Austenphile

It’s not the actor. I do not know him form anything else but I hated the character from his actions before he was even onscreen. And they have just gotten more and more creepy the more we learn of him.

I don’t even think Josh playing him would make me like the character. (And I hated Charming’s dead twin on Once while loving Charming, so I know the actor makes no difference to me)

BlondieLeigh

It's not the actor at all, it's the character. For me, liking an actor can't make me like a character.

And even considering him in comparison to Lourdes, because of their similar roles, at least Lourdes actually has a bigger role. She's Michaela's friend, she's connected regardless of Jared.

Austenphile

Lourdes is not icky and self centered.

Danny only cares about what relationships Danny wants. Even his relationship with Olive is built on him not losing her. And he sure did not give Grace’s feelings and wishes a thought.

SweetSymphony

I'm trying but I'm not seeing where you guys are coming from regarding Danny. To me, he's been a great guy. He happened to fall in love with a woman who's husband had passed away and he bonded with her and her child for 5 years. In bizarro land, the husband comes back and Danny steps back..lets Grace go back to her old life without objecting. Only thing he asks from her is to allow him to see Olive ...who he had come to see as his own daughter.

If you have an overwhelming loyalty to Ben, then I guess I can see why you would hate Danny. But I'm pretty much open to all the characters.

Austenphile

No. It is not loyalty to Ben. It is him. He pushes to get what he wants regardless of anyone else’s boundaries. He kept texting Grace pushing her after she asked for time. Even when she was taking her son to chemo. He showed up at her Josie because sjev”left him no choice” when she said she did not want to see him, after they broke up. He does not stay in Olive’s life for Olive’s well being. Just because he does not want to lose her. He does not think about her readjusting to bonding with her father and brother.

They could have made him the guy you are describing easily. He could have backed off and gave Grace time. Stepped away with an “I love you” and will always be here for you. Then when Olive called him for the shoplifting he would have backed off once Ben was there instead of calling Grace and let Ben and Grace take care of their child. Olive could have been the one to initiate rock climbing, after discussing her feelings for Danny with both her parents. . He could have not gone to their house and made those hurtful remarks to Ben where he basically acted like Ben chose to not be around. He could have stayed away until Grace initiated contact, to give their family a chance to heal. But instead he only acted in his own selfish interests with no thought to how hard it is on Grace and Olive. I don’t think he loves either of them.

ETA I am loyal to Michaela but I like Lourdes and Jared. My dislike for Danny is all about how he treats Grace, who he supposedly loves. And my final straw with Danny was when he told Grace he found her after losing his wife so he knows he will be ok without her. That is just hateful.

BlondieLeigh

Grace asked him to step back, but he didn't, he continued to text her and pressure her to tell Ben (she should have, but he absolutely had no right to a say in it), he didn't respect Ben as a father when Olive got in trouble and he showed up instead of telling her to call her dad or her aunt or her grandfather after Grace didn't answer, and that in itself is bad for Olive because it delays her from reconnecting with her actual father - his requests regarding Olive come across as far more about him than her, which would only confuse her. It's icky that he met Grace at a grief support group, too.

I'm not overly bothered about Ben as things are because Grace made him boring for me, but Danny is horrible.

Lourdes could have gone all jealous wife on Michaela but instead she embraced her, she's given Jared opportunity to be honest with her (him not taking one is on him). Sure, she knew Michaela before, but the situation she is in is similar to Danny and she hasn't made things about what she wants.

SweetSymphony

I think I will have to rewatch the episodes b/c I'm not remembering Danny to be quite like how you guys are describing him.

The way I saw that was that he was telling her that he doesn't blame her or hold any ill will towards her for choosing to leave him and go back to her husband. He is saying that he will be able to move on from a romantic relationship but the paternal relationship that he has with Olive is something he doesn't know how to give up.

BlondieLeigh

Tbh that is essentially telling her that she was a placeholder for his wife and he can find another one.

Austenphile

Even the kindest interpretation is all about him and not what is best for the people he loves. He just wants what Danny wants with no consideration for how it affects Grace. He put her in the middle of him and her husband over Olive’s parenting more than once.

SweetSymphony

But your guys point was that you wanted him to step back..this in essence what he is doing here. He wouldn't have done this if Ben didn't come back.

BlondieLeigh

He can step back without saying hurtful things like that, and as I said, he didn't really step back, she asked him to and he proceeded to keep texting her and not giving her space to a point where he showed up unannounced.

SweetSymphony

I don't think Grace was hurt by it..she understood his pain and she let him see Olive.

Austenphile

That is exactly what he said to her.

And you know if Nina had come back he would have dumped Grace in a heartbeat.

I do not think he loves Grace.

That was for Olive. If she was not hurt by it, then I can only include she does not love him enough to care. Because it was extremely hurtful.

At best he is selfish and pushy. At worst, he is a potential stalker or plant.

SweetSymphony

But that's exactly what Grace did to him. I think she did love him but wanted to salvage her relationship with Ben more.

I think everyone involved is a victim of misfortune. They're going to make mistakes coming out of the mess that the time jump has made but it's def gonna be fun to watch.

BlondieLeigh

Yep, he's really not great, and if they're not going to do something with him there's no reason for him to still be around. It's worth noting that Jared was asked to spy on Michaela, but no one was asked about Ben and Cal... He does seem to keep looking for a way back in.