Question of the week #6
Jun. 10th, 2013 03:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
treonb posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
theamericansThe two central elements of the show are the relationship between Philip and Elizabeth and their work. They are also parents, however.
So here's this week's question: How do you feel about the way the show treats these elements of their lives? Which elements of it work for you, and which don't? You can expect spoilers for the entire first season in the comments.
(There's no expiration date on these questions, so if you're reading this post months later and feel like jumping in, please do.)
So here's this week's question: How do you feel about the way the show treats these elements of their lives? Which elements of it work for you, and which don't? You can expect spoilers for the entire first season in the comments.
(There's no expiration date on these questions, so if you're reading this post months later and feel like jumping in, please do.)
no subject
Date: 2013-06-11 05:25 pm (UTC)(and oh god your comment about how Elizabeth must have haaaated that? YES THAT. YES. It is totally canon to me that at least a decent chunk of why she experienced their early lives in America so very differently from Philip was that she got stuck at home with the children a lot of the time and just SEETHED with resentment about the whole thing. Maybe not even consciously so much, since as their mum I think it's clear that she's taken on board some of the traditional ideas about what a motherly role requires, even if most of those ideas don't apply to her at all, but still. God, I am just cringing with sympathy on her behalf. And I still kind of think that the having kids together is the creepiest bit of the KGB Marriage deal. (I don't think she'd have had any at all if that hadn't been required, gah.)
(Also I wonder how much of the laundry/cleaning/cooking etc Philip did as a member of the family... my feeling is more than some, but not half.)
no subject
Date: 2013-06-11 05:40 pm (UTC)Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. She wouldn't have been overtly and consciously feminist about it (because of the way her culture viewed feminism), but she would have hated that role SO MUCH and felt SO TRAPPED.
Also, ahem, just as an aside, you will beta my current story-in-progress when I have a draft, right? Because, yes. :)
Also I wonder how much of the laundry/cleaning/cooking etc Philip did as a member of the family... my feeling is more than some, but not half.
We actually SEE him doing very little around the house IN THE EPISODES. It's even commented on a few times, though of course not nearly as much as it would be in 2013.
My feeling is that he does things for her only when he wants something from her (or when he's pulling his misguided chivalry/overprotective schtick), and that they're not always the things she would want him to do anyway. I love love love Philip, but he's guy and a product of his two cultures.
-J
no subject
Date: 2013-06-11 06:28 pm (UTC)(And ahem, I would LOVE TO, yes please! Send away anything you like whenever you like!)
My feeling is that he does things for her only when he wants something from her (or when he's pulling his misguided chivalry/overprotective schtick), and that they're not always the things she would want him to do anyway.
Oh, ow, yeah, I can see that. Him doing, say, the laundry is A Gesture - her doing it is expected.
no subject
Date: 2013-06-11 06:30 pm (UTC)-J
no subject
Date: 2013-06-11 08:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-06-11 06:56 pm (UTC)And in our case, forcing Elizabeth to be the stay-at-home mom is exactly the overprotective thing to do. Just like in the finale, I can see them arguing over who's going to do X or Y, and then Philip slips out the back and leaves Elizabeth with the children.