Just when the road looks straight for miles, it inevitably takes a hard turn left or right. Which, I suppose, is why it’s never a good idea to fully rely on auto pilot.
For me, that was a lesson well learned on last night’s episode of Army Wives. Roxy and Trevor’s miscarriage? Didn’t see it coming. But boy did it knock me back on my heels.
That’s tough. I’m not sure I really want to even get into what the turn of events means. But as for what it may do for the characters — I think Roxy will be terrified to get pregnant again, while Trevor will keep up appearances until one day he cracks. He has to … that was his first child. I can’t imagine that ghost ever fully leaves you.
As for Finn and TJ, I think this might actually give them some direction for the season. Both kids are very protective of their mother, and I’m wondering how this news might affect their relationship, either starting now or when Roxy and Trevor finally do get pregnant again. But either way I don’t expect the LeBlancs to get back to business as usual all that quickly.
Chase returning early was huge, and the continuation of that story line was something I’ve been anticipating. I don’t think that he was out-of-line for asking Pamela for four more years, because he does do something exceedingly unique and important which does have a finite life to it, but does anyone — especially Pamela — really think he’ll be ready to walk away that quickly? And what does it do for him to quit Delta in four years if he then moves on to another unit, another assignment, another deployment?
I’m on his side as far as the importance of his career, but at the same time he has no idea how to be a father and husband. He does a terrible job of it, and that’s inexcusable. Although, I do have to say, it’s incredibly demeaning to thank a father for taking care of his kids. That “Thanks for your help” line gets bandied about between TV mothers and fathers almost as much as “Thanks for watching the kids for me,” and it always sounds extremely offensive to the thankee. Anyway, obviously something more is coming, because there’s no way that Pamela and Chase are reconciled for good. With or without a spin-off waiting in the wings, this is not an issue that can be dealt with so quickly.
Denise’s struggle with Jeremy’s desire to reenlist was the first time in a long time that I’ve enjoyed their relationship. Because no matter what else exists between them, no mother would run to see her child put in danger. As brief as it was, I really enjoyed the reenlistment ceremony, and I hope that it’s true to life. I think it’s nice for both the soldiers and their families.
I do wonder why Claudia Joy’s path is leading her back to school. I’m getting a very strong “Denise season two” vibe from this entire thing. Unless, of course, the story is meant only as a catalyst for her to revisit her past. But as a “I need a life” moment, the suit hung much better on season one Denise, who really had nothing else going on. Claudia Joy, on the other hand? I’m surprised she can fit classes into her schedule.
But if they are doing Denise 2.0, marital problems better not be part of the formula. No way would Michael drift from Claudia Joy, or vice versa. Don’t even think about it!
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on May 24, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
The reason “thanks for watching the kids” and “thanks for your help” sounds offensive is because it’s offensive to think that one parent would not be there enough that it was the norm. For one to have to thank the other as if it is something special they are doing, rather than just being the parent they should be, is very sad.
Also sad is Roxy saying “I lost the baby.” That’s also offensive. She didn’t “lose” it, its not something that she did, but women take it that way and that, too, is just a sad way to think.
*POST AUTHOR*
Fair enough. And Chase is certainly not the model of a good father. But it also perpetuates the cycle to thank a father (or a mother) as if they came in as the babysitter, which might subconsciously make them think that their responsibility ends after the task at hand is over. I’m not defending the bad parent — like I said, I think it’s inexcusable — but it doesn’t help to kick them while they’re down.
Yeah, when she talked about how badly she felt for Trevor, I could imagine Roxy blaming herself for what happened. Hopefully that doesn’t happen, because who knows how depressed she might make herself if she starts thinking like that? I actually can unfortunately imagine it — Roxy sees Trevor as this wonderful man who gave her kids a father, and there she goes not even able to give him one of his own. I really hope that’s not the plan for them….