The Punching Bag

[rducasey]

awlrite4now said:

doobrah said:

Oh yeah, the speed bag <Doobrah swoons>. I just Loooove watching RE get into the rhythm of it. So great.

Especially since you know it's the real thing and not a CGI add-on like a lot of movies.

Now if you were Karen wouldn't you have said "Ok Jim, not so fast to leave, back up please, I will just get situated right here and you keep hitting that bag. " (swoon, i just can't forget that speed bag.)

[Dreamfire]

I know this is an old thread, but I have had a bit of time so was reading around and found it. I just posted recently how glorious our blonde detective looks while being highlyaggressive. Whatis it??
I also dislike violence in real life and have not found it especially attractive in others on screen, ( other than perhaps Max in Dark ANgel ) but when this bloinde dude fires up , it's just kind a- .. um, beautiful?

In fact I;d rather see that than the dancing, which was a fit of a filler and didn;t do anything for me.

[maggiethecat]

ashatan said:

In fact I'd rather see that than the dancing, which was a fit of a filler and didn't do anything for me.

Oh, we are soooo on the same page. Personally? Okay, here I go again, and old board members know I'm climbing up on my personal soap box, but . . .

. . . dare I say it? I think all that ballroom dancing made our Jimmy look . . . uh . . . oh, what the hell . . . just the teensiest bit whipped.

There. I said it.

[Dreamfire]

Oh I am so with you. Mind you I just posted how my favourite line is when Christie brings it up as THE option.

I am sure Eldard can dance wit hthe best of them but it just did not do it for me. However, when he flys over the table toward the perp demanding his dog and Marty has to drag him off, even the question of how much is real and how much is him being "ted" becomes secondary, he is just such a killing machine.
I dare say, although in truth I reckon I fell for the character of Detective Dunbar, rather than the actor RE, I would be very very pleased ot hear his next TV/movie role was some really tough guy where we get to watch him "dance" dangerously a lot.
SOme martial arts would be nice, even his punches carry something very addicative!

Hey I am trying to figure out where to post5 a question I need answered?
Nataacha

[greenbeing]

maggiethecat said:

ashatan said:

In fact I'd rather see that than the dancing, which was a fit of a filler and didn't do anything for me.

Oh, we are soooo on the same page. Personally? Okay, here I go again, and old board members know I'm climbing up on my personal soap box, but . . .

. . . dare I say it? I think all that ballroom dancing made our Jimmy look . . . uh . . . oh, what the hell . . . just the teensiest bit whipped.

There. I said it.

"No, this is fun. Really." Yeah, Jimmy, right. We believe you.

I never cared for the dancing, either. A point of contention, really, as it seemed such a cop-out (excuse the police pun) on the part of the writers. Instead of giving us juicy backstory--"Try reminding yourselves of why you fell in love in the first place; remember the fun things you used to do together, and I don't know, do them." "That's your advice? Go have fun?" "Your problems will still be here when you get back."--so instead of telling us what Jim and Christie were like as a couple for five whole years, suddenly they were dancing. Always struck me as the one lazy point. Or perhaps they were told by ABC to plug Dancing With the Stars...

Anyway, I guess I just wanted to discuss the "whipped" statement. Obviously, Jim's been getting his way for a whole year, probably longer, especially with the whole Anne business. He's been fighting against becoming one half of a married couple. Dr. Galloway suggests doing something nice to reclaim his marriage, Jimmy snaps: "And I'm telling you, that doesn't apply here," yet, he does listen and buys her flowers.

It seems around the time Christie tries to leave that he realizes he wants to stay married. Pourquoi? I dunno for sure. Christie was the one the writers took all their frustrations out on, so she was the type of person you divorce, not the type you try to work things out with. At this point, Jim knows he's on thin ice, but he doesn't try to stop and work it out until the end of Doggone, when she says she can't do it anymore. Which is understandable. She almost left several episodes ago, it seemed like he was going to try harder, but nothing changed, so of course she'd get sick of waiting. By that point, Jim knows this is the last straw. If he doesn't get his act together, it's over.

(This is where I always get mad at Christie for asking him what else he came up with--they're obviously halfway through dinner, she's talking with her mouth half full, which has to be an unpleasant listening experience for a blind guy, they've been talking for a looong time, and she's letting him make new suggestions? It always seemed that this was the underhanded part--not her signing them up for dance class without his approval, but the part where she didn't tell him until they were almost done with dinner.)

"You're miserable?" Yup, Christie had it right. But I thought, rather than showing he was whipped, or that he did everything she said, this showed how he was finally trying in their marriage. "No, this is fun. Really." It's only for six classes, so if he has to suck it up for a while to make her happy, he will. The same thing he had to do with Sonny--"apologize, do a little dance"--wasn't that the line? In RTT? Something about doing a little dance for Sonny? Perhaps foreshadowing? Hmm...

But that was just for dance class. To show what a great guy he was. Now the big kicker is the last dance scene. Maybe RE and RS had been asked to be on Dancing With the Stars, and they filmed their scene, then cut it, so decided to use it as filler at the end of Fancy Footwork? That's about the only explanation I have for a gritty, dramatic show to suddenly end on a feather, fluffy note.

--GB

[bjobsessed]

greenbeing said:

"You're miserable?" Yup, Christie had it right. But I thought, rather than showing he was whipped, or that he did everything she said, this showed how he was finally trying in their marriage. "No, this is fun. Really." It's only for six classes, so if he has to suck it up for a while to make her happy, he will.

I agree with you. He is clearly not very happy when she tells him she's signed them up for dance class, but he shows he's trying when he agrees to go without getting angry. I suspect the old Dunbar--or even the one at the beginning of the series--would have told her where to go with her dance classes.

[greenbeing]

ashatan said:

I know this is an old thread, but I have had a bit of time so was reading around and found it. I just posted recently how glorious our blonde detective looks while being highlyaggressive. Whatis it??
I also dislike violence in real life and have not found it especially attractive in others on screen, ( other than perhaps Max in Dark ANgel ) but when this bloinde dude fires up , it's just kind a- .. um, beautiful?

In fact I;d rather see that than the dancing, which was a fit of a filler and didn;t do anything for me.

I'm not big on violence or gore, either, but I think the part of the reason it's so--acceptable?--with JD is that it's so justified. Randy Lyman, Warren Doyle, Johnny... JD thought it out, he didn't just attack and ask questions later. There was pent-up aggression he was fighting, holding back to the bear minimum. As an ex-boxer, he could have done serious damage to any of these guys, but that wasn't his aim. I think part of the beauty of it was the holding back. What he could have done, but didn't. And that he didn't necessarily enjoy it, there was no glee.

Hmm, perhaps instead of pairing Jim and Christie in that "diaphynous" gown, we should have paired Jim and Bo, wearing those gym clothes from Doubt...

--GB

[housemouse]

greenbeing said:

But that was just for dance class. To show what a great guy he was. Now the big kicker is the last dance scene. Maybe RE and RS had been asked to be on Dancing With the Stars, and they filmed their scene, then cut it, so decided to use it as filler at the end of Fancy Footwork? That's about the only explanation I have for a gritty, dramatic show to suddenly end on a feather, fluffy note.

--GB

ROFLOL! What a great observation! I have hated the dancing (except for when RE shoots his cuffs), since the episode first aired. It was goofy and incongruent.

Jim and Christie should have taken an Aikido class. That would have given them a chance to get in shape, work together, and have some fun. That also would have given us the chance to see Mr. Dunbar as the "Blond Bomber", kicking ass and taking names! Ashatan, I'm with you, he is at his best when beating someone (something) up. I still shutter every time I see the choke in Under the Gun. I have been married for over twenty years (I got married when I was 12 ), and I can honestly say that taking Jujitsu together was one of the best things we ever did for each other.

Was Jim whipped? Maybe, maybe not. I prefer the "Jim giving it a try for the sake of his marriage" take. By the time Christie signed them up for the lessons the marriage was pretty far gone and Jim was probably getting desperate to save it. I like the dancing in Dance with Me, they just got carried away in Fancy Footwork.

[awlrite4now]

I still hate the closing dance sequence. Nothing more to me than a lead in to that awful Dancing with the B-List hasbeens. Give me the punching bag any day. That would be Dunbar, not ballroom dancing, fer pete's sake!

[Chocky]

I agree, I don't like the closing dance sequence either. Plus it doesn't make sense to me that he can see in that scene. I thought the point of the scene (apologies if this has been covered in another thread already) was that he and Christie had accepted their lives are different now and learned to work together in their relationship rather than being two separate people co-habiting. If they have accepted the way things are I think he should have been blind in dance sequence.

[anna]

chocky said:

I thought the point of the scene (apologies if this has been covered in another thread already) was that he and Christie had accepted their lives are different now and learned to work together in their relationship rather than being two separate people co-habiting. If they have accepted the way things are I think he should have been blind in dance sequence.

What an interesting point. We have discussed whether this was was Jim's or Christie's fantasy (I vote for Christie) and whether or not Jim can see in the fantasy (I vote yes). I had never thought about what it means as far as acceptance if Jim can see in Christie's fantasy. Hmmmm . . . .

[greenbeing]

chocky said:

If they have accepted the way things are I think he should have been blind in dance sequence.

That's what I always thought! If it had anything to do with the show whatsoever, with the characters, then Jim should have still been blind. I chalked it up to Christie's fantasizing about the perfect times she used to have with her hubbie, when he could see, although that really makes the show end on a downer note. The dancing was supposed to be something they could do together now and in the future. They should have been looking forward. Not fantasizing about how great he was back when he used to cheat on her. Such an odd, odd way to end the show. Such an incongruent, mismatched scene.

Unless perhaps this was to show that Christie views him as the same man he was before now? And no longer sees the blindness?

--GB

[bjobsessed]

greenbeing said:

Unless perhaps this was to show that Christie views him as the same man he was before now? And no longer sees the blindness?
--GB

That's a thought. Maybe she sees him as someone who has changed for the better (and someone who still needs to keep working on it), but he's no longer her blind husband--just her husband.

I dunno. I think it would have made more sense if he had been blind like everyone says. That would show they are working together as things are now. Blindness doesn't have to be an issue unless they make it one.

Hard one to figure out.

[hoosier]

Jim always can see in his dreams/fantasies so its only fair that he can in Christie's! If he was blind, what would be the point of the dream/fantasy in the first place?

[maggiethecat]

This is an amazing discussion! What always disappointed me about the ending of Fancy Footwork was how lame -- how uninspired -- it seemed in comparison to the creative way in which the other episodes ended. If you'll all indulge me for a minute, here's the run-down from the old "How to End an Episode" thread:

The Pilot: Jim and Karen on the street. “What do you look like? “You’re such a great detective, you tell me.” Then, “What color are your eyes?” and her response, still slightly suspicious, “Are you tryin’ to put your moves on me?” Then the marvelous shot of Jim and Hank walking away, the flock of pigeons flying up (how did they get those birds to do that at just the right moment?) and she stops him with, “Brown.” “Thanks, now I know,” he says and strides on, satisfied and confident. Just terrific.

Four Feet Under: Jim on the park bench after the blow-up with Christie, lifting his anguished face to the rain, imagining – or remembering – the color of the trees. Poignant and haunting and strong, with a beautiful light jazz score.

Rub a Tub Tub: The gorgeous bouquet of flowers and Jim’s request for a “Mulligan,” and then, for the first time, he and Christie embrace and kiss. Touching and genuinely sweet.

Up on the Roof: My favorite. Jim lying in Christie’s arms, murmuring, so quietly you had to strain to hear it, “I’d rather lose my sight than my courage.” Heartbreaking, and just makes you love the guy.

Marlon’s Brando: Jim and Christie’s walk by the river when he finally admits his doubts and fears to her, and for once, they truly connect. Beautifully filmed, sensitively played.

Seoul Man: Jim and Marty face off in the locker room. Love the last moment when Jim sinks to the bench shaking his head, as if to say, "What the hell was that?"

Leap of Faith: Empty squad room, Jim at his desk, a moment of contemplation and satisfaction. This show did “quiet” like none other.

Past Imperfect: Great shots of Manhattan, a subtle jazz score, and Jim sharing a beer with Greg Hermanson. “That’s how I’ll always see you.” Perfect.

In Your Face: Walking home after his first "night out" with the boys, and the reverie inspired by the street musician playing “Moon River.” Simple, reflective, and moving.

Doggone: The delicious reunion with Hank, and the clearly unscripted moment of the wet dog shake and the unfeigned laugh. Delightful.

Dance With Me: Ballroom dance lessons? Okay, this I did not love that much because I thought it verged on the cute, and the one thing I never expected – or wanted – from this show was cute. Jim was doing it to please Christie, however, and that was a step in the right direction (pun intended).

Under the Gun: Oh, Jeez. Dance class again? And why didn't that dratted teacher have any other records but “Call Me Irresponsible?”

Fancy Footwork: This is the last image we have of Detective Jim Dunbar of the NYPD? That courageous, complex, smart, sensitive, sexy, and fascinating man . . . twirling his wife around the dance floor in a pseudo-Astaire sequence that went on longer than the shootout at the bank?

All these months later, I stand by my original impressions. The writers were either bored, phoning it in, or had already moved on to Prison Break.

It begins and ends with what's on the page. This one we lay at the feet of the writers.