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December 12, 2006
Breaking Bonaduce Recap - Season 2, Episode 7: A not-so-clean break

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Choose the proper interpretation of the picture above:

A) It's a visual metaphor that comments on the folly of tearing apart something that's already been sliced open.

B) It's a visual metaphor that suggests how pointless life is no matter how you slice it.

C) Danny's been drinking again.

This episode starts on such a high point, which makes the eventual impact feel that much stronger. We open with Danny and Gretchen talking to Dr. Garry.

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Danny says that things between them are, "Wonderful. I mean, better than good. Just absolutely fabulous." And then we're given a visual accompaniment:

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Reunited and it feels so wonderful, so better than good, so absolutely fabulous.

Being that it's morning, Danny has to drive Isabella to school.

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Gretchen mentions all the books Isabella has to bring to school, which is why she needs help with her bag. Danny cannot relate. "I went to Cal Prep. I had a straw and a razor blade and that got me through high school." Ah, memories. Also: nice that he can laugh about it. For now.

Danny qualifies his cokie comment to Isabella, in the car, making sure that she knows not to follow his example. "Drugs absolutely eat you alive." Isabella points out that acid eats you alive, too. Danny isn't sure if she means something like LSD or sulfuric acid. She means the latter Regardless, the point is that there's bad acid and then there's bad acid.

Danny talks more about his checkered past and subsequent reform on Adam Corolla's radio show.

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Adam asks him what his show will be like now that he sober. Danny replies, "I don't need to be wasted to get violent." Sobriety would never get in the way of Danny giving his audience what it wants.

Cut to...

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The best part this little bout of martial artistry is when Danny attempts to break a board over his head...

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And can't. Is this another of the episode's visual metaphors?

There's also some discussion of Danny's abusive father, whose cremation vault Danny visits. The whole episode is basically leading up to Gretchen's show with her band at the Hard Rock Cafe, which basically means that it's all leading up to the meltdown of the season.


Danny_level4_100 Danny falls off the wagon

Yep -- we've finally hit a Level 4.

This is serious.

If you remember last season, you remember that her last show there did not go well (the long and short: Danny got wasted and violent and then he pulled the lead singer of Gretchen's band off the stage and threatened to fight him). The reminiscing just never stops!

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Gretchen hits the stage. Danny watches until he doesn't...

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And by "sing," he means, "serenade my liver."

And the whole time you're watching, it's like, "There's no way that he's going to drink alcohol. Look at how far he's come! He's doing better than we've ever seen him!" Yeah, uh, too bad, because:

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Scandal.

And as if he'd stop there.

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The girl declines. As if that would stop him.

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Insane!

Most heartbreaking is the fact that the whole time this happens, Gretchen has no idea. She's too busy singing onstage with Terri Nunn of Berlin.

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After the show, when Gretchen talks to Danny, she knows something's up.

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Yeah, no, because as it's time to go, Danny has to get home. Here's where the Level 4 on the Meltdown Meter comes in...

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"Reluctantly." In other words: if left to his own devices, Danny would have been a threat to the safety of himself and others. Scary.

Though Danny didn't allow a camera in the car, his audio was picked up. As he's driven home we hear Danny talk about everything that just went down, if slightly cryptically. He says, "It's my nature to fall. If I didn't fall, then this would be a piece of cake." Transcend, Danny. Transcend. Don't, for example, attempt to put a bagel half in a toaster you just just put two bagel halves in...

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Messy.

Gretchen finally arrives home and she's now positive something is going on. She and Danny talk in the guest bedroom and they tell the cameras to leave. We end the episode looking at a closed door.

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Yep. This does not bode well. There's one episode left -- how can they possibly tie this all up neatly in time?


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Comments
Mark Jacobs

I must say, "I am very impressed with the work and your comments on the individual scenes of the show". Being that I'm the director of the show, I am humbled and honored.
MJ

Renee Michelle

I absolutely love the Bonaduce family! As a sister in Christ I look forward to an eternity of laughs with Danny and some girl talk with Gretchen. I love your families authenticity! Thank you for being vulnerable... I truly believe God will reward you for your honesty, love and devotion to each other. I pray you all know God's amazing love for us... He wants the absolute best for us all! Keep workin' it Bonaduce Family!

Susan

Oh noes...Level 4! Not good indeed.

Lisa James

does anyone know the song that was played during episode 7, 12/17 - some of the lyrics are: "spread my wings and fly to be by your side tonight"...

Anonymous

I think it's inappropriate for a therapist to kiss (even if it's on the cheek) his/her client.

Sue

I really feel for Danny and his family. He's a good guy, but he need's to realize that fact. I understand far too well how pain from your past can plague a person. Alcohol and drug's are the symtom not the core problem.

DENISE FEINDEL

Danny will NOT get Gretchen and his family back and it's his own fault. He's a lose cannon and a selfish one at that. I have no idea how his wife has stuck by him this long. And the fact she let him back into the house was crazy. I would have left him in the gutter where he belongs.

Angie

Danny, Danny, Danny . . . we don't ever hear you say on your show that you're heading out to an AA meeting. Hopefully in real life you are going to meetings.

Speaking of which, I believe it's this episode that you tell your sponsor (the show labeled him your friend, but what he said made me think he may be your sponsor) about your "slip" at the club, and your new-found relationship with God being your hope, and the answer to your recovery. Your sponsor tells you he's not coming to your baptism because he doesn't believe in religion and God and all that stuff, yadda, yadda, yadda . . . Dunk him! Get a different sponsor - someone who doesn't think it's all about him (whether he's comfortable with your baptism ceremony, whether he believes in God, etc.) when, in fact, the baptism was all about YOU and your new-found relationship with Christ. He should have been supportive of you and attended your baptism ceremony because it was a recovery step and that's what sponsors are supposed to do!

If he's not actually your sponsor then my rambling about that scene in the show is a moot point.

You're on the exact right track with reaching out for Christ help in a renewed and committed way.

'Nuff said.

Randy

Danny, get right back where you need to be brother. I feel you, doing the same thing now (7 months). God Bless.

Rose

As a recoverying alcoholic myself, the problem with this picture is that Danny was IN A BAR. Why? He could have better supported his wife by staying sober at home and had Gretchen bring him a video of her performance. I don't entirely blame him for this. Why didn't his supporters drag him out of the bar, or make him stay at home!! Here are my rules to staying sober: stay away from the liquor isles in the grocery store, stay away from any restaurant that serves alcoholic beverages, don't drive past those old "haunts", get help from my support system (sponsor) when I feel like taking a drink, Go to AA meetings, Get right with God!!!!!!!!

pooploops

in the 3rd pic i guess u can say he's..."breaking" bread..haha get it? ha-...ah nevermind forget it

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