Daydreamer

The part I love most about Liz and Max is their chemistry. It succeeds beyond time and script because, right from the very first episode, they manage to convey this cosmic connection without any real romantic development beforehand. Yet somehow it still feels like something that has always existed between them, and that has genuinely amazed me.

There’s this look Liz gives Max that feels so magical and deeply connective. It’s as if they’re seeing themselves in each other’s eyes. Their gazes have such depth that they communicate something beyond words.

The entire premise of Max saving Liz’s life is supposed to be about her coming back to life, but what I love is how Liz narrates the pilot. It becomes less about the miracle itself and more about how profoundly Max has changed her life and she is carrying that emotional impact with her.

It’s interesting that they’ve known each other since childhood, yet it takes one extraordinary moment to truly connect them. I especially love how the final scene of the pilot revisits that feeling.

Without rushing anything or forcing, it builds through subtle yearning and chemistry that communicates love long before either of them says it out loud.

I also love Liz’s almost soulmatic connection to Max. The way she talks about how deeply Max has touched her isn’t even about physical touch. It’s about the impact he’s had on her heart and her life, that invisible connection she constantly feels.

when Max teases her about it, you can tell it’s something Liz herself want to say it but she how much the feelings means to her that to want to keep it safe with her without any opinions. I love that kind of slow emotional buildup.

The same is true for Max. He feels that connection too, that overwhelming feeling of being truly seen for the first time. And when Liz tells him she knows exactly what he means, you realize she’s experienced the very same thing. They both understand what it feels like to come alive in someone else’s presence, and that mutual understanding is so beautiful.

What I also love is that they keep convincing themselves they can’t be together because it might never work. Liz keeps asking Max whether that’s really the ultimate truth, and despite all those doubts, they continue to be around each other. They keep showing, and eventually declaring, just how much they mean to one another.

And that forehead touch... it’s one of the softest moments between them. When Max asks her to come back if she feels unsafe, Liz smiles. She isn’t afraid as she’s doing it for Max. She smiles because hearing those words from him, hearing how deeply he cares for her, makes her feel safe in the first place. It’s such a quiet but meaningful moment.

Then there’s their first kiss. Up until then, Max keeps believing that maybe being together isn’t the right thing. Every time Liz questions him, he tries to understand those fears. But his connection to Liz has already transcended those doubts. After watching her protect him over and over again, after seeing her continually choose him, being with her finally feels like the only right thing.

That’s why I love the way the scene is written because the moment max says :

“I better go. Because if I don’t go right now, things are gonna change. I’m gonna have to touch your hair because it’s so soft. And I’d have to tell you that no matter what we go through, it’s all worthwhile for me because we’re together. And then... I’d have to do this.”

Now anything he was thinking might not be right means nothing because everything would be worth because liz would be there. He tells Liz exactly what he wants before he does it, and she’s completely mesmerized. They give the moment room to breathe.

The way he softly caresses her hair.

Their expressions after they kiss almost say, “You felt that too.” Then they close the distance between them, and when they kiss, it feels completely natural.

They occupy each other’s entire space so effortlessly, and it’s beautiful.

Their gazes throughout these episodes are genuinely magical. There’s something cosmic about the way they look at each other.

there’s a playfulness mixed with an undeniable emotional pull.

Max is actually quite compelling. The little things he does, the gestures they have they’re so soft. And that cuddling while playing the game together is so cute.

The part where Max has to break up with Liz because he knows how much she loves him... he knows that, between that love and the circumstances, it would be too overwhelming for him to handle. And Liz’s fear for Max is so much greater than her care or love for anybody else. Max knows it, and he knows he can’t go through with the choices and situations he’s facing if Liz loves him that much.

And when Liz is like, “l just wanted to remember,” she’s just so ardent for him.

But they also have such a good understanding, like in 1x11. When Max is thinking he’s been controlling everything because of what Isabel told him and liz also thinks that, but he’s just kind of on edge. Liz calls him and talks some sense into him because he’s handling everything alone, and she tells him that he needs to trust others, she understands him.

Liz deserves so much credit because, even after everything that’s been happening, she never turns against Max or pulls away from him. She remains by his side, willing to help him through everything. I genuinely think she loves him with absolute and unwavering devotion.

Drunk Max really did a number on Liz. The one good thing that came out of it was seeing just how much Liz means to him. He’s trying to stay away from her, yet he’s constantly battling his feelings. And the way Liz keeps asking whether it’s real, whether he truly means it or if it’s only because he’s drunk, while he continues confessing along all that magic... it all means so much to her.

And their chemistry here... insane.

Ohh, I already made a post about their entire 1x16 sequence, and I’m going on the next episode.

And this hallway kiss... The fact that they’d been warned to stay alert and everything, yet Max is completely unflinching when it comes to Liz. In that moment, nothing else exists for him. Without a second thought or any hesitation, he kisses her. And that forehead touch is so good.

The fact that Max understands Liz’s insecurities so deeply and acknowledges them instead of dismissing them. When he knows Liz is worried about Tess, the way he reassures her... This scene is just so beautiful with the rain falling against the glass.

The care, the tenderness Max has they have this soul-touching connection where they simply feel one another. And the hug.

The trust between them... the way Liz discovers Tess’s identity, yet still chooses to trust Max. Despite every external factor working against their relationship, they remain steadfast, which is why they keep finding their way back to each other over and over again despite any predetermined destiny with Tess.

And the way Liz assures Max that he’ll be with the one he chooses to be with, that his destiny is determined by his own choice rather than by what’s written or decided for him–the love that have.

Max literally risked his life when he went to Valenti to save Liz.

And then Liz risked herself to save Max. She ran away with him, jumped into the river with him, and saved him. They’re truly ride or die for each other.

I love this scene...

The way Liz is devastated after learning about Max’s supposed destiny with Tess, yet it never stops her from loving him or saving him.

And Max is just as ardent in his love because he doesn’t believe in Tess or in that supposed destiny at all. He knows he chose Liz, and to him, that’s his destiny. When Liz tells max his life ended the day he saved her, but Max tells her that it’s actually the day his life began, which he’s also said before. The amount of beleive they have in each other.

And this...Liz had mentioned that Max changed her, and Max says that she made him human. That touch, that gaze, that intensity... truly was amazing.

And even after hearing everything from his own mother, he still leaves Tess behind and tells Liz how he feels in front of everyone. They’re everything.

Also, now that I’ve finished the first season, I just wanted to mention the other characters:

As for Michael and Maria, I think they’re really cute, and they have great chemistry. That moment when Michael goes to Maria after everything with his father... even though Max and Liz couldn’t comfort him, he instinctively goes to her. They’re genuinely comforting to each other. There’s also their back-and-forth where Maria keeps comparing them to Max and Liz. I don’t really understand why because they’re very good in their own right.

I also like Alex and Isabel, but I just don’t think they have the same depth. They’re comforting to each other, though, and I really like Alex. He’s such a good friend.

Bobby Bronson-

Okay, so, where do I begin 💀

His previous wife Tina, has a restraining order against him. He stalked her outside her house, drunk off his ass, IN A PATROL CAR. With his kids in the house. While neglecting the case of a deceased woman.

Where he then leveraged said case in an emotionally manipulative way towards Tina. “She (Rebecca) looked like you”.

Which, Omfg, she literally didn’t. 💀

So, how that would translate into relationship, we’ve got, control issues. The control issues would probably lead into problems with jealousy and possessiveness. Then there’s the avoidant attachment style.

There’s the issues with his father he mentions, father supposedly drank himself to death. Bobby seems determined to deal with his problems the exact same way. Cognitive dissonance on trying to..I don’t know..not follow in his dad’s foot steps?

He’d constantly be at work. I think there’d be a honeymoon phase at first, and then when you as partner B would ask for normal bare minimum things he would get defensive.

Support, reassurance, empathy. He’d be selfish. He doesn’t get that given to him day in day out. He sees the cruelty of the world, of crime scenes every day. Why should he dissuade you? Why should he lie to you? Are you not his equal?

So it might turn into a situation where he has nothing nice to say once he gets home while his partner is unfortunately stuck playing house. Which follows him pulling away, and then follows arguments. Because a marriage is a partnership. You don’t get to turn it off just because it doesn’t suit you that day.

Therefore he just removes himself and leaves to go drink.

Cause I guess that suits him. Lol

I’m surprised he was even married honestly.

Their marriage rings to me like either high school/college sweethearts where Bobby slowly became embittered or the marriage where the woman has to beg for an engagement ring.

Probably both honestly. Poor Tina :(

Bobby comes off extremely selfish, sarcastic, and overcompensating. What’s interesting is that he’s intelligent but he’s so self destructive.

He calls out Detective Durst for his “holier than thou” attitude.

Calling out that Durst happily plays into the idea that he’s saving women everyday. Solving cases and keeping everyone safer. When in practice, Bobby and Chris are both jaded, impatient, and bitter.

They play off each other in the scene where they’re supposed to be watching for cars going into the forest area they’re investigating. “Should we call it?” “I don’t know man”

Of course this is from Bobby’s pov, but in practice he doesn’t appear to be wrong about Durst.

Soooo we got a toxic man here. Certified red flag.

Doesn’t back down for a fight.

Drinks on the job.

Law enforcement officer

Won’t leave his ex wife alone

Self absorbed

Arrogant

Aggressive

Mouthy

Condescending

Misogynistic 😬😬 which is the point of his character, obvi.

The way he addresses Carole is just…

She had every right then and there to throw her coffee in his face.

Mr “2 masculine 4 u” needs two sugars and almond milk in his coffee.

The way he’s incapable of empathizing with women, he can only do it with himself in the end. He can only attribute the “nature of evil” to his father in the end. How it affects him. Not how it affected Rebecca.. given he witnessed her deceased, dehumanized body and SAW THE RESULT OF THE NATURE OF EVIL. But whatever, sure Bronson. Go off on your daddy issues.

“Chicks love that shit” referencing true crime having a female audience.

I?? What?? 😭.

Okay, I think I agree with the consensus that true crime content does have a large female audience. Let me try to break down what he’s saying here. Is he saying women are drawn to danger? In like a victim blame-y way?

That can be one way to read it.

It also could simultaneously be another hyper masculine statement. He sounds like a 1950s greaser. Calm down buddy.

I like the idea of Bronson being fussy. Like aww, this manly man doesn’t want to sleep on the ground and go camping. He doesn’t want whole milk in his coffee.

Hypocrite.

Also the line “Does it look like I wanna sleep on the fucking floor?”

Uh, well you kinda look like you just rolled outta bed man..so, yeah you do, no offense. Lmao.

In the best way. Cause it’s Hugh Dancy.

Also omg I nearly forgot it was Tina’s birthday that day. His responses were so bizarre. Why are you bringing it up if you don’t care?

“It’s complicated”

K….

I don’t know how long later it was. Maybe a couple of days where he’s seen trying to call her and she doesn’t answer.

That’s probably a grasp at control.

So…yeah. 3/10. And that’s being nice.

—Nolan Price

It’s so funny rating him after the bullshit all the other characters have going on.

Oh look at me I can be avoidant and a workaholic too because of my job.

Mfker I will marry you today in a line up of all these guys. You are not nearly as bad.

Nolan has a very strong sense of morality.

He’s very intense.

It’s Hugh Dancy playing him so he can very expressive and emotional. Which personally I adore. I really like the range. You get sick of the purely stoic and off the handle types.

Unless you’re Law and Order Reddit.

Moving on…

Okay… so looking at him in full, he has some trauma, related to his brother being an addict, and many many cases that have stuck with him I’m sure.

And then the subway mass casualty accident he was a first hand witness to.

That can result in a lot of behaviors when you refuse to get therapy for them. And I think Nolan is the type to bury himself in his work and try to find ‘closure’ through the justice system. I think?

That one friend confronts him about previously being against the Death penalty and then being asked to prosecute for it, so that’s a small glimpse into him.

Unfortunately..there’s not a lot to go off of for him.

He’s a perfectionist, a do-gooder, he can be “uptight”

He goes through relationships a lot so there’s prob something to say about that. Probably related to commitment issues.

He took care of his comatose dad until he died, he has two brothers. One of whom is alive.

I’m leaning towards a 6/10. That simultaneously feels too low and too high.

He’s very precious to me simply because he can be so cutting and hard to poke at. It makes me wanna twirl him around and ruffle his hair.

I might have more to go off of when I rewatch.

Anyway..moving on. 6/10

—Will Graham

He leaves you for Hannibal Lecter.

Lol, kidding, kind of.

He empathizes with people he identifies with in many different ways depending on what’s currently happening in the story to him.

If you as an individual could empathize with the ‘unmasked’ him and not see him as a tool, I think that’s the critical point of “seeing” Will Graham.

It would also scare the shit out of him but it’s the one thing he yearns for. So…results may vary.

Your quality of relationship would vary depending on what relationship you want.

If you’re like Molly and he’s using the relationship to try to simulate normalcy it’s doomed to fail.

A huge part of the relationship would be accepting Will and seeing him. Because intially he’s going to be very cold and abrasive.

So playing off him, as little as he gives at first, might be the best way to get through to him.

I can imagine him being very loyal. He does NOT read to me like a partner who shares. His jealousy is crazy. He wants to be special and seen.

I think reassurance means the world to him. Trust is super important. I think a deep part of Will would want no secrets. He wants to be drowning in the person he loves and he wants that in return. I believe the “in return” part is the hardest for him. In the sense that… he’s very used to providing things and not being provided for.

I wonder how relieving it would be for him to be honest because of how often he lies. He lies so much he lies to himself.

I think possibly because of his dad’s distant nature that cultivated Will to simultaneously exude and internalize those same behaviors while also being a very intense person. I believe he’d be a very a good partner to have. Because it yearns for it so badly.

I’m biased and I like projecting on him.

10/10

Kidding, again, favoritism. This is me ignoring the cons.

Hannibal (2013 - 2015)

Hannibal (2013 - 2015)