Philip might even, on some level, ultimately enjoy it more in a way because it speaks to the natural way he sort of is--fluid in different personalities--I just think it could be emotionally trickier if they try to use one of his personalities that he specifically uses to keep things separate while spying in a psychological sense.
Yes, yes, yes! This is exactly the sort of thing I meant when I said it could be revealing of the kind of person he is in a way that the two of them aren't used to.
I also agree with you that he would probably ultimately find it hugely exciting if he can uncouple it from all the levels of discomfort the very idea would bring up. Because for him, I really do think that sort of roleplay would be more than just being a side entrance to having rougher sex with his wife. It would be having sex with someone his Philip self both loves and finds very sexually attractive, but as what amounts to an entirely different person. That would access all sorts of aspects of his malleability that don't usually enter into his relationship with Elizabeth at all. And I think that would probably be an enormous turnon for him, but that it will take some doing to get to the turnon under all the discomfort.
Like Elizabeth would potentially enjoy more aggression from him in bed, but would probably be triggered and unhappy if they did something that came too close to reenacting the rape.
I actually think she's not worried about that at all. She seems very firmly in control of the situation as she brings it up, and not at all tentative about it. She's even kind of baiting him, challenging him (which is both hilarious and delightful). I definitely think that's one of the things he is thinking about, though, and one of the huge aspects of his discomfort.
Seriously, though, every time I think about this scene at all, one track of my brain is still stuck on I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING THERE. Because I CAN'T. :) My god, this show. How does this show even exist?
Re: Philip as "Clark"
Yes, yes, yes! This is exactly the sort of thing I meant when I said it could be revealing of the kind of person he is in a way that the two of them aren't used to.
I also agree with you that he would probably ultimately find it hugely exciting if he can uncouple it from all the levels of discomfort the very idea would bring up. Because for him, I really do think that sort of roleplay would be more than just being a side entrance to having rougher sex with his wife. It would be having sex with someone his Philip self both loves and finds very sexually attractive, but as what amounts to an entirely different person. That would access all sorts of aspects of his malleability that don't usually enter into his relationship with Elizabeth at all. And I think that would probably be an enormous turnon for him, but that it will take some doing to get to the turnon under all the discomfort.
Like Elizabeth would potentially enjoy more aggression from him in bed, but would probably be triggered and unhappy if they did something that came too close to reenacting the rape.
I actually think she's not worried about that at all. She seems very firmly in control of the situation as she brings it up, and not at all tentative about it. She's even kind of baiting him, challenging him (which is both hilarious and delightful). I definitely think that's one of the things he is thinking about, though, and one of the huge aspects of his discomfort.
Seriously, though, every time I think about this scene at all, one track of my brain is still stuck on I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING THERE. Because I CAN'T. :) My god, this show. How does this show even exist?
-J