Pitcher & Catcher

“Max Chapman has been un-hittable today”

Max is watching the men’s baseball game “the Screws” writing in her notebook. Carson is also the only character (besides Clances sketch book) that takes notes on baseball.

Dove Porter follows up in another scene by saying: “Now the first things pitcher has to learn is how to look into someone eye and how to read them. Are they scared? Are they thinking about their girlfriend?” (Carson shakes her head in the background, which can be foreshadowing to Greta or…)

We just came off a scene with Max and the peaches are now getting coached my a former pitcher. Carson says in a later episode that “Max is the best pitcher she’s ever played with”, which includes Dove because he had to pitch to her and she hit it.

When Carson is dragged by Max to a childhood baseball field (connected to her father), that Carson’s asks about. Carson also asked, “Why did you choose me?”. I think this reason would’ve been explored more in later seasons but Max just gives a vague answer about herself. “I just wanted to see if I could do it.”

There is a shot of 2 peaches playing/having a catch in the front yard. One is wearing a dress….the other is wearing pants. And they both have the same matching color schemes. The words “Carson. Telephone” is on V.O…foreshadowing?????

Shirley talks to Carson in the middle of the night and Carson tells her that she “feels like she’s supposed to be there” and the same day she by chance runs into Max. She’s the reason that Max is able to get her crabs for Clance so that Clance can “make a home and make it special”.

On the window it says there’s a sale on “crabs and peaches”.

Clance pointing out the Rockford peaches sign to Max and her trying not to look at it or be upset by it.

Also, Carson saying that she feels like she’s supposed to be in Max’s hometown on a team that Max felt like she was meant to be on. But their circumstances and reality kept them apart.

Greta saying “when she really wants something it never really goes right” and Carson says she understands. In 1x06, when Max comes back Carson admits she didn’t think she was ever going to see max again and starts to overcompensate.

Carson envisioned herself in a slowburn romance and found herself in one 24 hours later…welcome back Elizabeth and Darcy

She started making pies after her mother left, it was the only thing that she remembered about her mother. The one thing that her mother liked and her father loved. She wanted to be connected, even if her older sister Megan thought she was beating a dead horse. Holding onto a ghost. But Carson could do it. Pies can start a conversation. Pie and coffee is even better. They show skill, some version of “homemaking”, that she’s capable of “wifely duties”.

Carson Shaw who runs to baseball, forgets her pies, leaves her duties. Carson Shaw who is in foreign territory and has no one to lean on, not even her annoyed sister who is one of the last people she has. Carson Shaw who tries to bake for Dove Porter because that’s how people give her attention and she’s good at it. Love, attention, care and conversation through food. Carson Shaw who’s always been made fun off, who continues to get made fun of by the people close to her and her coping skills.

Carson and Max both having train scenes, they sit on opposite sides of the train and in opposite seats, Carson likes the window seat, Max likes the outside one

Max is the first to bring up California and the concept of “integration”. She wants to play in the leagues, yes, but not specifically the Negro Leagues. She wants to play with white players like Carson but isn’t allowed. The subtext of Max wanting to bridge their legal gap

Greta cuts Carson’s hair without consent but it’s suppose to be an intimate act. Later we are shown that Max is the inheritor of a hair & nail salon. I wonder where they would’ve headed with this relationship later in the series

Carson passes by The Chapman salon on the peaches bus

Carson seeing Max’s name on a building and being the only/first white customer to break the barrier. To INTEGRATE. Carson once again showing up in Max’s space, trying to weave her way even more into Max’s life and narrative. Also, Carson finding a way to weasel her way into every space where Max works because she can’t find a platonic way to ask to see Max’s home.

Carson asking for Max to cut her hair specifically.

Max uses a pedicure to have sexual subtext with the woman she’s been sleeping with since 17.

Max also being there for Carson’s first sexual experience with a woman. She’s always been apart of Carson’s narrative romantic life. She can’t help herself.

Max says “Hi, again.”

Again??? Is she talking about when she saw Carson at the ballpark? Or when she saw Carson at the first of the bar? Or when she saw Carson get kissed just minutes before? THE INVISIBLE STRING!!

Did Max remember Carson even though she had changed her hair by this point? Carson remembered Max.

Max and Carson being each other safe spaces. Carson can hear all the negative voice in her head until she goes to Max and she can finally hear herself think. Max has the yips and is insecure until Carson helps her face her problems and give her courage.

Max makes a comment about how Carson is the only one she can throw for and the noise in her head stops. They are each others peace. They seek each other out when they’re overwhelmed and overstimulated. They need each other to cope. Nobody else can give them the peace they require in their lives.