La_Guera said:
I disagree wholeheartedly. Flack showed a great deal of concern for Moran at the end of "The Fall", and he was startlingly gentle with Stella in "All Access".
I agree that he was
respectful of both of them, but I don't know if gentle is the word I'd use. He did what needed to be done with Moran and helped the man retain his dignity. He was compassionate. With Stella, I actually thought he avoided being gentle, because he knows Stella is strong and might have taken it as condecension. He asked her the questions that needed to be asked in a respectful and again, compassionate way, but at no point did he coddle her, or Moran for that matter. I was actually surprised at how professional Flack remained throughout with Stella, despite the fact that it's been well established that the two are friends.
Contrast that with how he's been with Danny--pushing a cop out of the way who was simply mouthing off about Danny. Rushing to comfort Danny at the diner in OTJ--not reason with him or present the case or ask him tough questions, but to
comfort him. There was nothing of the professional about Flack in that scene, which is part of why I loved it so much--he's very clearly desperately trying to help someone he cares about a great deal. In RSRD, he stands guard to protect Danny. I think he's noticeably different with Danny than he is with anyone else in his life, but the point of this thread really isn't to argue whether Flack is or isn't in love with Danny, but to offer it up as a possible storyline for the character since there's some material to work with there.
Even if they did decide to take that route and have Flack confess his feelings, if Danny is straight, it can only end one way: in Flack being rejected and possibly ostracized by his former best friend wjile the rest of his precinct rides him for failing to toe the macho standard. There wouldn't be, couldn't be a Great TV Romance without twisting Danny's character.
Again, not looking for a Great TV Romance--I'd rather see something much more original than that. And I don't think it can only end one way. I think it all depends on how it's handled.
And where is the solid evidence that Flack is gay or in love with Danny? In "People With Money", he told Lindsay that he'd gotten three numbers from interested parties during his recovery and was seen flirting with unnamed techs, and he was checking out the girls in "Jamalot". In "Corporate Warriors", he was eyeing the personal trainer, who was female. There is no clear indication one way or the other about his sexual preference.
I've never seen Flack express much of an interest in any woman--he's been hit on before, but he seems to take it in stride and move on. There was the pickpocket who told him he had nice eyes and the Asian woman who checked him out (sorry, I can't recall the eps!), and Flack didn't react either time.
As for him loving Danny, I don't see any clear evidence on that count, either. I submit that he does...but not sexually. He looks at Danny because they work together a great deal, and he's there for Danny because he's a loyal bastard, and that's what friends do. He hovered over Stella in "All Access", and I have no doubt that when he offers to exchange himself in an upcoming episode, it will be for the sake of everyone involved, and not just Danny.
I guess so--it just seems like everytime Danny is in distress, Flack is right there for him. Over and over. To me that says something. As for the upcoming situation, I guess we'll see how it plays out. But I think Danny being in jeopardy will add a layer to it for Flack.
I'm going to bed now, and I certainly never intended to go on so, but I'm beginning to resent the implication that the only way to revitalize the show is to inject same-sex drama. And that's the impression I get when this thread is opened despite the already-opened Dear Writers thread.
Actually, this thread was opened mostly because the forum has been deathly quiet lately and in dire need of some discussion topics. It's less a list of suggestions for the writers than it is a wish list of things that might help energize the show and take it in new directions. At least, that's how it was intended.
Interestingly enough, I was reading a thread at a ratings forum (
http://www.pifeedback.com) and NY's ratings have been on the decline since Lost went up against it. Lost is trailing by a little in overall viewers, but it's kicking NY's butt in the key 18-49 demographic. While I don't think the show is in danger of cancellation, the problem it and all the CSI shows face is that they tend to skew older and up against competition like Lost or Grey's Anatomy, tend to lose younger viewers. So I think it will be interesting to see if changes will be made next season in an attempt to draw in younger viewers.
CSI hasn't really changed--they've just pushed themselves creatively and turned out their best season yet. Despite the fact that Grey's tends to beat CSI in the ratings, CSI is still pulling in upwards of 20 million viewers a week. NY is averaging in the 13-14 million range, so it's entirely possible that they'll feel some pressure to shake things up.
