SwingTown Episode 10: "Running on Empty" Discussion

[JustAskJulie]

Susan and Bruce take a trip to the cabin to reconnect with each other and their children; Laurie finds a way to keep plans with Doug; Janet and Roger see a therapist.

[JustAskJulie]

This was a dissapointing episode. The only good thing I can say is it seems like the only HEALTHY couple out of the 3 are the swingers (Tom & Trina). They can communicate and actually work through their problems rather than hide from them.

I'm beginning to feel that Bruce & Susan are a case of "if your foundation isn't strong enough, swinging can be what makes it crumble". Swinging was the door that opened and led them to honesty and that honesty may be what tears them apart. To some extent that may be true for Roger & Janet as well. Not that they ever did swing or considered really, but just the introduction to it on a perifial level has allowed them to be more honest and face the issues that are there. How they deal with them will remain to be seen.

[socolais]

I see a moral developing in the story - Be careful about recruiting vanillas into swinging. Bruce, Susan, Roger, and Janet were happy in their blissful ignorance,,,,, until Bruce & Susan moved across the street from some really kinky neighbors. Look at all the drama and complications this exposure to swinging asserted into their lives.

[SexyNSingle]

I think what is happening is that the four of them have begun to see what is missing in their relationships, and although they were blissful in their ignorance, sometimes ignorance isn't always bliss.

Do any of you find yourselves singing to the songs they play on the show. We do, and we are also reflecting on what we were doing at that time the song was out .

S

[good times]

All I can say is that, for me, the show peaked at the second episode and went steadily down hill until last week. last weeks show was as good or better than the second one. But they made up for it with this weeks show, which I thought was the worst yet. I don't see how it can go on much longer, because if it wasn't that I am interested in the subject matter, they would have lost me as a viewer a long time ago.

By the way, if the name of this show was "running on empty", they couldn't have named it better, in my opinion.

[ratimadan]

Just curious to see where Janet and Roger end up. Will they swing or will they not. Roger is definitely interested is swinging. Hopefully, Janet will shed her self imposed chastity belt and will lose her virginity to Bruce or Tom. There is some indication that she is interested in having sex with someone other than hubby. She is an attractive woman. The question is who will get the opportunity to play with Janet, slip his dick in Janet's pussy and fuck her. That will open up a whole new world of recreational sex, as we know it, to Janet and Roger. They certainly will be better of if they started communicating openly and the couple honestly discuss swinging to expand their sexual horizon-particularly Janet's.

If Janet does not come around to swinging and soon, this could become one hell of a boring show.

All of this is just speculation. We do not really know where the show is headed.

[JoCoCpl]

Originally Posted by JustAskJulie

This was a dissapointing episode. The only good thing I can say is it seems like the only HEALTHY couple out of the 3 are the swingers (Tom & Trina). They can communicate and actually work through their problems rather than hide from them.

I agree that it was a weaker episode - the "wow" factor was definitely sacrificed in the name of character/relationship development this week.

Originally Posted by JustAskJulie

I'm beginning to feel that Bruce & Susan are a case of "if your foundation isn't strong enough, swinging can be what makes it crumble". Swinging was the door that opened and led them to honesty and that honesty may be what tears them apart.

I agree with the first part of this statement - they aren't strong enough to be venturing down this road. However, I think the LACK of honesty is what is tearing them apart. They are still unable to honestly communicate their thoughts, feelings, problems, and wishes with each other. They just seem to be the type that think the quick fix is good enough for any of their problems, but the problems they are currently facing aren't going to be settled with the quick fix. They don't understand each other very well right now. IMHO, they should have gone to the cabin for a long weekend by themselves to talk, talk talk. Also, until Bruce can learn to think about things before reacting, I think he will always have trouble with his marriage in general and with swinging in particular.

Originally Posted by JustAskJulie

To some extent that may be true for Roger & Janet as well. Not that they ever did swing or considered really, but just the introduction to it on a perifial level has allowed them to be more honest and face the issues that are there. How they deal with them will remain to be seen.

Again, I'm not seeing a whole lot of honesty there, though they are better than they were initially. There is still a HUGE lack of communication about their feelings, but I think there is hope.

Originally Posted by ratimadan

Just curious to see where Janet and Roger end up. Will they swing or will they not. Roger is definitely interested is swinging.
Hopefully, Janet will shed her self imposed chastity belt and will lose her virginity to Bruce or Tom. There is some indication that she is interested in having sex with someone other than hubby.

I don't think Roger is necessarily interested in swinging - I think being exposed to the lifestyle through others has opened his eyes to what is out there with regard to women in 1976. He realizes he is very much a subordinate in his marriage, but he is uncomfortable expressing how he feels. He has already admitted he can't talk to Janet. Until she lets him out from under her thumb, I don't see him being happy. He also desperately wants Janet to stop carrying the "June Cleaver" type of personality that she seems to think she wants to stay in. I think she wants to shed that but isn't sure how.

Originally Posted by ratimadan

They certainly will be better of if they started communicating openly and the couple honestly discuss swinging to expand their sexual horizon-particularly Janet's.

Bingo! on the first part (communication) and not so sure about them heading to swinging. I think they could have a very successful marriage if they would only communicate and just open themselves up to each other (sexually and just in everyday life) - that alone would make a world of difference.

[shymxcpl]

i really don't think the show is going down hill. For me Episode 9 "Swingus Interruptus" was the funniest one yet, however "Running on Empty" was a more serious one that tried to settle the slapstick and chaos that was done in the one before.

I felt something put off by the show, but I think it might be that in the first episode I wanted to identify with Susan & Bruce as the couple who was learning about the lifestyle and thinking about joining in. But as the show has progressed I find myself wanting to be more like T&T or J&R... anything except B&S who have shown themselves nothing but a lack of respect.

I found the session with the psychiatrist to be very interesting, and Janet's repression coming out to the surface is just a foreshadow for more interesting things to come.

Also, it was great to see how Susan tried to talk to Laurie, how L is so set on her utopian ideas of love, even if she does see that everywhere she turns (the old lady that gave her a ride) more experienced people let her know that her fantasy, although a great one, will undoubtedly end one day.

I can't understand why Bruce, a man ready to let go of jealousy toward his wife, can't seem to do the same for his daughter... Bruce is an ahole IMHO

[deanncat]

well I watched the show, and it really seemed boring, not sure why i am still watching it, I keep thinking its going to get better, I hope it nothing similiar to when you really are swinging, because it looks like there might be way to much thought to it, my husband and I havn't actually officially been with other people yet, and when I watch this show, if I went off on how this show does it, I would be really nervous about the whole thing. I hope the show gets better.

[Alura]

I was disappointed in "Running on Empty." It certainly took a turn toward the traditional soap opera.

One of the best parts was the kitchen conversation between Tom and Janet. I thought he did a great job of conveying (with his eyes) the feeling of "What the hell is this woman talking about???" It seems Janet read a lot more into the kiss than Tom intended.

I was disappointed in the sneaky telephone calls between Susan and Roger. It seems the writers are trying to cover all aspects of extramarital sex.

I watched the episode on CBS.com. I was struck by the fact that Intel is the only company still advertising. If that's the case, the show can't last long.

Mr. Alura

[jjmcd]

Running on Empty was probably the Finest and most Real to life episode of people dealing with Swinging in the 1970s. Then was really different from now.

Tom and Trina have the relationship that we ALL want to have. Honesty and the ability to communicate from the beginning. Tom is particularly sharp in dealing with people with Egos (Janet) and with some loss of Common Sense (Don't dip your pen in the Office Ink. Based on one who knows from having done so himself and ended in the "Penalty Box".)
From beginning to now, they are the most stable relationship. And when people think they are shallow, or dumb, they keep suprising you.

Rodger and Janet. WOW. Now there is a whole host of issues coming to the top. Had a friend of mine like Rodger once. He was closer to my wife then I liked (In my pre lifestyle days). Until the wife told me that "He talks to me because if he looses me as a friend, it is a big loss. But not as big as the loss of his marriage. So he can share things with me that he cannot with Lynn"
But Rodger NEEDS to talk to someone. And that Therapist is either the beginning or the end. But we all know that.
Janet. Wow. Janet reminds me of an old friend of mine. Totally in control. Nothing is wrong with her, it is the world around her. She quit going to therapy because it was not getting the things done that she needed done (Getting her husband to change). At least Janet listens and learns (Unlike Colleen. Who never compromised). I think Janet will be seriously disturbed when she sees how much she has to change and just "go with the Flow". That means going to a Party and not hiding. Not necessarily going to the Rumpus Room, but definately not holding it against people. I think she and Rodger will have a amazing friendship with Tom and Tina.

Bruce and Susan. Wow. Now there is a set of people in turmoil. Susan needs to take a lot of advise from Trina and work WITHIN her marrige. She has a good one. She did a great job of taking control when needed (Restraunt with Father and Daughter). And reminding him that "Men do want to. And girls decide When they want to. That is how we got married, remember? We just have to trust her judgement to not get Pregnant". Totally in character.
She needs to get Rodger out of her mind. You cannot deal with a new relationship while there is baggage around. Been there, done that, Got the t-shirt.
Bruce is having culture shocks every day. (His daughter growing up, and his acceptance. Giving her money so she was not broke when she jumped into her "Boyfriend's" car was a issue of maturity that was far beyond the 70s. Hell, it is beyond the 90s. ) I think that the scene with him and Susan sitting
is Exactly how that should end. Not everything is settled. They are going through the stresses that Tom and Tina have settled a LONG time ago.

All in All, I think this series is one hell of a lot better for talking about Relationships in Lifestyle then we all want to admit. There are many ways into the room. and a couple of doors out.

I don't think it will be renewed. Because it is NOT what it is advertised to be, and it is not watched BECAUSE people say it is what it isn't.

So we will all have to buy it when it is on DVD>

Jim

[daisy girl]

I think this episode had some interesting parts but was overall boring. Interestingly, I think it was because this episode had a lot of real life elements.

1. Susan's discussion with Laurie about the evolution of relationships. Remember being 17 and thinking that you "knew it all" and that every was clear?
2. Susan and Bruce trying to parent a teenager while having "skeletons in their closet."
3. Susan and Bruce's son dealing with the trials of having a best friend.
4. Janet thinking that Roger needed therapy when she was really the one that needed to explore herself.
5. The woman older woman telling Laurie about men...screw um and then change um.

How many of these themes do we run into in real life LOL!!!

[SW_PA_Couple]

One particular thing took me on an instant nostalgia trip. In the 70s, you could not simply whip out your cell phone and get in touch with somebody. You had to pull to the side of the road and find a phone booth. And if nobody was home, there was no way to leave a voice mail. If someone called, no caller ID box to check who it was.

~Michael

[2inSanDiego4u]

Originally Posted by Alura

I was disappointed in "Running on Empty." It certainly took a turn toward the traditional soap opera.

Yep, it did seem more like a traditional family drama this time around! Well, at least Tom and Trina are back in the swing of things (pun intended), and with a black couple no less!

Originally Posted by Alura

I watched the episode on CBS.com. I was struck by the fact that Intel is the only company still advertising. If that's the case, the show can't last long.

We noticed that the commercial breaks were VERY short as well. Definitely not a good sign for the future of the show, as you remarked.

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by good times

I don't see how it can go on much longer,

There are 3 episodes to go. I doubt there will be more after that. I haven't seen any indication that there will be. It will be interesting to see how things get wrapped up in those three episodes.

Originally Posted by JoCoCpl

I agree with the first part of this statement - they aren't strong enough to be venturing down this road. However, I think the LACK of honesty is what is tearing them apart.

The honesty that they have been opened up to is honesty within themselves, not necessarily honesty towards each other or communication (which both Susan & Bruce and Roger & Janet need to do some serious working on). But in both cases their exposure to Tom & Trina and swinging, in general, has opened their eyes to things within themselves that they are finally be honest with themselves about (Susan and Roger's feelings for each ohter, Bruce's need to be in control - although I don't think he's quite ready to be honest with himself or anyone else yet...)

Originally Posted by deanncat

well I watched the show, and it really seemed boring, not sure why i am still watching it, I keep thinking its going to get better, I hope it nothing similiar to when you really are swinging, because it looks like there might be way to much thought to it, my husband and I havn't actually officially been with other people yet, and when I watch this show, if I went off on how this show does it, I would be really nervous about the whole thing. I hope the show gets better.

This show is a great example of what people mean when they talk about "drama" in the lifestyle. When you are dealing with couple's who should not be swinging to start with, you will be dealing with drama. If you notice, the couple with the least drama (in their own lives) are Tom & Trina... the one couple who does seem to have a handle on honesty and communication (both within themselves and towards/with others).