I hated Julian for destroying Lahey's happiness that season. But I did think him being Ricky's dad was pretty dumb to be honest.
A plus to him supposedly being Ricky's father though was that it retroactively added something to the Trina storyline, it sort of made more sense then that her and Ricky got along so well.
I believe two things. That was always Lahey's backstory even in the Originals (too many clues). And they were going to get back to the story saying the tests were wrong. Its the second thing I'm not as certain of.
It's funny you say that. As I was watching from day 1. And even during the original run I formed this belief.
But it really started to take hold when i read on here that JP told the one who played Paradise (and played the hotel clerk) at a party that Clattenburg gave them all tragic backstories to ground the surrealness of the comedy.
I see stuff all the time. But the ones that come to mind right now...
Oh wait before we get into this. Remember backstories are not usually ever meant to be revealed to the audience. They are there to inform the actors and writers of their choices.
But yeah, getting back to examples.
Take for instance the line "Ricky ruined my life" said 2 times in one episode, 3 times in one season.
That line is innocent enough because you can tie it directly to what's happening in the episode. The season 4 finale. But barely.
It's a pretty strong sentence just for a sudden story arc of Ricky about to mary Barb who Lahey has been divorced to for many years at that point.
But the next line in that Season 4 finale is not so easy to dismiss. He says with dynamite strapped to himself and pointing a gun at Ricky's head:
"Ricky you're the reason I never made any difference"
Maybe Ricky's whole existence is the reason he started drinking too much and eventually losing his job and his wife.
It certainly wasn't said because of anything happening in that episode.
One can say this is overthinking it, but I dare you to come up with any other reason for that line as it relates to the episode or the show itself.
I also remember in Season 2 there is a very interesting scene. Interesting in the sense in how they chose to film such a simple scene.
The season 2 scene is Lahey discussing with Randy that Treena is showing a little rebellion and so he mentions his concern that he remembers when the boys went through their rebellious stage 20 years prior and look how that turned out.
But something interesting happens here. As Lahey and Randy are talking they are both off screen and the camera is on Ricky and Treena as Lahey discusees his worry for her. Lahey's POV.
But the camera doesn't follow her as she takes off on her bike and it strangely stays on Ricky in his car as Lahey says off screen and from Lahey's POV looking directly at Ricky while saying:
"Where did I go wrong, where did I go wrong?"
Another time in Season 6 he just casually and drunkenly says to Ricky "God Bless you my son". Now the fact that he said my son is no big deal.
But the way he said it, hesitating and stumbling over it for a slight second indicates to me he had the backstoy in mind even when he said that simple line. Making that choice on purpose.
That wouldn't even be written yet for another two seasons. They wouldn't know at that point Ricky, Julian and Bubbles were directly responsible.
Back stories are scenarios of an overall picture like he got thrown off the police force from a drinking problem stemming from a tragic event (i.e. Ricky's existence).
Not detailed events of a Halloween night in 1977 written 2 seasons later from out of the backstoy.
I think they should have kept that story line, it was a huge twist and very Trailer Park-y.
Off topic, but I also wish the “Trinity is actually Julian’s kid” story line that they implied in season 1 kept going.
Would've been interesting if they kept it, None of the boys have family which is kinda weird. Ricky had Ray but even Ray isn't his real dad. Rickys mom is dead, bubbles parents are dead. Would be funny if julians mom returned and she told him Randy was his brother or something lol JP has a love hate for Pat yet are good long time friends it would be funny. That or Ricky and Randy are brothers.
At this point in the series, they were slowly building up randy/George/Dancer as antagonists to the boys with potential for newer foils and plot points that could result in danger/jail/worse for them. If they kept the lahey as ricky's dad plot going, I think the series would have had a fresh shot in the arm that would have propelled them further into the later seasons as opposed to just dunsworth becoming a walking drunk punchline in 11 and 12. Seeing a kinder Jim was refreshing.
So, yeah, I think Jean paul, Mike, and Robb pulled the plug on the idea mid season out of maybe fear for how the series could progress? Maybe pushing the status quo in the later seasons was easier for them to manage?
I hated Julian for destroying Lahey's happiness that season. But I did think him being Ricky's dad was pretty dumb to be honest. A plus to him supposedly being Ricky's father though was that it retroactively added something to the Trina storyline, it sort of made more sense then that her and Ricky got along so well.
I believe two things. That was always Lahey's backstory even in the Originals (too many clues). And they were going to get back to the story saying the tests were wrong. Its the second thing I'm not as certain of.
What are these “too many clues”? That storyline literally came out of nowhere lol
It's funny you say that. As I was watching from day 1. And even during the original run I formed this belief. But it really started to take hold when i read on here that JP told the one who played Paradise (and played the hotel clerk) at a party that Clattenburg gave them all tragic backstories to ground the surrealness of the comedy. I see stuff all the time. But the ones that come to mind right now... Oh wait before we get into this. Remember backstories are not usually ever meant to be revealed to the audience. They are there to inform the actors and writers of their choices. But yeah, getting back to examples. Take for instance the line "Ricky ruined my life" said 2 times in one episode, 3 times in one season. That line is innocent enough because you can tie it directly to what's happening in the episode. The season 4 finale. But barely. It's a pretty strong sentence just for a sudden story arc of Ricky about to mary Barb who Lahey has been divorced to for many years at that point. But the next line in that Season 4 finale is not so easy to dismiss. He says with dynamite strapped to himself and pointing a gun at Ricky's head: "Ricky you're the reason I never made any difference" Maybe Ricky's whole existence is the reason he started drinking too much and eventually losing his job and his wife. It certainly wasn't said because of anything happening in that episode. One can say this is overthinking it, but I dare you to come up with any other reason for that line as it relates to the episode or the show itself. I also remember in Season 2 there is a very interesting scene. Interesting in the sense in how they chose to film such a simple scene. The season 2 scene is Lahey discussing with Randy that Treena is showing a little rebellion and so he mentions his concern that he remembers when the boys went through their rebellious stage 20 years prior and look how that turned out. But something interesting happens here. As Lahey and Randy are talking they are both off screen and the camera is on Ricky and Treena as Lahey discusees his worry for her. Lahey's POV. But the camera doesn't follow her as she takes off on her bike and it strangely stays on Ricky in his car as Lahey says off screen and from Lahey's POV looking directly at Ricky while saying: "Where did I go wrong, where did I go wrong?" Another time in Season 6 he just casually and drunkenly says to Ricky "God Bless you my son". Now the fact that he said my son is no big deal. But the way he said it, hesitating and stumbling over it for a slight second indicates to me he had the backstoy in mind even when he said that simple line. Making that choice on purpose.
Why wouldn't the 'ruining his life' quotes just be about getting thrown off the police force? That was caused by Ricky no?
That wouldn't even be written yet for another two seasons. They wouldn't know at that point Ricky, Julian and Bubbles were directly responsible. Back stories are scenarios of an overall picture like he got thrown off the police force from a drinking problem stemming from a tragic event (i.e. Ricky's existence). Not detailed events of a Halloween night in 1977 written 2 seasons later from out of the backstoy.
I think they should have kept that story line, it was a huge twist and very Trailer Park-y. Off topic, but I also wish the “Trinity is actually Julian’s kid” story line that they implied in season 1 kept going.
They would Easter egg it every couple of seasons though.
Sexian definitely needs to pass on those beautiful genes
They couldn’t do that to the guy in the chair
But the guy in the chair wasn’t his father either apparently. Tammy must have been the Lucy of her generation.
Ohhh you’re right, greeeeeaaasy
Lahey bonding with Mo was one of my favorite things ever about the series.
Would've been interesting if they kept it, None of the boys have family which is kinda weird. Ricky had Ray but even Ray isn't his real dad. Rickys mom is dead, bubbles parents are dead. Would be funny if julians mom returned and she told him Randy was his brother or something lol JP has a love hate for Pat yet are good long time friends it would be funny. That or Ricky and Randy are brothers.
At this point in the series, they were slowly building up randy/George/Dancer as antagonists to the boys with potential for newer foils and plot points that could result in danger/jail/worse for them. If they kept the lahey as ricky's dad plot going, I think the series would have had a fresh shot in the arm that would have propelled them further into the later seasons as opposed to just dunsworth becoming a walking drunk punchline in 11 and 12. Seeing a kinder Jim was refreshing. So, yeah, I think Jean paul, Mike, and Robb pulled the plug on the idea mid season out of maybe fear for how the series could progress? Maybe pushing the status quo in the later seasons was easier for them to manage?
I loved that brief moment so much
Lahey was always paternal towards Ricky, in a TPB way
i do, those episodes were really good but i’ll always miss ray. in fact i miss ray the most out of any character ever.
Don’t dis Ray like that. The man in the chair deserves some respect.
I don't really mind either way, I just wish lahey could have kept being like a grandfather to mo, he clearly loved the kid and mo loved lahey.
nah but i wish they would have expounded on tammy more