Best media couples?

Sorry I have been a little M.I.A. these days - February has been busy! I am the MFHD graduate coordinator and Feb is our busiest month. It is Saturday right now and I finally have a little time to breathe, so I thought I would do a quick blog post.

I got this Christmas present for my husband, Paul, this year. The glare is a little bad, but you get the idea. We like to watch TV shows together and these are some of our favorite couples from some of our favorite programs including The West Wing, Gilmore Girls, Friday Night Lights, The Office, Grey's Anatomy, and of course a whole lot of Disney.

I think my favorite media couple of all time is Eric and Tammy Taylor from Friday Night Lights. They have a realistic marriage, with trials and problems, but they are also extremely supportive and caring to each other. I remember once Paul and I were in the middle of an argument. We had kind of stomped off to our separate rooms and Paul came back and said something about an episode we had just watched where Eric and Tammy have an argument, but they were able to work it out in a really beautiful way. This inspired him and he came to fix things pretty quickly.

I really do think that media can be inspiring. There is almost no research on media and romantic relationships, but I suspect there is some sort of effect. I just need to do the study now.......

Who are your favorite media couples and why???

Two Cathedrals

Tonight I got some bad news. The kind of news that leads to sobbing on the bathroom floor and a borderline panic attack. To numb some of the pain, I decided to turn to media.

As you know, The West Wing is my all time favorite show. There is one episode called "Two Cathedrals" (season finale of season 2). In my opinion, it is the finest 43 minutes and 57 seconds of television. Ever.

A scene kept running through my head. President Bartlet is considering running for re-election and unexpectedly experiences a tragedy in his life. After a funeral he has this conversation with God. Be warned - there is a little language.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVgK5HKj3P4



President Bartlet is a highly religious man. But I think this scene portrays the raw pain that many of feel when we experience significant trials in our life. As I watched, I wondered. Is God just a "feckless thug"? Are we really in control of anything in this life or does He just play games with us? What's the point of trying our best - of giving our all - when it can be taken away so easily. I've related to this scene several times in my life, especially this year, and I cried as I watched it again today.

However, the episode does not end there. Bartlet has a profound conversation with someone who points out that "he's having quite the day". She reminds him that God does not *cause* accidents and that there are a lot of people who are "worse off than you". They talk numbers. How many children are born in poverty. How many people don't have health care. How many people are incarcerated, etc. President Bartlet realizes that there is still work to do. There is still hope.

There is a fierce storm. Bartlet enters the fray and makes the decision to run for re-election. He does not give up, even when the task appears insurmountable. It is my very favorite scene in any program I have ever viewed.

https://vimeo.com/56378248

As I watched this tonight, I was filled with hope. My 2 year old, Liam, had crawled out of bed and was snuggled next to me, playing with my ear as he likes to do. I felt warm and I felt loved. Bad things happen. It's not right and it's not fair. It's easy to feel hopeless and to feel like giving up. It's easy to blame God even though he gives us nothing but His grace. He knows exactly how much life can suck sometimes and He will not leave us comfortless. He will send a 2 year old and an inspired episode the West Wing to lift you up. There is still hope. And there is still a lot of work to do here on this earth. Watch this. I'm ready.