Below are my two cents on your comments, for what they're worth. We just
have to keep in mind that it's been a few years since I watched the
Sandbagger tapes, so my memory may be very faulty.
> Neil enters the show with a 'big chip' on his shoulder after an obviously
> embittered end to his marriage to Belinda. This has made him 'wary' about
> relationships with women.
Well, yes, but I think it's just as possible he doesn't want another woman
in his life because he'd rather have the "freedom" to perform his job
without a wife fussing over him. As I recall it, his marriage failed
because his first love was his job.
> His secretary Dianne provides him a
type of 'stable office-wife'
> relationship. She doesn't intrude into his 'private' life, but 'fusses' over
> him and organises him at work with mutual affection. This is shown in the
> mutual 'barbed' rapport between them ref coffee, age, etc.
Yes. I liked Dianne. Tough cookie, but had her own life. Reminds me of
a woman who used to work in MY office. And besides being tough, she was
nice. And a good sense of humor.
> Laura literally 'sweeps' him off his feet in a sexual way. She is beautiful,
> efficient, intelligent, with a 'hang-up' which becomes a challenge to Neil.
> She may be using Neil as a 'stepping' stone ' in her career, but this is
> not emphasised in the plot.
You're right, it's NOT emphasised in the plot, in fact that never occurred
to me! I always felt she was just plain unwilling to get involved in
another sexual/emotional relationship, although frankly, I never really
thought the reasons for her "psychological" problem were all that well
explained. Was her husband abusive? Or had she just been totally
ignorant of the sexual part of marriage?
Neil's inner, gentle shy & kind nature is
> revealed, when he shows extreme patience with their physical relationship.
Sorry, but I think Neil's kindness and gentleness were fragile creatures.
He could be kind and gentle when it suited him (Laura) but I'm not
convinced these were intrinsic parts of his nature. I think he'd been at
the job too long and some of the gentler aspects of personality were lost.
> He 'sleeps with her , but doesn't force sex upon her! In 'A feasible
> Solution' Laura even intimates to Neil during their walk in the park, that
> she wants to 'go ahead' with the physical side of their relationship.
Here I go again, the cynical Hilde! I think he really wanted her to WANT
a sexual relationship, he didn't want her to be half-hearted about it, and
besides I don't think he was the type to enjoy a forcible sexual act.
So...he was probably being sensible about the whole thing, which is a
helluva lot different than being considerate!
Neil > is 'shattered' in 'Special Relationship' when forced to have Laura
> assassinated in front of his eyes.As a result, he literaly puts up a barrier
> against any further relationships with women.
Yes, because I think he did love her in his way, even if he was totally
clueless about what kind of relationship they might have had in the
future. But...here's a tricky question: would he have been as shattered
if he'd had to have Willy assassinated in front of his eyes???
> > Ross keeps pushing Karen at Neil. In spite of Neil 'warnings to stop
> intruding into his private life' both Ross & Karen persist. The result is
> that Karen 'fails' miserably & concedes in 'giving up' telling Neil that she
> can't succeed against the opposition of his commitment to his job & a dead
> woman.
People who throw themselves at unwilling people are fools. No ifs, ands
or buts! Jeff was really stupid to keep pushing KAren at him, even though
I think his intentions were good. Of course, that brings up the
possibility that Jeff was being very Machiavellian...with HIS operate in
bed with his opposite number...hmmmm, would there be a power t hing here?
> Dianne provides another personal blow to Neil's security, when she resigns.
His security or his ego?
> Marianne 'Thing' immediately takes up the challenge, showing even better
> control of the situation. She becomes an even better office-wife to Neil.
> She is also attractive & intelligent. Perhaps if the series continued...
> Neil may have sought comfort in her arms after Willie is seriously shot.
> Any comments?
I think this might have happened, although we'll never know, will we?
Have a good day!
Hilde