Season 2, Episode 15: Another Woman

In case you ever wondered what Sully would look like as a woman, this is the episode you've been dreaming of.

The Gist:
Dr. Mike and Sully continue to negotiate boundaries for their relationship. Things are rather unfortunately complicated when they meet Catherine/Shivering Deer, a white woman who has been adopted by the Cheyenne.   In between fits of epilepsy, Catherine puts some moves on Sully, breaking Michaela's carefully-guarded heart. And they break up. Or take a break. I'm not quite sure (obviously, as this show is 20+ years old, I know how it winds up ... but this episode ends with her saying "I can't be with you right now" and him saying he'll wait).   

 Meanwhile, Jake is putting some moves on Dorothy.  Dorothy's attracted, but basically tells Jake that if he wants to get with her, he needs to be less of a dick to everyone else in the world.  So he lays on a sob story about abandonment and and neglect and Dorothy kisses him.  She decides that she's too fond of her independence (after years of an abusive marriage) to let herself be tied down again so soon and lets Loren know that she is open to
Commentary:
1.  One thing I really love about this show and the relationship between Michaela and Sully is that while theirs is a great romance in the grandest of traditions, there is quite a good deal of realism in there.  Rather than being made up of sweeping gestures left and right, there are a million negotiations and adjustments that go into two independent adults deciding to begin a life together. 

2. Maybe this is just evidence of poorly-developed skills in Joe Lando's craft ... or maybe it's just really excellent skills. I'm not sure. But Sully will never, ever have chemistry with anyone as he does with Michaela.  Sully's clearly feeling some of Catherine's vibes (and she is his true female equivalent) but he always looks shocked and scared. Again -- is this excellent acting or poor acting? I don't know.  What I do know is that in an earlier episode, Dorothy tells the oft-jealous Michaela* that Sully could never have room in his heart for anyone but Michaela, and that he "is like a needle on a compass, points true north."

3.  Why is Michaela so jealous all the time? Like ... ALL the time.  Besides being one of the most beautiful women ever, Sully is one of the truest, most steady individuals ever.

4.  As Sully tries to explain to Brian that Catherine kissed him:

"It takes two people to kiss, Brian. It's like when you want to go fishing and I don't, but I go anyway because I don't want to hurt your feelings. Do you think you can understand that?"
"I think fishing is fishing and kissing's kissing ... that's what I think!"

Brian is learning all of Michaela's flouncing skills. 

5.  Dorothy Jennings is a badass mutha, too.  I love the way she has evolved into a woman who can stand up to anyone.  It took a good half of the season, but this episode really crystalizes her transformation.  She stands up to Jake* and to Marcus (or his tombstone, but still) and to Loren and is like "Hey ... I'm going to date anyone I feel like. So ask me out, guy."  Love her.

6.  And have we all forgotten that it was only Episode 2 that Jake wanted to have Dorothy hanged for killing her husband? I know that in frontier days people had to forgive pettier disputes for the sake of survival ... but dang. It's only been six months ...