When I first tuned in again in January, and noticed this new guy running around, my first thought was that must be that Danny guy I've heard about. And I thought he was incredibly charismatic, hot-tempered and rather violent. The way I interpret it, Danny, yes, married her somewhat for altruistic reasons, to save her, but also married her because he wanted her, he wanted to have her in some way, not just sexually. I think he wanted to bond to her, as the Santoses have, in some way. And I think that Danny was very used to getting his way, as both the younger brother and the annointed one.

It's hard to explain, but I've noticed when the Santos' speak of family, there's a very big emphasis on the possessive part, my mother, my brother, my wife, etc. I think Danny thought that that would be enough for him; they would get married, and he would be her husband, and she would be his wife. And when they were not working out, some of his latent violent tendencies came out, and he started losing control. (I really don't think Danny usually acted in some of the ways he did around Michelle).

But I think somewhere along the way, Danny's started to grow up. I think he realized that a) the marriage really was taking a toll on Michelle; she really was starting to look like a walking wreck, and I think she was telling the truth when she said the stress was starting to make her sick and b) he didn't want to possess Michelle, he wanted her to love him, freely, as herself, and not an obedient walking facsimile thereof. And if she didn't, I think he's started to accept the idea that they would be better apart, even if he had to love from afar.

I don't know if he really clued in when she was making excuses about why they shouldn't have the marriage annuled, but I think part of his setting her free did have an aspect of how he didn't want her tied down at all from that. I really haven't seen that violent aspect of him in a while. Okay, Drew was not a smart move, but it wasn't violent, and I agree with kristi, I saw a lot of Danny trying to connect with Michelle through Drew.

Off that topic, I could see what people were talking about with Drew and Danny (I refuse to co-join their names). What, you may ask? Well, when Drew was talking to Danny before the act and was talking about how she wasn't scared of him, I thought maybe they really are connecting. Drew is talking like a real person. But then, she started wailing again, and I thought, definitely no threat to Manny.

elle