Interesting. I came away not liking Diane or Will or the firm after that episode. For the first time, I found myself beginning to seriously doubt their motives and character. That last lingering shot on Diane — what was she thinking? She clearly wasn’t happy with Alicia. I want to know what wheels were turning in her head.
I joined the show in season two, so I don’t the know early Peter. All I can see is that the direction, writing and acting are all signaling “sincerity” to me. If they are setting us up for dirty dealings, I’d have to say it’s almost a cheat, since we’re given no hints whatsoever. You can’t write, direct and perform the character that straight and then pull the rug out. That’s just cheap.
And it’s why I’m wondering about Diane. The directing, the shots, are communicating something, but I’m not yet sure what. It does seem to me to be ominous, though. I’d almost bank on Diane surprising us more than Peter. (I know you like her; so do I.)
You’re right, that last shot of Diane was very telling; like you, I’m not sure exactly what it was telling us. Is Diane upset that Alicia isn’t appreciative enough? Is she worried that Alicia might be a threat one day? Maybe Alicia isn’t proving to be as easy to manipulate as Diane expected?
I hope Peter is sincere, too. I loved how he stepped in to diffuse the Maddie/Alicia face-off at the leadership event. He seemed in tune with Alicia; that suggests good things for their relationship. I guess I’ve watched too many shows that are willing to pull the cheap shot fake-out (Steven Moffat seasons of Doctor Who, I’m lookin’ at you!), so I can be skeptical sometimes.
The main way I read it is that she was turned off by Alicia’s put on behavior at the party. As you suggest, there are various reasons why she might feel that way: disappointment in Alicia’s idealism might be another take. When the director ends on Diane, rather than Alicia who’s key in the ep, and Diane is looking off like that… I dunno, creeped me out.
But I didn’t mention this. The party creeped me out and was a key driver in my disappointment with Will and Diane. They just squeaked by a firm-threatening financial difficulties problem, and they celebrate with a catered party. That’s your Wall Street Bonus thing, right there. Humility seems called for. Serious, “Let’s get back to work” seems called for. Not cracking open the champagne.
Now maybe that’s just me; work’s kind of bumming me out, so I’m kind of cranky these days. That whole episode got me questioning the firm and Diane and Will. And I have to say, Will has seemed borderline to me many times before. It always seems to resolve in his favor, but there seem to be … undercurrents.
Pop Goddess 
Interesting. I came away not liking Diane or Will or the firm after that episode. For the first time, I found myself beginning to seriously doubt their motives and character. That last lingering shot on Diane — what was she thinking? She clearly wasn’t happy with Alicia. I want to know what wheels were turning in her head.
I joined the show in season two, so I don’t the know early Peter. All I can see is that the direction, writing and acting are all signaling “sincerity” to me. If they are setting us up for dirty dealings, I’d have to say it’s almost a cheat, since we’re given no hints whatsoever. You can’t write, direct and perform the character that straight and then pull the rug out. That’s just cheap.
And it’s why I’m wondering about Diane. The directing, the shots, are communicating something, but I’m not yet sure what. It does seem to me to be ominous, though. I’d almost bank on Diane surprising us more than Peter. (I know you like her; so do I.)
You’re right, that last shot of Diane was very telling; like you, I’m not sure exactly what it was telling us. Is Diane upset that Alicia isn’t appreciative enough? Is she worried that Alicia might be a threat one day? Maybe Alicia isn’t proving to be as easy to manipulate as Diane expected?
I hope Peter is sincere, too. I loved how he stepped in to diffuse the Maddie/Alicia face-off at the leadership event. He seemed in tune with Alicia; that suggests good things for their relationship. I guess I’ve watched too many shows that are willing to pull the cheap shot fake-out (Steven Moffat seasons of Doctor Who, I’m lookin’ at you!), so I can be skeptical sometimes.
The main way I read it is that she was turned off by Alicia’s put on behavior at the party. As you suggest, there are various reasons why she might feel that way: disappointment in Alicia’s idealism might be another take. When the director ends on Diane, rather than Alicia who’s key in the ep, and Diane is looking off like that… I dunno, creeped me out.
But I didn’t mention this. The party creeped me out and was a key driver in my disappointment with Will and Diane. They just squeaked by a firm-threatening financial difficulties problem, and they celebrate with a catered party. That’s your Wall Street Bonus thing, right there. Humility seems called for. Serious, “Let’s get back to work” seems called for. Not cracking open the champagne.
Now maybe that’s just me; work’s kind of bumming me out, so I’m kind of cranky these days. That whole episode got me questioning the firm and Diane and Will. And I have to say, Will has seemed borderline to me many times before. It always seems to resolve in his favor, but there seem to be … undercurrents.