MovieChat Forums > Rectify (2013) Discussion > Tawney's overall story

Tawney's overall story

posted 8 years ago by Makarov-324
26 replies | jump to latest

Now that we have the full story what do you think of Tawney's story? Although Tawney says she's happier than ever it seems like a bleak outcome for her doesn't it?

Tawney at the Holden house at the end kind of implies that she's going to be in their lives going forward, but I don't see how that would be the case. Her connection to the family is Teddy's ex wife. They may say she's family but their practical connection for inviting her over is effectively severed. As anyone who has experienced a break up knows they would see her less and less until they finally stop talking altogether. And that's the best case scenario, the worst being if they get into disputes when they lawyer up / mediator up which creates an even bigger divide.

When you think about it that way it's pretty sad, she does not seem to have many friends and might realize that helping random strangers can be unrewarding.. Teddy has Amantha and Jared to help him but Tawney has no siblings. Daniel himself seems to have moved on from her and is no longer dreaming about her.

Maybe her believing she has a divine purpose is enough to get her through it but I think she has darker times ahead than the finale implies... I almost wish they had put her in that dream with Daniel instead of Chloe so we could believe she had a chance.

[–] TamPalm 8 years ago

she does not seem to have many friends

In the first season, she was shown to be heavily involved in church and even had church friends over, I think for a weekly meeting. She is not totally alone. Beyond that, as she starts working more she will meet others and maybe even another potential husband.

Yes, Teddy has the benefit of still having a nuclear family in tact, but in many ways he and Tawney are now on similar paths: they both have to start over. A daunting task but one that everyday people undertake everyday. And they are both facing the future with more optimism than fear it seems. I think they'll be okay.

"If it doesn't make sense, it's not true." -- Judge Judy

[–] Pequod88 8 years ago

Tawney at the Holden house at the end kind of implies that she's going to be in their lives going forward, but I don't see how that would be the case.

Your instincts ring true. Tawney was there because the series was minutes away from conclusion. No matter how much (rushed) progress Teddy has made, Tawney would not be at the Holden house in the immediate aftermath of the decision to divorce. While she is presumably still getting help from the therapist, I see her as ill-suited to move beyond the company of those at church and work. Many divorced couples find themselves outside of their former circle of friends. Couples tend to socialize with other couples, and the newly divorced are often viewed as a threat.

[–] ivitt 8 years ago

Tawney is one of these low dopamine/high prolactin driven women. Give her some Cabergoline and watch her whole personality completely change. I thought her finale was sorta sad.

[–] Jackie68 8 years ago

I think she'd find her path in life if she joined Doctors without Borders. Maybe falling in love with someone else along the line.

[–] mickeymyhorse 8 years ago

Couples tend to socialize with other couples, and the newly divorced are often viewed as a threat.

You absolutely hit the nail on the head with that statement. In reality Tawney would slowly fade out of the picture, especially when she, or Teddy, would have another love interest.

[–] inyoface415 8 years ago

It's weird to me that apparently not one person in this thread understands that exes can stay friends, and in-laws become family. The only reason for them to not let Tawney come around was if Teddy was having a hard time with the divorce. Even then, that wouldn't change that they love Tawney. That's not how that works.

There is another part of this that is important. Teddy asked Tawney to dinner as friends because he wanted to hang out with her before things officially changed. There is clearly no animosity between the two of them.

[–] Whatlarks 8 years ago

You can't post a message without a body

[–] mme3924-1 8 years ago

Not that there's anything wrong with the 1946 movie. I'm a softy and I love it unconditionally. But it ain't Rectify.

So glad you clarified this. We might really have to go to Fist City if you slammed IAWL! 😉

[–] Whatlarks 8 years ago

Yay!

And I am not happy with what I wrote there, so I took it out. I just watched the finale again and I liked it very much. And I had an epiphany about why I didn't like it the first time. (To foster that, I found a big ol' satellite dish, got into it, and smoked some good pot.)

I was influenced by the music. It was so on-the-nose! And it made all the difference that - for some blessed reason - I was able to tune out the music and experience the scenes for themselves, without the g-d music interfering.

Showrunners don't necessarily have control of the music, so while McKinnon directed the finale, the network might have imposed the music. And they might have imposed it throughout S4.

Now I'm going back to Zuzu's petals.

"You must not judge what I know by what I find words for." - Marilynne Robinson

[–] mme3924-1 8 years ago

Well, I'm actually glad you re-watched and realized you liked it. Because I know this series is meaningful to you, that you have been pretty invested in it, and what a disappointment it can be when something you've liked and admired seems to leave the track.

I was startled -- almost shocked -- by the music, thought it reminiscent of 1940/50 melodramas. They really need to strip that track and put something else in.....or maybe nothing.

Haven't yet seen IAWL this year, but it's a Christmas must, so I will. Bedford Falls, that toddling town!

[–] drcarolc 8 years ago

Help. What movie is that ?

[–] mme3924-1 8 years ago

It's A Wonderful Life. 1946. James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, et al.

[–] Mr_Fluffykins 8 years ago

and to further show there is no animosity, he saw tawney while he was on the phone with Daniel and jumped straight to "there is someone here who wants to talk to you"

ex's can stay friends, but usually they don't, it all depends on how the split completely unfolds,

given that they were separated, went to therapy, gave it their all,

its not like teddy beat her to a pulp, or she actually banged daniel,

we don't know how long tawney and teddy have been married, that plays a factor, because she is family

[–] Makarov-324 8 years ago

Sure they're on friendly terms and consider her family but an ex is an ex. Who is going to invite her over? Maybe she'll get a call from Janet once now and then. It's not realistic to expect that she'll be involved anywhere near as much as she used to be. It's certainly going to be a fade out from their lives for her.

[–] prairie-16766 8 years ago

I think this was Tawney's swan song.

Since she and Teddy don't have children, once all their legal business is settled, that will be it, except, as you said, on a rare occasion.

[–] EmpressOfGlasgow 8 years ago

The show is constantly addressing the idea of family in terms of related by blood versus married in with the whole idea of Teddy v. Daniel in Janet's affections and loyalties....and with Ted's loyalty to Teddy over Daniel.
The conversation around biological love is further expanded a little when we see Daniel ready and willing to love Chloe's baby as his own.

So I do think the show is interested in the concept of family in terms of the one you create and the one you choose and the one you're born into.

Honestly, I think this is a transitional dinner. I believe every single second of it and everyone's affection for Tawney and vice versa. I believe they believe it when they call her family and would continue to let her be, but I don't think Tawney is there for the long haul. The roots just don't run that deep. There is warmth and caring there, but I think it will fade. I see Tawney moving on.

[–] mme3924-1 8 years ago

Honestly, I think this is a transitional dinner

I agree. The moving out of the store preceded the dinner, which is everybody also "moving" on. It's essentially a goodbye dinner for Tawney with the Talbots...and with Daniel, on the phone.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] voxzee 8 years ago

When did Tawney cheat?

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] voxzee 8 years ago

When did Tawney cheat?

[–] EmpressOfGlasgow 8 years ago

She didn't. He's obsessed.

[–] Whatlarks 8 years ago

I think a reasonable case can be made that she cheated emotionally. In the way that Ted Sr. did when his marriage was falling apart and he reached out to another woman for emotonal support, nothing physicial, and came to rely on her. When Tawney tells Ted Jr. nothing happened between her and Daniel, that's evidently untrue.

"You must not judge what I know by what I find words for." - Marilynne Robinson

[–] Eva_Marrie 8 years ago

And even speaking physically, the slow-dancing, cuddling and sharing a bed is a bit dodgy on this front. It's dancing on the edge, kinda like parking a car just inside the line. It's technically legal, but the poor bastard in the adjoining parking space can't get into his driver's seat.

[–] PacificHeights 8 years ago

She left Ted high and dry on the emotional front.

[–] PacificHeights 8 years ago

Tawney should not have been with Ted, Jr.'s family in those last two episodes. This is a very minor annoyance to an otherwise excellent finale to the show.