Flow of Madness

So before I start this…this is out of a friendly desire for a discussion. Sometimes online the discussion part gets lost in translation due to loss of tone. But this is not mean to be in a lecturing tone but more of a this is how I feel and I am open to responses. Have to say this…been yelled at way too many times! 

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I have been getting into discussions with those who are not fans of the Rich and Grace relationship. Which is fine… it really is about preferences…but I wanted to address one of the most frequent complaints made by anti rich/grace shippers. The claim that the relationship was not developed. 

This is a fair claim. It really does get introduced in Episode 2, solidified in Episode 3, and then they are engaged in Episode 7. That is quite a bit growth that we do not see. However, I do think that the relationship is developed but it is told in subtle ways in the characters themselves. 

Sometimes when a fictional relationship becomes the plotline it then becomes vulnerable to nasty plot twists. Why? Many times in dramas happy relationships are boring. So the fact that they left the relationship alone this Series gives me hope that it won’t be messed with too much in Series 6 (possibly). 

So let me tell you how I see the development of Rich/Grace. They make each other better without aggressively trying to change one another. When we met Grace she was this amazing person who was bottling her frustrations inside. Not standing up for herself. Letting her world be controlled by Mini and her father. She felt lonely. And if you read the Skins novel you will really understand this side of Grace. 

When we met Rich he was this sulky and cynical guy. Who hid his shy awkward nature with a fierce metal shield. He rarely smiled or laughed. He kept to himself mostly and only had one person in this world that he relied on and wanted to hang out with (Alo). 

At the end of Series 5 we see a feisty side to Grace coming out. A young woman finding her voice and gaining control of her life. We see a young man though who is  still sulky and very Rich with his world widened and smiling/laughing more than ever before.

The development of the relationship they have was not in the sex scenes they had, or the sweet little moments we got to see, but instead we see it in the characters themselves. They both offer each other something they need. They both become better people. Yet they both fully accept one another despite their stark differences. Rich never tells Grace what to do or think. Grace never tells Rich what to do or what to think. In fact she gets mad when he cuts his hair and thinks that he might feel he has to do this to make her happy. And he gets mad when he sees her change herself to pacify her father.

Next series who knows what will happen. But I do argue that the relationship was developed but in a subtle manner.

As for the proposal…yes it was a very hasty move. However, I feel that it was supposed to be. That proposal was not done out of logic or even as a ‘this is the right thing to do for our relationship’ it was done as a desperate act by a guy who was afraid of losing the girl who makes him smile so much. It was not a smart move. It was instinct. I know I have done some stupid romantic things in the face of losing something that was just beginning to mean the world to me. I also think that it was Rich’s first relationship and he had no idea what he was doing. But they both made the right decision and Grace totally took Rich to be her boyfriend.

To quote my new favorite place at the fan forums ..for Rich/Grace. The good life is being a Hardlet shipper. I do believe this to be true. I also want to say give Rich/Grace a chance for Series 6. You may be surprised.