Different people have different ways of approaching and doing things. Even if you may not understand it, it doesn't mean it's wrong. It just means it's a different way of handling things. By the way, Danny and Rikki have hardly forgotten Ruben. In fact, they both mentioned him, but also wisely acknowledged to each other that there comes a time to move on and that what they've done so far is helping them to do so, mutually and honestly.
It may seem more 'understandable' if Danny and Rikki are shown to be crying or unhappy and lost in their own world, but to me, it's just as realistic and believable (if not more) that they're turning to each other for comfort and support and moving forward rather than wallow in their grief. Danny acknowledged this with, " ... there's nothing wrong with that," and Rikki acknowledged it by telling Danny that it's not his fault Ruben died. Add this with the very apparent care and affection and attraction they have for each other, and you have a deep and powerful bond, in both the physical and emotional sense too.
Here's a personal spin on the situation: My close friend's sister was killed in a very tragic car accident some years ago. Weeks after the funeral, the whole family had moved on with their lives, and when I asked her about things, she said, "Yes, of course I'm sad that my sister passed away. I loved her very much, but I knew crying and grieving for the rest of my life was never going to bring her back. So my family and I are honoring her in the best way; by moving on, living our lives to the fullest while we still can and be happy. That's what she would have wanted."
As my co-moderator said above, if you don't like the ship, then please don't come in and post and stick to your own ship thread. It's actually one of the rules for the purpose of maintaining peace, so to speak.
Loving the screencaps!
Indeed, it's so intimate and loving the way Danny touches his forehead with Rikki's and the way he constantly strokes her shoulders and arms and brushes the hair away from her face just so he can see her eyes.
Awww.
Lorelai said:
And even if she said it was just sex... he seemed terribly tender with her. And , even if she said that she is the one using him, not to feel alone, I feel like Danny needs her, more than she needs him. And how very sweet of her is that she is trying to make him feel free, no strings attached, no relationship, just sex.
From the start of the scene, she was attempting to leave Danny's apartment and the course of their conversation revealed that she felt she had to do it in order to 'protect' Danny. As you said, it seems like Danny needs her just as much or more than she needs him. And the fact she tried her best to not be clingy (heh) and made sure he understood she had no expectations from him ... that was very sweet of her indeed.
And she keeps repeating, and insisting that he is not responsible. That's like subliminal message. So kind of her. I think that even if she was mad at him at first, she forgave him with all her heart. And she's actually being with him through all the pain trying to make him feel better...
Yeah, at the end of episode 11 she did flinch from his hand in the church. However, as I mentioned in the grading thread for episode 4x16, it was probably a knee-jerk reaction during a very emotionally sad period. If she felt repulsion, well ... what happened in episode 16 wouldn't have.
I really, really love that she tells him to his face Ruben's death is not his fault.
The message between the lines is that, if she ever felt he was to blame, she's definitely forgiven him by now. And really, it takes great courage and strength of character to forgive someone in this way for such an event.
I'm not sure who's healing who here.
They're healing each other.
