composer but never composed

just a couple of 'platonic besties'*

Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down. I'll be there on their side. I'm losing by their side

—

1:00 P.M. | 8:00 P.M.

because i'm never gonna shut up about the s2 finale ambulance bay scene - here's some more discourse/thoughts about it that makes me unwell

the first point, which has already been discussed a billion times (but i don't care, discuss it more for the haters!), is how the scene is deliberately shot over langdon and mel's shoulders. not only is it meant to really make the audience feel like they're intruding on a very intimate moment, but i also think it indicates we are supposed to be seeing each character in the eyes of the other.

even when langdon finally stands next to her, they aim the shots to look down at mel from his POV, and up at him from her POV. and in these shots, both mel and langdon look insanely tender, soft, and glowy, despite both having pretty terrible days and losing their cool a bit. (who else is getting these kinds of scenes????)

the second point is that langdon chooses to stand next to mel to look up at the fireworks, not across from her. this is probably more so to due with what taylor said about rewriting the scene to make them look more evenly matched as doctors and kinda escape from the mentor/mentee thing, but i also see this as langdon wanting to see things from her perspective. (and patrick has kinda told us this is true!!)

the third point is that, during the conversation, the only two shots of them side-to-side instead of over each other's shoulders are:

in the middle of the conversation when langdon shows mel that his "hand is still shaking" (hmm not sure we’re being truthful about that mr. doctorman but ok)

when the conversation ends, and mel looks away first

i think these shots are also deliberate! the first could be to remind the audience that even though their conversation is framed as them standing super close, there is still actually some distance between them. langdon’s hand can stretch out enough and still not physically touch her unless he steps closer (very respectful of boundaries). their relationship still has room to grow!

when this same camera angle is used in the second one (when their conversation ends), we witness mel look away first and because she is done looking at him, the audience gets the reveal that he takes a moment before he does!! mel has no idea! the audience gets the hint!

(also don’t get me started on the quietness of the scene, or how langdon takes the time to walk all the way over to her just to chitchat and apologize despite the fact that their conversation in the break room ended on a good note, or how we never see fireworks but just hear them……)

TAYLOR DEARDEN as MEL KING

MEL'S NO GOOD, TERRIBLE, VERY BAD DAY