Flow of Madness

I was asked by an Anon this question: 
“You act as if Hardlet has been together for awhile when really they didn’t have too many moments…like at all.” 

I think most of my answer actually is in a post I wrote a long time ago entitled “Rich and Grace’s Subtle Development.” However I plan to expand on that post right here. 

Rich and Grace are actually the longest lasting couple in Skins history. When I say this I mean from seeing a couple come together on screen and then their relationship lasting the whole time. Some people may say “HELL NO! Naomi and Emily!” However things started heating up for Naomi/Emily in 3x6 “Naomi” and then they officially got together in 3x9 “Emily and Katie” only to break up in a way in 4x2 “Emily” before getting back together fully at the end of Series 4. Rich and Grace started in 5x2 “Rich” officially happened in 5x3 “Mini” then lasted all the way to 6x2 “Rich.” They were together for probably almost shy of a year without cheating or games. Therefore they are the longest and most stable relationship in Skins history where we were able to see the beginning of their relationship. 

It is true that in Series 5 they were not in the forefront of the plot. Most of their relationship development was done off screen. However Rich and Grace are a couple made up of a few epic scenes and multiple small moments. To me in relationships it is those small insignificant moments that show how deeply people care about one another. Not everything has to be an emotionally charged “Say Anything” go for broke John Cusack moment. Rich and Grace have an “everyday kind of love.” Moments like talking extremely close at Liv’s house, Grace having her legs over Rich in both Liv and Alo’s episodes. Small looks. Small touches. Arms around one another. Grace turning to Rich for answers when Nick tells a horrible joke. All those things are seemingly insignificant; however, it is those small moments that happen in the background that shows how entwined they were. 

This is why I say that Rich and Grace are the first non-married married couple of Skins. They appreciate the art of just being with one another. It’s easy. It’s not glamorous. It’s not co-dependent. It’s not anything more or less than what love is suppose to be…warmth, support, affection, trust, and letting your world shift from selfish to having the other as most important. Some people may not get the magic of Hardlet, because there was not enough sex, not enough tears, or not enough dramatic moments. However it is for exactly that reason I love Hardlet. They were real. 

So when people ask me for my favorite Hardlet moments I can list a million. Because every moment from Rich dragging Grace closer to him to put his arm around her at the end of their webisode (subtle) to Rich’s grand dramatic proposal paints a picture of an easy every day kind of love. That is built on mutual acceptance, honesty, devotion, maturity, and of course bickering/banter. 

Rich and Grace are developed…you just have to come down to earth a bit to really appreciate it. 

Master List of Rich and Grace Moments: 
- On the hill telling Grace that she is everything he despises. (5x2) 
- After storming from Toxic Bob’s place and Grace tells Rich he needs to be nicer (5x2) 
- Grace as Subrosa Scene (5x2) 
- Grace and Rich awkwardly say goodbye to one another after Bar Scene (5x2) 
- Grace asking Rich out only to be shot down by Rich (5x2) 
- Rich watching Grace dance ballet (5x2) 
- Moment outside after her performance (5x2) 
- Rich telling Grace to “Be Careful” (5x2) 
- Rich watching Grace on stage and crowd surfing (5x2) 
- Rich gets Grace’s text in the morning (5x2) 
- Rich asking his Dad for advice about Grace (5x2) 
- Rich talking to Grace at the end shyly and awkwardly (5x2) 
- Grace giving Rich the rock on sign (5x2) 
- Grace asking Rich out and that small kiss (5x3) 
- Rich and Grace talking closely at Liv’s house (5x4) 
- Grace having her legs draped around Rich on the couch at Liv’s house (5x4) 
- Rich having his arm around Grace’s shoulder while she asks for Rich to clarify Nick’s joke (5x5) 
- Rich and Grace’s identical judgmental looks at Nick at the bar (5x5) 
- Grace sits down at the bar with the gang as they try to help Alo and Rich/Grace automatically hold hands (5x6) 
- Rich and Grace’s condom fight moment and kiss and Grace declaration of feelings (5x6)
- Rich saying “Of course with Grace!” when explaining to Alo he just had sex (5x6)
- Rich and Grace waking up in the morning holding hands (5x7)
- Grace saying “Rich, I trust you okay?” as she tries to sneak Rich out (5x7)
- Grace trying to make Rich feel better about the secret with a kiss on the cheek (5x7)
- How upset Rich was when Blood said that he didn’t deserve Grace (5x7)
- Rich attempting to impress by putting on a tie to go to the Bloods (5x7)
- Rich’s drunk singing and comments to Grace (5x7)
- Rich and Grace’s conversation about Grace’s parents and him freaking out (5x7)
- Rich saying to Grace before the play that they need to talk she says later and he gives her look (5x7)
- Rich giving Blood the “Fuck you” eyes before nailing his part in the play for Grace (5x7)
- Rich calling Grace over to take a bow and putting his arm around her with pride on stage (5x7)
- Rich telling Grace that she is real to him (5x7)
- Rich reciting Shakespeare and asking Grace to marry him (5x7)
- Rich’s face lighting up as he sees Grace in her wedding dress (5x8) 
- Rich being all shy with Grace about his new hair cut until she touches his hair and he takes her hand (5x8)
- Rich and Grace in the car with the hippies she slaps him a couple of times and he tries to make her feel better (5x8) 
- Rich and Grace on the hill leaning on one another as Grace gets mad about his hair (5x8)
- Rich looking so happy as the ceremony begins (5x8) 
- Grace standing up to her Dad for the first time - an indirect Hardlet moment (5x8)
- Grace calling Rich her “Metal Man” telling him to never cut his hair again and deciding not to get married (5x8)
- Rich running with Grace across the field (5x8)
- Rich and Grace bickering as they think zombies are attacking them (6x0)
- Rich saying “I love you” to Grace as she thinks of a brilliant plan (6x0)
- Rich dancing to shit music to save Grace (6x0)
- Rich staying with Grace even those she is hurt (6x0)
- Rich pulling Grace into him while they walk away from the music shop (6x0) 
- Rich and Grace at the airport bickering about Rufus’s clothes (6x1)
- Grace giving Rich a kiss telling him he should never change (6x1)
- Rich giving Grace a secret smile as she is screaming about the holiday with Nick (6x1)
- Rich bitching about paying for a shit hole until he sees Grace (6x1)
- Rich telling Grace she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen (6x1)
- Rich and Grace dancing and singing (6x1)
- Rich and Grace looking so happy at Luke’s house party (6x1)
- Rich and Grace’s sex noises (6x1)
- Rich and Grace post-coital banter (6x1)
- Rich and Grace dancing at the beach party looking happy (6x1)
- Rich and Grace laying down on the beach while Rich gestures for a cigg and she’s like “hell no” (6x1)
- Rich knowing Grace is missing and something isn’t right (6x1)
- Rich completing Grace’s course work for her because he knows it’s important to her (6x1)
- Rich begging to see Grace and coming there every day despite not being allowed in (6x1)
- Rich planning his day around hospital visiting hours (6x2)
- Rich saying “I love you” on the phone to Grace (6x2)
- Rich telling Pauline she is the love of his life (6x2)
- Rich compromising in order to keep Grace there he pedals to the Blood’s house to beg (6x2) 
- Rich watching Grace’s home videos because he needs to be close to her. He needs to see her (6x2)  
- Rich breaking down to Alo that “nothing works without her” (6x2)
- The fact that when Rich has a fantasy about sleeping with his girlfriend it is not for sexual pleasure it is about having an intimate connection with her (6x2) 
- Rich begging Grace to come back on the phone (6x2)
- Rich putting aside everything to comfort Blood because he knows it’s the right thing to do (6x2)
- Not to mention the two voicemails he left.

Rich and Grace are epic. I miss them. I really really miss them.