MovieChat Forums > Desperate Housewives (2004) Discussion > Lynette and the control freak label

Lynette and the control freak label

posted 9 years ago by ksouthworth68
28 replies | jump to latest

Not that she didn't have that flaw, but seemed to me very early on she couldn't even open her mouth if she had a different idea or whim than Tom without him throwing out the control freak label and whining about how he's supposedly emasculated. It was the automatic default. Does anybody think that with that label being thrown at her so often every little thing she did was examined much more closely than it would have been if done by someone else? I mean seems to me that label could have been thrown at Tom or the other wives also. They certainly liked their way as well and had their own strategies to get it

Lynette being a control freak seemed to be harped on as a Lynette specific thing as if it was something only she needed to deal with. Put almost any other character under the microscope like Lynette was and I don't see how too many were any better than her in that regard. In fact it seemed to me her flaw was used against her in a passive aggressive way to justify someone else (with the same inclinations) wanting control or their way. He milked it for all it was worth and then some. I don't see how Tom (I'm gonna pout at you until I get my way) Scavo was any less guilty of being a control freak.

[–] ksouthworth68 7 years ago

It just seemed like every time Lynette wanted A and Tom wanted B he was applauded for going for it and Lynette was the big bad control freak meanie who wouldn't let Tom have his way. Never mind that his way almost always involved a sacrifice on her part or having to have his back in case he fell flat on his face. It seemed over 3/4 of the things Lynette pushed for didn't even involve anything she tried to get for herself. It involved avoiding Frisbees to the head. She doesn't try to get too much for herself. She doesn't even take her fair share.

[–] EluriaSK 7 years ago

Because of her manipulation he lost job offers and was even fired. She even decided that she wants to work with Tom in his restaurant and then she realized that working together 24/7 isn't the best idea.

[–] ksouthworth68 7 years ago

What manipulations? Are you referring to the promotion fiasco because I found it very interesting the boss resorted to out and out lying about what Lynette actually did do and say to justify pulling the promotion from Tom. Any theory on why the truth couldn't have stood on it's own? Doesn't seem an accident to me what happened was jacked up.

Also interesting is Janie's manipulation seems cool with folks. It's fine if the boss's wife stuck her nose into her hubby's business to get Tom the job in the first place but it's wrong for Tom's wife to stick her nose into the situation even when it was her own business.

And what of Tom when he inserted himself into Lynette's job when she was on maternity leave and told Carlos she wasn't going to want to come back?

[–] EluriaSK 7 years ago

He didn't invent anything. He said exactly what she said to his wife. Yes it's right that his wife wanted to do something good and recommend Tom because he deserved it. There is no backstabbing in her behavior. But Lynette did it on purpose to hinder his job chances. She did it many times. Good that Tom forgave her that.

Tom didn't steal Lynette's job. He thought that she wants to care for the baby.

[–] ksouthworth68 7 years ago

He most certainly did invent what Lynette said and did. What were the words Lynette used to beg if it's legitimate to accuse her of that? She didn't even ask. Running into someone by chance is not running to them. Not even close to Lynette's exact actions.

As for Tom thought Lynette wanted to stay home and care for the baby, no he hoped she did. That's what he wanted her to do. Lynette said and did nothing to indicate that she wanted that and was crystal clear her intent was the opposite.

Interesting you brought up stealing when I didn't even.

[–] bubblegum_jenocide 7 years ago

I can't speak for everyone, but for me, personally, sure, I sometimes bitch about certain "flaws" in my marriage, or with my husband as a person--not because I'm particularly bothered by them. Far from it. I just do it because, it's there. I may even like it.

And I think Tom was the same way. He knew Lynette was a control freak. He knew she emasculated him. But he didn't care. He was okay with it.

But I also remember Tom being the breadwinner, going to college, opening Scavo's, playing in a band--in the end, he actually got to do a lot of what he wanted to do. I think the jousting between Tom and Lynette was more foreplay than anything else.

----
Pidder Padder? Make my Heart go Boom Bap and Then We'll Talk!

[–] ksouthworth68 7 years ago

I honestly saw it as much more than just bantering or jousting. It went beyond mutual back and forth playfulness. It seemed to me there was a very specific goal in mind on Tom's part. He used it to guilt Lynette until he got his way.