Analysis by Ivy English

THE PILOT

~Not a whole lot of Michael/Liz interaction in this ep. Mostly, we see Michael�s reaction to Liz finding out. It stands to reason that the two don�t really know each other well at all at this point, since Michael�s apparently rarely in school and keeps to himself, Max, and Isabel when he is. However, he sure didn�t protest that much when Max healed Liz. When Isabel questions him later, he doesn�t make excuses, but rather, deflects the question.

Isabel: How did you let my misguided brother do this?
Michael: Hey, don�t turn this around on me. I�m not the one who thinks he�s a superhero.

It�s interesting that Michael doesn�t answer the question. He could�ve said, �I tried�, or something to that effect, but then again, he didn�t really try, did he? For all intents and purposes, he allowed Max to heal Liz. Something the Michael at this point in the season could never do himself, but that he might still be glad that Max did.

The other significant part of this episode comes at the end, in the alley confrontation. Michael strides up to Liz and Maria in all his menacing glory, and says �Get your car out of the way, now.� Maria takes a fearful step back and behind Liz, but Liz doesn�t flinch. In fact, she takes a step towards him.

It�s interesting that Liz shows no fear of Michael, who is admittedly rather intimidating. Her reasons for trusting Max are pretty well explained, but she has no reason to trust Michael. And yet, it seems that she instinctively does.

THE MORNING AFTER

~As a Polarist, this stands as one of my favorite episodes. The Michael/Liz interaction is great, and truly sets the tone for their relationship through the rest of the season.

Immediately, Liz latches on to the fact that Topolsky was asking questions about Michael, showing concern that even Max didn�t share (and an intuition that�s really rather astounding, considering who Topolsky turns out to be.) Even though Max says not to worry about it, Liz takes it upon herself to seek Michael out and warn him.

I�ve always wondered why. Partly, I think, it�s because she feels an obligation to the Pod Squad now that she shares their secret and because Max risked everything to save her life. Even so, it seems like mentioning her concern to Max would have been enough. Going to the trailer park to find Michael seems to be above and beyond the call of duty.

Once there, Liz doesn�t make a big deal about where Michael lives, seeming to sense that it�s not something he�s proud of. In return, Michael treats Liz with a gentleness that we haven�t seen in him until this point. (Well, gentle for Michael, anyway.) He thanks her, and apologizes for anything Hank might have said.

Liz: I don�t know what�s going on, Michael. I just thought I should tell you.
Michael: Thanks.
Liz: Sure.
Michael: Listen, if Hank insulted you or anything...
Liz: Oh no, no.
Michael: You kind of have to ignore him.
Liz: Sorry... to just show up here.
Michael: It�s where I live. Thanks.

And so we see the first demonstrations of the protectiveness they have for each other, which will resurface throughout the season.

MONSTERS

The Liz/Michael interaction here is negligible...except for that scene at the end- the classic pose of the rebel and the schoolgirl. So it�s worth it!

LEAVING NORMAL

~Again, relatively little Liz/Michael interaction. One thing I noticed, though, is that it�s the only time we see Michael in a classroom, which made me wonder idly if Liz took Topolsky�s suggestion and told Michael to start going to classes.

One a purely speculative note, I thought the comment Michael makes to Max in the bathroom could carry subtext: �Let me guess- you�re in love with a girl, and she�s with another guy.� Couldn�t Michael conceivably be referring to himself? Yes, it�s a stretch. But it�s possible. At this point, Liz is with Max more than she�s with Kyle, if only unofficially. To Michael, Max could be the �other guy�.

Which leads to more speculation, but we�ll get to that in Missing.

MISSING

~Chemistry, chemistry, chemistry. These two have it. There was so much sexual tension floating around in that journal-returning scene, that Michael might very well have picked up that knife to cut it. (Sorry, lame joke.)

Michael stealing Liz�s journal means that he had to go into her bedroom to retrieve it. Interesting. There�s a lot to analyze here, so I�m just going to jump right in.

1. The actual returning of the journal. Sexual tension aside, there�s something else I noticed here. When Michael�s telling Liz what happened, his voice is very soft, calm, and rather un-Michael. Although there�s a certain stress to the atmosphere as he draws things out, he still manages to remain almost gentle, reminding me more than once of that scene in Morning After.

2. The flashback I loved, loved, loved that flashback. First, the image of Liz and Michael alone in the Crashdown late at night is almost more than I can handle. The way he kept looking at her, the way Liz seemed almost uncomfortable under his scrutiny (which can truly be taken several ways; I�m opting for the she-thinks-he�s-hot-and-wonders-why-he�s-watching-her way). Even in that short little flashback, there was tons of chemistry.

3. The dialogue

Michael: I had to know the risk...so I had to know what your journal said.
Liz: You took it...
Michael: I never meant for things to get out of control...it's nice to know we have at least one friend in this town.
Liz: Does Max know that you...
Michael: No...and you know what would be really great? If you didn't tell him.
Liz: But why didn't you just destroy this, Michael? Because anyone that found this would know all about you.
Michael: No...they'd know all about you, Liz. Thank you for giving me one more reason to envy Max Evans.

Why did Michael really take her journal? Yes, he says it was to see what her journal said, and I�m willing to go along with that. But is it the only reason? Seems like Liz has already proven herself trustworthy, and if he really was only worried about the fact that she�d written it down, then what Liz said is true- he shouldn�t have returned it. The journal proving Liz is an ally would be irrelevant.

It seems possible, perhaps even likely, that Michael took the journal as much to find out about Liz as to find out whether it could be evidence. She�s definitely not someone Michael can easily understand. For one thing, she�s a human. She�s a human who took the knowledge that they�re aliens in stride and has gone out of her way to protect them, and it seems likely that by now, his curiosity is piqued. I can see Liz intriguing Michael and thus making him want to try to understand her.

Michael acknowledging Liz as a friend was nice.

It�s interesting that Liz doesn�t seem very worried about Michael now knowing all of her secrets. Again, she seems to show an instinctive trust in him, this time that he�ll keep what he read private. I also thought it was rather symbolic- Liz knows Michael�s deepest secret, and now he knows hers.

And now... onto that very, very loaded last line.

Michael�s comment about having another reason to envy Max is decidedly ambiguous. Envy because he now knows how Liz feels about Max? That seems most likely. Now the question is, why would that make Michael envious?

One answer is simply that Michael envies the fact that Max has someone who feels that way about him. But it�s just as likely that Michael, now realizing just how incredible a person Liz is, envies the fact that Max has such an amazing girl interested him. I always suspected that Michael found a lot more than he was expecting to in that journal, and that it was very likely that a crush (which might have had its roots in Morning After) developed from it.

Of course, it�s a double-edged sword, because Michael�s now fully aware of the fact that Liz does have feelings for Max. And here�s where the envy comes in again- we�ve seen, and will continue to see, how Michael feels like he�s always standing in Max�s shadow. Michael�s the screw-up; Michael�s the one who always needs bailing out. It stands to reason that Michael would feel like he could never compete with Max for Liz�s affections, either.

In that sense, Max is indeed the �other guy�, and one that Michael is sure he can never measure up to.

285 SOUTH

~Sigh... it�s all about Michael and Maria in this ep. How sad.... unless you�re a Candygirl, I guess.

RIVER DOG

~Is it just me, or was Liz VERY interested in getting the details from Maria about what had happened in the nookie motel?

Maria: The thing about Michael is that he's weird but surprisingly interesting.
Liz: He's interesting?
Maria: Not interesting for me, obviously.
Liz: Oh, yes, obviously.
Maria: I mean, it can never be. There's a number of obstacles. His hair, his personality, the fact that he was hatched.
Liz: Can you please tell me what happened in that motel room?
Maria: I told you, Liz, nothing happened.
Liz: Are you sure?

Anyone else think that Liz seemed almost.... jealous? She was definitely very intent on ascertaining that �nothing happened�.

Not much else in this ep, although I found it interesting that Michael was the one who initially wanted to go to the Reservation, and then Liz went to Max telling him (and REALLY telling him; go Liz! Stand up against the control freak!) that she was going. I think it would have been interesting if Liz had gone to Michael, and not Max, and the two of them had gone out there together.

BLOOD BROTHERS

~Interaction in this ep is subtle, but it�s there. I liked Michael and Liz working together to switch the blood... and who could miss those looks they kept giving each other? OK, so they weren�t blatant. Still. I sighed when their hands touched as Liz handed him the vial....

I also noticed something in the scene after that, when Michael, Liz, Maria, and Alex are in the waiting room and Michael�s leaning against that column, staring at.... could be Alex, could be Liz. Logic says Alex, but Polarism deems that it was Liz. And then there was the wording of that one line:

Michael: She said, go home.

OK, so it wasn�t the nicest thing in the world, but it really emphasizes the trust Michael has in Liz at this point compared to the trust he has for the rest of the world, excepting Max, Isabel and Maria. Also, they way he said �she said� was reinforcement. Support. Sigh.

HEATWAVE

~Nice little voyeurism scene... wonder what Liz was really thinking as she watched Michael and Maria through the window?

Again, Liz seems very interested in obtaining details from Maria.

Liz: It feels good? What is going on here? You and Michael.... look, the point here, Maria, is that I don't see you and Michael together.

Hmm... raises the question of who, exactly, Liz sees with Michael.

THE BALANCE

~Looked at the wrong way, this ep could seem very anti-Polarist. However.....

Liz was active in trying to help Michael. She went with Max to the reservation. And later, during the ritual, she eventually found her way into Michael�s head.... without the use of a healing stone.

Very interesting, I thought, as was the tension that seemed to pass between Max and Michael as they both looked at Liz standing a little in the distance. It only reinforced my belief that there�s a little love triangle at work there.

TOY HOUSE-BLIND DATE

~Next to nothing in these eps... sigh. Oh well....

INDEPENDENCE DAY

~Mostly an ep for the Candypeople... but there were a couple of things.

Max: I know we've been needing to talk.
Liz: Yeah, there's...there's some more important things to talk about though, and...I heard about Michael. Are you ok?

Obviously, Max is referring to the Blind Date fiasco. Now, Liz is either unbelievably altruistic... or else she�s secretly just as concerned about Michael as the rest of them. I�m opting for the latter.

Max: Not really. I've just never seen him so upset. I have this weird feeling that...he's just gonna leave without even saying goodbye.
Liz: You know, maybe, because if he did...he wouldn't be able to go through with it.

Since does Liz have such insight into Michael�s character? Yeah, that�s what I thought.

The following is a cut scene, originally intended to air after Michael gets his emancipation and is settling into his new apartment. Max, Liz, Isabel, Maria and Alex drop by for a little housewarming.

Michael: I gotta get a J-O-B.
Liz: I heard that you made a pretty mean breakfast the other day. There just might be something for you at the Crashdown.

Which proves what I always wondered about- Liz did in fact arrange for Michael to work at the Crashdown. I think it�s strange that TPTB chose not to include that, although it can still be pretty much assumed. Liz�s parents do own the restaurant, after all. Anyway, it�s an incredibly sweet gesture.

SEXUAL HEALING

~While it�s probably sacrilegious to look for Polarism in such a decidedly Dreamgirl ep, I�m going to do it anyway.

Michael: No. Maxwell, let me assure you, you have not experienced anything I have not experienced many times or caused to be experienced.
Max: Then how can you call yourself my friend?

Hehehe... imagine this conversation in reference to a secret tryst Michael and Liz have been carrying on, and it suddenly takes on a whole new meaning.

Michael: What do you see inside her head?
Max: I can't tell you. It's private.
Michael: Since when do we keep secrets from each other? Maxwell, come on. And later......
Michael: Go for it, Maxwell, for the good of all mankind, you lucky, undeserving dog.

This reminds me of Liz�s prying in River Dog and Heatwave. Michael seems awfully interested in getting details here, and it�s not just from a scientific viewpoint. And that last comment could most definitely have a hint of envy in it.... and I don�t mean just because Max has an excuse to get it on. Specifically, it�s because Max has an excuse to get it on with Liz- who Michael secretly wants for himself.

After Maria interrupts Max and Liz and takes Liz home, she finds Michael sitting in the parking lot outside of his apartment. Wonder what he�s thinking about? Maybe something along the lines of �wonder what Max is doing to Liz right now.... why couldn�t it have been me?� Oh, poor Michael.

CRAZY

~Nothing good in his ep... But that�s okay, because things start picking up from here.

TESS, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE

~For the first time in a while, we really see that protectiveness Michael has for Liz re-emerging. This is a great episode for the two of them, because it really emphasizes just how much Michael cares for Liz.

Max: I kissed Tess.
Michael:You what?
Max: It was like... it was like something was controlling me.
Michael: What's wrong with you?
Max: I'm telling you that it isn't me.
Michael: First you talk to Valenti behind my back, and now you're kissing Tess behind Liz's.....No, the thing I can't understand right now is that I used to admire you. You were solid, someone I could trust. Even more that I could trust myself. And Liz trusted you.

Michael was not only angry at Max for kissing Tess, but seemed betrayed. Why would he feel betrayed, if not on Liz�s behalf? It�s very clear that Michael cares about Liz�s feelings and the fact that this is going to really hurt her.

Later, when Liz is on her balcony crying and Maria comes to see her:

Maria: Michael told me you wanted to talk to somebody. That you needed a friend.

For a guy who�s supposedly not good at the sensitive stuff, that was a decidedly sensitive thing to do.

And then his protectiveness emerges yet again when Liz is in with the Hardings and the camera is disabled.

Michael: We've got to get over there.
Alex: And do what?
Michael: Get her out!
Isabel: You're the one who keeps telling us how dangerous these people are.
Michael: You just want to leave her there?
Maria: No he's right. We've got to do something. We sent her in. We're responsible.
Isabel: What are we supposed to do, just break down the door? What if everything's fine? What if everything's normal?
Michael: Are you willing to take that chance with Liz's life?
Alex: No.
Maria: No.
Michael: Then let's go.

I would have expected that vehemence from Maria... or Alex. They�re Liz�s best friends; they would ordinarily be the ones to first respond to the potential danger that Liz is in. Ordinarily, Michael would want to proceed with the �mission� to see where it leads.

But he doesn�t. In fact, he�s so protective throughout this entire episode that it makes me wonder if the writers WANT us to suspect that he has feelings for Liz.

Michael needs someone to revere. Up until this episode, that person has always been Max. Now, Max has slipped off that pedestal, and I think that Michael�s increased concern for Liz is related. Going back to the issues raised in Missing, if Michael did in fact have feelings for Liz, chances are he�d never act on them because Liz is �Max�s girl�, and Max is Michael�s idol, someone he can never live up to. However, the idol has taken a fall.

Max, in the Pilot, established himself as Liz�s savior- another thing Michael can�t compete with. Here, with Max�s mind otherwise occupied, Michael seems to step in and take over that role- the role of Liz�s protector. Makes me wonder how long he�s been waiting for it.

And oh, the irony of the end- Max swoops in to save the day. Never mind the fact that Michael had things all under control..... Love triangle? It�s becoming much more plausible. Tension? Yes.

FOURSQUARE

~Sigh... nothing here. Guess they figured that last ep was enough for a couple weeks.

MAX TO THE MAX

~That hug. It�s all about the hug. Liz stumbles over to where Michael, Isabel, and Tess are waiting, and announces tearfully that they have Max.... and Michael grabs her in a crushing, comforting embrace.... so what if it�s about Max? Of course they�re both worried about him, but at least it gives them an excuse to finally be where they�ve always wanted to be- in each other�s arms.

WHITE ROOM

~Not much again...

When Tess tells them that she, Michael and Isabel are best equipped to rescue Max by themselves, it seemed like Michael was waiting for Liz�s approval. They shared that long look, and it wasn�t until Liz said �Bring him back to me� that Michael agreed to Tess�s plan. I think that if Liz had insisted on going with them, Michael would have supported her.

DESTINY

~Dreamgirls might want to look away now, because I�m going to analyze that final scene.... and it�s not Max/Liz pretty.

There�s been much speculation as to why Michael stopped Max from going after Liz, and even more speculation about what, exactly, he meant by �You gotta let her go.� Of course, I have my own theories, and they�re of a decidedly Polarist bent.

A lot of fans of Michael/Liz- the non-Dreamers, anyway- feel that Max doesn�t really �see� Liz. Liz is Max�s dream; the way he controls, defines, and sets limits on their relationship from day one is evidence of that.

Michael is someone who could see Liz for who she really is. He could see her flaws- something Max might not be able to do, because he�s too blinded by the Liz he spent eight years infatuated with. While Max�s idolatry of Liz is nice and probably makes Liz feel pretty special, it�s not real. Liz�s reasons for walking away are also uncertain. We know what she tells Max- it�s for his destiny. But I don�t really believe that. I think that over the past 5 eps, Liz was watching Max fall from his pedestal just as Michael was. I think she might have been realizing certain truths about their relationship, and how Max sees her.

Liz: Max, you do have a destiny. You just heard it. I can�t stand in the way of it.

I think Liz realized that as long as she remained at Max�s side, he�d never really see her clearly. She would serve as a distraction, an escape, an idealization. I think in the end, Liz saw that, and I think that�s why she walked away. She was releasing him from his dream of her. She was also taking back some of the control that Max had been hoarding- a fact for which I respected her immensely.

Back to Michael- his comment can be taken two ways. One is that he meant, �you gotta LET her go�- as in, Max needed to let Liz walk away and work through things on her own terms. The other is the �YOU gotta let her go� theory, which would mean he was telling Max he had to let go of his dream of Liz. Either way, I think it was more of Michael being protective of Liz. Michael knew Liz needed to walk away; his pulling Max back was his way of helping her do it. Something Michael could see- but Max couldn�t.

Of course, realistic analyzation aside, couldn�t Michael have been thinking, after he said that- �because you had your chance with her.... now it�s my turn!� Or, �I�m not going to let you hurt her again! She doesn�t deserve it!�

But that�s probably wishful thinking.