This is my favourite episode among several. Mainly because the father son story hits very close to home. No matter how often I watch this I cry like a baby.
It is good however because it tells me that even at my age this wound will never completely heal. It is something one lives with and accepts. But I know that I am not alone and when I see how Shaun and Wayne's faces change from anger, despair, pain to smiles, love and peace it gives me hope and comfort. I see how guarded Wayne is terrified to be hurt and disappointed masked by his military machismo, difficult for him to let go and relax but ultimately he is like someone transformed.
I have no illusions, they can never make up for the lost time. Childhood can never be caught up or made right. The most one can hope for with these two men is closure of the past and some of the wounds and hopefully build some present relationship based on affection, love and mutual respect.
On another point though...... Human beings are vulnerable and weak especially faced with their own sexuality. Aside from the brutal haranguing of religion preaching hell fire and damnation there was no sensible teaching of responsibility and the consequences of one's actions.
It is a dilemma but the fact is that had people been more responsible and educated to the realities of acting out on their sexual passions there would not have been tens of thousands of poor unfortunate babies born into such unhappy circumstances.
This is not a "moral" judgement just a rational and logical fact. It is the curious nature of the human being and especially a child or teenager that the more you forbid and threaten the more they will do the opposite.
But people basically are irresponsible which is why in the past 60 years the world population has well more than doubled without thought to the consequences to the planet, the society or the innocent children brought into a world of societies that can barely sustain them.
Amazed to read at another site how many people watch this but don't pay attention or really hear what is said. Especially regarding the mother and her mixed race boy.
It was a brutal decision she had to make. Whether we agree or not it was the man's choice to not want another man's baby especially being mixed race at a time when it would have been very difficult in society. The challenges would have been horrific in a village or small town.
She could not have raised the boy alone in her circumstances. Single mothers with illegitimate children were not accepted in society in most places at that time. I suspect even the adoptive parents broke up ultimately because mixed race marriages at that time were not common and little accepted. In the deep south of the usa such relationships and marriages were illegal and they could easily be shot dead if they were in public.
Unless you lived through those times and knew personally how people thought and reacted you cannot understand. But some attempt at compassion and empathy here would be recommended to those of you who seem unconscious to reality.
It is good however because it tells me that even at my age this wound will never completely heal. It is something one lives with and accepts. But I know that I am not alone and when I see how Shaun and Wayne's faces change from anger, despair, pain to smiles, love and peace it gives me hope and comfort. I see how guarded Wayne is terrified to be hurt and disappointed masked by his military machismo, difficult for him to let go and relax but ultimately he is like someone transformed.
I have no illusions, they can never make up for the lost time. Childhood can never be caught up or made right. The most one can hope for with these two men is closure of the past and some of the wounds and hopefully build some present relationship based on affection, love and mutual respect.
On another point though...... Human beings are vulnerable and weak especially faced with their own sexuality. Aside from the brutal haranguing of religion preaching hell fire and damnation there was no sensible teaching of responsibility and the consequences of one's actions.
It is a dilemma but the fact is that had people been more responsible and educated to the realities of acting out on their sexual passions there would not have been tens of thousands of poor unfortunate babies born into such unhappy circumstances.
This is not a "moral" judgement just a rational and logical fact. It is the curious nature of the human being and especially a child or teenager that the more you forbid and threaten the more they will do the opposite.
But people basically are irresponsible which is why in the past 60 years the world population has well more than doubled without thought to the consequences to the planet, the society or the innocent children brought into a world of societies that can barely sustain them.
Amazed to read at another site how many people watch this but don't pay attention or really hear what is said. Especially regarding the mother and her mixed race boy.
It was a brutal decision she had to make. Whether we agree or not it was the man's choice to not want another man's baby especially being mixed race at a time when it would have been very difficult in society. The challenges would have been horrific in a village or small town.
She could not have raised the boy alone in her circumstances. Single mothers with illegitimate children were not accepted in society in most places at that time. I suspect even the adoptive parents broke up ultimately because mixed race marriages at that time were not common and little accepted. In the deep south of the usa such relationships and marriages were illegal and they could easily be shot dead if they were in public.
Unless you lived through those times and knew personally how people thought and reacted you cannot understand. But some attempt at compassion and empathy here would be recommended to those of you who seem unconscious to reality.