Episode Guide

Season 4

Episode 47- Fetal Attraction


The Case

There is none.

What's Really Going on Chris?

David is getting ready for fatherhood. He's reading books and trying to get Bert and Agnes to help him. When they can't help him with Lamaze, he tries to sign up for a Lamaze class alone. The instructor thinks it might be awkward to be in the class alone, so Dave goes in search of a Lamaze partner. He can't find one. Terri Knowles shows up at Blue Moon, a single mom looking for a Lamaze partner. The lamaze instructor referred Terri to David. Terri and David discuss becoming Lamaze partners and Terri gets David to promise he'd be there in the delivery room regardless what happens with his 'other woman' (Maddie.) They go to their first class and it is awkward, but they get through it, and then go out for cheeseburgers. We find out more about Terri and her story and David tells her about him and Maddie and the committment he is willing to make.
In Chicago, Maddie receives a box of pregnancy books. She calls Agnes to thank her, but Agnes reveals that they were from David, not her. Agnes also tells Maddie that David is buying baby toys, pricing diaper services, checking out OB's and attending Lamaze classes. Maddie is surprised but impressed. It prompts her to decide to go home and work things out (presumably with David.) She tells her parents that it doesn't matter to her who the father was, it's much more important who the father will be, if there will be one.
Back in LA, Terri and David have become friends and are half way through the 8 week Lamaze session. Terri shows up at David's late one night to talk. She admits that she's developing feelings for David and thinks David has feelings for her. David marvels at how easy things are for him and Terri. He tells her he's not used to that, he's use to things being hot and cold or black and white. David then confirms that he indeed is developing feelings for Terri.

Chris's Obsessive Analysis

So, Maddie had her "perfect" man in Sam and now Dave has his "perfect" woman in Terri. She's kind of like the anti-Maddie, isn't she (even the way she looks, very pretty, but dark hair and olive skin)? She's warm (unlike Maddie), eats cheeseburgers with him (unlike Maddie) is intelligent but doesn't think Dave is stupid (also unlike Maddie). Terri is able to tell Dave how she feels about him and admits she wants their relationship to continue (very much unlike Maddie!). Did anyone else notice that her apartment had almost no furniture (like someone else we know)? Her philosophy of life is also strikingly similar (everything has to fit in her car). It's interesting that she shows up in Dave's life just as he is preparing to be a husband/father. Terri admits at the end of the episode that (although she didn't want one at first) she's rethinking her position on the husband/father thing. They really set this up to show us how easy it would be (and maybe better for him?) for Dave to give up on Maddie and go for Terri. I definitely see parallels to the Maddie/Sam storyline. It would've been so easy for Maddie to say yes to Sam, David wouldn't even tell her that he loved her. Now Maddie is certainly not acting like, nor telling David, that she is in love with him. People often wonder if David would've been better off with Terri than Maddie. I think it could've worked between them. But Maddie is the love of his life and Terri would have been a rebound. David would've been happy with Terri, but he'd never find with Terri what he had with Maddie. In a way that's good because his relationship with Terri would be saner, but he would always miss and crave what he had with Maddie.

Memorable Moments

Links

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The next episode, "Tracks of my Tears"
Brian's "Fetal Attraction" page
Aubrey's Blue Moon Banter page for this episode

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