Flow of Madness

This is not the surprise for Rich and Grace. That’s something different! But this is quite special I think. 

I traveled to Verona today. Which is most famous for of course being the setting for Romeo and Juliet. In the city centre you can visit Juliet’s balcony. This is where tons of people come to take pictures of the balcony…and feel up Juliet (apparently) and it is also where young couples come to declare their undying love for one another. Either by sticking a sticker to the wall reinforced by chewing gum or leaving a locket behind on the gates of the courtyard near Juliet’s balcony. 

To make a long story short I got a burst of inspiration to leave something behind for Skins old fashioned couple. The couple that made their own life a fairy tale as tragic as the ending was. Reciting Shakespeare, fighting against crazy fathers, and opposites coming together in the name of love—so it only felt natural for me to leave a lock behind with their names on it. 

“Rich + Grace // Metal Man + Ballerina” 

Rich would roll his eyes and scoff at this gesture. Fucker. However Grace would be absolutely excited. We all know Grace gets what she wants in the end so it only felt fitting. 

Hardlet lives on in Verona. 

SO CUTE!!! :) 

(Source: dzonitesla, via fuckitdude)

I was inspired by h-a-r-d-l-e-t who wrote a lovely piece talking about the full transformation of Rich and Grace from the beginning to the first episode of this Series. The truth is I wrote most of this blog over a span of a month. I started to write about this idea of Rich and Grace transforming as soon as the facebooks were created for the characters. So I want to thank h-a-r-d-l-e-t for inspiring me to re-visit and re-vamp my thoughts.

Rich and Grace have been the most developed Skins couple ever written. We watched these two seemingly opposite personalities kiss tentative, love sweetly, fall in love, almost get married, and become adults through the love they shared.

Here is a picture of Rich and Grace from Series 5:

There are several things that strike me about this photo besides Rich’s face. Fashion wise Grace has her hair pulled up. Though her outfit is elegant it covers most of her body. Rich of course has his metal long hair and his metal t-shirt. They are both nervous and still not at a stage where they are comfortable touching one another. Grace in this particular episode says “I love you quite a bit” and Rich responds “ewww”. They are still tentative around one another. Rich is still stubborn and everything is new to them. They are a picture of young first love.

Grace begins dressing more like a woman in that she puts her hair down and tries different styles. She starts wearing clothes that are a bit more revealing. Rich starts dressing differently as well not all metal all the time and of course his hair is shorter as well. Not only that they are comfortable with one another. They have built a relationship with one another where they are intimate and are comfortable with that intimacy. Both of them have changed dramatically since they first met. Rich is more open and does not sulk as much as he use to. Grace for the first time has freedom to be who she is without her father or Mini’s control fighting her to play the peace maker. Both of them have matured mentally, emotionally, and physically through the love that they shared. 

No Skins couple has ever compared to that. We have either never seen them develop or one of the characters does something foolish in the name of being afraid to love that the development gets halted. With Rich and Grace we were able to see the transformation occur before our very eyes. The couple that started off with awkward flirting and a cutely innocent one second peck on the lips. To a couple that is so in tune with one another that Grace experiences multiple orgasms and comfortable post-sex flirting. Rich went from a guy who would never ever wear beach wear to a guy who will carry his girlfriend’s luggage and wear pink hearted tank top just so his lady can have a lovely summer. Grace went from a girl who would try to make everyone happy to a girl who was able to go to Morocco with her friends without her father stopping her. That is insane to me. Insane. 

This is why I am curious to see how Rich is this series. Because in episode 2 he was a man in love not a boy in love. Fighting to hold his girlfriend’s hand and wanting nothing more than to be with her. Trying to find solutions to problems. Then putting his own anger and his bitter feelings away to comfort his girlfriend’s father. Rich was a man. Now we need to see what kind of man Rich is going to be post-Grace. It is my belief that Rich’s love for Grace will be the thing that saves Rich in the end that continues to make him a better person and continues to turn him into a wonderful man. 

Rich and Grace are not a destroyed or sunken ship. Rich and Grace are eternal. It lives inside Rich and I think it also lives inside the group as well. They’re love was pure, fun, transforming, mature, and true. The best ship ever written. 

h-a-r-d-l-e-t:

hardletskins:

All my nightmares escaped my head

Bar the door, please don’t let them in

You were never supposed to leave

Now my head’s splitting at the seams

And I don’t know if I can

The fifth picture is fantastic.

Perfection.

I am so excited to talk about this episode. This is one of my favorites. It was a new kind of episode for Skins. The progression of Rich from the beginning to the end of the episode was a gradual yet steep growth. It was as if we were traveling with Rich as he held onto a strict definition of himself to a Rich who realized he needs to be more open to other people. 

The themes that this episode touches upon definitely has to do with issues of identity, understanding, and also issues of appearances. This episode was beautifully written and beautifully acted as well. It is just a gorgeous episode that jump starts the story of one of Skins greatest and most magical couples Rich and Grace. I also think that this episode was brave.

It is a very CHARACTER driven episode about Rich navigating through life with a very narrow mindset about how the world works. To striking a friendship with the persistent and kind Grace. It is about how these two characters help one another and then begin to want one another. It’s a beautiful story. It is also told bravely through their use of music. Metal and Classical music are not typical mainstream music genres yet they use the two genres in way of story telling. It turns out great. 

To help talk about how great this episode is. I want to list some of my favorite scenes and why I think they are important! 

#1) Toxic Bob the Philosopher of Anti-Asshatness

Rich is a bit of a tactless bull dog sometimes. In the beginning of the series he is clinging onto a label to keep people away from him. He is content with his life that revolves around music and Alo. He has this attitude that people who are not like him are superficial, mean, and fake. I think he thinks this for multiple reasons. However Grace is fighting to learn about him and his ways. This I think surprised him and I think he honestly has no idea what to do with her persistence. Because girls like her do not hang out with guys like him—it just doesn’t happen. So he acts like a dick to her. I love this scene because Toxic Bob is brilliant first of all and makes me laugh. It is also great advice not just for Rich. 

#2: Subrosa Meets Rich

This scene is key for me. How Rich and Grace seem to function is that one scene they focus on one of them and then they focus on the other. After Grace storms out and she is sitting at the tables Rich comes to join her. Then SHE gives him advice on how unreasonable and mean he is being. That she is like him in that they are both passionate people who love their music. They both have things that are important to them. The only difference is that Grace is not being disrespectful of his ways, but he is being really disrespectful of hers. Then you have this scene where Grace dresses up as Subrosa and starts to fish for what Rich thinks of her. Rich tells her the truth about how she lets her friends walk all over her and that she shouldn’t take it. Through this scene I think they both start to see one another differently. It was an awesome scene. 

#3 Rich is not just rejected…he is HUMILIATED! 

I think this scene is important. Rich is metal because metal music is so important to him. It empowers him and he believes in the power of the music. However I think this scene proves that even though he is metal—he is not fully accepted by the metal community. He was sitting alone in that metal bar before Grace comes in. This is the first time he is interacting in a real way with someone who is metal (at least that we have scene — besides Toxic Bob) and she rejects him. Not only rejects him but does so meanly. Rich believes in his very black and white stubborn life philosophy that Grace who hangs out with Mini would be the one who is mean, wants him to change, and thinks something is wrong with him. However it is the “Angel of Death” one of his own kind in his head that rejects him, judges him, and treats him like crap. Rich is metal. However Rich is also has a shy and kind side to him despite his snark. 

#4. Rich and Alo’s Fight

I love this scene. First of all it proves that Alo understands his best mate so completely. Rich has just been rejected by a girl that in his head “he should” be with and just got asked out by a girl he thinks “he shouldn’t like and should’t be with.” The dogmatic way in which Rich says “Never compromise” and “I’m metal” reminds me of someone who has been proven wrong; however, if he allows himself to change his position his entire life would make no sense to him. So he is grasping at straws to understand what is happening and he is scared of what this means. What this means to the question of who he is and also the questions of how he views the world. Going out with Grace which is something I think he wants on some level at this point…scares him. Because it goes against everything he has ever said he was and has believed about how the world works. Alo talks right to these points. Of course Rich goes off to prove just how metal he is only metal does him a favor and forces him to see. 

#5 Rich is Moved by Grace

Rich has gone temporarily deaf. His metal music has been silenced. His metal shield is down. He see’s Grace’s ballet pamphlet and he decides to go though still reluctantly. During her performance Rich sees how beautiful, passionate, sweet, and wonderful Grace truly is. Without the music in his head, without the excuses in his head, and without all his defenses blocking the truth from him. I think this is the moment in which Rich realized he wants Grace and that his stark definition lead him to a wrong conclusion. It was gorgeous. 

Rich’s episode was really a beautiful character journey that follows Rich from a closed off, narrow, and defensive character who thinks he knows everything. To a shy, snarky, and changed guy who wants somethings that metal can’t supply him. It is a beautiful episode.

I plan to post my favorite quotes of this episode in a separate post. Because there are just too many of them. 

***Gifs by everything-skins she’s lovely ***

Okay as you may or may not know my Mom came up with this theory that would explain the strange plot holes regarding Grace. The fact that Blood won’t reveal the tombstone being number one. It also fits the words that the cast has uttered in regards to Rich. That Rich becomes “mature” “stable” and essentially a “happy” character. It also would make sense why Alex is so protective of the story line and why Jess is “ready to burst” to tell us. 

Again I am not 100 percent sure of this theory. However it is a theory that fits all the holes and answers all the questions without taking the meaning away from Rich’s episode and the entire series in general. 

This theory is that Grace is brain dead like Professor Blood said. That his emotions about the debate to turn the machine off was a real one and his pain of essentially losing his daughter is also real. Only he doesn’t tell Rich the WHOLE truth. That Grace is still alive (barely) but alive. That she is pregnant. Blood would not want Rich to be involved and he is a guy who likes to bend the truth to save appearances. This way everyone thinks that Grace is dead he can hide the pregnancy then can have another shot of being a father with a new baby. The only thing left of his daughter. 

That is the theory. Again not saying it WILL happen but it is definitely plausible. Some people have argued that there is not enough time to set things up for this. It was said somewhere (I can’t remember and if anyone does let me know) that Liv’s episode is important for the whole gang. Grace still being alive is not just Rich’s story line it’s everyone’s. So if the story begins in Liv’s episode then it would not be as rushed. Even if the storyline does not creep into this episode but does in “Everyone” I think it is still plausible. 

Skins loves leaving things open-ended. Also remember that this story line would not just effect Rich it would effect everyone as well. So let’s say that the beginning of Everyone begins with Pauline (the nurse) in some circumstances calling or running into Rich informing him of what has happened. Then they show him appealing to Grace’s Mom. The episode could end with Rich entering Grace’s hospital room holding her hand. Or it could end depending on the time frame of the series with the baby being placed into his arms. It doesn’t need full explanation to be shown for what the story line is going for. Which is hope. 

I think that this would be if done right.. a story line we have never seen before. It would be a different take on teen pregnancy. It would be a “surprising” story line like Dakota has described Rich’s growth. It is totally possible and it is totally impossible at the same time. Which is why I love it. 

I think by next episode we will start to get a general feel of whether or not the writers are heading in this direction. 

Tomorrow I get to dive into the world of Series 5 philosophically. I cannot wait! I’m stoked. All smiles. Jumping. Dorking out. Giggling like a mad woman. 

Until then… I thought I would post a blast from the past. 

I wrote this right after Series 5 and I may change the wording a bit and a few of the items. However I think the spirit of what I was trying to say is something I still believe in today. I also truly 100 percent believe in the relationship of Rich/Grace. Truly. So I hope you like this old school post about my favorite couple. 

Blast from the Past: Subtle Development of Rich/Grace

I bet if Grace was still alive she would be really excited about today. Rich would be complaining about how this day is so stupid and lame. However while bitching he will be planning some nice thing for her. Because that’s what he does! 

Needed some Hardlet on this Valentine’s Day. 

One of the best Skins blogs in my opinion and Hardlet fan as well Everything-Skins wrote an amazing reflection on why they killed Grace which you can read here. Well her post made me think about something that I think is important as well. 

I think they had to kill Grace for all the reasons she stated. She was a character that lived in a bit of a fantasy world and she has learned through Rich how to stand on her own two feet and be selfish sometimes. She was always a whimsical old soul that did not seem to really fit in the world we live in today. Based on her father being the master of controlling image and reality along with a mother who seemed to have lost what reality truly is a long time ago. On top of what was mentioned that everyone seems happier around Grace because she kind of gives people of what life “should be” or how life “could be.” It is like a death of an innocent. Even though we all know that Miss Grace had a bit of a naughty side she was still quite an innocent mind though very intelligent. 

I also think that in order for the group to experience the chaos they are in now they had to break up Rich and Grace. They could not do it through normal means such as cheating, lying, and misunderstanding because this couple was too strong, too old fashioned, and too sweet to ever be caught up in normal Skins relationship destruction. Now the question you may be asking right now is why did they have to rip these two lovers apart to create chaos? I think that Rich and Grace’s relationship was the combining of the two factions. I think that their relationship was the the thing that bind the group together in the first place. Think about it…it was their non-wedding day in which the group came together and in happiness as friends truly bonded by friendship. Nick saying that they were there for him and gave him a place to learn how to be himself. Rich and Grace and their innocent love was the hope that all of these character got in one another. A story in which an innocent whimsical optimistic changeable artistic ballerina and a cynical snarky arrogant and shy metal head could fall in love and be perfect for one another. Both accepting one another for who they are and loving each other with a deep commitment. Their love is a symbol of how people can be saved by love and that love was stronger than differences. 

So when you kill the innocent and you break up the stabilizing relationship that held the group together. Everything begins to fracture and break. Everyone begins at square one searching for who they are and trying to find hope again. I believe that even though Grace may be dead or brain dead it will be Grace and Rich who will bring the group back together again. Because in my opinion Rich and Grace are friggin’ magical. 

Someone suggested I should put up the Grace theory as a separate post since people seemed to enjoy that one. So they can reblog and share to people. Without reading my other thoughts. This was my original post in case you are interested. 

So here it is: 

Basically I told my Mom that I would not buy into before I seen it a theory that says Grace is alive unless it does two things. 1) It allows for the ending scene in Episode 2 to still be beautiful and emotional. 2) It works. 

So my Mom came up with a theory. 

My Mom believes that Grace is still alive. She believes that when Professor Blood was talking to Rich he was telling the truth or part of it. There really is nothing left of Grace she is permanently brain dead. He is emotional about the decision he has to make about whether or not to turn the machine off. Only he has not turned the machine off. Grace is still alive and Professor Blood is planning on keeping her alive until she can have a C-Section for her baby to be born. The reason Blood lied to everyone about Grace’s death was to make sure that no one knew about Grace’s pregnancy and also to keep Rich from declaring his paternal rights. It’s a win-win situation for Blood. He has another chance at raising and caring for a child. He protects Grace’s reputation and gets rid of Rich. Plus he feels comfortable saying she had dies since essentially she is. Only no one can come to the funeral or know where the grave is since she’s not dead yet. 

When my Mom said this I was like “that works…only how do we get a sonogram…and how does Rich find out?” My Mom then said that she found it strange that they kept showing the friendship that Rich made with the nurse Pauline. They really went out of the way to high light that relationship according to my Mom. So maybe Pauline calls Rich or bumps into Rich tells him to come by the hospital. Either in Liv’s episode or in the finale to inform him that Grace is pregnant and that she knows that she is alive. 

I still haven’t worked with the details of this theory. But I think it has merits. Maybe he goes and talks to Grace’s Mom in the finale. It’s an interesting idea. So if this ends up having merit then Mini is not pregnant and her secret could be something else. 

What do you think?