Mixed feelings about the finale

[LaraB]

Alright, day 2 of mulling this over!    I've come to the semi-conclusion that I don't dislike Lulu as much as on Tuesday night.  I still think that the way she handled her elopement announcement to Nick was very cruel, raising and dashing his hopes in the same breath.  HOWEVER, I guess for the most part I'm just really disappointed in her.  But I do see your point, Ellen, about her not wanting to throw away a "safe" thing for Nick.  So I blame them both.  Lulu for kissing Nick in the first place and being dumb enough to stay with Brian, and Nick for KISSING!!!! her back and thinking he could woo her away from that dork.

I know all this was just to keep the tension going next season but I can see things getting more vicious between them and definitely more arguments.  Which for me is a good thing because I like to see them argue with each other.  The more passionate the argument, the more passionate they become for each other.  And as much as I hate Brian, I don't know how much I could enjoy a Nick-Lulu roll in the hay if she were still married.  If they hook-up, I hope she at least gets a divorce first.

[Nick4Ever]

this is my take on the Lulu/Nick thing:  I think that Lulu is very confused at what she wants and that she has never been alone before.  She has known Brian for a looooooong time and I think that she is scared to be alone.  I think that she does like Nick, but is too scared to give up Brian.  I don't like Lulu for Nick and I hope that they bring on another actress to play his love interest.  I also wonder if Nick will ever tell Lulu what Brian did?  He could have told her to keep her, he didn't and that kinda tells me that maybe he is not really sure of her himself.  I hope that makes sense LOL.  As for Hunter, when Nick took him aside he looked like he was a little p***ed off at Nick because Nick still doesn't understand that even though his dad tried to overdose, that's where Hunter wanted to be, he wants to be with his dad and Nick couldn't  have anyway of knowing that would happen to Mr Reed.  I hope that in the next season something will come out about Nick having the power over Hunter and his $, not his grandfather.  I hope this all made sense, I'm rambling a bit  

[M.A.Y.]

The next move has to be up to LuLu.  She delivered the knockout punch to Nick (he looked like he was going to vomit when he told her that she had married the Cad--Brian).  There is no way that Nick will continue to pursue her.  Nick has done everything a guy can do to win over a girl:  kissed her like I'm sure she's never been kissed before; helped her with something very important to her and all this even after she insulted him..."I guess you were my bachelorette party"...and told him to get lost!

But, I'm not sure I'm interested in seeing a married LuLu pursue Nick.  Call me old-fashioned but I just don't like the idea of a newlywed chasing after another person!  Nick's already messed around with a married woman...yes it's different with LuLu because he actually feels strongly for her and with the chick from K&M it was all about sex, but do we really need to see Nick travel that same road again.  So, I hope that LuLu was lying about having married the Cad...and I wouldn't put it past her to do something like that since she is the world's most confused lawyer!

[Jennifer]

Great post M.A.Y.! I, for one don't like to see a married Lulu chase after Nick and it's true, everything is all up to Lulu now. I would like to see her come to a realization that it is Nick she loves and not Brian. My feeling is there will be more romantic tension at Legal Aid Service between the two of them, as this is perhaps the reason why they chose the marriage route.  Also, Lulu seems to have the same fate in love just like Granny in Chinese Wall.  I hope that you're right M.A.Y regarding Lulu lying about this marriage, although it doesn't makes sense. In that scene when she told Nick about  the marriage, when they parted ways, they focused  on Nick's reaction, but I did see Lulu although it was blurd, that she appeared to be crying. She was hurting too. I hope they eventually end up together. There is just so much unhappiness in Nick's life; I want to at least see him happy with his love life even for an episode.

[Nick4Ever]

I do want to see Nick happy as well, but I think that Nick gave Lulu enough signals to let her know that he liked her.  If she was dumb enough not to notice than I think too bad for her.  She had her chance, now it's time for them to introduce someone new for Nick.  That would really put Lulu's nose out of joint, then you'd probably see her 'tune' change.  I do not want to see these two together Just MHO anyway.

[spunkymungbeans]

I don't want to see Lulu and Nick together for a long time.  I want to see her suffer watching him in another relationship for a while.  

I also doubt they will have an affair - the Chinese Wall hint was so blatent that it would be corny beyond belief if they went down that route (pardon the pun) as well IMHO

[juliana106]

After anaylzing since Tuesday, I've come to some conclusions (with all other various inputs, ideas and reasonings considered.)


1. If Lulu really did marry Brian (for whatever reason), we know it will end.

2. It's a two way thing, Lulu did lead him on and let him down in the same  breath, but Nick went along with the game and he kissed her (but we all know she WANTED to kiss him back)

3. Affairs are overdone and Nick already had one, my guess is that Hollander won't go that route but he won't have Lulu in marital bliss either.

4. Chances are great (if Lulu did really marry Brian) that by the time she figures out what a waste of air Brian is and what she could've had with Nick, he will be eyeing someone else --- she'll see how life is on the other side of the coin.

5. Let's hope the prostitution issue is not forgotten, wouldn't it be nice to turn the tables on the Cad for being mad when Lulu kissed a handsome man like Nick when he himself had solicited a prostitute. Sounds to me as if both of them are too confused to make it legal.

6. If Lulu really did marry Brian (ugh, I still can't think of a decent reason why) I think its because she was trying to rationalize being with someone for years and planning your entire life with them, and then all of a sudden leaving him on the chance it might work with her gorgeous co-worker from LSOP. Brian was who she knew, and even if he acts more like a crochety old man than a young doctor and wanted to see her barefoot and pregnant at home --- you get used to somebody.

This is just a theory, but banking on the fact that Lulu might have been lying --- does anyone else think it might be possible she pulled the whole stunt with Nick because the Cad came clean about the prostitution when she told him about the kiss? In an effort to change her mind (maybe Brian picked up on Nick checking out his girl) Brian would tell Lulu about the prostitute and Nick's involvement.  She'd rid herself of him, and then see what mind games she could play with Nick.  Maybe.  

Even as disgruntled as I was after the finale, I see Lulu is visibly confused. I'm still (by all means) a Lulu fan and I would like to see her and Nick together sometime in the future. I don't condone her supposed marriage, or her naivety to Nick's not so subtle hints --- but I can almost understand why she'd feel "safe" in staying with the Cad.  I think the writers can really drag out the story between Nick and Lulu, and by the time it happens --- a relationship could work out.  ;D

[M.A.Y.]

I don't think it's likely that the Cad came clean about being with a prostitute...no man would ever admit that to his woman if his intent was to remain in the relationship.  If LuLu did lie then I think she did it because, as she keeps saying, she is confused and she has used this ruse about eloping to keep Nick at a distance untill she can "figure things out".  She saw that her Granny lived with the ache of loving another, so I don't know why she would choose the same path for herself.

The Cad definitely knows that Nick has eyes for LuLu.  The scene in Shelter after the kiss left no doubt about this.  The Cad looked as if he was going to pass out (either that or wet himself!) when he saw the look that passed between Nick & LuLu, and the sexual tension in that room was so thick that even a dullard like the Cad would notice it!

And if LuLu really did marry the Cad...well, then I'd say Nick needs to move on.  This guy desperately needs a friend, someone he can confide in.  Nick has absolutely no one in his life to lean on.  Even though he knows now that his father would do anything for him and really does love him he cannot even go to his father for support with all his troubles.  No one can live like this, the strain is just too much even for a character like Nick who is so very good at suppressing his emotions.  If he doesn't get some support soon he will crack!

[[e-mail]]

Hi everyone!

Lulu may be confused about something, but I don't think it's her feelings for Nick and Brian. I think she knows just how she feels and who she wants. She's just too scared to follow her heart.

On one side, she's got the safe, and (she thinks) reliable Brian, a nice stable doctor who's in love with her. On the other, she's got a troubled shark of a lawyer who has dabbled (and maybe worse) in drugs, who's been arrested, and is emotionally-closed off in a lot of ways.

She wants the "bad boy." And, yes, Nick is more than that. I think Lulu knows that, but she certainly has not seen as much of Nick's other side as we, the audience, has.

If the hints about Lulu's mother indicate anything, maybe Lulu has seen how following the passion has failed to result in anything permanent, lasting and fulfilling for her mother. Perhaps Lulu is afraid she will end up like her mother.

I see the marriage to Brian as the act of a scared woman. She isn't running TO Brian, she's running AWAY from Nick.

thirty

[Ginne]

Nice take Thirty! I think you summed things up very well. The whole bad boy Nick idea, as well as the marrying Brian to run away from Nick. Nice catch!

[Babe]

Well here's another newbie climbing aboard.  I have to admit I haven't seen every ep, so far, but I hope to make that up during summer reruns.

Someone posted on Page 1 that there were too many stories going on in the last ep.  I believe that's done during "sweeps months", which are May and Nov.  In May this usually includes the finale and they throw everything they can at the fans to insure their return.

I was a fan of La Femme Nikita for 5 years and in every episode we were teased and titillated just a little bit regarding the romance between the 2 leads.  Many directors, writers and the like, feel that if things get too good for a couple the fan interest falls.  The example of "Lois and Clark",  "Moonlighting" and others are given as proof.

A friend and I were discussing the finale and we feel that LuLu told Nick she & the jerk had eloped just to get him to commit himself more verbally.  Another thing is, in all the write-ups about the show's renewal, LuLu is not listed as part of the cast.  If she was permanent, wouldn't she be included?  Do others believe, like me, that they are trying out different female love interests to see which one appears to have the best chemistry with Nick/Simon?  How can they not have chemistry with that man. LOL

I've tried all the copycat shows of Nikita and none of them could compete, so I turned to this very different series and I'm a gonner.

I want Nick to become more assertive.  They've shown he has a tender heart for the down-trodden and he was so sweet to LuLu's gramma.  I liked that  he dared getting other members of the firm to become an organized group and leave Caldwell holding the bag.  Even though this may not happen now that his dad explained things more, it does show Nick's not afraid.....most of the time, that is.  

If TPTB don't want Nick to get to the marrying stage, they could at least give us some romantic scenes to tide us over once in a while.  He's too good looking to just be trying cases from both his offices.

I sure disliked that skinhead associate of Senator Caldwell.  In Nikita we would call him the SOTW (Swine Of The Week)  I hope they find a way to kiss him off come next fall.

Thanks for letting me join this discussion.  The only place I had found till now was the official CBS website of the series.  There's no MB there even though several of us asked for one in feedback e-mails.  

[annie]

Hi :wave:

I haven't been able to post since the day of the finale and it has been excrutiating!  But, a lot of people voiced my thoughts in their's.

I have watched the ending scene of Nick leaving his father "the" message at least 20 times (no exaggeration).  The first time was shocking, because of his vunerability, and very sad because he thinks his world is coming to an end and he'll go to prison. Especially after what the detective told him about "hauling him in" and his father about how the DA was looking for a minimum sentence of 5 years for his drug bust.

Even though I semi-liked Lulu, I think she's out, at least as a love interest.  She's made her choice and I think she will do everything and anything to make her marriage work.  As Babe :wave: said, she made the safe choice.

OK.  I feel better.  ;D

[Jennifer]

I just want to respond to Babe's post. Oh and BTW, Welcome! When CBS announced the renewal of TG, my local paper in NY (Daily News) printed the article with a picture of Simon and Wendy Moniz (Lulu) that says" The Guardian was the first new show to be renewed for 2002-2003 season which stars Simon Baker and Wendy Moniz" So I believe that Lulu is coming back and is part of the cast. Also my I just add my opinion about Lulu's current storyline. While I admit that they might bring in another female love interest to distract Nick's feelings for Lulu, my guess is Lulu will not be out of the picture, not yet at least.  Several episodes gave many hints and this show is not that bad when it comes to continuity. A hint about Lulu's family such as her mother being troubled, her grandmother although with Alzeimer's disease stated how she was in love with another man that she is not married to clearly made Lulu think the pain of that experience, Brian who cheated on her where Nick has full knowledge of. Having said that, I do believe that there is a reason why they turned Brian into a cad and not this nice and rich doctor that lulu thinks he is. If they don't bring this up in the future, then I will be terribly disappointed with the  writers who I admire so far. Also David Hollander stated in one of his several interviews that TG is different from other shows where at the end of each episodes, there are some conclusions at the end. TG, he said. is different because it will always end with ambiguity and will leave viewers with a lot of questions. This is already happening to us. Being a Nick and Lulu fan, I hope that next season, Lulu will be a good friend to Nick and be supportive of him while he is in trouble and also come to the realization that it is Nick she wants to be with.  

[Babe]

First I must thank the Message Board team here for the lovely "handle" given to me, "Law Student". The only laws I'm sure of are those of loooooong experience. I'm 76 years old and this is only the second TV series I wanted to be involved with on the internet.  BTW I like being able to review earlier posts.  This is a new feature to me and I find it most helpful.

After one of the Nikita conventions, the team of a website called Hussy/Rogue asked if I'd be their Hussy Mom.  I've been moderator there for several years.  BTW forgive me when I continue to bring up La Femme Nikita points in my posts.  I have been an avid fan of that series and feel The Guardian, though different, is in the same class as LFN.  You will find that several of us LFN fans have joined the ranks of TG.  We have just been searching for a great MB to sign up to.  I believe I have found it here.  I've sent this link to my other fan friends.

Back to the drawing board.  Thanks Jennifer for the info in the Daily News.  That is encouraging to read.  I like LuLu and won't object at all if she remains the love interest of Simon, as long as she hasn't really gone and wed Brian.  Nick is too handsome to be having to waste his energies on a married woman.  Especially when there are soooo many of us out here so very interested in him.  

I'm like spunkymungbeans, I'd like LuLu to do a bit of squirming as Nick/Simon plays the field for a few eps. Right now she isn't helping him any with all the problems the writers have given him to solve.

David Hollander and his writers are certainly leaving us
with plenty of questions and we have 4 months to dwell over the possible answers. Lordy, Lordy.

I'll be back.

[[e-mail]]

I too am new here but an avid Guardian fan.  The "we eloped to Atlantic City" line literally took my breath away but I think the tension between Nick and Lulu will be heightened by these events.  He will pine for her while dating other women.  She will find out about her smarmy husband and turn to Nick.  There are endless possibilities.  I hope, however, they do not intend to have Nick sleep with Lulu while she is still married.
I also am looking forward to what happens to Nick and the law.  Will Lulu be there for him?  Will these events bring Nick and his father to some sort of understanding
After being a La Femme Nikita fan for so long it is too refreshing to find a show where the guy smiles on occasion and where he says more than two word at a time.  I'm hooked.  And Babe, HI !!