Re: Anna/Lindsay thread #4 - "You've got friends, kiddo!"
I wonder what you mean that Lindsay is pathologically selfish and manipulative. Those are very strong words to describe her. Third season is a difficult season to base one's opinion of the character due to Anna Belknap's pregnancy. It really stunted the development of her character and also rushed the relationship of Danny and Lindsay in my mind.
They are strong words to describe her. I think that she has been shown to be manipulative and selfish throughout the three seasons she's been on the show, so that's why I use strong words.
Anna Belknap's pregnancy is not an excuse for poor character development. Period. Anna Belknap is not the first actress in Hollywood to get pregnant and keep working. Yes, they had to physically hide her pregnancy, but they did not have to change anything about the way the character or relationship developed just because AB got pregnant and Lindsay didn't. In the S3 DVD commentary of NWILL the comment is made that they knew about AB's pregnancy when they started filming S3. They had plenty of time to come up with better development for the character and still allow for AB's pregnancy. Also, I'm not just basing my opinion of the character on S3. I'm looking at S3 and comparing her and behavior to that of S4. S3 doesn't cease to exsist when analyzing a character just because it is now S4. If anything S4 should help put her character in a better perspective based on what has and hasn't changed from S3. S3 shouldn't be treated as an anomaly because the actress was pregnant.
It doesn't matter how long one has been grieving, it still hurts no matter what the situation was. I also don't see how she is treating him badly, Danny seems to be doing just fine these last couple of episodes.
I agree. It shouldn't matter. But to me it seems as though it matters to Lindsay. And Danny has his moments of seeming "fine" just like Lindsay had her moments of seeming "fine" in S3. It doesn't mean that he isn't still grieving or isn't emotionally screwed up.
If Danny wants to be with Lindsay now it is his turn to work things out.
When did Lindsay take a "turn to work things out?" She did nothing in way of support for Danny after Ruben died - I'm going by what was actually said/shown on screen - and then when he didn't voluntarily go to her she cornered him in their office and went off on him about her feelings and walked off. He tried twice to get her to talk
with him and she refused. Getting pissed at someone and then refusing to talk things out isn't trying to resolve anything. It's just petty and childish.
Also, both Lindsay and Danny had handled their grief in a very poor manner. I don't think Lindsay is using her love for him to make him feel guilty. She felt that it was time to let him know how she felt due to him pushing her away. Danny needed to realize he was hurting more than just himself but his friends (and I am including Flack et. all) as well. His actions with Rikki is an example of that. He is hurting her and taking advantage of a woman and their connection is not a mature one at all in my opinion.
Yeah, they did both handle it badly. But Danny gave Lindsay space and time to deal with her gief in her own way. The only reason he even got an explanation of what she was going through was because he took it upon himself to fly across the country to lend her emotional support. Lindsay throws a temper tantrum and basically tells him his way of handling grief is wrong. Lindsay may honestly think she loves Danny, but saying she needs to "learn to let that go" just because Danny is going through a rough patch is playing on his emotional weakness and feelings of guilt. So is telling him how hard he is to love. It's like she's making some big sacrifice even though he doesn't deserve it, and that is playing on his guilt as well. If anything, Lindsay should be more understanding about Danny's behavior because of her and his behavior in S3. Acting the way she does is showing that she hasn't grown as a character at all.
Also, Lindsay wasn't trying to make Danny see how he was hurting his friends, she was trying to make Danny see that he was wrong for not coming to her with his problem. Lindsay made no mention of anyone other than herself in her monologue.
As far as Rikki goes, Lindsay doesn't know about that so he can't be hurting her by sleeping with Rikki. Also, Danny and Rikki actually talked with each other about what they were doing and they both admitted they were using each other to ease the pain of losing Ruben. Danny wasn't some callous jerk looking to bang the hot, unsuspecting, grieving mother.
No, Danny isn't mature a lot of the time. But neither is Lindsay. If Danny had done all of the above to Lindsay in S3 people would be calling him selfish and manipulative. I don't get why the behavior is considered awesome and strong when it comes from Lindsay.
But saying she is pathologically selfish and manipulative? No, not at all. She is not a criminal and isn't taking advantage of other people's weakness.
Last time I checked being selfish and manipulative wasn't illegal, so no she's not a criminal. But she is taking advantage of Danny's emotional state just as Danny would have been taking advantage of hers if he had treated her the same way in S3.
