Very interesting points, everyone. And the results of the poll are interesting, too--most people seem to think Flack does love Danny by one of the definitions of what love is. And 11 people (so far)--close to a third--voted yes for the second question. I really do think it's interesting to look at Flack's behavior towards Danny and think about how we'd interpret it if Danny was a woman.
Faylinn said:
I want Fay to have something good to come back to.
:lol: I love it, dahling.
Had to welcome my
Fay back in style!
I voted yes for the first question--not even bringing slash into the picture, Flack loves Danny. Whether as a friend or as family, there's love there. You don't go that far out of your way for someone you don't care about--and Flack definitely goes out of his way. I'm sure a lot of people shrink away from the idea of saying that two guys 'love' each other, but we need to get over that. Love comes in many forms, and the way Flack cares for Danny should be embraced, not shied away from because it might be seen as 'gay'. *le sigh*
Agreed. I think the brotherly love aspect that people have brought up is definitely a valid interpretation. And I think it's easier to look at say, Mac and Stella and say they love each other in a platonic way than maybe it is for some to look at Danny and Flack and say the same thing.
For the second question, I was going between yes and the first no--I don't think that's what the writers are going for, as Top said, but at the same time, I think if Danny were a woman, it would still be viewed as romantic chemistry and subtext.
I can't help but think that as well. I mean, look at Flack and Angell--a few lines of flirty banter, a look or two exchanged and a coffee date set. Almost everyone seems to interpret that romantically. Flack and Danny have had coffee and drinks together on multiple occasions, Danny turns to Flack for comfort and emotional solace, Flack goes out of his way to be there for Danny--I think, if Danny was a woman, there'd be lots of discussion about Flack having romantic feelings for 'her.'
I don't know if I can really compare Danny and Lindsay that way. Danny's a person while Lindsay is still a cardboard cut-out. I see Danny's behavior as awkward (because he's not sure he deserves Flack's attention, sometimes he's not sure how to respond, etc), as well as oblivious in a way (maybe sometimes he reacts negatively to Flack's behavior because he sees it as 'I don't think you can handle it' rather than 'I want to help you' [this past episode, for example], etc)--I don't get the same type of 'selfish' feelings when it comes to Danny and Lindsay. They're just so very different...
I think there are definitely lots of differences between Danny and Lindsay's behavior--Danny's never manipulated Flack like Lindsay did to him in "Oedipus Hex" for example--but I do think it's fair to say there are some similarities, and that Danny relies on Flack--and has throughout the run of the show--much in the way Lindsay relied on him in season three. To be fair, Flack has done a lot more for Danny than Danny has for Lindsay.
Sammy11 said:
I think Flack already loves Danny (slash/non-slash). I also agree that his behaviour towards Danny would be interpreted differently by (i'm putting myself out here) ALL viewers if Danny were a Danielle, forget someone flying across the country for a court case, that's nothing compared to what Flack does for Danny!
That's how I feel as well. There'd be a lot of discussion on why Flack does what he does for Danny if Danny was a woman. And maybe that's a failing on our part, too--why does someone going out of his or her way for someone on the opposite gender have to be romantic? Maybe that person is just really generous. But I think after seeing it happen again and again makes one think, "Hmmmm, maybe there's something there."
And what Danny allows (and possibly expects) Flack to do for him - you may feel the "allows" is a funny turn of phrase but Danny could just shut Don out, but he never does. His bratty "mind your own business" comment to Flack will be forgiven (we know that we all say things when we are upset often to the people that we love who don't deserve it) as is their relationship, Flack doesn't expect anything from Danny in return, possibly because he knows that within that particular relationship the other person isn't emotionally capable of doing so (unless TPTB want a nice little romance
).
Danny does let Flack do a lot for him, and he has no problems calling on Flack when he needs him. I do think if Danny was a woman, we'd also be accusing him of taking advantage of Flack's feelings for him, much in the way Lindsay got accused of the same thing with Danny last season.
I also think Flack loves Stella not in a ship though(I am a D/F girl!!), but it's his feeling's for Danny that over ride his judgement.
I agree with this, too--the way Flack behaved with Stella in "All Access" proved how much he cared about her. Flack knows how to read people, and I think he's much more gentle with Danny than he was with Stella, because he knows Stella would have resented it and would have felt she was being condescended to. But yes, on the second point, Flack would have called in Rikki if he'd had his way, but care for Danny was what made him not do it, or haul Rikki in after she aimed the gun at Ollie. I'd argue those are acts of love.
nattybatty55 said:
Well I chose Yes and No (the second)
We all know that they probably have known each other for a long time (see Blink quotes) and they love ach other like Brother and if Danny was female while can't they have a Brother/Sister relationship with you sometimes see between Danny/Stella
I mean, one or two male friends who I have known for a very long time and treat them like brothers!
I actually saw something romantic between Danny and Stella back in the beginning of the show, but I know what you're saying. I kind of think Flack and Stella have a brother-sister relationship. Same with Mac and Stella (in my eyes). Still, just looking at all Flack's done for Danny...if Danny was a pretty, brown-haired girl as opposed to a pretty, brown-haired boy, I think there'd be a different read on Flack's behavior from many.
PerfectAnomaly said:
Flack definitely loves Danny. What we see Flack do and say toward Danny on the show (without adding any opinion of implied subtext) is what I'd call a familial love. I think that cops, firefighters, etc., naturally share a deep bond because they rely on each other in life and death situations on a daily basis. We've all heard of people in those lines of work refer to "the brotherhood" (which is sexist, but that's another discussion) and the way Flack behaves around Danny is a crystal clear example of that.
Agreed, definitely.
I also think that Flack is in love with Danny, and that if Danny were "Danielle" there'd be no doubt they'd be the most popular ship on the show. As others have said, CBS will never go there because the American public isn't ready for it. We will accept gay characters in sitcoms, because it's easy to accept when we are allowed to laugh at the characters. But portraying a real homosexual relationship where the two people are very much like the average couple still threatens many people. It's a sad commentary on our society, but it's true.
Agreed, and I think it would have been a very daring storyline indeed if the writers had gone with Flack being in love with Danny even if the feelings weren't mutual.
You bring up another good question about Lindsay, Top. I think American women in general are very hard on each other. Bitchy and judgmental, even. I can certainly see how people would be too hard on Lindsay because she's with Danny, who many see as attractive and sexy. A lot of American women, even if we don't want to admit it, are driven in their relationships (consciously or subconsciously) by a certain degree of jealousy of other women. That's something society has pounded into our heads since we took our first breath outside of the womb. It's another sad commentary on our society.
I think jealousy is part of it, but women do just tend to be harder on and more judgmental of other women. To be totally fair, there are parallels between Danny and Lindsay's behavior. Danny does think of other people while Lindsay always seems to be coddling her own feelings but still, Danny leans on Flack more than Lindsay has ever leaned on him, and from what we've seen, gives little back in return.
I don't see that as being a motivator for the dislike of Lindsay, however. Many people who dislike Lindsay have commented positively on Danny's chemistry with other women (Angell, the dominatrix, subway girl, etc.) What it boils down to for me is Lindsay has been developed half-assed from day one. The actress's performance of Lindsay has been half-assed from day one. It's impossible for me understand or like a character when I can't determine what her personality is or what motivates her actions and words. If that was communicated better, my feelings for her would possibly be very different.
No, I agree it's not the reason most dislike her, but some--myself included--have been hard on her for treatment of Danny. Danny definitely relies on Flack always being there for him, and I think if Danny was a woman, we'd be harder on him. Why is it
always Flack going out of his way for Danny and never the reverse? If Danny was a woman, we'd hear more about that I think. Why is the behavior okay with Danny being that way to Flack but not Lindsay to Danny? I think I'd go so far as to say both Danny and Lindsay have taken advantage of the feelings that others have for them.
