Having recently watched this episode after not having seen it since it's original broadcast, I have to tell you, it's not so great.

In fact I'd go as far as to say it's just OK.

I have no idea why it has this reputation as one of the best episodes of Moonlighting.

Besides it being very talky and very soap opera-ish, it seemed sort of contrived to me. Actually, very contrived.

Making David have an ex out of the blue and then having her turn out to be gay? Yeah, and... the point is? They had to go to NY for this? And to have David even skip the funeral, and have a lousy scene in the cab? BORING.

And I will not even agree if anyone says it was providing a depth of character and a better understanding of David and Maddie's relationship.
You can skip this episode and you will not have missed one vital point about the dynamic of their situation.

The only redeeming feature of the whole episode was Maddie's speech to David when he walked in the hotel room, everything else was blahh..

And the whole dance sequence to me seemed like a filler- not even particularly memorable if not for the song itself (which is a good tune).

Sorry, this episode does not rank anywhere near my top 10.
Or top 20 for that matter.

I so agree with you on this episode.
It has never been one of my favorites. I haven't even watched it yet on DVD.

In my opinion, this isn't even a David episode - it's a Maddie episode. When I think of great performances, Cybill comes to mind. HER hotel scene is one of the best in Moonlighting. Other than "wit well run dry" and the hotel scene, nothing really sticks in my mind. I know that Bruce worked hard on the dancing - but what I remember about the dancing was that Cybill looked uncomfortable, not all the hard work that went into the other stuff.

Totally agree with you Kismet. This episdoe is more about Maddie's reactions to David than David himself. The dance is long and I got fed up with it but the hotel room scene is good and Cybill is fantastic in it

I always fast forward the dance scene bit to where they kiss, thats what i watch it for. Maddies little speech in the hotel room was wonderful ,i love the look on both their faces when his says "don`t go "(i remember watching that scene for the first time and sooo wanting them to jump each other there and then!!)But your right ,it`s one of those episodes that you have to keep fast forwarding and skipping to get to the good parts.

GASP! SPUTTER! SPIT TAKE! :faint: I am absolutely shocked to find that there are fans who don't care for this episode. I mean you’re all entitled to your opinions, obviously, but WOW this is my absolute favorite, bar none.

I actually missed this one during the original run, one of very few and when I watched it for the first time with the DVDs I found myself actually not breathing during most of the episode. It’s so full of emotion and those tiny little looks, whispers, statements loaded with meaning that have kept me comin’ back for 20 years.

I feel like I missed A LOT about their relationship by not seeing this episode for so many years. Mainly, something you mentioned, Tamm, Maddie’s reaction/feelings toward David.

I’ve always felt through the whole run that we had SO many opportunities to see David’s feelings for Maddie, and his softness under the rugged exterior. Maddie, not so much. It was so nice to see her stripped emotionally naked ;) sitting there on his bed. I feel like we get so few opportunities to see the emotional arc of this relationship from her point of view.

What do you guys think? Do Maddie’s feelings for David get equal time during the series?

I must admit that there are more good parts then bad parts in this one and you have mentioned them all .I have always loved both their little epilogues, hers when he comes back to his hotel room and his when he comes into her room.But there are a few that i dont like, - the fight that they have about Maddie not going to the funeral(i don`t like the way David grabs her face when he says"look at me"),also the dance scenes that he has with the `other` woman,and the taxi cab scene at the end,Dont get me wrong i do enjoy watching this episode. But i think i`ll sit on the fence with this one.50/50.

I'm a little shocked as well that some don't like this ep. I LOVE it. I liked the dance scene, but mainly liked it for the hotel room scenes, both Maddie and David's speeches. I thought the part about David not wanting Maddie to go the funeral was very funny, esp. where he offers to take her to one from the paper:D And the end scene on the plane, very sweet;)

Ooooh, I forgot about the last scene. I love the airplane scene.

This is still an episode in which I like scenes but not the entire episode.
I also like David's hotel room scene.
I think it comes down to the fact that I do not LOVE episodes in which I feel there is a threat to Maddie and David's relationship (on David's end). If there is a female around that can possibly take David from Maddie, then I have a hard time liking the episode. On the other hand, I didn't feel as threatened when Sam was around. Maybe because I liked the jealousy shown by David.

If you go back on some of my earlier posts (even on other forums), I felt the same way years ago. Big Man is not one of my faves, BUT some of the scenes in it are on my faves list.

Oh, thank you, Ryangie and adyjdy. I didn't want to be the only dissenting voice. I love this episode, right from the funny beginning all the way to the plane scene. One of my favourite scenes is when David tells Maddie he has to go to a funeral. I love Bruce's acting here. And when he calls from the bar to tell her he has arrived safely. There are so many great scenes but I have never felt the urge to forward through to them. I love the anticipation! And I love the dance sequence, yes probably more for the song than anything else, but I do love it!

Oh yes the phone call. For some reason I just love David's voice in that scene. And that he's wondering where she is, very sweet.;)

I do agree that there are some great moments in this episode and you have mentioned them all. Its just that there are other bits I don't like so much. Overall its a good episode just not a favourite for me.

Also in some of the scenes I get distracted by Maddie's funeral outfit :lol:

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who loves this episode! I think it's one of the best of the series and Bruce and Cybill are both wonderful in it! I think it's an important one for their relationship because they finally let their guard down with each other. It was a major move on Maddie's part to fly cross country for him and it was a major revelation for David to tell Maddie about his marriage, even if he couldn't bring himself to tell her the whole truth. I love the scene in his room about going to the funeral. They act like a married couple! Although it doesn't sit completely right to me that he wouldn't take her to the funeral after she came all that way, you understand how hard this whole experience is for him. I didn't even understand the subtleties of the dance when I first saw it, but now I see all the parts of his marriage, the break up (for another man) and Maddie entering the picture. I did wonder how Maddie guessed that before he told her, and how she knew he was bartender. Anyway, this is a long way to say I love this episode! :D

I love the scene in his room about going to the funeral. They act like a married couple!

That was my first thought when I watched this scene! Especially the part where he makes her face him. In fact, I think my husband has done that to me. Sometimes I get that from them with the way they speak and their body language with one another. Whatever is going on on the surface, there is such an underlying assumption of trust there.

Wow, I never realised that this episode was a 'love it or hate it' one!

I'm firmly in the love it camp, but then I doubt if anyone would be shocked about that, with my name! ;)

Mul

I watched this episode again last night in case I was missing something. Afraid I still feel the same, accidently pressed a button on the remote which stopped the DVD and I couldn't be bothered to find the place and carry on.

A few (little) things bother me. I like the idea of a dance scene, I love how they go in and out of the sequence through Maddie. But I feel it is just too long, no matter how great the dancers I get bored. And how did Maddie get into David's hotel room? The "guy at the desk" wouldn't give her the room next door but let her into David's room :confused: Why is Maddie's suitcase so huge, its like she was going on a month long holiday! And on the subject of size, the shoulder pads on Maddies funeral coat are enormous.

OK these are all really minor things and there are great moments in the episode but for me the little irritations in this one just bug me too much so I always fast forward through them

I have to admit Maddie's funeral outfit always bugs me as well. What was up with those shoulder pads:rolleyes: But still I love the ep.

"Do you want half the blanket?"

"Only I can have half a shoulder."

:loveya: :kiss:

"Only for the next twenty or thirty years. Then I'm going to need it back.":loveya: :kiss:

Now you all have me thinking I should give the entire episode another look-see. I will try to not fast-forward through the scenes I don't like so much.

let us know if your mind is changed :)

I recently saw "16 Blocks", Bruce's latest film - and I caught something that maybe somebody here who's seen the movie might have caught as well. Bruce's character was telling somebody his address and it was 4-something Mulberry Street lol It made me immediately think of this episode. I don't know if it was intentional or just a coincidence.

I heard the Mulberry Street reference also. I always seem to notice stuff like that.:lol:

haha I noticed that too and thought the same thing:D

I don't believe in coincidences. I think it was intentional. Just my opinion.:wave:

Don't wanna burst any bubbles.......Mulberry Street runs through New York's Chinatown, where a large portion of the story is set.

Don't wanna burst any bubbles.......Mulberry Street runs through New York's Chinatown, where a large portion of the story is set.

Growing up in NYC, you think I would have thought of that too :crazy: Being the Moonlighting fan that I am though, naturally the first thing I thought of was Big Man on Mulberry Street lol

I think of it every time I walk in Chinatown, Dr J. You're not alone!

I don't believe in coincidences. I think it was intentional. Just my opinion.:wave:

There's no such thing as coincidences? Hmm.

I'm sure when BW read the script, he knew the Mulberry Street reference would make ML fans smile. :D

This really isn`t about Big Man On... but talking of coincidences just as a bit of trivia, i finally got round to watching the film Unbreakable and guess what name the character Bruce played was called - DAVID- and guess where he came from -PHILIDELPHIA-.Now what other character did Bruce portray do we all know that was called DAVID and came from PHILIDELPHIA:D :wave:

Believe it or not, my grand Philadelphia tour, especially for ML fans, includes a drive past 4th and Bainbridge......David's alleged address.

A grand tour for Moonlighting fans? What a great idea! I love it!

I'm sure when BW read the script, he knew the Mulberry Street reference would make ML fans smile. :D

I agree CyBr! :)

Mul

this episode is simply wonderful.

I've really got to agree with marla.

And it is really not the dancing part that I love. I believe that both Cybill and Bruce did some of their finest acting in this episode. The scene where Bruce walks in on Cybill sitting on the bed is magnificent.....you absolutely suffer with her as Maddie, trying to get out the right words.

And when Bruce, as David, comes into her room and tells his story, I believe it is one of the most heartfelt performances I have ever seen....and in my opinion, only bested by his performance in "Father Knows Last".

This is an episode I never grow tired of.....both Bruce and Cybill deserved Emmys for this one in my book.

Because of all this debateing i decided to watch this episode again to get a fresh look on it. I must admit that Bruces performance was incredable ,it takes a really great actor to take words from a script and make it look as though they come from his heart ,it takes someone with real talent to make acting look like it`s not acting!. But let`s not forget Cybill performance also. That scene when she shows up in Davids hotel room that everyone is discussing is 100% pure gold! Cybill understood her character inside and out and she knew exactly how to portray Maddie in that scene ( well come to think of it the whole episode).Only Moonlighting could take us- the viewer from side splitting laughter with the overturned Gin truck banter -to pulse racing chemistry with the kiss at the end of the dance routine - to sweet and tender heartfelt and heartbreaking moments with David and Maddies monologues,such a roller-coaster of emotion.
I remember when i first saw this episode and just wanting and willing the two of them to come together -i mean if ever there was a perfect time to show their true feelings for one another and to act upon them , then this would have been it ,in a real -life situation something probably would have happen if it had been any two regular people but alas it was only a TV show and the writers had other ideas for our two heroes!:confused: :wave:

Good analysis laura_a! There is just such a wonderful restrained yearning in this episode. You can see each of them wanting to do one thing and doing another. A thing of beauty to be sure!

I think in this episode there is a very intense acting by Cybill and Bruce.
The scene in the David's room Hotel is great and when David comes into Maddie's room and he comes to close the door but he didn't, it's so sweet !
And the final scene with the blanket is really clear about their feelings.
Oh, and I am completely agree with Diane about Emmy

:wave:

OMG, the scenes mentioned above are amazing. That's why I love this show and have yet to find another that moves me the same way. Terrific acting by both in this episode. I get chills from their performances. Just great!

I just watched this one again last night. It really is a good episode. Bruce/Cybill's performance's are really outstanding in this. Their feelings really surface so clear in this one. They definately both deserved emmys for this episode. I will admit a few scenes though i do fast forward through but never any of theirs together.

Yes I'm in the "love it love it" camp here! I only saw this episode for the first time when the DVDs came out and I pretty much held my breath for the whole 45 minutes. The acting is great, the tension is right there even more than normal and the last scene just melts me! The way Maddie looks at David and then puts her head on his shoulder........awww............!:happyface

Though I don't love all of the episode I do love bits of it and that last scene :heart:

I totally agree with you Marla ;)

I can only watch some of it. Guess it's harder to have sympathy for certain things.

I have to admit Maddie's funeral outfit always bugs me as well. What was up with those shoulder pads:rolleyes:

rofl, it was the eighties!

This was the first episode of Moonlighting I've ever seen. When it was on Bravo, and it left me wanting to see more.

There are some episodes which impressed the hell out of me back then, but now, I just don't know.

friendsfan77, I am loving your avatar. I'm always happy to meet a fellow Winchester fan!

It's interesting to read opinions different from my own, especially about this episode - which for me is a solid 9.5 on a scale of 1-10. Don't ask what the .5 subtraction is for because I'm not sure. 10 means perfect and Mulberry is quite close in my opinion. My favorite part is Maddie's monologue and David's reaction to it; David (in a white t-shirt!) confiding in Maddie about his ex-wife; the revealing exchange on the plane ride home; the drunken friends singing 'Top Cat;' David thinking enough about Maddie to call her; Maddie and Agnes trying to find a pic of the ex-wife in David's desk; Maddie thinking about David during her bath; and yes, the dance sequence. Heck, what didn't I like! :lol: