Yeah, me too. Was his father in the mob? It's obvious that he was 'connected' because of the fact that Louie was a Tanglewood Boy, but there's no telling just what that means.
Oh, and just a random site note: Sonny said in "Tanglewood" that they were looking at the Tanglewood Boys when it was just the three guys--but there's apparently an older generation of the gang, or members who aren't around any more (Louie and that guy who killed himself, at least). That's all a bit confusing to me.
Personally, I think that while the Tanglewood Boys had a reputation on the streets, they had far more influential connections outside of the little group. I felt that Sonny wasn’t so much hiding behind his own gang’s influence when he taunted Mac, but others who
did at least have their hands in the justice system. In Danny’s generation the Tanglewood Boys may have been the upcoming future of the ‘mob lifestyle,’ but I really felt they were more or less wannabe spoiled punks with connections elsewhere. Sonny may have mocked the old school mobsters, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were somehow connected.
So while Louie
was a Tanglewood Boy, I don’t think it was enough to keep Danny himself in the ‘system’s sights’ for however long he was. I’m inclined to say that the Messer family was far more entrenched in the criminal world than just the Tanglewood Boys – at least enough to make whatever system keep watch and cause doubt in Danny’s hiring (though I’m sure his hotheadedness was of concern too). So maybe the Tanglewood Boys were merely a branch in Danny’s mobish background, and whoever they hide behind is where the real trouble starts. If Papa Messer (or other relatives) were somehow involved this higher power so to speak, maybe Louie chose to follow in the family shoes and Danny for whatever reason chose to go to the opposite end of the spectrum.
But yeah, I was confused by the Tanglewood Boys status as well. Originally I was surprised to see that the group only consisted of three dopey looking members (sorry, but I hate the pant sagging, multiple chain wearing look) who thought they were untouchable. I don’t think the gang was incredibly large to begin with if Danny told Mac it was a difficult thing to get out of. So maybe there is an older generation…or it once consisted of at least five members – even if the two who were with Sonny, from what I recall, in ‘Tanglewood’ looked fairly young.
Heh. I have a ‘thing’ for gangster-oriented and war movies. If it weren’t for some of my romantic comedies, you’d swear my movie collection belonged to a guy. But yeah, I love would to hear more about Danny’s family history. While this particular storyline (‘Tanglewood’) might be finished, I think there’s a lot the writers could do with the subject. Danny is the show’s damsel in distress, and he’s sitting on a
goldmine of storylines with his relationship with Mac, his family’s shady history, possible abuse, etc. *prods the writers and whines* “Look guys, there’s so much you can
doooooo.”
I'm sure that, like Lindsay, Mac knows all about Danny's past. Probably more than Danny even realizes. Or, perhaps he does know that Mac is aware of everything--which would make him even more desperate to prove that he deserves the chance that Mac has given him...
Now see that just makes me even more interested in Danny’s past. Perhaps I was unobservant watching ‘Tanglewood’ and ‘Run Silent, Run Deep,’ but I felt that Mac didn’t necessarily know about Danny’s past ties with the Tanglewood Boys. Of course being the God Fearing and All Knowing Mac, he may have just been giving Danny a chance to come clean, but then again, maybe it wasn’t as significant as other events in the man’s life. Maybe Louie’s involvement in the gang flew under the radar in comparison.
But I doubt it, lol. I’m sure Mac gave the term ‘background check’ a whole new definition when it came to picking his team members.
Though you also have a point if Danny already knows that Mac is aware of everything, and is desperately trying to prove his worth on the team. If Danny’s past does involve more notorious connections then maybe it was hard to find someone willing to give him a chance and move away from his family’s demons. Or, it may simply be about low self-esteem.
Top41 said:
What bothers me is that I doubt the writers are trying to play this as unhealthy.
I honestly doubt the writers intended to make it an unhealthy relationship. Sadly, I almost want to say that the viewers sometimes put more thought into than the writers’ at times. Though if on a bizarre and twisted turn the relationship was meant to be damaging, I’d be right on board too. While the turn would probably destroy Lindsay’s likeability, I’d give props to the writers for subtle character development and playing off of his personal demons. In fact, I’d probably take back most of the negative things I’ve said about them lately, lol.
Unfortunately, I think they see as Danny and Lindsay as being fun and cute, appealing to female demographics, and something to pull future character development moments from.
…Danny’s just a sad man in general, lol.
