Maddie and Walter - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ovrthmn · 11-17-2006, 12:13 PM

Hey there, I was just watching my season 4 DVDs again...trying to look for any new angles that I have not seen before. Anyway, this thought came into my head: Does anyone think that Maddie and Walter consummated their marriage? If they did or did not, how do you think that played into the dynamic of the storyline? Curious to see what you all think!

dihop · 11-17-2006, 12:29 PM

Well, I'll go first, and then everybody else can make fun of how naive I am.

I actually never thought that the marriage was consummated for a few reasons.

The marriage was one of convenience......it got Maddie out of having to actually deal with her situation. For Walter, I think he was amazed to find himself accepted by such a beautiful and apparently out of his league woman. Don't get me wrong....Walter was no dummy, and that is precisely the reason I think the marriage was not consummated -- even though he did take advantage of the situation a bit by going through with the marriage, I believe he was smart enough to know that if he had any chance with Maddie at all, he would need to move slowly and carefully. He needed to be supportive and dispel her fears and anxieties. I think the right order for them would have been friends then lovers, and I think their relationship was over too soon for them to get to the second part.

However, I think we all would agree on one thing.....it is so very difficult to analyze the motives of our characters in season four when most of them were so obviously not behaving as the people we had grown to know and love.

ovrthmn · 11-17-2006, 01:02 PM

Well put Dihop. While re-reading this I realized that I posted the question yet didn't give my opinion. I agree, they did not sleep together. I'm sure Maddie put him off in any number of ways to avoid sleeping with him; she didn't feel good, they needed to get to know each other,etc.....

Dihop you point out the crux of the issue in the analysis of season 4: Maddie NEVER would have married Walter in the first place! Totally and completely out of character, not even in a moment of panic or confusion. I've always tried to play out that scene in my head; she said they were at dinner and he suggested it; she thought it was a joke; then they just did it. I mean I just can't picture Maddie actually going along with it at any point in that scenario!!

neon000 · 11-17-2006, 01:28 PM

No, and I base it on the technicality that lack of consummation of the marriage is grounds for an annulment; if otherwise, it's generally a divorce. The term used in the show to refer to what happened to Maddie is annulment. Hence the inference.

CyBr · 11-17-2006, 01:42 PM

I also thought the "annulment" implied the marriage was never consummated. I'm actually more curious about how far things progressed between David and Terri. I know she was very pregnant, but they both admitted they had feelings for each other. David also thought it was important enough to tell her he was going to try to work it out with Maddie, which I respected him for.

dihop · 11-18-2006, 12:51 AM

Funny....I had totally forgotten to mention the annulment in my post. But I do remember being preoccupied with it when I was writing for virtual season six.......in fact, this is an excerpt from one of the virtual episodes:

Maddie: Won't she be surprised when she realizes the party is for her as well. This was a great idea.

David: Well, she did need a little bit of convincing - she has some vivid memories of the morning after old Walter's last bachelor party.

Maddie: Who doesn't? This will be nice for both of them. Maybe Terri will feel a little more kindly towards me after this.

David: You don't think Terri's your number one fan, huh?

Maddie: Yeah, maybe like Kathy Bates in "Misery". Not even close, my friend. I hope it's not because she thinks Walter and I …… ummmm, forget it!

David: Whoa, hold the phone! Is this a news flash? Are you telling me the consummate three-week marriage was never consummated?

Maddie: I'm not telling you anything - you draw your own conclusions. Just remember, the marriage was annulled. Anyway, what does it matter?

Thanks for reminding me, guys.......what can I say? Mediocre minds think alike.........

11-17-2006, 12:13 PM	#1
ovrthmn Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 11	Maddie and Walter Hey there, I was just watching my season 4 DVDs again...trying to look for any new angles that I have not seen before. Anyway, this thought came into my head: Does anyone think that Maddie and Walter consummated their marriage? If they did or did not, how do you think that played into the dynamic of the storyline? Curious to see what you all think!

11-17-2006, 01:28 PM	#4
neon000 The Feather (Rare) Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 08, 2005 Location: FL Posts: 199	No, and I base it on the technicality that lack of consummation of the marriage is grounds for an annulment; if otherwise, it's generally a divorce. The term used in the show to refer to what happened to Maddie is annulment. Hence the inference.
	__________________ You're not right in the head/ and nor am I/ And this why/ This is why I like you

11-17-2006, 12:29 PM	#2
dihop Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 02, 2002 Posts: 128	Well, I'll go first, and then everybody else can make fun of how naive I am. I actually never thought that the marriage was consummated for a few reasons. The marriage was one of convenience......it got Maddie out of having to actually deal with her situation. For Walter, I think he was amazed to find himself accepted by such a beautiful and apparently out of his league woman. Don't get me wrong....Walter was no dummy, and that is precisely the reason I think the marriage was not consummated -- even though he did take advantage of the situation a bit by going through with the marriage, I believe he was smart enough to know that if he had any chance with Maddie at all, he would need to move slowly and carefully. He needed to be supportive and dispel her fears and anxieties. I think the right order for them would have been friends then lovers, and I think their relationship was over too soon for them to get to the second part. However, I think we all would agree on one thing.....it is so very difficult to analyze the motives of our characters in season four when most of them were so obviously not behaving as the people we had grown to know and love.

11-17-2006, 01:02 PM	#3
ovrthmn Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 11	Well put Dihop. While re-reading this I realized that I posted the question yet didn't give my opinion. I agree, they did not sleep together. I'm sure Maddie put him off in any number of ways to avoid sleeping with him; she didn't feel good, they needed to get to know each other,etc..... Dihop you point out the crux of the issue in the analysis of season 4: Maddie NEVER would have married Walter in the first place! Totally and completely out of character, not even in a moment of panic or confusion. I've always tried to play out that scene in my head; she said they were at dinner and he suggested it; she thought it was a joke; then they just did it. I mean I just can't picture Maddie actually going along with it at any point in that scenario!!

11-17-2006, 01:42 PM	#5
CyBr Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 17, 2004 Posts: 515	I also thought the "annulment" implied the marriage was never consummated. I'm actually more curious about how far things progressed between David and Terri. I know she was very pregnant, but they both admitted they had feelings for each other. David also thought it was important enough to tell her he was going to try to work it out with Maddie, which I respected him for.

11-18-2006, 12:51 AM	#6
dihop Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 02, 2002 Posts: 128	Funny....I had totally forgotten to mention the annulment in my post. But I do remember being preoccupied with it when I was writing for virtual season six.......in fact, this is an excerpt from one of the virtual episodes: Maddie: Won't she be surprised when she realizes the party is for her as well. This was a great idea. David: Well, she did need a little bit of convincing - she has some vivid memories of the morning after old Walter's last bachelor party. Maddie: Who doesn't? This will be nice for both of them. Maybe Terri will feel a little more kindly towards me after this. David: You don't think Terri's your number one fan, huh? Maddie: Yeah, maybe like Kathy Bates in "Misery". Not even close, my friend. I hope it's not because she thinks Walter and I …… ummmm, forget it! David: Whoa, hold the phone! Is this a news flash? Are you telling me the consummate three-week marriage was never consummated? Maddie: I'm not telling you anything - you draw your own conclusions. Just remember, the marriage was annulled. Anyway, what does it matter? Thanks for reminding me, guys.......what can I say? Mediocre minds think alike.........