Swingtown Episode 13: "Take it to the Limit" discussion

[JustAskJulie]

During Tom & Trina's annual end of the summer clambake and key party, the neighborhood couples face decisions that could change their relationships.

This is the last episode of the season and possibly of the show.

[TNT]

OH..OH...OH...How dare they end it with a cliffhanger !!!

The only good thing I can say is if it was the last episode we ever get to see, at least they showed that the only happy, stable couple in the end were the swingers (Tom & Trina).

Just goes to show that there might be something to this open, honest communication and respect for ones spouse/SO that we talk about all the time?


Teresa

[socolais]

Originally Posted by TNT

OH..OH...OH...How dare they end it with a cliffhanger !!!

The only good thing I can say is if it was the last episode we ever get to see, at least they showed that the only happy, stable couple in the end were the swingers (Tom & Trina).

Just goes to show that there might be something to this open, honest communication and respect for ones spouse/SO that we talk about all the time?


Teresa

Yeah, but two out of three couples had a hard time taking it to the limit....

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by TNT

OH..OH...OH...How dare they end it with a cliffhanger !!!

The only good thing I can say is if it was the last episode we ever get to see, at least they showed that the only happy, stable couple in the end were the swingers (Tom & Trina).

Just goes to show that there might be something to this open, honest communication and respect for ones spouse/SO that we talk about all the time?


Teresa

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. It definately left me wanting another season but at the same time. If they come back for another season... what will it be? The only real happy couple and the only real swinging couple will be taking a break from swinging to have a baby... so they'll suddenly be the happy family couple while everyone else is breaking up. So on one hand I want more and on the other hand I don't.

Originally Posted by socolais

Yeah, but two out of three couples had a hard time taking it to the limit....

Not sure what you mean.

[2forfun96815]

Writing this after watching the sesons final. You have to say that the we al know people that are like the people on the show. Tom and Trina being the ones alwys doing fun things and having the time of their lives. Bruce and Susan moving into a new area and trying to fit in by tip toeing into the lifestyle then trying to explaining going against their upbring. Roger and Janet living what was consdered the ideal life,him going to waok everyday while she stayed home caring for the house. Roger being a husband that had no say in what was going to happen while Janet knew what was right for everyone. I would have to say not a Drama but a bad soap opera.

[SW_PA_Couple]

Originally Posted by 2forfun96815

Writing this after watching the sesons final.

Season finale?

[awesomecplmn]

Okay, so to me this show is so not about swinging. Like most other shows on tv, it is about cheating......The whole thing with Susan taking keys because she was mad at her husband and then heading to Roger's hotel. Talk about major TROUBLE!!

But still I thought the final episode was a really good one. I loved Doug's letter to Laurie. I think he really does love her. Janet is coming into her own and even has a homosexual friend. Hooray to Trina for giving her the agency to think about her own needs.

I have a feeling Trina will miscarry if the show goes into a new season. Just seems like the way the story arch would go.

[SexyNSingle]

Hooray to Trina for giving her the agency to think about her own needs.

I think this is response to the Calendar that Trina showed Janet and the year being 1976 and not '54. It was a tool to help Janet realize that she is capable of making her decisions and to voice that she doesn't want to move to Cincinnati.

I wouldn't say that this show is about cheating, I think it is about exploration. While I don't agree with Roger and Susan meeting at the hotel, I am not surprised by it. I think Susan deliberately grabbing someone's keys out of the bowl spoke more volumes than anything else.

S

[LFM2]

Originally Posted by SexyNSingle

I think Susan deliberately grabbing someone's keys out of the bowl spoke more volumes than anything else.

S

I wondered what she told the guy who owned the car keys. Did she have him drop her off, or did something happen in between the time they left and she got home?

Susan and Bruce's marriage has gone south so fast. His emotional infidelity and her running to Roger.

I'm with Teresa... How dare they leave us in a cliffhanger!!

[beachguyz]

Bruce is emotionally immature. He has no problem screwing Trina and making out with Melinda but he blames Susan for everything.

[jjmcd]

Tom and Trina. Probably the most successful marriage there. Both of them know what their relationship limits are, and don't want to mess up a good thing.
Tom is a excellent prospect for a father. And having a daughter would be the ultimate in Cosmic Karma. (Daughters are god's revenge on fathers for what they were like when they were younger.)
I think both of them have that Balanced approach to life that they will need to deal with the 1980s and beyond. (Anyone remember airline regulation?)

Bruce and Susan. She is growing. And she had the earliest signs of her relationship being in trouble due to lack of communication. She wants to reach out and try different things and do different things. (Which is how she got pregnant in the first place). She has been the disruptive influence. And Bruce has not caught up with her growth or desire to grow. She seems to be the most distructive of the group. I don't think she is thinking real clearly about things. And she reacted to Melinda's revelations with anger. Not with thinking "Ok. How did this happen, and What can *I* do here?" She should have taken Trina's advise and thought this one through.
Bruce. Didn't run off until Susan grabbed the "Keys". In a spite, he went to Melinda for support. NOT Good. You have to clear up things in your own home before you get outside of it. He is also reacting in anger and not in deliberation. He needs to know you can have Friends and a marriage. You don't need a single person to be all things to all of your needs. If he had that under wraps, he would be a LOT better off. And it would be an agreement point for him and Susan.

Rodger. Should have gotten on that Plane. Get your professional life in shape first. Susan is a Chemistry, they really don't have any depth yet. He is right telling his son "Don't ever settle. Get what you want in life". And he needs to share that with Janet. He has sort of given her a ultimatium on moving. But he then blows it himself. Why? Little head thinking for big head.

Janet. Will probably be Trina's best friend. And will cluck cluck at the goings on of the people who will be her favorites people once Rodger throws himself out. Her own compass will be swinging a little after that, as her relationships with the two of them grow. Trina is in awe of her, and willing to take advise. On a lot of things. And will (Probably) Be able to Return Advise as time and trust grow. Trina does not have All the answers. But Janet will be impressed with her ability to do more then enough. I like her.

I see Janet becoming a Unicorn in time. And a successful columnist.

So, out of 6 people we have one successful marriage that will weather bad rocks. One that will explode because of differences in growth. And one that will fail because niether really cares enough about the other to open up and listen.

And a daughter that is deeply in love with an older man who is a lot more stable and intelligent then we all think. Hopefully, he keeps it zipped while he is in Guatemala.

All in all. This is not about the Lifestlyle. But it is about life. the one we live without the operations manual. This is about Living in the 1970s, and how we wish we were there again. But at the time, it didn't seem so good.

Not a "Cliff Hanger". But definately a good place to close the window into the 1976 era. I applaud CBS for having the stones to name a Daytime Soap Opera "Swingtown" and to add that single facet as a part of 1970s life.

[two42lovers]

Really the whole season was about why it's not a good idea to include self-absorbed newbees at swing parties... Susan and Janet sure made a lot of nasty drama at Trina's parties... very hard to imagine Trina kept including them. (More like impossible to imagine.) One of them - Susan and/or Janet - caused a big scene at every single gathering.

Tom & Trina were great all the way through. Good comunication, treating each other with respect, love, forgiveness, understanding, patience. (They put each other first in every way.) Susan & Bruce and Janet & Roger were drama with a big D - we wouldn't go near such people.

In the end, swinging was only a sub-context for the show. The real focus was sexual & emotional exploration in general (first crush, first love, first swing experience, first cheating, etc.)

[JustAskJulie]

Originally Posted by LFM2

I wondered what she told the guy who owned the car keys. Did she have him drop her off, or did something happen in between the time they left and she got home?

I wondered that, but when they showed her at home, I got the feeling that she probably just had the guy drop her off there. Sucks to be that guy.... I also ended up wondering what happened to the odd woman out since Bruce's keys weren't in the bowl.

[frkfriendz]

I agree with all the other post, concerning Tom & Trina's relationship, as well as the other couples. For me as many of you said it was about much more than swinging...however it was hard for me to convince others lol.

I also enjoyed the show from the aspect of the the women coming into their own.

For example: Janet working? I'm sure she never thought of such lol....Susan watching porn and forming a political opinion, why when her husband had one....lol

Those were great points in the evolution of women's roles....

I do think the show could go in to a 2nd season...they could fast forward a little bit to 9 months from now. I doubt it comes back though....I hate to watch tv shows these days they are so short lived...so many reality shows. Hey there is a thought....a reality swing show? Any one want to star in my show lol.

Take care folks!

[TravlParty]

I hope it gets picked up by another channel. It was interesting, even if it was becoming a soap opera.

I wonder what will happen with the swing scene since Trina/Tom are having a baby.

I couldn't believe that a grown man (Roger) would give up his dream job for the possibility of what might happen (Susan).