Ok, Todd Manning, meet Rebecca Lewis! Thanks Juju!
"Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord" Rebecca says it first, and it is a theme later, as we know. He basically sends her away!
I love these scenes. Roger just lays it on thick. When he first gets thrown in solitary, he has to talk to himself to get through, and if he doesn't, he will crack! When he finds that pamphlet in his pocket, it's strange, he clearly comes up with an idea, but it's that pamphlet and Rebecca that eventually really DO start the turn-around in his life. Throughout this whole story, we see him "attempt" to take advantage of Rebecca, but at the same time, he's actually being changed by her and doesn't even see it until much later, when it's actually too late in a lot of ways. Perfectly done.
Todd puts on the "solitary changed me act" with Powell, thus starting his "ruse" that actually becomes, over time, the truth in a lot of ways. But it takes a LONG JOURNEY for him to see and make those changes he is not even realizing he's making. He tries to seem sincere here, but...."Have faith" is REALLY what's happening even though he can't see it and this is what I LOVED about the Todd and Rebecca thing. She WAS CHANGING HIM, even though he thought he was using her to do the dastardly things that he does. And, in a way, he DOES use her, but he also DOES change. That's the best thing about the writing then - the writers just seemed to have a vested interest in his character and how to best develop it on so many levels.
So, he's reborn in this clip, and in my opinion, so is the character of Todd Manning as he starts his interactions and relationship with Rebecca Lewis.
FAIL: NONE. With these actors, what can go wrong? :D
Sound off!
Once again we're given a glimpse into inner Todd.."Pete" has no time for do-gooders he has one thing on his mind, revenge, and although he didn't deserve solitary since Powell iniated the fight the time Todd found himself in solitary was indeed a wakening for him. When Rebecca's pamphlet came out of his pocket you could see the gears turning and "Pete" began to plan his next move. Todd has never truly been given credit for his brain but here is a man born with great intelligence unfortunately Todd's offkilter emotions create stumbling blocks for his plans. Powell is right to be skeptical of Todd. Leopards don't change their spots and they can be lethal if underestimated. Todd's "I found religion" act gets Todd some much needed relief from the abuse and overall dislike he's been receiving from the guards and other inmates. Now he has "room" to plan his next move.
ReplyDeleteComing up we know Todd plans on using Rebecca, he needs her naivety to keep his plan in motion. Truthfully he relishes in the fact that his friendship with Rebecca drives Powell nuts. Todd really doesn't realize just how important Rebecca is going to become to him right now she is a means to an end.
OMG......I love this story so much!!!!! LOL First off, the composer is a genius....coming up with that "scary Todd" music.....it is so perfect and fits so well! Second, it is so striking to me when Todd walks in the visitor room and Rebecca is there......it's like a predator stalking it's prey....pretty creepy....Todd in all his evilness and Rebecca on the other side of the glass with her innocence, poor thing has no clue! And that is what makes this relationship work....Rebecca has no preconceived notions about Todd, her soul is so pure she can't have them, she looks only for the good and will even find it in someone like Todd. Lastly.....in the scene with Powell and Todd after he gets out of solitary....I laugh out loud when Todd tries to put his hand on Powells shoulder and Powell pushes him away and in pure Todd fashion, Todd says "Im not going to hurt you".....of course it's all in the delivery, reminds me of the "I forgive you Marty" on the stand. RH is a genius!
ReplyDeleteLove the ironic dynamic coming up......with Todd thinking he is working Rebecca (which he is of course).....but really he gets "worked" more then her!
@ juju to imply that it's Todd who gets "worked" is slightly inaccurate. That would seem to indicate that Rebecca is aware of her affect on men and uses it. It is Rebecca's complete unawareness that gives this story the basis for Todd's change. the more Todd is with her the more he realizes that Rebecca is truly genuine. It is that very factor that seeps into Todd and makes him start to open up to her he knows that she doesn't have a agenda and truly wants to help him.
ReplyDeleteWell I didn't mean that Rebecca was working Todd in the manipulating sense......I just used that word because of the irony "he's working Rebecca but he's actually the one getting worked"....just a play on words......but she is working him (in a very positive way) and the ironic part about it neither Rebecca or Todd realizes it. LOL Todd truly has no idea how to deal with unconditional love......he has a rough road ahead with Rebecca!
ReplyDelete@ juju You said it. Tha can of worms that opens up because of this relationship proves to be the stuff of nightmares for Todd, a nightmare that Todd is going to have a very hard time coming out of.
ReplyDeleteGood talk! I have a lot to catch up with. But if you read what I have written, you will see that I think that Todd is in for more than he bargained.
ReplyDelete