trying so hard not to reach out (i.e. not fall into old habits -- for a marriage that wasn't real, they sure are showing all signs of a real break-up, which couldn't be real if the marriage weren't), yet not wanting to leave each other's side either. Michelle was literally an open-book that day. As someone else pointed out once, if they could have stayed there all day long talking about nothing, I think they would have.

* Millennium, foursome: I think it was Amy who gleefully :-) commented on how in control of the situation Danny was. Remember that smoldering picture I put up last weekend? I think some of the intensity in that look was Danny assessing the Messe situation and deciding how he was going to handle it for the rest of the evening. He took his time answering Jesse's greeting but by the time he did, he clearly had his mind set on making a "nuisance" out of himself and spoiling the evening for Michelle. (not so much Jesse as Michelle.) Never knew jealousy could prove to be so entertaining. :-) Loved, loved, loved PAS's carefully casual body language the entire time. And as I commented on last night, for someone who was totally unprepared to see Danny there, Michelle really handled herself well with class, implicitly refusing to react to Danny's provocation. I think out of the four, they were the only people who were on the same wavelength that night. It sometimes amazes me how they know and read each other so well.

* Millenium, twosome: When Michelle asked how he was and Danny answered fine somewhat sullenly, I thought that was the first time that night he let on he wasn't having fun at all. Michelle was also treated to a tipsy Danny, and has anyone else noticed that Danny has a much, MUCH harder time pretending and camouflaging his feelings when he's just with Michelle? It's almost painful to watch, he's trying so hard. It's actually not a surprise he doubled over with pain once she was out of sight.

* Towers: Melissa commented on these scenes in detail and what can I say except that I concur completely. Danny had all the time in the world to prepare himself for that meeting and Michelle still pushed him over the edge. Loved how his voice broke at "What more do you WANT from me?!", reminded me of the way he said "Do I look... do I look like I'm laughing?" when he was with Drew, that tinsy little catch that just breaks your heart right there and then. And let's not forget Michelle begging and begging for an opening all night long. May I also add that I just love the way she can't take her eyes off him these days, as if she's searching for her answer, an opening on his face. (PS to AJ: Remember when you said that Danny was closing a door after Michelle confessed to him on that dance floor? I bet you didn't know how right you were at the time. :-)) I was also LOL when Danny told Jesse he couldn't force Michelle to do anything. I'm a little foggy on details but didn't Danny once comment (one of those times he went to see Jesse) on how possessive Jesse was? My woman, my apartment... Hearing Danny say "She answers to you now?" made me realize that Jesse doesn't really respect Michelle. He says he loves her, but I've never seen him admire her and respect her and take pride in her the way Danny does. IOW, I don't think Jesse realizes who Michelle truly is. Maybe he too just loves the idea of Michelle (the way she loves the idea of him), his Pygmalion, not necessarily the real person behind her.

kristi