My relationship with my family has changed over the years as I have gotten older. I don’t believe I or they have changed drastically; frankly I believe people don’t change much over the course of their life. I believe we are basically the same person we were when we were twelve. But as I have gotten older, I view my brother, sister, father and mother differently. I think it’s because as I’ve gotten older and lived more of a life I am able to see them as people and not as idealized versions that I had as a child. This has improved my relationship with them because I am able to see clearer their limitations and their brilliance.
The television series Once and Again also spent three years examining the dynamics within a family. The second season features Sela Ward, Billy Campbell, Shane West, Julia Whelan, Evan Rachel Wood, Susanna Thompson, Marin Hinkle, Meredith Deane, Todd Field and Jeffrey Nordling as two families that blend into one when these two divorced parents fall in love. This second season charts the course of the relationship as the parents, Lilly and Rick, contemplate marriage.
The season is highlighted with a series of compelling episodes that include “Booklovers”, where Judy (Marin Hinkle) has an idea to implement a dating service in her bookstore one lonely night, now that she is no longer having an affair with a married man. The idea turns out to be a success and renovations to the store are made, but this change hurts her sister, Lilly (Ward), because the bookstore was never this successful when she was involved. Hinkle has the unique ability to portray lonely, without ever being a pathetic victim. She brings understanding and shows her characters tenacity as she attempts to find happiness. Ward is equally good because she is not afraid to show her characters childish, spoiled or selfish side. And she too brings an understanding to her character’s motivations.
“I Can’t Stand Up (For Falling Down)” features Eli’s (Shane West) struggle with his learning disability and his reluctance to face his possibly limited future, as he nears high school graduation. West is particularly affecting in this episode as is his father, played by Campbell, with each actor showing the struggle that comes when life has a tendency to change our plans, that we can so often spend too much time making.
The season continues with “Food For Thought” which deals with Jesse’s (Wood) anorexia, developed in part with her inability to control the changes in her life. These changes include a father (Campbell) and his relationship with Lilly (Ward), the woman he loves. She is also now in high school without any friends, and her mother(Thompsan) and her father are fighting more then they did when they were married due to a legal battle in their professional lives. Wood displays a talent beyond her years as she acutely portrays ...
