Treat Williams/Andrew Brown Appreciation Thread #5: It's fun seeing Andy Brown in Mick O'Brien
 

Thank you!

The title is utter perfection. :love:

Thank you, Michelle!!

Welcome! :)

and honest!

Exactly!

What did you think of the season finale?

I liked it. I thought it was an amazing set up for (if we get) a 4th season. They need to start the healing process to be a real family. I think this will give them the boost in the right direction.

It's not just about healing from Megan's leaving, it's healing from Mick not being there. It's healing for the kids not dealing with the fact that they never had a mom, Abby was the go to source for a woman figure in thier lives. They also need to deal with the fact that Mick wasn't around either. Their family, as perfect as they seem right now, are still holding back.

The end with Trace signing the picture for Donovan's daughter. I think it finally hit him of what he is giving up. He wants that, he wants to have children with Abby. He knows that the life he is choosing right now isn't the life that will give him that. Unfortunately, he's made a decision. He can't just go back to Chesapeake Shores and have this magical life just yet. There are contracts, there is a band, there are a lot of factors in him being able to come home. And none of those even come close to what he needs to do to make it up to Abby for leaving in the first place and convincing her he is home for good.

Exactly right. It's both Megan and Mick, the entire family as a whole. I've never understood how anyone could just blame Megan and not Mick. The entire situation is complicated and not black and white. The family as a whole needs to heal.

:( I was aware of the break up and that's why I've been delaying watching. I figure if I don't watch it never happened. :bawl:

How long did Trace sign a contract? Did they break up officially or just take a break? I think the network knows the show will be renewed. I couldn't imagine why they'd end things like this between the main romantic pairing without proper conclusion (in a happy way) otherwise. Unless they came back for a movie or something but I don't think so... I think they're confident in another season.

I cannot remember but it was an extended time because they were touring Europe and some other far off countries.

Abby was putting her children first and said she cannot live this life anymore. Trace gone most of the time, she is kind of the single parent. She did that once already with Wes and look how that turned out. So Trace decided to go even after Abby said she couldn't do it anymore. Now, with the way Trace saw Donovan with his daughter, it seems that he is rethinking his life choices.

Boo. :(

:cry: So sad. I don't blame Abby in the least. I'm shocked Trace made the decision to go. If we receive another season, I really hope all the band stuff takes place off the screen. I don't want to watch them touring Europe and other places. Maybe he won't go after all? Did we actually see him leave? Or maybe he changes his mind but like you said, contracts are signed. Seems like he's stuck. :(

I hope the band stuff just dissipates all together. I don't think Trace's heart is in it anymore like it used to be. He's living or lived his dream. He went on tour, he got to sing HIS music in front of a live audience. But he has other dreams too. He wants children with Abby...THEIR children. I think Trace FINALLY realized why he should not have gone on tour. I know John said he has an understanding family, well, every family is different. No family should have to put their lives on hold just so someone can live their dream. I know that sounds incredibly selfish but I think Trace going on tour was rather selfish. I just don't know what to think about Trace right now, honestly.

Me too. :irked: I can't stand it. I want to see Trace singing, I could watch an entire episode of Trace performing. But not with the stupid band.

Why did Trace make the decision to go on Tour once again? Was he sort of forced into it or he felt like it was the right move? It is weird. It's why I keep delaying the watch. :( I will watch soon though. I just hope we find out the series is renewed sooner than we did last season. I still maintain the network knows another season is happening or else we wouldn't have had such a depressing ending for Abby/Trace. It would do their book characters a true injustice with this ending. It's not like the network to have such a sad ending either since their endings are usually full of cheese. I think this was a deliberate tease/cliffhanger because they know the story is not over on the small screen.

I think he was more talked in to it by his other band members. Everyone is in a different situtation. Leigh is by herself, she doesn't have anyone else to think about that would be heartbroken that she wasn't there. John's wife gets it and is totally okay with him going on tour. But every situation is different. Leigh, especially, wasn't thinking about Trace's life when wanting to go on tour. She, I think really was the one who really pushed Trace to go. Yes, it's a great opportunity, but is music the only opportunity in life. Leigh doesn't get it! She doesn't get that Trace has a family to get back to. I really think he was, not blackmailed, but definitely pushed in to it. It was clear he was questioning the idea of going and neither wanted to hear it.


If you are that concerned about watching, honestly, you might want to wait to find out if CS gets a 4th season. It's not the last conversation Trace/Abby have that gets it, it's not Trace revealing to Abby that he was going. It's the last scene Trace has, by himself, that really makes you know that Trace knows what he wants and it's not music. Yet, we don't know if he's stuck or not. So, I'd wait if I were you, but ultimately it is your decision :) It's just a hard episode to watch if you don't know the fate of a 4th season. That's just my opinion.



I love the writing staff, they are just a joy, but honestly, I think the show has done some injustice to the book characters. I just adore Trace's career and life that he has made himself in the books. It's not about the fact that he does have a lot of money and is equal to Abby in that respect. He has so much confidence and knows how to stand up for himself. I think Trace in the show lacks that sometimes because he is so afraid of losing Abby, plus, he knows that Abby's career, at the time they got together, was far more superior than what he was doing. I'm sorry if that sounds mean or crass, that's just how I feel towards everything. The relationship between Abby/Trace is more fluid than the show, I think right now, could ever be. Maybe, if we get a Season 4, things could change :shrug:

This entire situation sucks. I was hopeful Trace seeing John having to say goodbye to his family was going to have a large influence on his future decisions. Really too bad it didn't translate on the screen. I also want Leigh and John to go. I know they're deliberately written in an irritating way. Well, it's working.

You just convinced me to wait until we know if a season 4 is taking place. There's no point in watching, getting frustrated and then having to wait until we get word about season 4. I'm going to wait to watch the last two episodes until we know for sure season 4 is taking place. It's better for my mental health.

That sucks too. I don't expect the TV show to be an exact replica of the books but based on what you're saying, the show can do better. Like you said, hopefully things will change if we get a season 4.

After watching the finale I just have a couple of thoughts:

Why is Connor letting Daniela dictate this relationship? Why would he take her back so willingly and easily?

Why did it take so long for Abby to finally tell Trace how she feels about his leaving? Thank goodness Gran put some sense into her, because Abby was numbly accepting all of Trace's travels up until now.
I hated when Trace responded to Abby objections by saying, "But we talked about it."
No..they didn't talk about it. Trace did all the talking and Abby just accepted the situation like a Stepford Wife.

Sarah and kevin...finally someone steps up and realizes the two of them having a long distance relationship is ridiculous. It seemed as if Kevin was the only one with sense here, while Sarah appeared to be clueless regarding the situation.

David's parents: Is there an ulterior motive for offering to buy an Inn?

Bree and Simon: Why is Caroline so important?

How can a sailboat that was falling apart a few weeks ago be Regatta ready so soon?

I hate Leigh. :mad:

You are caught up!

That's good.

I think I might wait as discussed with Patricia because I don't want to get irked over the Abby/Trace stuff. I might change my mind and end up watching before we find out if the series will continue.

There was a lot of closure in this finale but there are also a lot of loose ends… A pretty big loose end. Hopefully the show will be renewed.

This network is known for producing happy endings. They've also totally increased showcasing the series with promos/commercials. Golden Girls is on at 11 PM and more times than not, I'm seeing a Chesapeake Shores promo which is awesome! The pairing showcased the most in their commercials and promos is Abby/Trace. You can tell the network adores Trace/Abby.

Thus, I think the network has known another season at the very least is happening. Otherwise, Trace/Abby wouldn't have been left in such a blurry/gray place.

I agree.
Are you caught up as well, Michelle?

No. I still have the last two to watch but even Patricia said maybe I'm better off waiting until we see if the series gets renewed. As a Trace/Abby fan the finale is tough. So I might wait or I might watch soon, depends on my mood, lol.

Still debating on whether or not to watch the last two before getting word on a new season or not.

If you want to punch your television, sure, go ahead and watch. If not, I'd wait. But then again, it might be a long wait :)

The accident, John needing multiple surgeries and Trace feeling guilty, that ship has sailed because Trace wouldn't mentioned something by now like he owed it to John to keep going. So it's not that theory.

I just wonder what Trace was thinking. Did John speaking about how his wife and kids understand that going on tour is a good thing. Did Trace really think Abby was okay with him being gone most of the time. It's not about the press and the public attention. It's the fact that Trace isn't there. Sure the girls are young now and not having really big life moments, but they will. Life passes you by when you're there to see it and even caster when you're not. Sooner than later the girls will be going into middle school and high school. Sure Wes is their father but Trace, being with Abby, automatically makes him step into that stepfather role no matter if they make it official or not. I don't think Trace gets that, well, not until the last few moments of the finale. The look on his face says a lot even though Trace doesn't say a word. Peyton Sawyer said it best "you say a lot when you keep you mouth shut". Not sure how they'll play that into Season 4. I cannot see Trace spending another minute on tour much less months overseas when he finally realized what he's going to be giving up since it's clear that his life will not include music career, being gone all the time and Abby with the girls. Unfortunately I think life kind of kicked him in the ass and well, Trace needed a good kicking reminder.

Connor really lets women control him in relationships doesn't he? I keep feeling that Danielle is going to get bored or someone more interesting comes around and she'll cheat on Connor all over again. I don't see what he sees in Danielle? She cheated on him not too long ago, what, like a month...not even that long? I know Connor loved her, but really, does he value any part of his beating heart in all of this. DANIELLE IS NO GOOD!

I adore Trace, I really do. I really do think he has every intention of being Abby's husband one day and stepfather to the girls. But this REALLY PISSED ME OFF. They talked about!??! When did they have this so-called discussion. I know they mentioned it, but something THIS BIG needs to be over long hours maybe even days of figuring out what works best for everyone. It's working really great for Trace. Having a girl wait for him when he comes home after being gone for months. Yeah, it's working pretty good for him.

I think Abby just agreed to everything because she is so used to taking care of everyone else and everyone having their needs met, she forgot about hers. I'm glad Gran reminded Abby to take charge even if it means being the bad guy. She cannot put her and the girls' lives on hold while Trace does something that may or may not be a future for him. It's time to let the pipe dream go.

I just don't see why Trace cannot realize that he can still write music, produce music and perform at the club? I'm sure lots of locals would visit to see Trace Riley sing original music. That's what the club is for right? Local talent, local bands that otherwise wouldn't see the light of day as a band? Trace obviously has a loyal following of fans if the band gets these big tour gigs like with Donovan and that creepy fan who called Abby by name. I don't think Trace gets that he can have music and Abby too, just not the same way it used to be.

I'm glad we have one smart relationship here! Kevin might be the only O'Brien with his head screwed on straight as of late :)

I'm with you Betty! I don't know and don't trust that they aren't just using their money, ONCE AGAIN, to control Jess. I cannot see them giving Jess money for a B&B outright without expecting kickbacks. Will there be this massive prenup, will she need to name her children after members of THEIR family? Will she have to give them a percentage of earnings. I mean it never stops with them. They have ruled David's life for years and his poor sister for holding her back from what she is destined to do. I cannot believe them. I'd rather Jess grovel and ask Mick for a loan, which she can pay back than get any sort of nickles and dimes from the Pecks. With them, money comes at a price...for life.

I have to confess. I mostly fast forward through their scenes, not a fan of Simon. I still love Jake way too much! Oh the book was so good for them! So in that sense, I haven't paid to much attention to when I don't fast forward through them. All I gather is that she is an ex girlfriend!? Not sure though.

Because everything works when you want it to in Chesapeake Shores. Like calories not counting, it's just a place where magical things happen lol Well, minus some relationships though

We all do sweetie! :P

I gather that Leigh is Everwood's Madison. Madison broke up a lot of things, but this is not the thread to go into.

Leigh is definitely think about HER LIFE and her paycheck at the end of the day. Of course she ever found someone that could love and tolerate her, she might see where Trace is coming from. Sure Leigh's dream is to be on tour, so is...or was Trace's dream. Dreams change as people grow. I think Leigh needs to find a new band to build a dream with. I think she's mostly pleading with Trace to come on board so she can be with Trace as long as she can without Abby around. We all know that Leigh is still hung up on him, so obvious. So obvious like a school girl crush, well, kind of more on the annoying side really.



It's not just Abby/Trace a reason not to watch the finale. The finale opened up so many doors that will make the O'Brien family finally open up to each other and repair the past that almost broke their futures.

Well, the book did touch on some drama for Trace and Abby that held them back a little, which was written in a very nice way. But yeah, the relationship as a whole was fifteen times and more better. Now that's not speaking for the entirety of the show. The first season was pretty close to the connection they had in the book, but once music entered everything, well, the book went with the tide and set sail, nothing would ever be the same.

Yes, some parts of the finale could have ended with the finale and hope for the future and if the show ended on just that, it would be justified.

But the Trace/Abby stuff is a HUGE, almost anchor reason to get a Season 4. Abby came back to Chesapeake Shores to be a family with her girls. Trace came back into her life and she knew within a short time, that Trace would be the man that would be the man in her life and the girls' lives. For her, that doesn't mean part time or whenever he's not touring or in the studio or doing whatever it is he needs to do to make record labels happy.

She sees how much this troubles Trace to be away from everyone. Abby comes from the demanding world of Wall Street. That's why she moved back home, to take a step back, to be a mom. She understands the pressures of what Trace is going through, always being needed but not valued. I don't think Trace really gets that his life will never slow down, it will never change. He left the music business the first time around because the life was too fast. I wonder, has he forgotten how fast the fast life was the first time he had a music career?

Man that doesn't sound great. :blank:

I wonder when we'll find out if it's renewed. Could be months. :(

Loved that Peyton quote.

I just don't get it because it seemed like the entire season built up to a realization for Trace. It really seemed like the only decision he would make would be to remain in Chesapeake Shores. It doesn't make sense. Is it possible the network filmed two endings? Maybe if the series was concluding, we would have gotten the ending of Trace staying home. But along the way they knew another season was happening, so they aired the present ending?

That sucks. I wish they would have stayed closer to the books. I guess they highlighted music because the actor is so damn good in this area. The irony is the music parts are the most boring. I would bet a lot of people don't even watch the tour scenes.