07-06-2016, 08:56 AM
(07-03-2016, 10:53 AM)izzy Wrote: Oh this is under the heading of curiosity motivated by the experiences of my mother and grandmother (so think 1890 and 1920 vintage women) as well as my spouse.I appreciate that you are considering these issues. I understand that you are coming from a different perspective in terms of generational sentiment. Gender roles are kind of a hot topic right now.
I was trying to be vague in order to not lead anyone. But it comes down to this, Adalind was portrayed one way in seasons 1-4 and then very differently in season 5. From my perspective she simply changed roles somewhat among the choices she had. But then based on comments from some of the female members of the forum made me think women might see that very differently. And since I would much rather spend my free time cuddled up to a woman than a man I think it behooves me to strive for greater understanding.
Adalind is obviously a controversial character. She is also arguable the one we know best. I find it odd that Adalind has been a more well-fleshed out character than even Juliette. Juliette's got like a friend but no family that emerged, even in discussions after she died? Nick just got all of her things. Unless her family thought she disappeared? Still should have had some response from her family. Meanwhile, Adalind's mother was an actual character on the show not to mention Adalind's co-workers and other distant friends of family (?Frau P-something) that are feaured. Even Rosalee's got family that was featured.
I took her change as one that was motivated by motherhood. Other people are weighing in so here my thoughts on some of the things being said:
(07-05-2016, 06:08 AM)irukandji Wrote: I like Adalind as a mother, don't get me wrong. But I don't believe there's a need to force the point home by showing her at work as an attorney with her baby present. It certainly doesn't add any depth to her character, it just makes it harder to take her seriously as an attorney.
I took it as more of a choice that she wanted her baby there because she was too afraid still of losing another baby to want to put Kelly in a daycare.
You also realize that mothers are paid less than non-mothers, right? In general too many people think you can't take a woman seriously when she has a child be it present with her or not. Melissa Marr made it work having her baby in office with her. I'm guessing you are from an older generation though. This sounds like the kind of unthinking sh*t my grandmother would say. Otherwise I would consider this a troll-worth comment.
(07-05-2016, 05:24 PM)Robyn Wrote: Responding specifically about Adalind’s changing role in S5:
My disappointment & complaint wasn’t that she zealously embraced motherhood. I liked that aspect, and actually expected it based on her reaction to Diana in S3. Given the opportunity I think Adalind would have embraced mothering Diana with the same passion.
My problem is that the show equated a ‘good’ Adalind with a subjugated Adalind. While I believe Adalind would do whatever was necessary to ensure her and the baby’s safety, I don’t believe she would immediately lay herself bare and completely trust those who had betrayed her under the ruse of helping protect her first child. Adalind didn’t strive to achieve an amicable relationship with Nick for the sake of their son, which is what I expected/hoped for, she became mousy & submissive and fell hopelessly in love with him, never questioning his motives. That indicates Stockholm syndrome, that she’s still emotionally damaged with abandonment issues, or an altered version of Meisner’s brainwash.
(07-05-2016, 05:24 PM)Robyn Wrote: On the flip side, it’s worth noting that Adalind wasn’t particularly interested in returning to work until after her Hexenbiest returned. Her employer singled out her value as a Hexenbiest, so Adalind may not have had the confidence to return to work as a human. Also, she went back to work just before she told Nick about her Hexenbiest. Maybe she wanted to establish an income source before telling him.
As for keeping the baby with her, that may stem from paranoia. Have a child snatched and you’re likely to be overprotected with the other one. Other than the one time she left Kelly with Rosalee to meet up with Sean at night, I don’t recall Adalind leaving the baby with anyone. I don’t even recall a scene where Nick was home with the baby while Adalind was grocery shopping.
I definitely thought it was because of paranoia. And really, who could blame her? Losing a child like that would be horrible. It begs the question why she would stay with Nick considering everything. The show never showed Nick or anyone else apologizing for kidnapping her daughter, but Nick did go after Diana (made me wonder what would have happened if Diana did not get on the helicopter- would it be a family of four?) and told Adalind that no one was going to take this one. Plus, I think Adalind doesn't view herself very favorably. She thinks she is the bad guy and so kind of expects not to be treated well.
I think Adalind understood rather well that her situation was precarious with Nick and I do think her motivation was to have some kind of an income so that if he did kick her out, she had some kind of option for taking care of herself. Also, why she tended to act more mousy, in my opinion. Her sassiness came back as soon as she was staying with Sean so I think she was just trying to keep the peace by repressing that part of herself.