Totally. I feel like they are repeating storylines. I dont know if this is on purpose to show that we never learn from our mistakes...
Storyline of Shulem calling a 30 year old woman (I forget her name) on some pretext, ordering tea, and then basically proposing to her, is repeated now with Nechama. In both case, the woman is shocked and says it never entered their minds, Shulem leaves in haste completely humiliated, and the woman is left alone with her tea.
Storyline of Gitty trying to sabotage her child's love interest, while Lipa privately sympathizes with the child, but then ends up doing Gitty's bidding. Both by Ruchami and now by Yossela.
Storyline of Akiva achieving matrimonial happiness and then losing it, is repeated with Elisheva and then Libby.
As an aside, Akiva seems like such a wishy-washy person when it comes to his art. He drives Kaufman crazy. He did this in season two with his grant and with going to America.
By the way, if Akiva ends up with Rachelli, how weird would it be to have paintings of the first wife on the wall? I dont think that would be ok.
Now that I watched number three, I'm seeing another storyline repeated. (What is this? They ran out of ideas that now they are recycling them? Or is it to symbolize something?)
The storyline of Yossela with the two Shiras is reminiscent of the story of Akiva with Elishva and Esti. In the story of Akiva, he was always chasing Elisheva and she was always out of reach. Then he finally gets engaged to Esti (because he feels bad to hurt her), only to get a call from Elisheva immediately after (who hangs up on him). This messes with his head, and he eventually breaks it off with Esti. (And doesnt get to have Elisheva either in the end. )
Yossela seems to have a similar fate to his uncle. He wants the Morrocan Shira, but she acts like a stalker by calling every 15 minutes and hanging up when he comes to the phone. Finally he goes out and gets engaged to Shira Levinson (possibly out of pity since her father is so sick. It could also be that he felt bad/guilty for inadveryantly standing her up the first date, and making her feel bad about herself.) Unlike with Akiva and Esti, Yossela does feel a sense of chemistry with Shira Levinson, as noted in the scene with the museum. Altogether Yossela and Shira seem to be a good match, unlike Akiva with Esti, which was clearly not. Esti was way too childish and self-centered for Akiva.
But both Akiva and Yosslea fail to see that the person they are chasing are unstable people.
I happen to know someone who was dating a boy and was about to say no when his father died. After Shiva he proposed and she felt too sorry for him to turn him down so they got engaged. She ended up breaking the shidduch.
Ok, so I only started watching from season 2. Tonight I started season 1. Now, what the h is wrong with akiva. If he sees a female and she is alive and can walk on her two feet he falls in love. How many girls did he get engaged to?
3. First he gets engaged to Esti, but Esti's father breaks the shidduch off when Akiva admits that he only got engaged to her because she started crying.
Then he gets engaged to Elisheva just as a ploy to spend six months with her. They had agreed between themselves that it would only be an engagement and no marriage to follow.
Then he got engaged to Libbi. That also gets broken off I think, (if I recall correctly), but in the end they reconcile and obviously get married.
(In between elisheva and Libbi, he meets this pretty female painter (I forget her name) and it looks like there is something that could've happened between them, but he abruptly leaves when he realizes he forgot to put on tefillin that day. And it never goes back to that storyline. )
I inwardly applauded when R' Shulem handled the revacha so expertly. And then he completely lost it with his own brother, bringing up somehow his own childhood and how his current terrible matzav is his own fault. I hated seeing Nachum cringing and crying, I'm so so so sad for him.
This is a very good point. When it comes to childhood issues, sometimes they never leave us.
I didnt understand him to be saying that his current matzav is his own fault. Its obviously not his fault that his wife and daughter died, though maybe you mean to say that he was blaming him for the depression he was in. I understood his point to be that he was always self-centered (which is totally true based on season 2) and always expected others to pick up after him. And now he wants to throw himself off the roof and have others pick up after him.
I think he was trying to shake him out of his depression by saying that by wallowing in his misery, he is continuing to be self -centered and egotistical. Maybe that's what you were saying.
I wonder why Nochum chose that moment to attempt suicide. He overheard the conversation with Yisca. Was it just because he thought they were distracted and wouldn't notice him jump, or was it something in the conversation that pushed him over the edge?
I saw an article that said they were trying to say that despite 5 years passing, not much has changed and the core issues of the characters are still there.
Also, I saw yesterday that Gitti is supposed to be worst dressed and they didn't let Neta choose a better sheitel!
Racheli probably will marry Kive to get his baby back.
Also, I saw yesterday that Gitti is supposed to be worst dressed and they didn't let Neta choose a better sheitel!
Racheli probably will marry Kive to get his baby back.
What do you mean "gitti is supposed to be worst dressed?"
What would be the motivation for Rachelli to marry Akiva just to get his baby back? Can you explain?
What do you mean "gitti is supposed to be worst dressed?"
What would be the motivation for Rachelli to marry Akiva just to get his baby back? Can you explain?
In the preview posted above for next weekend's episode, the lawyer tells akiva he needs to get married to get the baby back.
I love Gitti. She reminds me of people I know in real life. My fav character.
Can we discuss Gitti and Lipa's relationship?
This is my take.
Let's forget for a moment about his escapades in season one.
Imho, Lipa seems to be a very loving husband. He talks to Gitti gently, always smiles. He seems proud of Gitti (brags about her being the best chef in the world) and in general is eager to please. It is so beautiful and moving how he sings to her when she is giving birth. He raises her up on a pedestal, telling her that the money he earned in investments is totally up to her to do as she pleases. He has no airs about him. He stands outside the store handing out fliers for his wife's new restaurant.
His worst fault is that he can't help himself if he sees an easy way to make money. It's hard for him to struggle so much. The lack of normal parnassa, necessitating a 6 month trip away from his family, is what led to his breakdown in season one. Also, the whole thing with the baby naming happened because of his conflict about taking money from the widow. Same with the small part he wanted to play in the movie to make a few hundred shekel. He goes behind Gitti's back to do this little job for an easy few hundred shekel.
Gitti on the other hand seems cold and distant towards her husband. She seems to treat her husband like a child, always talking to him in clipped tones. She is not proud of him and never has a nice word to say to him. She is, at best, polite. She may still have lingering anger against him, but there is obviously a breakdown of communication between them. She doesnt trust him.
Not to blame her for Lipa's actions. But I feel that she often shuts him down before he can even explain how he feels. It is her way or the highway. She never takes into account that Lipa may feel differently about something and that he should also have a say in the matter that concerns him. Even when he does explain, she forces him to do what she wants. You see this in almost every interaction.
Lipa really didnt want to go to South America in the beginning of season one. Like REALLY didnt want to go. He tries telling Gitti how he feels but Gitti completely invalidates him. She is just focused on being practical and no- nonsense. So he goes off feeling like a worm. And then he has a breakdown of sorts in which he just loses it completely.
Many times, despite his misgivings, he goes along with her (like when he went to Tzefas to tell Chanina to divorce Ruchami) but other times he ends up doing what he feels is right, just sneaking behind her back. (Like with Yossela and Shira, and the story with the baby naming, as well as playing a small part in that movie.)
But she does the same to him! It was very hurtful to Lipa that Yosela went out with Shira Levinson and he wasn't even told about it. We don't see that Gitti is even embarrased about withholding this info from her husband. Nevertheless, when he hears that they are engaged, he drops everything and runs to the vort. Obviously she didn't tell her husband because she knew that he felt Yossela should wait a few months, so she just bulldozed along with her agenda and arranged the date without him. That was a real slap in his face.
So they both keep secrets from each other because it is too tiresome to argue it out, and they just want to avoid conflict. Instead they create more conflict and secrets.
I think that this dynamic is so true for many marriages. The more controlling spouse may think they can call all the shots, but if the weaker spouse is not fully on board, he or she won't end up doing it. Or they will go behind their spouses back and do what they want.
I would love to hear other people's take on this. 😀
This is a very good point. When it comes to childhood issues, sometimes they never leave us.
I didnt understand him to be saying that his current matzav is his own fault. Its obviously not his fault that his wife and daughter died, though maybe you mean to say that he was blaming him for the depression he was in. I understood his point to be that he was always self-centered (which is totally true based on season 2) and always expected others to pick up after him. And now he wants to throw himself off the roof and have others pick up after him.
I think he was trying to shake him out of his depression by saying that by wallowing in his misery, he is continuing to be self -centered and egotistical. Maybe that's what you were saying.
I wonder why Nochum chose that moment to attempt suicide. He overheard the conversation with Yisca. Was it just because he thought they were distracted and wouldn't notice him jump, or was it something in the conversation that pushed him over the edge?
I could be wrong but I think there's something we don't know yet about the circumstances of Libi and her mother's deaths. I'm wondering if something Nochum did or said indirectly led to the accident or whatever it was. Maybe part of his breakdown is guilt, justifiable or not. Could be Shulem, who has a complicated relationship with his younger brother for years, was alluding to this when he lost it yelling at Nochum.
Babypink, while I'm here, you wanted other people's takes on your character study of Gitty and Lippa? My take FWIW is that your description was spot on and a great read. As for me, I have a hard time loving Gitty. She has this tight lipped expression that seems to say- we're going to do things my way no matter what you think so don't bother opening your mouth. There's something of a spoiled brat manipulative personality disorder about her. Lipa is the very flawed hero I can't help liking in spite of some of the awful things he's done. I think the two of them will have to find a way to make their marriage work because even though the screenwriters have no shortage of beautiful actresses who will fall in love with Akiva, and they've already found two Shira's for Yossela, it seems they're going to keep this couple monogamous. Unless there are some other surprises ahead I haven't thought of...
I could be wrong but I think there's something we don't know yet about the circumstances of Libi and her mother's deaths. I'm wondering if something Nochum did or said indirectly led to the accident or whatever it was. Maybe part of his breakdown is guilt, justifiable or not. Could be Shulem, who has a complicated relationship with his younger brother for years, was alluding to this when he lost it yelling at Nochum.
Babypink, while I'm here, you wanted other people's takes on your character study of Gitty and Lippa? My take FWIW is that your description was spot on and a great read. As for me, I have a hard time loving Gitty. She has this tight lipped expression that seems to say- we're going to do things my way no matter what you think so don't bother opening your mouth. There's something of a spoiled brat manipulative personality disorder about her. Lipa is the very flawed hero I can't help liking in spite of some of the awful things he's done. I think the two of them will have to find a way to make their marriage work because even though the screenwriters have no shortage of beautiful actresses who will fall in love with Akiva, and they've already found two Shira's for Yossela, it seems they're going to keep this couple monogamous. Unless there are some other surprises ahead I haven't thought of...
Yeah, Lipa's a charmer (and it appears his son has inherited this quality too).
Gitty is tight lipped and controlling but can you blame her?
She's been through trauma, and even if she's forgiven Lipa she's scarred by him too and doesn't trust him 100%, probably with good reason too.
I could be wrong but I think there's something we don't know yet about the circumstances of Libi and her mother's deaths. I'm wondering if something Nochum did or said indirectly led to the accident or whatever it was. Maybe part of his breakdown is guilt, justifiable or not. Could be Shulem, who has a complicated relationship with his younger brother for years, was alluding to this when he lost it yelling at Nochum.
This is a great insight and I think you're probably right. Also don't forget that Libbi was the light of her father's life. He was shown to be an extrmely devoted father, ready to give her the world. Her death (and his wife's, who we know nothing about) basically snuffed the life out of him.
And thanks for your thoughts on Gitti and Lipa. As interesting as the details are in this marriage, I think the dynamic is fairly common. When two people get married, almost always, one spouse will be the stronger character of the two. And depending on how they are able to communicate and accept the other's point of view, that's how much they will be on the same page about things. If there is a lack of communication and acceptance, that's when the sneaking around happens.
And in this case, they are both sneaking around, but for slightly different reasons. Lipa sneaks because Gitti told him what he may or may not do. She doesnt even care what he feels, because it doesnt matter in the end. He sneaks hoping she will never discover what he did.
Gitty sneaks because she has no energy to hear Lipa's opinion and to convince him otherwise.. She knows he will find out that she did things without consulting him but it doesnt matter to her. As long as it gets done her way, she knows he won't fight her in the end.
