Xenos

Mamma Mia!!! Pierce Brosnan...Proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!

Oh, my, my, my, my, my, ... MY! Mmmm, mmmmm, good!
 
 

Rocket J Squirrel
"Hokey, smoke ... well, they don't call him Wrongway Peachfuzz for nothing!"
 

The running around in the park seems unlikely, but isn't it fun to watch? Also, isn't it a convenient that the car appears to pique their curiosity? But, again, fun!

Mildred driving the Rabbit when they're chasing the Auburn is a hoot. She's so excited AND so reckless!

The three of them at the car dealer are really funny, tap dancing the Auburn out of the lot.

All the moaning and groaning and double entendres are entertaining. And yes, the tape recorder scene is riveting and Mildred's not quite nonchalant entrance is hysterical.

I like hearing all the couples' stories, too, although I'm not sure that I like how Laura sees herself in Clarissa's story. It drives me crazy that she's so insecure.

Funny lines:

"Laura, why must you always assume that my intentions are criminal? Don't answer that...."

R: "I think someone's shootinge they us!"
L: "Why?"
R: "Because we're kissing! Somebody always shoots at us when we're kissing!"

There's more, but that's all I have time for. I'm looking forward to reading what everyone else has to say!

GT 

I loved the park scene, Laura is so carefree, the running, the kiss, the quoting of one of my favorite movies, "Splender in the Grass". It is just a lovely start and it sets the mood for the whole episode. I guess that is why we have the title we have.

The music at the beginning was charming, along with the classic cars and nice grounds. It reminded me of "The Great Gatsby".

Liked that Mildred had some great parts, her enjoyment of the Dark Prince's letters, her thrill at chasing after the auburn, her relationship with Laura, and the gal to gal scenes. All were delightful and so much fun to watch.

However, what makes this episode just awesome is the romance. Laura telling Mildred that there is "definitely something" between her and Mr. Steele, her acknowledgment that she "does" want to be lovers, and Remington saying, "I'm not going to stop wanting you". There is so much meaningful dialog here, that you have to wonder why it didn't carry over to the next episodes.

Does this episode set a record for kisses? We have the kiss in the park, under the car, inside the car, on the sidewalk of Bel Air, where it is apparently illegal to walk in, and by the grounds.

Liked all of Laura's clothes and even the blue baseball hat that she wears while working under the car. Remington, of course, looked his usual good looking self. They made just an attractive couple, didn't they?

Isabel 

I love that they do the grunting gag not once, but twice (erotic sounding noises, followed by the reveal that Laura and Steele are just searching the car).

Laura and Mildred gal bonding=adorable.

I love that Clarissa and Sam are just living together. Cute couple.

The tape scene: I am 99% sure that this was cut from the version that was shown on the Family Channel in the late 80s. It makes sense that they would have censored it, and it certainly seems that I would have remembered it if I had seen it as a kid. It's not like it's subtle and would have gone over my head: "Don't you want us to be lovers?" "You know I do." Yeah, I would have remembered that. I was shocked and delighted the first time I saw the episode on DVD.

Best line, as already stated: "Someone always shoots at us when we're kissing."

The plot: I actually don't find this plot to be more implausible than most other RS plots, and it's woven together rather nicely. However, the ease with which they locate the necklace is a bit ridiculous, as is the fact that Sam has been following them around without their noticing and that he brings Clarissa along! Ha! That's a man who wants to get caught.

By the way, with all the parts that Mr. Steele has in his desk, I don't think I would have bought the Auburn!

Right off the bat, Mr. Zlotoff has me hooked...The intriguing flashback set-up accompanied by the wonderful music and dreamy look -- GREAT!!! Clarissa running...Laura running...NICE!!! Mr. Steele catching her and pinning her against a tree -- YOWSA!!! One of my FAVORITE scenes EVER!!! And that KISS!!! OMG, OMG, OMG!!! Again, nice lip action by Pierce!!! (Two episodes in a row now!) YUMMY!!! [[kiss]] If your DVD player allows you to slow it down, most definitely do it. And don't Pierce and Steph look AWESOME in their picnic clothes?!?! SO great!

Love the whole "Dark Prince" subplot. I must say, though, that I'm a little bit pissed...That young boy writes better sex scenes than I do, dammit!!! "He longed to unveil the mystic secrets of her flesh, to run his hands madly across the soft, tawny curves of her shimmering form." "And so he took her, as only a man can take a woman, who yearns, who begs to be taken..." "The love she had protected for so long and now could not wait to have snatched...deep in a place so private she hardly knew it herself...oh, he knew what she meant...any moment the wave would crest, crashing through her in rippling undulations..." [[bigeek]] DAMN!!!

I love the whole "gal-to-gal" thing. We all know the special bond Mildred has with Mr. Steele...It's nice to see Mildred bonding with Laura, too! I like how Mildred is disappointed that Laura and Remington don't have that type of relationship. And I like how Laura acknowledges that there's definitely something between them.

LOVED Laura's and Remington's interaction in this episode...All the smooching...All the frank discussions!!! Did this episode have a mystery? I forget. Too distracted by all the kissing...and by the sounds of, um, you know. [[blink]] (Too bad Lee Zlotoff didn't write more!)

THE TAPE SCENE!!! OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG!!! This scene should be shown in film classes EVERYWHERE!!! All that luscious sexual tension!!! Good Lord!!! Lightening in a bottle, baby! Lightening in a bottle!

Great Lines:

L: What are you doing?
R: Oh, merely stroking a lady into revealing her secrets. (He could stroke me...I'd tell him EVERYTHING!!! [[bigeek]] Oh-ho-ho, yeh-heh-hes!!!) [[biggrin]]

R: Perhaps I should slip around the back and - ah -
L: Break in?
R: Laura why must you always assume that my intentions are criminal? Don't answer that. You keep an eye out and don't worry, I'll be very discreet.

L: If Mildred's not here in five minutes, let's look for a bus stop and neck. (YES!!!)

R: I think someone's shooting at us!
L: Why?
R: Because we're kissing! Someone always shoots at us when we're kissing!

R: Laura, can you honestly stand there and tell me that you don't want us to be lovers?
L: You know I do. (Oh-ho-ho yeh-heh-hes!!!)
 

Headscratchers/Goofs/Miscellaneous:

Does anyone else think that Berkholtzer looks like Jimmy Fallon in about 20 years?!?!

How did Mildred get away from Wesley Poon without paying for the Auburn?

Would it really be that easy to dig up the necklace? (I know, I know...Suspension of disbelief!)

Isn't Berkholtzer's wife-to-be a TAD young?!?! Especially given the timetable of Calvin's death to the point where she's marrying Joe?

Couldn't they get a better stunt-double for Mildred? At least get the wig the right color!

Why didn't Laura just do Mr. Steele?!?!
 

Thanks for reading,
Xenos

Mamma Mia!!! Pierce Brosnan...Proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!

Xenos, shouldn't this question be asked of every episode?

Love you post, thank you for participating every week in SOTW. I look forward to your comments, because they always make me laugh.

Isabel

"By the way, with all the parts that Mr. Steele has in his desk, I don't think I would have bought the Auburn!"
- Hah! I was thinking the same thing attagrrrl!

"Love Among the Steele" is mmmm, mmmm, GOOD!
 

Rocket J Squirrel
"Hokey, smoke ... well, they don't call him Wrongway Peachfuzz for nothing!"

Timeless Motors didn't own the car, Dr. Harvey did. If questioned, they could say they were retrieving for Dr. Harvey. Mildred eventually bought the car from him. 

What a great episode. Certainly one of the more romantic ones. And we meet the first of three "Clarissas" in the series.

I also feel like the relationship takes a big leap forward here....only to lose momentum in some later eps.
 

Memorable Stuff

- The whole flashback sequence done without words is just really well done. Hats off to Lee Zlotoff.
- Nice segue to the present day from Clarissa running from her husband to Laura running in the park
- Mildred and her "dark prince" - what an absolute hoot!
- Laura and Mildred establishing a "gal-to-gal" relationship
- Mr. Steele reading the "wrong" side of the piece of paper with Dr. Harvey's address on it. Cracks me up every time. Great delivery by Pierce and I love Steph's reaction when she realizes what he's reading.
- Phone booths in Bel Air? I don't really think so...
- Mildred's first car chase - she's so funny. Her driving is even more exuberant than Laura's.
- The kiss at Los Amantes lookout, sigh. And despite what Mr. Steele says, I only remember one other kiss (their first one) interrupted by gunfire
- The scene with Laura & Mildred reading the note & the emails from the dark prince, seguing to the discussion the "something" Laura and Steele have
- The scene where Clarissa describes her relationships - you can see Laura comparing those relationships to hers with Mr. Steele
- Mr. Steele returning all the left-over nuts & bolts to his office drawer
- Mildred hesitating to enter (and eventually sending in the "flag") the office as they listen to the tape of heavy breathing
 

Character Development

- Laura's a bit more open in this episode including willingness to:
- Neck with Mr. Steele during a no-business picnic
- Neck on a city street with Mr. Steele
- Neck at Los Amantes lookout with Mr. Steele
- Neck under the car with Mr. Steele
- Laura admitting that she wants them to be lovers
 

Favorite lines

R: A film dripping with passion and all she remembers is the running!
--------------
Dr. Harvey: You were walking in Bel Air? Isn't that illegal?
--------------
R: Laura, this afternoon when you suggested that we, ah, neck - was that just to avoid the policeman?
L: (quickly, firmly) Yes. (softening) ...and no.
R: Yes...and no
(they kiss, sinking from view)
(Berkholzer fires a gun at them, the bullet piercing the windshield on the passenger side)
R: I think someone's shooting at us!
L: Why?
R: Because we're kissing! Someone always shoots at us when we're kissing!
--------------
R: I'm not planning on cutting a fast tango through your life, I'm not going to stop wanting you, but those are the only guarantees I can give you.
L: (accepting) I know.

Hair & Clothing

- The striped, puffy-sleeved jacket of Laura's is just too 80s
- The royal blue blouse is a great color for Stephanie
- The green shirt-dress is just too short
- Dr. Harvey's pink shirt & cream pants, ugh

Goofs, Headscratchers & Misc

- First appearance of Rebecca Street as Jeanette (the bride). She'll be back again as Alessandra Henry in Bonds of Steele
- How did Berkholzer get away from the reception to go pull a gun on L&R?

Mick, isn't this a record? In what other episode do we see this willingness or as many kisses?

Isabel 

Just curious...and forgetful, I guess. :)

GT

I'm not sure what I could possibly say that has not already been said a million times...

But before I get started... is it *actually* illegal to walk in Bel-Air???

I (obviously) love this episode, but there is one thing I can't get over... How out of place it is with the rest of the series. I mean... we have Laura-initiated kisses, talk of being lovers, open discussions about relationships and such. Where is all this in other episodes? Where is all this in general? We, as viewers, are sort of given a glimpse and then POOF, it's gone! I mean.. NO, Don't dangle the dream then take it away!

I didn't know that TV in the 80's could air such "risque" sounds hahaha... the tape, and then again at the lookout (los alamos??..) and then again in the garage working on the car. I think it was Xenos who described it as "lightning in a bottle" and I agree haha. They really have such an interesting dynamic to them. It's an awesome pairing and I really congratulate them on a show well casted.

And of course, I love Mildred waiting outside the door, the expression on her face is simply priceless. And the Dark Prince was too cute at the end haha. But really.. was no one else slightly perturbed that a little boy who makes ME look old was writing about all those "undulations," "being taken," and such? Haha, ah I love that type of unexpected-twist comedy.

I guess that's it for me.. not really anythign else to add except "OMG IT WAS AWESOME I REALLY LIKED IT"

kbye

"You lived with a man who wears white belts? Am I disappointed"
BoaW 08/07