MovieChat Forums > Sensitive Skin (2014) Discussion > SPOILERS: season 1 finale problem

SPOILERS: season 1 finale problem

posted 9 years ago by missmh
5 replies | jump to latest

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(you've been warned)

I'm a fan of both Don McKellar and Kim Cattrall, and I adored this strange and lovely show—until the last episode.

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(last warning)

...but it made zero sense to me that Davina (Kim Cattrall) would hook back up with the gross piano-teacher guy, particularly after he called her "Mummy" during their last clinch. His older-woman/mother fetish was fabulously skeeve-worthy, so I found it baffling that she would then choose him for her marriage-destroying affair. What about the pompous writer guy from the swingset in the park? Or anyone else, really? So, that was an odd note for me.

And when they killed off Davina's husband Al (Don McKellar)—or at least seemed to—in the very last moments of the episode, I felt betrayed. I get how it looks like a strong plot choice (will force Davina to deal with consequences of her actions, appreciate what she lost by dumping this interesting man, then push her to explore other avenues/adventures in her midlife crisis, etc.), but I feel the same result could have been accomplished without also losing such a great character. Why not keep Al alive (it's no biggie to come back from a flatline; just push 50 of epi, as anyone with even a passing familiarity with the standard medical procedural knows), have him flip it and reverse it by dumping her once he regains consciousness, and continue on being so wonderful and surreal and beautifully vulnerable in a guest-star/parallel storyline of The Ex? (e.g., imagine him and the quack doctor doing more energy healing; imagine him and Davina's sister having the unsexiest of revenge affairs; imagine him and the son doing/discussing [anything]..)

****NEW SPOILER: This one's about Kingsman: The Secret Service. If you haven't seen it, skip the spoiler block. If you have, I feel your pain. (And it's safe to hover over the redacted part and unblock.)

It's not often that I get angry with filmmakers/tv makers/dreambreakers for killing off a character (although, whoever in Kingsman: The Secret Service thought it was a good idea to kill off Colin Firth's character? And in such a blink-and-you-miss-it cavalier way? Seriously.), but I felt like I'd been kicked in the chest when Al flatlined. And not in a good "wow, this is so intense and powerful" way. In a you've-got-to-be-kidding-me way. (Also, it threw off the tone for me, too. The show went from awkwardly funny/close-to-the-bone uncomfortable to horror film in zero to sixty.)

I realize this is primarily Davina's story (and that the entire thing is based on a preexisting show), but I'm hoping there's still time for the showrunners to realize they don't have to remain beholden to the original concept and that Al and his story became pretty damn interesting, too. Can't we all just get along?

[–] krisr168 8 years ago

It all goes back to her getting the hormone patches in the very beginning. They literally drive you insane. Al biting it is classic irony.

[–] thetuffpuff 8 years ago

SPOILERS in my reply:

I too was really shocked by Davina hooking up with the piano teacher. It should have been an incredibly visceral moment with Al witnessing the kiss while he is with his agent. However, the fact that it was the PIANO GUY left me scratching my head. I wholeheartedly agree with you O.P.; the successful columnist, Bob, would have made much more sense and the moment would have been fully gut wrenching. Davina and Bob seemed to have a genuine connection and Al and Bob had history (the literary panel, Al punching Bob).

But perhaps this is all part of Davina's confusion and when we are confused we make strange choices. That said, that plot development was a fail in what I still consider a very good series.

It would be nice for Al to come back. But if they do follow the original UK version, he's not coming back. I haven't seen the UK version, but when you do the IMDB math, Original Al is in 6 episode, verses Original Davina's 12 episodes. Sigh....

In my opinion, piano guy is a mid-life fling and not a "I fell in love with someone else" situation. It would have made for some really poignant moments to watch Davina and Al try to move beyond this elephant in the room. Especially given Al's struggles with his insecurities.

Lastly, TOTALLY agree with you about The Kingsman! What were they THINKING?????

[–] lamont-hard 8 years ago

What happened to her in the UK version when the husband died or did they even cover it. Seems like a odd way to end a series. Husband dead, right after wife dumps him.

[–] bluejay00234 8 years ago

Everything you said!

I want you, and the thought of anyone else having you is a knife twisting in my dark soul.

[–] lamont-hard 8 years ago

The piano guy was actually the best way to end the season because it really isn't about love. He is less than what she had, it makes her reflection on what transpired more real than if she dumped the husband for true love. This was a silly mistake she made and her facing consequences for doing something that was not even for love will hurt at first but her next choice will be a more thoughtful one if she can get past her betrayal.