Essay #187

The Rustle of the Sheets . . .
Essay #187

"Stages of Danny Falling"

By Kristie

The question was asked ... When did Danny fall in love with Michelle? and this was one of the responses.

I think it happened in stages. I think that Danny fell for Michelle over a period of time. He was obviously intrigued and attracted to her in the beginning, but I think his free fall over that cliff took baby steps to get there.

I agree with everyone else that the Thanksgiving beach scenes are when Danny begins the walk toward that cliff. At the news that Mick "hurt" Michelle, he reacts as though he's just been punched in the gut -- as though his loved one had been harmed and he was helpless to do anything. This was not the reaction of a casual acquaintance or more importantly of a man who was eager to get to the bottom of his brother's death. He was shocked, enraged, numb and almost shaking at the thought that his brother could hurt this precious creature before him. His heart was beginning to take over his head and this was the beginning of that Manny dance.

Remember the day when they are all at the diner after Mick's funeral? Danny and Jesse have their little chat and Danny turns to go and says "What-- are we all supposed to be friends now?" He then stares at Michelle for what feels like an eternity before leaving. I've long felt that stare was Danny's way of marking Michelle as his own. It was his way of saying "I know you, I want you, and I will have you -- and deep down you feel it too." It wasn't a menacing stare, it was achingly sexy and in my opinion it said more than than his physical mark on her outside the diner when he kissed her for the first time. Danny had taken another step toward that cliff.

That next giant step is the night at the beach and the docks when Danny confronts Michelle about killing Mick. He is visibly relieved after she explains her hitting Mick was in self-defense, yet you can see his mind reeling and thoughts spinning trying to decide what to do. The torture on his face when he tells her to turn around so he can shoot her gets me every time. After he pulls her out of the water and searches desperately for a way out of their mess, he strokes her cheek and asks outloud to either her or himself, and I think it's more to himself, "If she's worth risking his neck for." He already knows the answer to this question, yet somehow by asking it aloud it confirms his feelings for her and he's taken another step toward that cliff.

It's my feeling that Danny's love for Michelle hit him like a punch in the solar plexus the morning of pre-Cana. Every time I watch those scenes I find that I'm holding my breath watching Danny watch her as she talks about her dreams, a connection to the man she loves, different backgrounds, and most especially that baby. You can watch that realization literally wash over him as if it creeps down from his mind deeper and deeper into his soul.

It's really breathtaking to watch. There's more emotion between them in this quiet scene than any of their encounters to that date -- despite the fact that the characters were so bent on maintaining that cool distance. I think even Michelle begins to turn the corner that morning When Michelle talks about that tiny little baby and he reaches out to brush her hair back, it's as if in reaching out to her he's fallen head first off that cliff and he really doesn't give a damn where or how he lands. The only thing he wants at that moment is Michelle and for Michelle to love him.

Honestly what a gift the writers gave us in those early days. We continue to analyze these scenes ad nauseam and I still come away with something new everytime. I'm blown away that so many of those scenes are being replayed and coming to fruition now. Danny still gets maniacal at the thought that Michelle could get hurt; thus all that nonsense about keeping her away from him after the shooting at Casa Santos.

Danny did make his mark on her that day at the diner. She didn't pull away, and there is that undeniable connection between them. How many times has he "risked" himself for her? How many times has he had to prove himself to her when we all know he probably never put himself out for anyone in his past -- with the exception of maybe Pilar. And pre-Cana, goodness, we're still in the throes of those scenes.

Michelle telling Danny she can't live with him or his background after the shower scene, Danny saying he'll change for her -- then ultimately after the shooting Michelle says that she knows he can't change or promise anything and that he is in her blood. So no, she has convinced herself that background really doesn't matter -- but I think for them this issue will rear its ugly head over and over (gosh, I hope. When Michelle talks about that immediate connection with someone -- Manny has it and boy howdy have they got it).

As for that baby, I still think it's looming in the future and I believe that we've seen nothing of protective mode Danny until we are able to see him with that baby, particularly if it ends up being a girl.

Good gracious, I just went way off topic; so sorry, old Manny scenes launch me into reminiscing mode and waxing poetic. Well, that's my view on the Manny world and Manny falling in love. As I mentioned, I don't think that there was one moment where he went from a careful distance to complete adoration, I think it happened with him watching and wooing her. Yet I happen to also think it wasn't anything he really planned. I think he wanted her in a physical sense and probably had planned on seducing her, using her, and moving on; yet he found himself consumed by and for her -- and wasn't it delicious to watch?

Kristie

Read essays by Liz M and Tracee + Read the responses of Liz M and Tracee.

Essay Index | Previous Essay | Next Essay