tag!
I was tagged by @telltaleclerk and thus I am procrastinating today’s chores . . .
1. What was the last movie you watched in theaters? Endgame? I think.
2. What’s your favorite game to play? Oh dear. I honestly don’t care for games. Ummm . . . Battleship, because I like the little plastic ships.
3. Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla.
4. What’s the last show you binge-watched? Currently binging Chicago PD and I am smitten. There may be fic.
5. Do you have any pets? Two cats.
6. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Again, oh dear. I never cared for fairy tales, even as a child.
7. Who’s your favorite superhero? Ironman
8. Who’s you favorite Disney Princess? Stitch
9. Where’s the first place you’re going to go after the social distancing is over? Omg, a haircut.
10. Cookies or Cake? donuts
+ 10 questions
1. which show could you watch over and over? H50 early seasons maybe? Because I like the core four soooo much.
2. favourite song lyric? Any line from Cohen’s Hallelujah or Anthem
3. favourite season of your favourite tv show? NCIS season ??
4. what never fails to make you smile/happy? Chatting with my friends online - you know who you are! Ditto
5. how are you doing with all that’s going on in the world (virus, having to do social distancing, etc)? I’m okay. Still going into my office for a few hours a week, which is wonderful. It’s quiet there. My mom just moved in with us and my husband is working from home so . . . yeah. I’m used to my solitude and this is difficult.
6. we all love new music to listen to, name an artist that is underrated/you think people should check out? The Collection!!!!!
7. tv show or movie? fan fiction ;-)
8. Favourite holiday? Thanksgiving.
9. a song that describes you? HFucking Perfect. Pink. It’s what I wish someone had said to me when I was growing up, and it’s my song to my kids.
10. describe your tumblr in three words? Bat Shit Random
+5 questions
1. What is your favorite hobby? Writing
2. What is your favorite book? Or/and a really good book you’ve read recently? My dad’s highschool English textbook. That, along with his US Navy Bluejackets manual, are the only books he saved.
3. What is your favorite Ship that will never happen (Or hasn’t happened yet)? McDanno. But Gibbs/Caitlyn is a close second
4. If you could spend the day with any living celebrity, who would it be? Ellen Degeneres
5. The best worst movie you’ve ever seen. A movie that you know objectively is trash but you can’t help but really enjoy it. All of the Step Up Movies.
Questions by @tilliwriteapine
1. If/when you read, do you prefer an eReader or an actual physical book? Physical book
2. Favorite movie? Speed? Maybe? or Point Break?
3. What does a normal day look for you? Work, crash, try to find some peace and quiet to write, repeat. I’m chronically anemic so my days are usually pretty boring because I’m tired most of the time.
Three questions from @telltaleclerk
1. Have you ever watched a show and/or movie for ONE character? If yes, WHO?! Dr. Who for the current doctor
2. What is your ULTIMATE concert (musicians/bands from ANY period alive or dead)? The idea of going to a big concert terrifies me. I’ve been to small local gigs for The Collection and honestly, I can’t imagine I would ever like anything better.
3. Book that you were forced to read in school that you hated the most. Little One, Maid of Israel. ::shudder::
Three questions of my own devising… if you’ve been tagged by me, answer these ones too!!! And then add three of your own when you do yours. Plus tag ALL the people!
1. If you could visit any country of the world, where would it be?
2. If you could live in any country of the world, where would it be?
3. Your dream home -- what is it?
I’m terrible at tagging so I’m just going to poke @ariestaurus21 and @sussexualtension-blog
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Danny and Rachel Meta
This meta has been born because of this post and some other Danny and Rachel posts, discussing the same thing.
“Danny deserves better.”
My answer to this sentence: “Rachel deserves better, too.”
If you’re interested to know why I write this, read on.
Some rambling first.
There are a lot of posts on Tumblr right now with the content of the discussion what's going on with Danny and Rachel. I answered to this post today to express my view on this situation. I won't discuss the question if Rachel and Danny will be back together. We don't know that, and it makes no sense at all to freak out about a fact, that's not there yet.
No one knows what's going to happen and I don't jump to any conclusion just because of the sentence that says: "…and Rachel and Charlie evacuate to Danny's house, where the ex-spouses reminisce." Meaning they walk down memory lane – nowhere it's written that they are back together and until I have proof of what is really happening, I don't freak out and I definitely don't abandon the show.
I don't run for the hills because it gets difficult. My fangirl is seriously involved in the love for my OTP. I see myself as the guarding of my OTP (Do you think I'm crazy? You're right – I am!) I need to take care of them. Who does that when everyone thinks that it's time to leave just because it gets a little bit rough and bumpy?
So, everyone who talks for ages about the fact that they want to leave this show, let me tell you something - just leave and save yourself from more harm. Because the funny thing is, everyone sticks around despite their threat. I don't know why they have this masochistic streak but apparently, it suits them.
So, Danny and Steve going through a rough time. I'll stick around, meaning I'm glued to their hips, looking out for them and I fix things, because who else is gonna do that for them, if not fangirls and fanboys? Yes, yes, my view is always a lot different and yes, of course, I always respect all other opinions. I'm just so astonished how little it takes for so many to throw in the towel with the intention to leave – but at the end, they all stay.
Also, an important point, that gets swept lightly under the carpet is the fact, that McDanno should be end game. I've never ever read anywhere that CBS and Lenkov have promised to make McDanno end game. I live with this fact that McDanno never will be end game canon-wise. At least not in the proof of Steve kissing Danny, holding hands and having sex, living an open, happy relationship.
My intention for this meta is to explain to myself why Danny and Rachel end up in this corner where they are building a friendship. There's more understanding between them, more gentle feelings and somehow a new and deeper respect.
Rachel and Danny Meta
I can easily switch angles to have a different view to look at the characters. This meta shows the canon side.
There are facts, concerning Rachel and Danny that you can't ignore. I don't understand why people see Danny as the kind one in this relationship. So many always point out that Rachel betrayed him and that she's the bitch. Rachel always stands as the mean woman who has created this living hell Danny has to live in every day.
I beg to differ.
I want to have a better look at all of this. And yes, at the end it always, always ends with McDanno – with Danny's love for Steve. But I'm not there yet. So, the McDanno endgame is already there, but you have to find it, buried in a huge stack of not revealed love.
Rachel is marked as the mean woman by Danny's side. Yes, it's true she put Danny through some incredible mean shit and some of her actions left scars on Danny's heart and they never will properly heal. But Danny – Danny did the same damn hurtful thing to Rachel. Danny betrayed Rachel in the same, terrible way and I even dare to say that Danny's action forced Rachel to act in the way she did.
Danny and Rachel are both responsible in equal parts for the failing of their marriage. Both are 50% responsible, not one percent less. They met, they fell in love and their relationship ended in a disaster with the result to be divorced.
I dare to say that Danny is the one who drove Rachel away. Bad things happened back in Jersey during their years where they were together, trying to live a life, raising Grace.
There's a key scene that shows a big part of Danny's commitment. This scene enables a deeper look into the way Danny has treated Rachel during their relationship. I will interpret from this key scene in 1.24 where Danny forsook his whole family for his job, for his boss and his best friend, his partner – he chose Steve over his family. That's a fact.
I see a pattern here, showing off in this one scene. Danny promised something and he couldn't keep that promise because something more important at work came up. So, he decided and chose work and his partner instead of his family. And that's how Danny is wired.
I assume Rachel and Danny were madly in love and it was a firework of passion. Rachel held Danny's heart in her hand. But Danny is a dedicated policeman, a detective and so far, I've witnessed time and again that Danny's job always comes first in a case of emergency.
I'm sure Rachel couldn't cope with the fact that Danny lived for his job. I'm sure their fights were hard and rough and filled with bitterness and destroyed hopes because Danny was and will always be dedicated to his job. Grace got born and I'm sure the love for her could fix some of what was already gone between Rachel and Danny. In the end, they only fought and discussed and tried to guilt trip each other.
Danny loves deep and loyal. He's born to be a detective and he lives this passion with every fiber of his body and his soul. He also wants to have a family and a wife. Danny loves to give his people what they long for. He wants to make them happy and to satisfy every need. But Rachel's love for Danny has been ground down to zero in the cruel grindstone of daily life being the wife of a detective.
Let's go back to this key scene in 1.24.
Stan is away abroad for a business trip. Rachel is unhappy with Stan and after the incident with the Sarin Danny ends up in the hospital and somehow their love sparks up anew. Danny has never got over the fact that another man could steal his wife away from him. Danny wants her back and even though he knows that Rachel is married, he sleeps with her.
This is an egoistic move from him and also a primitive way to show off his masculinity and the need to measure his stamina with Stan. This wasn't all about Rachel, this was more about who's cock is bigger and who's the better Alpha to get back the female mate. Danny won. He was happy about that. Rachel was ready to get back together, despite what they have gone through. She has hope again. And Danny uses this for his own way to get her back. He talked a lot about how terrible they are at communicating. There was a time where Danny didn’t like Rachel AT ALL.
Danny does the first thing his testosterones longs for. He gets Rachel pregnant. He breeds her. I know, this sounds very harsh, but that's Danny too. He needs to mark his territory. I guess that's the same way Grace was conceived. They had hope, they wanted to try again after maybe a huge fight when they were in Jersey and still a couple.
Danny promises Rachel he wants to be together with her. He was even astonished when she told him that she was pregnant again. If Danny didn't want another child, he could have used a condom for crying out loud. He didn't.
Okay, they agreed to move back to Jersey although Danny was involved in a case and he knew Steve needed him and he was a member of Five-0.
And there's the other thing I don't like about how Danny handles a difficult private situation. He doesn't talk and he doesn't inform.
If he had left with Rachel, how would he want to inform Steve? Chin? Kono? He had planned to leave that very evening. The flights were booked. Would he just have told Steve over a lousy phone call? Abandon this ohana with a wave to say goodbye?
And he promised Rachel and Grace that he would be there, that he would meet them at the airport. Rachel carried his unborn love-child and Danny knew what he was running into – again! He sent them off to the airport and Rachel waited, again, for Danny to fulfill his promise.
And this is still something I can't really overcome: Danny stood his family up. He broke a very important promise and right there and then Danny turned into a super mean and super huge asshole. NO ONE DOES THAT WHO ALWAYS EMPHASIZES HOW IMPORTANT FAMILY IS.
Danny abused Rachel's trust.
Danny abused Grace's trust.
Danny abused his unborn child's trust.
Danny didn't call to tell why he couldn't make it.
Danny didn't call at all.
He didn't call Steve to say that he's going to be a father and that he has planned to leave Hawaii for good – like right this fucking evening.
And that's a way Danny must have treated Rachel always back in Jersey. He promised a lot of things that he couldn't keep. He missed birthdays, anniversaries, important meetings, family gatherings, Graces first school day – whatever. Danny has done that, he broke promises and he just did it again.
Rachel is fed up with his way to treat his family and his children. She boards the plain alone and right there she makes a decision. She can't go through such insecurity again. She leaves Danny the moment she gets on that plane.
Danny shows further into the show that he doesn't involve Steve in very important decisions. He just plans something in his head and someday he tells it and acts on it (retirement). On the other hand, he gets very furious if someone does this with him too – the letter Steve wrote to tell him he's on a secret mission and Danny's in charge now.
I assume that Danny wants to do right by everyone and keeps quiet as long as possible only to upset both parties who are involved. Danny is afraid to disappoint his people only to end up in a disaster because he doesn't have the courage to just tell what's on his mind.
And then there's the fact that he loves his job so much, that whatever he does, his job comes first. Always. Rachel had to experience in a very tough and hurtful way that Danny is not reliable. He says things he can't keep (always referring to this key scene) but I'm sure she has hoped now with the second child on the way, Danny might have changed.
Danny hasn't.
And I'm sure Rachel also was afraid that she has to raise her second child alone because if Danny doesn't show commitment now, he never will. And I guess that's why she chose to tell him, that Charlie wasn't Danny's child. And I can understand Rachel. I really do.
And I guess Danny abandoned Grace and Rachel back in Jersey, too. There were always more pressing matters to deal with. There was always a case to be handled. Rachel had to rise Grace most of the time alone. And right here, the fact that Danny didn't fucking care to be there for his children shows why Rachel moved to Hawaii.
Danny's fucking asshole move to not show up as he has damn promised shows that he's not interested in his kids! Yes, that's my translation and I'm sure that's also Rachel's translation.
And maybe that happened back in Jersey. So Rachel takes Grace far away because Danny was never, or rarely around to be with Grace. That's a fucking wake up call for Danny! He has to move too if he wants to see his daughter who always came second because first there was always his job.
Because if Rachel was ready to get back together with Danny, after all, they have been through, is because she still loves him so fucking much that she's willing to try again. And what is Danny doing? He slaps her face and spits on her trust. That's how it has happened.
Danny knew now he has to pull his head out of his ass and get moving to not miss the growing up of his daughter. That's why he moved to Hawaii and he becomes a very dedicated father. Danny messed up big time. He has to try better. And that’s when we meet him on the show. As a dedicated father.
And then there's also McDanno.
Because Danny is always ready to follow Steve wherever he goes.
There's a Tsunami threatening to hit the beach. Grace gets handed over to Kamekona so Danny can be with Steve, till the bitter end if he has to.
Danny signs up to rescue Steve from North Korea with the chance to never get back and to see his daughter again. He does it for Steve.
Danny is always ready to risk his life for Steve. He always worries about Steve. Steve. Danny's world is only whole when there's Steve.
And that's Mcdanno.
Danny doesn't say 'I love you' to his women. He does say it to Steve.
After Rachel there is Gaby. With her, he experiences what it means to be together with someone who is dedicated to his job. He doesn't like it. It didn't work.
Melissa is kind, nice and Danny likes her. But he can't say 'I love you' and he can't really get involved.
But of course, he's lonely and he wishes to have someone by his side.
In the meantime, he risks his life for Steve time and again.
Steve is the center of his life, even if he always tells everyone it's Grace. No, it's not, because when there's a threat he gets Grace safe and dives into danger with Steve.
Danny is deep, deep hidden in the closet. He's gay for Steve, or his gay but with no chance to come out. So, he lives a life of all the gay men who are buried under tons of guilt, shutting down their needs and living on with the repression of their true nature. They try to be a husband and a good father. Coming out is no option.
And now Grace and Charlie are bigger, growing older and Danny has calmed down. He gets older too and Rachel is still around. They still love each other. They know each other for years and Danny is lonely. They grew closer over their worries when Grace had her accident. They are parents and they are bonded. It's convenient to be together and there's still this feeling that connects them.
Danny loves Steve but he has no chance to be with him. He chooses the second best. He chooses the mother of his children because she's again divorced and alone, too. Why not try and maybe to be good friends? Maybe more.
But to end this and to make a full circle. Danny hasn't been a good husband to Rachel, not always. And he hurt her many times and Rachel has learned to deal with the pain and the betrayal. And the end they hurt each other, but somehow, they made peace.
And that's at least something.
And that's where they are now.
Thank you very much for reading. I hope this all made some sense.
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Why Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams Deserve Everlasting Happiness Together: An Essay by a Hardcore Shipper
Ok, so before I begin this, you should know that I am a hardcore McDanno shipper. Aside from Kono and Adam, they are my number one O.T.P. on Hawaii Five-0. I am literally so obsessed with Steve and Danny and their relationship, and I'm not ashamed of it, either. Therefore, this comment I'll most likely come off as biased, but I have very good logic behind what I'm about to say. (Also, I can already tell that this post is going to be verrrrrryyyy long, so buckle up and get comfy if you are planning to read everything I've written.)
To start, I see many comments reading, "They have great chemistry, they should still be together, they are endgame..." etc. while all of this is true, to be honest, they are better suited off as friends. They tried to make a relationship work, but usually, it did not.
"But they were together on and off for five seasons!" Is what some of you are probably already thinking. This is true, but unfortunately, it does not mean that they are forever meant to be together.
Remember Billy, Catherine's ex from season 3? Just to clarify, he died in the middle of season 4. However, before he died, he was trying to get back together with Catherine. She had chemistry with him, too. The only problem was that she was legitimately already with Steve at that time. To be honest, I always liked her better with Billy then I did with Steve. They just went better together, in my opinion.
So Catherine and Steve were together. Then, in season 5, she and Steve went to Afghanistan (or some other, terrible, Taliban filled town) in order to save somebody that had helped Catherine when she'd been in the military. If you'll recall, at the end of that episode, Catherine decided to stay behind to help the people get their son back. Steve went back to the United States, heartbroken and crying.
All of this made me still think that Steve and Catherine still had a slight chance to make it. But then.
BUT. THEN.
Catherine returned in the season 5 finale to attend Kono's wedding. Ok, cool. Steve has a date for the wedding of the century. That was all fine and good. Obviously, that was the same episode when they broke up. To be frank, I always thought it would be Steve that broke up with Catherine, obviously so he could go FINALLY be with Danny, his one true love. But instead, Catherine broke up with Steve, citing that she decided to go do some good, volunteer work in a foreign country. I remember her saying to Steve, "Five-0 is your thing. Please, let this be mine."
Then her car to take her to the airport arrived, and she got in. She made a phone call.
Now, to the viewers who had history with this show, they knew that as SOON as she punched in a code before speaking that it was no good. Steve's mom, also a spy, had done the same thing in previous episodes, so they knew what was up. The real slap in the face, though, was when she said to the voice on the phone who she was-badge number, name, the whole nine yards. Then, we hear a male voice on the other end of the line ask, "Is he fooled?" (Or something similar). Catherine's reply came sharp. (Again, not an exact quote, but pretty close. I think you'll get the memo). "He doesn't know anything. He thinks I'm volunteering," she said.
It was then that I officially stopped wanting them to be in a relationship. I get why she couldn't tell Steve, but still! She fucking choose that same life/lifestyle that his mother had had; a lifestyle that she knew he hated. If she truly loved and cared for him as more than a friend, then she would've rejoined Five-0, or at LEAST have found a cool, different job in Oahu.
But no. She literally betrayed Steve, and for what, anyway? We never did get a good understanding or explanation of why she decided to join the C.I.A. It is a concept that stills boggles my mind to this very day. Most recently, Catherine came back for the 150th episode, which is where this clip is obviously from. But this point, I was beyond done with her. I was so irritated when she came back, especially because she interrupted Steve's date with Lynn. Oh, right. And she never told Steve that she became a spy, so he was clearly shocked when she divulged this piece of information.
This brings me to my next point. Steve, his mom, and Catherine had to fight off some bad guys after his mom, and then hide from them. When the doorbell rang at the safe house, it was the rest of the Five-0 team, minus Danny who was in New Jersey to be there for his dad who'd just had knee surgery. (In real life, Scott Caan was busy with his new family and couldn't schedule to film the 150th episode). Steve had called Danny earlier that day to tell him what was going on, and Danny decided to call the rest of the team to help him.
Yeah. Danny called the team. Not Catherine, who probably knew that they were gonna need backup. Danny, who wasn't even there, called the team and made sure they were there for Steve.
That's just one example of why Steve and Danny are so important to each other and belong together; much more so than Steve and Catherine. Let's go back few years, to season three. Danny had accidentally stepped on a bomb. The bomb would explode if he stepped off, killing everyone in the vicinity, himself included. Steve know this, but he stayed anyway. Even at Danny's persistence of him to, "Just go, Steve. Go me there for Grace. Get out of here, save yourself!", Steve did not budge. He insisted on staying and they talked and tried to get Danny to forget why he was even there in the first place. His persistence in not wanting to go proves that they have more than friendship, especially when he knew exactly what to talk about or get Danny calm enough so that he would momentarily forget about the bomb.
Fast forward to season four. The episode where the building collapsed had to have been the most dramatic episode of season four. To refresh, Steve, Danny, and the rest of the team were in a paring grange, looking for a victim. I don't speak exactly remember why, but the rest of the team left the garage, except for Danny and Steve. They investigated until they found a man bound and gagged, tied to a chair in a separate room. Just as they were figuring out what he was saying, which was, "BOMB!" the bomb went off, collapsing the building.
That episode was solely focused on Steve and Danny and how they were gong to get out of their predicament. Danny was also badly hurt, his leg trapped under a cement pillar. Steve didn't give up. After freeing Danny, he temporarily managed to fix his wound, and then created a mini-bomb that would let the people looking for them where they were. It worked and they were free. Once out, they exchanged their first ever "I love yous" while hard-core hugging. This was no "hey bro!" hug. This was an "I am so serious about this, I really do love you," hug. And I don't think I'm wearing shipper goggles for that moment. I genuinely think that that meant what they said. They embraced for a really long time, surprisingly longer then what I would've thought producers would've liked.
After that epic bromance scene, season five was filled with plenty more bromantic/ shipper-O.T.P. feels. That was the season when they went to therapy! Ok, fine, true, it's because they are "work partners" and it was mandatory, but you can't tell me that they weren't acting like a married couple throughout all of those scenes. There is one episode from that therapy time period in particular that I am thinking of, and it has everything to do with undercover work. It's the part of the episode where there is a huge bank heist and Danny and Steve decide to head to an apartment across the street from the robber so they can spy on her and see what she is planning on doing next.
The Five-0 team (but more importantly, the production staff and possibly Peter Lenvok) could have had anyone do this. They could have had cousins Kono and Chin watching out or even the odd combination of Grover and Chin. But no. They choose Steve and Danny. Shippers all across the globe rejoiced.
The best part of their stay in the place (besides, of course, seeing how Danny and Steve would live with each other if given the real chance to) was when it was nighttime and one kept a lookout while the other one slept. Steve decide to watch first, so Danny slept, and he randomly woke up in the middle of Steve's shift. He noticed that the "Perfect Partners" workbook the therapist had given them had been moved, which he thought was funny, because Steve already made it a known that he didn't want anything to do with the book. So he said something about it, and Steve didn't confess to moving it, even though we all know that he did.
Steve then told Danny a story about his youth; a salty that made him seem more human in Danny's eyes. He started it of by saying, "Music. I'm into music," when Danny asked why his hobbies were. "So?" Danny had retorted. "That's a cop-out. Everyone is into music." "No, I meant I'm into playing it," Steve responded. He then told Danny the story about when he was a junior in high school and was in the school talent show to play his guitar. But he had had major stage fright and hadn't actually gone through with it, getting off the stage before he even began. He said to Danny, "That is the reason why I still don't play the guitar to this day," Steve had finished the story. He also add that he had previously never told anyone that story before, which is why it was an important plot point in the McDanno tale. Once he was done, Danny laughed at him. "A little bit of stage fright stopped you from forever playing the guitar?" He'd asked. They then had one of their cute little arguments over the whole issue, and right before Danny went back to sleep, he said, "You know, after all we've been though together...your father...my brother...I would be thought you would've opened up to me more by now." Steve causally responds, "I just did." The McDanno universe (myself included) lost all chill, reblogging that moment over and over.
Later, at the end of that same episode, Steve, Danny and everybody else were at Kamakoahs to eat. Steve and Danny had to leave early, in order to go to their thereby appointment. Ruth, who we met earlier in the episode, was really confused. Remember, she was the old lady who thought that Danny and Steve were gay and living together, to which Steve responded, "We're not gay, we're Five-0." Later, after she left, Danny said, "You know, I would've just vine with the gay thing." So that happened, which does is why Ruth was so confused. As they left, she said, "Wait. I thought they weren't gay." The rest of the team didn't even deny it, they just joyfully laughed, as if to say, "Yeah, girl, we know. They're just faking it. We know they are gay together."
So they walked to Danny's Camaro, and that's when a fan fiction moment happened. You possibly know what I'm talking about. In case you don't, fanfiction moments are those little things in which you think, "Yeah, this can definitely only and will only happen in this fan fiction universe. Sigh." But then the thing from the fan fic actually does happen on the real show, and life suddenly becomes magical. Anyway, this fan fic moment was when Danny revealed that he'd gotten Steve a gift. After telling Danny that he didn't do his part of their assignment, joking that the dog ate his homework, we find out what the gift is. In the trunk of the Camaro, Steve pulled out an elegant black guitar case. Steve had asked, "What is this, Danny?" Danny, his usual snarky self, responded, "It's a tuba, you schmuck. Just open it and you'll see." Inside the case was a beautiful, new guitar which Danny had purchased specifically for Steve. As Danny looked on proudly, Steve muttered, "Danny, Danny, DANNY," with a small smile on his face. He strummed a few strings, and they had a little back and forth conversation about Steve's new instrument, including some things about why Danny had purchased it in the first place. I don't remember what exactly was said, but I do recall that Danny had gotten it for Steve so that he could get back into playing again. Then, Steve put the guitar back in the case and looked thoughtful for a moment. He slammed the trunk of the Camaro and tossed the keys to Danny, saying, "You know what? You drive." Danny caught the keys, a look of pure shock on his face. "I drive. Wow," a stunned Danny said as he accepted the gesture. "Don't get too excited," Steve had replied as he climbed in the passenger seat for the first time in a long time. "I'm still controlling the radio." Driving away, Steve did exactly that, messing around with the switch from the passenger seat.
Ok. That scene was very important for many reasons. Let's start with guitar. Danny didn't have to get him that. Steve never asked him for it, he simply told Danny a story. A story which he had never told anyone before, ever. This obviously includes Catherine, which doesn't make sense. If they were so close, wouldn't Steve have trusted her enough to tell her this about himself? But he never did. He chose to tell Danny instead. Danny went above and beyond what any purely platonic friend would, and it showed. I'm not saying that friends can't buy friends nice gifts for no reason, but it just felt different, in that case. I know that whenever my friends tell me something about themselves, I don't immediately rush out to buy them some thing hella expensive for no reason at all. And it wasn't even the fact that he bought Steve a gift for no reason. It was the fact of what it was, combined with the fact of the story (as mentioned above). It also didn't hurt that Danny could see that that life experience really affected Steve, and that he missed playing his guitar. Steve was extremely touched by the gesture, and Danny was so proud of himself for buying that expensive instrument for Steve. I don't think Danny had ever done doe thing like that for anyone before, not even the people in his family. It was especially worth it to him when Steve admitted to loving at first touch. The smile on both of their faces when the guitar was revealed says enough about this topic, in my opinion. It proves that A) They care enough about each other to listen, talk, and reveal information about themselves without getting made fun of (at least not too much, anyway) and B) they are willing to go the extra mile just to make each other happy.
The other reason that end scene was crucial was the whole "Danny is driving " thing. For those who are casual watchers, it is important to know that basically, ever since the day they met, Steve has been driving Danny's Camaro. This fact has been brought up many times before in the script, and it is the main source of their many "carguments" (I'm not telling you what that is. You can look it up yourself if you don't know). It was even brought up in one of their therapy appointments from earlier in season five. For Steve to actually let Danny drive for once was a huge milestone on his part. He was so affected, surprised, and touched by the gift of the amazing guitar that he felt like he had to let Danny drive after that. It was a compromise he was willing to make. It also shows the progress that they made in their relationship that day, and it was just more overall proof that they are the endgame couple.
I could clearly go on and on forever about these two. Another really good example of their relativity is when they have to go to couple's counseling as part of their mandatory therapy. Do you all remember that? Just for a refresher, that was the one where Steve literally signed them up for couples counseling; as in husband-and-wife couples counseling. Anyway. That episode is "feels worthy" in its entirety (especially the ending where they were just chilling at a table, eating lunch together. Also, Steve round Danny's arm to "feel the effects of the lotion". Sure, Steve. If that excuse works for you...).
Beside those specific examples, there have multiple hugs and touches that have lingered for far too long. Danny calls Steve "Babe"; a nickname he rarely calls anybody else, and Steve calls Danny "Danno". True, this is mostly to annoy him, but as Danny gets to know Steve better, he slowly realizes that he actually doesn't mind it. "When I say 'Danno'...it's a term of endearment," Steve said in season one when Danny was protesting it. Much to Steve's surprise, Danny responded, "Do it every day, then. I like it." Steve smiled all goofily, and it was worth it for all those times of Danny yelling at Steve to not use it. Another point to bring up-they are the few people to ever use each other's full names; Steven and Daniel, respectively. The only other people who occasionally call them by their full names are the few times their parents (sometimes not even that, but a parent-like figure) have been on the show. Whenever they call the other by their full name, it's usually to prove a point, to get the others attention, or even just to subtly let them know that they are different from what everyone else knows. Again, this is just my opinion.
Then there are various innuendos that refer to Danny and Steve in a non-bro/non- platonic way, including the amount of times they say, "I love you," to each other. The one after the building collapse made sense, but every time they say it after that is just to mess with shippers. They really do love each other, though. In fact, at the end of one particularly memorable occasion, Danny combined nickname with an I love you. He was talking to Steve about something, and at the end of their conversation, he looked up at Steve and said, "That's why I love you, babe." All of the McDanno shippers died a little bit that day. (Well, I know I did, anyway.) Also, side-note: Remember the "air hearts" from season two?! Oh! And that time in season three where they went fishing together and then got stranded for almost the whole episode? Tell me that wasn't one of the greatest things to ever see on Hawaii Five-0, and in the McDanno world...! My point is that they have all these endearment terms that they say to each other, sometimes for no reason at all. They are saying them because they want to, not because they feel like they have to. To me, it doesn't feel forced onto the characters, either. It just seems natural and easy with them. Even people who don't ship them (yes, there are some) raised eyebrows at the amount of times they are unusually sweet on each other.
I also want to mention episode 8 from season 7, specifically the ending. (SPOILER ALERT. Duh.) It was an emotional episode all around, but after the Five-0 team arrested all or the bad guys, and all of the hostages were free again, they all individually hugged it out with one another. Steve and Danny were a good space apart from each other. They were smiling and looking at each other, clearly enjoying the fact that they were both ok. Finally, Steve broke the silence by saying, "What, no hug?" Even the casual viewer would be able to tell that he was disappointed and slightly sad about this fact. And then Danny Williams said the most scream-worthy thing he's said in a long time.
"If I hug you, I might kiss you, and then where would it stop?"
ASDFGHHJKLLKJFFDSAA. That was literally my reaction to that quote, aside from screaming and jumping up and down. True, people could say that they were just so relieved that both of them were safe, and that's why he said it, but honestly? I don't think so. First of all, they looked at each other, goofily smiling for way too long, as they usually do. Next, Danny said, "then where would it stop?" If he had left that part out, it would be less scream-worthy. In that one sentence, everything Danny Williams has ever actually, truly wanted was finally made clear. He wants Steve.
Catherine has never done anything like this for Steve. Honestly, she was always too busy playing the damsel in distress and worrying about herself rather than Steve and trying to fix the problem at hand. Even though she was in the Navy, same as Steve, Danny somehow understands this fact better than she does. The funny thing is that Danny was never in any sort military whatsoever. To clarify, I'm not even talking about all of the times where Danny has casually made fun of what branch Steve served in. In my opinion, Danny understands the things that happened to Steve while he was over there, and he can relate to the trauma he went through. Catherine, on the other hand, never wanted to talk about serious issues with Steve, even if he brought it up. Most of the time, unless it involved a problem she was in, she gave no care to what Steve's past experiences had been. However, I know that this argument is, as my Algebra II teacher would put it, "weak sauce", so you can come after me for that if you'd like. Anyway, back to the point. I just think that Catherine was a poorly developed character from the moment we met her. Aside from occasionally helping Five-0 with some cases, she didn't really add any substance to the story, especially when it came to matters involving Steve. In fact, the only real, solo plot lines she ever really got was the things with Billy, her ex, and then of course the would "I'm going to stay in Afghanistan" Taliban thing. She also got the spy story line, which was bitter to many, and it didn't do a great job on making me believe that she and Steve could ever be in a real relationship. It was lazy acting, especially on Michelle Borth's (the woman that plays Catherine) part. She could have done a lot better, including trying to convince the writers and producers to come up with a better story for Catherine. Ok, to be fair, I think that if that dumbass spy storyline was better, it could've possibly saved their sinking relationship. But alas, it didn't, and in all honesty, I thought it was a dumb plot twist. To me, it wasn't even a plot twist, but I regress. To get back on topic...even when she was with Steve, actually in a relationship with him, there were still things with Danny that made her side–eye and question them. Obviously, I have examples, but that would take too much time to write all of them down. Trust me, though, there's many examples of this.
Overall, given all of the great evidence I have provided, it is clear to see why Steve and Catherine do not belong together. They will never be my personal endgame, anyway. Danny and Steve have something special; something more than friendship, or even a silly, fun bromance. I will 100% stand by the McDanno ship until the day I die. Even if it has absolutely no chance of ever legitimately becoming canon, I will not give up. Fuck, when the show eventually, ends and if they are STILL not together, I will be shipping it. (And also writing letters/making phone calls/leaving messages on all of their social media's to the production staff and writers questing why the hell they baited us after all of those years and then never followed through on it.) It is my belief that if two people are meant to be together, they will find a way to be together. Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams clearly are these two people. They have gone above and beyond on showing the world what love really is. Catherine and Steve have not. Sure, they've had a lot of fun together, but that does not begin to compare to the amazing relationship that Danny and Steve have built for themselves. I will never lose hope about McDanno.
Catherine is just another thing standing in the way. Danny and Steve WILL be together one day. For real. Forever. It's just a matter of time and bravery. The fans are more than ready, and the writers have been leading up to a real relationship between them for years. I don't care who you ship, you absolutely cannot deny the fireworks happening between those two. Mark my words and take this long-ass...thing I've written as proof. But until everyone (writers, actors, fans, literally everyone involved with Five-0) gets their shit together...well, at least there's a fanfic for that!
If anyone would like to discuss post this with me, feel free to message me directly. I'd be thrilled to talk to you about McDanno. And of not, that's cool too. I'll always be here, though, if you need to desperately drop a line(:
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How amazing was everyone's acting in 9.12? Heartbroken but strong Daddy Danno and murderous pissed off Uncle Steve, and not one but two McDanno hugs, even with Rachel there you could see Danny reaching out for Steve when they found out Gracie would be okay. I just wish the ending hadn't been soon Danny/Rachel shippy. I really hope the writers don't try to circle back to Danny and Rachel getting back together, that is one mess that should NOT be revised.
I agree 100% here, Anon! This was really a Williams-centric episode (but I appreciated Meaghan’s acting there too, but it was obviously obfuscated bc the drama of the plot A), and pissed off Uncle Steve was really funny tbh xD.
All that said, yeah, my first reaction to that glance of Steve to those two there, and Danny making their first-date meal, left me with a bad taste..., but after some thinking, and absorbing all of what they have been through the week at the hospital, with Grace finally getting back home (and it’s Danny’s house, not Rachel [but it’s obviously bc it was more easy to film on that house than the one’s Rachel’s character lives...so i’m just gonna avoid going meta on that]), I’m not surprised that Danny was in such a good mood, a good place, and like I said on the other ask, this was kind of a redemption arc for Rachel (not exactly bc what she did was horrible, but they aren’t portraying her as the Mean Ex here), so it could be considered normal that after all that time together on the hospital with Grace recovering, they learned to be more civil to each other, be more adults (?).
Yes, *sighs*, that scene, independent on which way you see, with Steve happy they are getting along now, or Steve happy they may be on the path for reconciliation, it doesn’t take away the fact that it opened a door there, and maybe the writers/Lenkov don’t know if they want Danny/Rachel endgame yet, or even what to do with that situation, but that scene made it plausible now, all that it takes it’s basically 30 seconds of screentime of Danny explaining Steve ‘why he and melissa broke up’ + ‘’his feelings for Rachel after Grace’s accident’, and bam, they are together and Claire didn’t even have to go film a scene with Scott to make it happen, and that concerns me, alot.
(also, where’s Melissa btw? I know they wouldn’t spent the few screentime with her but i don’t recall they even mentioning the name once..)
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