Thursday, April 2, 2020

State of the #SHEA part 16: The Bitter and the Sweet of #Shea Survivor Guilt


So!

It’s a good week for #Shea shippers… as in extremely good… as in Oh-my-God FINALLY good. Right?

And we’re gonna talk about it and talk some more, because one of the few “perks” of being at a season’s end is the time lying ahead to discuss all the things you didn’t have time to discuss before.

But… not so much talking about it just yet.

Because there’s a problem, and that problem is for every fan of TGD that had the jubilation tears in their eyes by the final scene, there was another one sobbing over the tragic fate of Dr. Neil Melendez.

There were also those just crying over everything—Morgan’s hands, Park staying with Casey in his final minutes, Lim and Claire and Glassman as each bid Melendez goodbye… maybe even for Lea as she stood vigil for Shaun, outside the brewery as the sun came up (even though we all know the titular character on the show has a little more job security than the rest of the cast)…

Yet putting yourself on the TGD rollercoaster of emotions is one thing, and feeling so sick by the end that you vow never to get on said rollercoaster again? Two very different matters.

I don’t think I’m going out too far on a limb to say now what I (and maybe you) were thinking as Shaun and Lea’s situation grew a little more agonizing each week—that somehow, someway, this was going to turn around by the final credit roll on March 30. TGD seldom fails to keep us guessing, but one thing that has remained constant in all three seasons thus far is that Shaun was faced with a “darkest hour” in his personal and/or professional life in the final few episodes, only to have some sort of beautiful “dawn” break in the nick of time.

Season 1: His mentor Dr. Glassman gets diagnosed with what is initially believed to be an inoperable brain tumor; Shaun becomes so obsessed with trying to find an overlooked solution that he makes a critical mistake during an operation… but in the end, Glassman’s prognosis proves to be much better than expected (and Shaun ultimately remains a part of the St. B residency program, though they didn’t truly resolve that issue until the start of Season 2).

Season 2: Dr. Han’s discriminatory ways lead to a meltdown and Dr. Murphy’s firing; it takes a bar fight, a hospitalization, and Dr. Andrews laying his job on the line (among other things)... but Shaun gets his job back in the last 20 minutes of the finale, and even gets a head start on Season 3 by making a date with future girlfriend Carly.

Season 3: Even in the most literal sense it was there, considering all Shaun and Lea’s most heartbreaking scenes all happened at night (starting all the way back at “Friends and Family”)… and then we had Shaun toiling through a dark, crumbling brewery basement for the past two episodes… AND THEN Shea 2.0 managed to become official just as dawn broke over San Jose.

Bygone conclusion or not, Shaun’s much-needed happy ending clashed this time around with all the other stories surrounding the earthquake episodes. With Melendez’s passing, though (and subsequent outrage from viewers), the clash is severe enough to leave many a #Shea fan hesitant to even express their joy on social media for fear of being verbally assaulted by a Melendez Mourner. Or at best, a comment like “IDGAF about Shaun and Lea, they killed off Melendez… I’m so done with this show.”

The fact that the TGD finale for season 3 impacted so many different characters, at such a significant level, is a testament to the show itself. The finales for S1 and S2 were complex too, but the lion’s share of the story each year was Shaun’s. Three years into the series, all of Shaun’s friends and colleagues are more than the supporting cast. We’ve met members of their families (save for Lea, which I really hope is rectified next season). We’re familiar with their lesser-seen sides. We have a deeper sense of what makes them tick. Consequently, everyone in the cast brings even more to their roles, and we (as viewers) “get into it” with greater intensity, as the CTV slogan says at the end of each Canadian TGD promo.

But there’s two sides to that coin. Death is the ultimate drama, I suppose, so it’s on the table of possibilities at all times- that’s why we feel sad even when a “patient of the week” that we’ve barely gotten to know ends up dying. Put a series regular at death’s door, especially one that has endeared himself to the audience, and things get testy in a hurry. My own initial reaction to the “who’s gonna die??” question about the quake was simple—and as it turns out, wrong (what else is new?). I said it won’t be Glassman or Melendez; they’re the ones being mentioned in the previews the most, that’s a sure sign they’re in the clear.  Welllll….

But another reason I said that was because I didn’t really think either character was expendable. Glassman for sure was not; although the continued gossip about a possible reboot of The West Wing (the NBC series for which Richard Schiff won an Emmy) makes me curious about what might happen in the future. For now, the character is a mentor to many and, more importantly, the father Shaun clearly didn’t have in his life until he was a teenager. His health scare came and went in S1 and S2, and he’s apparently now to the point where he can slam his dislocated shoulder into a doorway in order to, um, re-“locate” it. (Also… YEOWWWW.)

Dr. Neil Melendez, on the other hand? If I look at the characters on paper it makes a little more sense in that we haven’t gotten as deep a read on him as others—the only family I remember seeing of his came in a single episode, when he visited his developmentally disabled younger sister in the closing scenes of an episode in S2. Some of his development definitely came via Shaun—just think about their early days, when he was restricting Dr. Murphy to suction duties and, in return, fielding those direct-as-hell questions about his arrogance—but since spring of 2019, it’s been almost exclusively about his romantic relationships with two key women in the cast. In different ways, Dr. Lim and Dr. Brown helped “flesh out” Melendez, and obviously got countless fans caught up in whether or not the show should pursue Melendaire (Neil and Claire), or return to Limlendez (Audrey and Neil).

The answer, we know now, is a decisive NONE OF THE ABOVE (apologies to fans that are insisting Melendez might still return for S4, but post-finale interviews have been clear about this.) And it’s a gamble—a big one—to go this direction. But while I’d never presume to know how such decisions are made within a TV series that universally reflects positive relationships between cast and crew, I DO wonder if the looming Melendaire possibilities were just more than the show wanted to deal with in the #MeToo era. (Another post for another time; again, I love the fact that there’s plenty of weeks/months to explore things in TGD’s off-season!)

And if that means the show wrote him into a corner they couldn’t get out of—which happened to be the very thing I feared back when the character of Lea appeared to be in jeopardy (see my post about the “Mutations” episode —then wow, how incredibly ironic that Melendez was the one shouting for Lea’s safety during the quake (“Lea, get out of there!!”) when HE was the one who paid the ultimate sacrifice. (Thanks, Amy Danko, for helping with that realization!)

Obviously we #Shea fans are excited for what’s to come, but truth be told, I worry if the show will take a ratings hit over the Melendez decision. Only time will tell, I suppose, if sustained anger might lead to S4 being TGD’s last.

In the meantime, though, there is much to celebrate, and I hope TGD fans (die-hard #Shea supporters and otherwise) get to a point soon where we don’t have to feel isolated in such a hard-fought-and-won victory. Another thing said frequently in post-finale interviews (which I’ll give links to in the future) is that they’ve been planning for Lea and Shaun to end up together this entire season. Again, I’m not really surprised by that NOW (January was a different story). But what I’m trying to underscore is that TGD is always going to be a show that, first and foremost, is about an extraordinary doctor evolving in an ordinary world. What happens around him will remain fluid. The longer it stays on the air, the greater the possibilities for controversial casting decisions. That’s the good and the bad of any drama. (Just ask remaining fans of Grey’s Anatomy, which I’ve never watched in my life but understand it to be up to its eyeballs in beloved-but-deceased supporting characters in its 16 seasons on the air.)

You know who said it better than me? Fellow TGD fan Erin (@tncoffeerunner):

I know people are upset about Neil but the show doesn’t revolve around him. In my honest opinion, those that don’t care about Shaun or consider him second fiddle to Neil can stop watching now. You are watching for ALL the wrong reasons.

So go re-watch all of Melendez’s sad-but-beautiful goodbyes; they were, true to form, lovingly crafted by the TGD writers (probably Shore himself in this case).  I’ll get my scuba gear in order in the meantime, and we’ll begin our deep dive into the “I Love You” episode in a few days. 

15 comments:

Amy D said...

I started off hating Melendez because of the way he treated Shaun, but as he began to redeem himself, as early as season 1, episode 8, "Apples," when he defended Shaun to the guy who was angry that Shaun's communication difficulties led to his date getting shot in the convenience store robbery, I started liking him more and more. I thought there were real possibilities with Limlendez, and I agree that Melendaire was a monumentally bad idea and a #MeToo crisis waiting to happen, especially since Limlendez had to get approved by HR and they were still both attendings at that point. But I also knew that if I could only have one couple on all of The Good Doctor, it has to be Shea.

I've shipped Shaun and Lea since their very first scene, when she knocked on his door asking to borrow batteries. I was disappointed when they wrote Lea out after a handful of episodes and I figured, well, they flirted with the possibility, but since they had her move clear across the country, it's obviously not happening, because although Shaun wanted to follow Lea to Hershey, I knew they weren't going that route.

So it was to my great surprise that the day after the S1 finale, I saw a link at EW.com that The Good Doctor was promoting four characters to regulars for S2. As I waited for the page to load, I was wracking my brain trying to figure out who the fourth cast member was (it was obvious they were making Lim, Morgan & Park permanent additions). For a split second, I thought, are they making Andrews' wife a regular?

Then the page loaded, with the headline, and individual pictures of the four new regulars on The Good Doctor...and the fourth picture was of Paige Spara as Lea! I went around smiling for a week every time I thought about it. Lea was coming back! So the possibility would become a possibility again! I even tweeted about how happy I was that she was coming back and got a very sweet reply from Paige Spara herself.

The Carly curveball at the end of S2 was not something I enjoyed. But I've been through much worse triangle situations before (generally on daytime soaps, where they're almost universally unavoidable), and I didn't bail on the show, or spew a lot of venom on social media about Carly or her portrayer, Jasika Nicole. All the indications to me were that this was not a sustainable relationship, and after "Friends & Family" aired, I became more convinced of that than ever. It was not an easy road from "Friends & Family" to "I Love You" by any means, but I was determined to stick it out, because with every week's developments, I kept thinking, they are not bringing us this far only to deny us. Looking back now, "F&F" was obviously where the trajectory changed, and for me, at least, it was totally worth it. I'm a very happy #Shea shipper, looking forward to the limitless possibilities of season 4 already.

Amy D said...

As to Melendez's tragic passing, I have resisted commenting on Twitter about it beyond, "OMG, I can't believe they killed off Melendez!" And part of me still hasn't gotten past the shock. Actually, his death was preventable. But they do say doctors make the worst patients, and he knew he had that bruise on his abdomen and had fallen through the floor and landed hard, yet he resisted Claire's efforts to check him out and insisted he was fine. He stayed on site, performed an emergency surgery suggested by Shaun, with assistance from Claire, and of course, even before the dust had settled, when the first tremors of the quake hit, he shouted that warning to Lea. So yes, it is ironic that Melendez ended up dying. But he went out a hero in that he yelled a warning to Lea, he stayed on site treating people who were visibly more injured than he was, and he saved that patient with Claire.

And something I don't dare say on Twitter, because then every Melendez Mourner would come after me with virtual pitchforks and torches, is that if they were determined that one of the Bonaventurites had to die in this earthquake, the one whose death will leave the most lasting impact is Melendez. He helped train Shaun, and they learned a lot from each other these last three years; he had relationships with both Lim and Claire; he gave Morgan two great pieces of advice, one in S1 and one in S2, that I will always distinctly remember; he also helped train Park; he was trained by Glassman, he crossed swords with Andrews (although really, everyone has at some point, though this season it's mostly been Morgan and Lim verbally dueling with Andrews); and although it was their only onscreen interaction, he was nice to Lea at the brewpub before all hell broke loose and shouted that warning to her when the first tremors of the quake hit. Neil Melendez will be greatly missed, because his character touched the lives of literally every other character on the show, whether once or every episode, for three years. I'll miss Melendez. No, the show won't be the same without him. But, as happens when unexpected death strikes us all in real life, life does go on, somehow, even if you don't really know how at first. Neil Melendez's legacy is the patients he saved, the residents he trained, the doctors he learned from, and the women he loved well, if not wisely, these last three years. I'm glad we had the time we did with him. And I wish Nick Gonzalez the best in all of his future professional and personal endeavors. This isn't the first time we've seen a cast member depart (Jessica disappeared without a trace after the S1 finale, Jared left for Denver in episode 2 of S2, and we won't be seeing Carly again in S4 since she is very definitely, to Shaun, a part of his past), but it is the most final because, since this isn't Days of Our Lives, death is not reversible. (You'd have to watch Days to truly understand, but they routinely bring people back from the dead. People you saw die and have funerals and be buried. Seriously, Days has had more resurrections than the Bible.)

The residents are heading into their 4th year, and they'll have new responsibilities as they get closer to finishing their residencies. Park has to strike a better balance between his personal and professional lives, and Morgan may have ended her surgical career before her residency is even completed. And then we have Shaun and Lea making the transition from best friends to best friends in love with each other, who make each other more. I'll absolutely be here to see all of that!

Anonymous said...

Ughh I wrote a full page and lost it ! Trouble signing in! I felt very elated about Shaun and Lea FINALLY coming together. And yes I have seen the Melendez-Claire shippers angry rants. It was indeed a bittersweet ending but you can look back and see how his character was written in a box and had to go. Ultimately this show centers around Shaun and he is the only character that is safe ALL others are a toss up. And I was sure the way the writing was going, Lea was my bet for being a goner. If she hadn’t reversed course and revealed she loved Shaun, she would not serve a purpose in Shaun’s world. Melendez became a victim of there was no where for his character to go if he engaged in full on romance with Claire. He simply could not lead the Team anymore. Or Claire could not be part of the Team. Her journey is not over. As for Shaun & Lea forever Shea, I hope the writers delve more into them being a couple and making it work together. I don’t want to see Shea backtrack. There is humor and love between their opposite characters. We could see Shea get married or even have Shaun become a father.
Why not?

Tony said...

To any Melendaire or Limlendez fans who may have come here out of curiosity, I offer these words of sympathy. Please know that while I cannot speak for everybody, as a Shea fan, my heart feels for you. And may happier days come to both Claire and Lim in Season 4.

From a meta perspective, I appreciate that opening scene of "Hurt" all that much more. Amy touched on it, but I really enjoy how it allowed Melendez to "complete the set" of interacting with each of the series regulars at least once. Nicely done, writers!

I don't expect the show to tackle it, but I can imagine Shaun and Lea each having a touch of their own survivor's guilt with respect to Melendez. Shaun may wonder if he could have come up with something innovative if he had been at the hospital. And Lea may be wishing she hadn't been so eager for them to take that brewery tour that led Melendez into that fateful hallway at that specific moment.

Some might argue that "the" moment got overshadowed by all of the other negative/bittersweet stories. As far as I'm concerned, that is totally OK! Because I don't want "Shea" to be a moment! Like the Anonymous post above me, this has the potential to go all the way.

And on the flip-side of overshadowing, I'll close with one thought. I find very fitting, in a season that saw Lea seriously sidelined early on, that Lea got to have the very last line of the season - a very high-impact line at that!

Amy D said...

I absolutely agree with both Tony and Anonymous: Shea are so much more than a moment. I definitely believe they have what it takes to go the distance!

hippydippyscot said...

Loved reading all the comments and I cried buckets during this episode, so much happened I have now watched it 6 times. The death of Melendez was heartbreaking with both Melendez and Claire saying I LOVE YOU before Claire lay her head on his chest so he did not die alone then came out of the room where Lim was waiting for Claire and they hugged sharing their grief fot the man they both loved. Claire laying her head on Melendez chest
I was not surprised Melendez died as had heard rumours for a while that Nicholas Gonzalez and David Shore had let us call it issues with each other which were not resolved. David Shore is the co-producer, writer of The Good Doctor and what he says goes and you don't bite the hand that feeds you. David Shore has written off popular character before and i doubt he will be losing any sleep over it. In his famous show HOUSE to me the most popular hospital drama written at the end of season 3 and season 4 David Shore and the production team decided to have a clean sweep with all characters fired leaving just Hugh Laurie as HOUSE. There was an outrcry but the show became even more popular. So i really cannot see losing one popular character will really stop viewers watching The Good Doctor,
I am more surprised with the silent departure of Carly as the last time we saw Carly was 4 weeks ago in the morgue with Shaun who told Carly I LOVE YOU BUT I LOVE LEA MORE -that word more again. Leaving Carly in tears as he walked away, just like Carly left Shaun in tears when she told Shaun their relationship was over, no warning nothing and Shaun kept saying NO NO NO but Carly walked away leaving Shaun confused and broken hearted in tears against the wall. So that ending in the morgue was fitting as there is no colder place to say I LOVE LEA MORE.
Back to the silent departure of Carly, why has there been no outrage from Carly fans asking where Carly is ? Carly was not even given a send off, it is as if Carly never existed . When Lea disappeared for two episodes there was anger towards the writers who asked of patience, they knew how the viewers felt about the Shaun and Carly storyline and Lea was returning the next episode and changes were on their way. WOW talk about changes the last 4 episodes have been very intense.
Another reason I feel The Good Doctor may get even more viewers was the final scene between Shaun and Lea where Lea finally told Shaun I love you with all of my heart kiss and here is another, you make me more Shaun. Then followed by Shaun holding Lea so tightly as they kissed with such passion and desire that lasted forever and ended season 3, For me who is a real Shea Shipper the ending could not have been more perfect . The show ended on a happy note after the sadness of Melendez dying so it was bitter sweet.
There is so much more for viewers to watch in season 4
How will Shaun and Lea gel in a proper relationship as Lea has great empathy but is no push over and will not allow Shaun to be right all the time, Lea is used to living with Shaun and knows his ways so that's good. They won't be having sex they will be making love and Shaun may experience feeling of sheer ecstasy releasing endorphins which will blow his mind and be another 'more' i hope to learn more of Lea's childhood and why was Lea so scared of love.
How will Glassie react to Shaun and Lea relationship and I look forward to Glassie and Lea disagreeing with each other
What will happen to Morgan no longer able to practice surgery but she could become a mentor to new residents
Poor Claire has no luck, will she start drinking and having one night stand again or will Claire and Lim grieve together supporting each other
Will Dr Lim go further up the hospital ladder
Will Dr get his chief of surgery back
Who will replace Melendez, Park may not leave his family may move to him, perhaps Jared will return, Reynolds has left New Amsterdam which has caused a lot of tears so he will cross over to The Good Doctor just like Daniel dae Kim crossed over to New Amsterdam.

Andreas said...

I mourn Melendez and praise Gonzalez for his accomplishment. Over the course of three years he won our hearts with his performance on The Good Doctor. Both actor and character will be missed dearly.

That’s why Neil had to die.

It was the creative choice with the uttermost impact on the surviving characters and the audience. Shaun lost a trusted teacher. Audrey and Claire lost their love. The audience lost a beloved character. And certain portions of the audience lost their shipping. It is intriguing that the writers made Vera losing a limp – the show severed a center character, too.

Melendez’ death will shake up the character dynamics. Thus, it was a bold move with the ratings in mind. But then, I doubt it was the only reason.

If the reactions in social media are any indication, Melendez and Claire’s developing romance was starting to override the main plotline of Shaun Murphy. A fatal development for a show dedicated to portraying the life of an autistic individual. Thus, the writers took a full stop. With Melendez’s death every prospect of romance between the remaining regulars is gone.

Being on the spectrum myself this has a bitter taste. If a good portion of the audience of such a show totally forgoes the lead character with ASD for a stereotypical romance of two neurotypicals, how accepted is my kind? Are we relegated to the comic relief forever? Will I ever be able to prove myself in real-life? The messages of the season finale are even more mixed than Kelli described so profoundly.

But as the chapter of Neil Melendez closes, I shall close by joining the praise for the farewell the show gave the character and Nicholas Gonzalez. The writers did it in the most kind and yet impactful way. Melendez held the role of the selfless hero, sacrificing his own live to save other’s. Thus, they gave his live relevance and made his death meaningful. The overall theme of the last episode was death and renewal (the “rain” in the closing song). And while Shaun was “reborn” when he emerged the rubble, Melendez sadly got the other part. Death and renewal were the bookending of the episode. While Shaun and Lea’s prospect of a future got the closing scene, Melendez and Claire got the opening, elevating Melendez’s for a last time onto the same level with Shaun. The show also dedicated Melendez the beautiful CTV promo song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKGjd_01JiQ

And of course, the first lines of the closing song for the season belong to him:

Death is coming, carried on his crooked wings/
I can't do anything/
Death is coming, carried on his crooked wings/
I can't do anything/

Hold onto what you've got/
Put a lock on the door, double the knot/

[…]
Send The Rain (To Everyone) by Noah Gundersen

Dequan Seely said...

I love Shea so much❤️ I’m excited to see where the characters develop as a couple. I would love to see more development in Lea maybe meet her parents and why she doesn’t like them

hippydippyscot said...

Andreas I have always loved the song Send The Rain (To Everyone) by Noah Gunderson and had just listened to that song on the Saturday before the episode so a bit spooky, the lyrics are amazing. The production team are so good as finding the right music for the episode.

I enjoyed reading your views and your thoughts of the opening and closing scene but disagree that Melendez dying outshone Shaun and Lea with David Shore giving all of the Shea Shippers what they have wanted since the now famous MORE ROADTRIP. The final scene where Lea ran and kissed Shaun finally being able to say how she felt ending with both kissing so passionately in their own world not even noticing people walking by as the music played where the final lines of the song belonged to Shaun and Lea and were ones of hope and love
.
Send the rain, send my love
Send my love to everyone
Send the rain, send my love
Send my love to everyone

The ending was more than I could ever have hoped for perhaps as I love Freddie and Paige and felt their acting over the past 4 weeks was outstanding and them finally getting together was my 'more'.

I like Melendez and cried when he died but was more tearful over Park pretending to be the boy who died father saying it was not his fault his mum killed herself so the boy could die with peace. I cried so much I had to pause the TV. Melendez dying with Claire laying her head on his chest was touching, Claire has had such bad luck and finally found someone who she loved. Then Melendez and Claire telling each other I love You was heartbreaking but was pleased they were able to tell each other before he died.

I really cannot see Melendez arising from the dead, it is not days of our lives where around 36 people have died and come back to life. I loved it when they introduced it into the comedy Friends with Joey being Dr. Ramoray where after being quoted in an article stating he wrote his own lines. Ramoray was killed off after falling down an elevator shaft in 18th episode of the same season aptly titled The One Where Dr. Ramoray Dies. and kept in a coma where he got a brain transplant and was brought back to life.

I also don't feel the ratings will go down but that they will increase as David Shore end game over the past 3 seasons has been to have Shaun and Lea fall in love the other romances were side stories as Melendez had a realtionship in season 1 which broke up as she did not want children, followed by Dr Lim which broke up as Lim put her career followed Claire and their secret meetings but it never excited me like Shaun and Lea did.

Melendez is a good actor but not in the same league as Shaun or Dr Glassman who is an amazing actor or going back in time to George Clooney leaving ER where everyone was in tears but the show yet again survived. Another handsome actor will appear in his place likely from a popular show my choice would be Ryan Eggold from New Amsterdam who is gorgeous but that won't happen as Dr Max is the star of the show, perhaps Reynolds who is leaving may appear but I think he is going to Chicago med. The actors seem to switch from one medical show to another these days.

Andreas said...

You’re right mo_celli, the lyrics of "Send The Rain (To Everyone)" fit perfectly to both couples as well as the overall theme of the episode, but since I intended my comment to be a “funeral speech” for Melendez and his departing actor, I cut Shaun and Lea to a minimum, sparing it for another blog post of Kelli’s There will be enough time to discuss them until the next season comes up. ;)

It speaks for the creatives of the show that they were able to find a song that presented both aspects of the episode so beautifully – and in the right order for the love-lines underscoreing the closing shot of Shaun and Lea entering the next stage of their relationship. The composition of the scenes was on the spot and enforced the dichotomy of the episode's theme.

Personally, I hope that Melendez won’t be replaced by another attending because his absence will free screen time for the remaining cast. They have plenty of plotlines to follow up now.

Amy D said...

I agree that replacing Melendez is a bad idea, and I also hope they don't do it. David Shore said something in an interview about the senior physicians, the attendings, had been kind of pushed to the background this year because of all that was done with all four of the residents (probably the only one who didn't have an obviously prominent story this year was Park, as Shaun was in his first romantic relationship, Morgan received a devastating Rheumatoid Arthritis diagnosis that she grappled with the entire season, and of course Claire's mother died early in the season and she spiraled into drinking and one-night stands before hitting bottom and starting therapy), and IIRC, I think Shore mentioned something about seeing more of the attendings in season 4. Since I like most of the attendings (well, most of the time), I don't mind that at all.

And they absolutely have plenty of plotlines to which to distribute that time when S4 starts. I get the feeling we'll see more of Park in S4 as he works to strike a better balance in his personal and professional lives, and Morgan's entire professional future is up in the air, and of course #SheaAllTheWay!

I've been listening to "Send the Rain (To Everyone)" over and over all week, and they really did choose well in that song: Death came for Melendez, and love came to carry Shaun, and Lea, home.

Andreas said...

“Death came for Melendez, and love came to carry Shaun, and Lea, home.”

It’s even more than that. The lines about death coming are true for all the characters: they all faced death in the finale either literally (Shaun, Lea, Park, Lim, Claire, Melendez) or metaphorically (Morgan’s dream of a career in surgery), all had to decide to act upon the thread to either pursue their love or lose their chances of fulfillment. Melendez and Claire waited too long, Lea and Park finally reached out to their loved ones.

The loom of death made them re-consider their priorities in live. Now they can begin a new chapter, a new "circle of life" (“send the rain” is reference to the Holy Bible and the love of God, who sends the rain to grow the crops and give new live every year).

Amy D said...

That is brilliant, Andreas! And I agree with it. They did all face death in some manner. (Glassman too, as he was in the earthquake and had to fix his own dislocated shoulder). And it is definitely a new beginning for Shaun and Lea. And possibly for Park and Mia too.

Tony said...

I wanted to follow-up on the interaction among the different segments of this show’s fandom.

Kelli, this first post following the finale shows a lot of class. As the one segment of the fandom that ended things on an unquestionably happy note, it’s easy for our segment to be the target of wrath from so many of the others. Rather than fighting fire with Fire, I think the best thing we can do is demonstrate this same level of class and remain cognizant of how other fans are feeling. And I think the other comments in this blog post have shown just that.

As time passes between now and next season, cooler heads will eventually prevail. I’ve previously made reference to the more “big-picture” thinkers that are prevalent among Shea fans, and I expect these to be more prevalent as we get closer to “anticipation” mode than “reflective” mode. So as angry as some of these comments are - particularly as it relates to Lea or the Shaun/Lea relationship - my best advice is to keep a cool head, defend our own views as we see fit, while not antagonizing back. Again, I know I’m preaching to the choir here 😀

In short, to quote the Bobby McFerrin classic, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”. And have no doubt, many of us certainly ARE happy!

Kelli Lawrence said...

Thank you Tony. It just felt ridiculous trying to jump right into "the good stuff" without acknowledging the pain and difficulty felt in the rest of the TGD family, you know?

Thanks also to my other "regular" commenters (Amy, Andreas, Mo)... but I wanted to welcome Anonymous and Dequan and underscore things they'd mentioned:

Dequan: "I would love to see more development in Lea maybe meet her parents and why she doesn’t like them"-- Any growth in Lea's development and/or family tree is MORE than fine by me in S4!!

Anonymous: "We could see Shea get married or even have Shaun become a father.
Why not?" -- Why not indeed!!!