Episode Guide

Season 5

Episode 55- The Color of Maddie

The Case

Nora Cooper hires Blue Moon to investigate the man who claims to be her husband, Richard. She's not sure that he is the same man who she married 10 years ago. They met at Mardi Gras and married after only knowing each other a week, then he disappeared and she hadn't seen him until he showed up a few weeks ago on her doorstep. She's just not sure it's him. Dave and Maddie find him and get a good set of fingerprints, but he is blown up in a car as they leave. David finds out that he broke out of prison, has 5 aliases, is wanted in 5 states for various crimes, and Blue Moon got a reward for information on him. Maddie decides to give the reward check to Nora, but then Nora ends up dead. David convinces her to go back to Nora's to get the check and they're caught by Richard Cooper!

What's Really Going on Chris?

David comes to work late and missed the meeting. He goes to Maddie's office expecting her to be upset and yell at him. She doesn't. She tells him that she isn't going to get upset by him anymore. She gives him bonus check from the Anselmo case. David can't believe Maddie's new attitude. He tells her that he knows her like the back of his hand and he knows all her buttons. Maddie admits that avid knows some things about her better than anyone else in the world, but that's because she wants him to know it. He complains that after 4 years and all they've been through, she thinks this is just a casual relationship? She says no, they're friends, good friends, pals. David is VERY annoyed by this statement.
While investigating the case Maddie and David get into a discussion about sex. David can't believe that Nora Cooper couldn't remember her husband. He claims he remembers every pore on every woman he ever slept with. Maddie admits that she doesn't. David wonders aloud how many guys they're talking about. Maddie insists she doesn't remember every man she's been intimate with (David asks her if 'intimate' comes before or after 'pals'.) David proceeds to venture a guess and comes up with 6. His list includes a football player in high school, frat guy in college, unavailable married man in NY, Sam, him, and a 1 night stand. Maddie gets extremely agitated which indicates David hit really close to the truth.
At the pool hall, David suggests that Maddie hang on him (it's a rough place) for protection. She's offended that David thinks she can't handle herself, but ends up doing it when they get inside. Later, David waits in the office for Maddie to return from giving Nora Cooper the reward money. David taunts her about her plans for the night, eating dinner from a plastic bag, bubble bath for 1, then going to bed alone after the late news. Maddie tells him that she knows what he's doing- mapping her out, who she's slept with etc. He tells her that he's just trying to make a point, she tells him that he made it- he does know her better than anyone else in the whole world. He thanks her because that's what he wanted to hear. She tells him that she resents that he acts like she is a piece of music he's mastered, but understands why he's doing it because she knows him too. She guesses that he is as confuses about "us" as she is. David denies this and says he isn't confused, "'us' banters and 'us' solves cases and 'us' used to do 'it' a lot more that 'us' is doing it now." Maddie explains that they're in the middle of climbing a ladder and she doesn't see a way off. David asks her what should they do? She replies, "don't look down." They agree to go out for dinner, but the phone rings.
After being at the police station all night David convinces Maddie to break into Nora Cooper's place and retrieve the check. She tells him she must be losing her mind because he's starting to make sense. When they are caught, Richard Cooper refers to Maddie as David's girlfriend. David corrects him and tells him that they are just "pals."
The last scene is Maddie and David at some formal event, Dave's in a tux and Maddie's in a gown. They flirt and banter about how well they know each other. While playing pool, Maddie admits she never was intimate with the college frat guy- but he sure taught her how to handle a stick.

Chris's Obsessive Analysis

David and Maddie are still trying to figure out what is going on with their relationship. Maddie tries to redefine it but is unsuccessful with "pals." As Agnes says, it sounds "so over with" and Maddie agrees. It really annoys David. David is trying to prove to Maddie that he knows her better than anyone in the whole world. This epsiode shows us how well they know each other and that they are best friends. The fact that they're talking about it not being over and that they are willing to go out together gives us, the fans, hope. The flirting at the end is vintage "Moonlighting" tension and banter, reminiscent of the first 3 seasons. It's really fun to see it again.

Memorable Moments

Maddie trying to convince David she won't get upset anymore
David trying to guess how many men Maddie has slept with
Maddie and David discussing their confusion about "us"
Maddie and David playing pool at the end

Links

Back to the Episode Guide main page
The next episode, "Plastic Fantastic Lovers"
Brian's "The Color of Maddie" page
Aubrey's Blue Moon Banter page for this episode