 | She grew into herself, into their dance, and had one last piece of unfinished business to attend to. Did she make the grade? |
It seemed a simple directive. But as we learned, getting her head of the computer to "dance a little" was far more complicated that she could have imagined. It was from that ongoing and delicate push and pull between she and Oliver that taught Shane the lessons necessary to build her into Oliver's ideal partner.
In Truth Be Told and Impossible Dream, Shane is not only tested on those early "dance" lessons, but undergoes a sort of final exam of her own, ultimately proving she truly mastered her House Rule.
In Truth Be Told and Impossible Dream, Shane is not only tested on those early "dance" lessons, but undergoes a sort of final exam of her own, ultimately proving she truly mastered her House Rule.
Final Exam, Part I
The test commenced with the appearance of Joe O'Toole in Truth Be Told, only a few short days after Holly left Oliver for good. Shane's handling of the Papa O'Toole situation is essentially a condensed and accelerated case study in her handling of the entire Holly situation, though, one would agree, with much better results.
Let me explain: Compared to the early days, Shane's skills in relating to Oliver have improved by leaps and bounds. Where she used to constantly press to get to the heart of the matter, Shane has acquired discernment that allows her to push in just the right way at just the right time.
Let me explain: Compared to the early days, Shane's skills in relating to Oliver have improved by leaps and bounds. Where she used to constantly press to get to the heart of the matter, Shane has acquired discernment that allows her to push in just the right way at just the right time.
As seen in the video, from the very beginning, Shane allowed Oliver to set the tone for when and where the conversation about his father took place. And when she saw the opportunity to probe a bit more or challenge him to think differently, she did so in a way that he related to. When he became lost, Shane reminded him where he could find his place again. Oliver came to her as a safe haven when he thought his father had left him, and Shane was there to deliver the news that Papa O'Toole left his forwarding address.
Shane effectively weathered Oliver through this particular storm from beginning to end, and did so in a way that demonstrated her mastery of their once complicated relationship, now free to build and grow at its own pace. This situation provided an opportunity for the two to begin to connect on another level, and you can count on the fact it wasn't lost on Oliver the role Shane played in helping him navigate through it.
Shane effectively weathered Oliver through this particular storm from beginning to end, and did so in a way that demonstrated her mastery of their once complicated relationship, now free to build and grow at its own pace. This situation provided an opportunity for the two to begin to connect on another level, and you can count on the fact it wasn't lost on Oliver the role Shane played in helping him navigate through it.
Final Exam, Part II
Shane's growth in her relationship with Oliver was met concurrently with a blast from the past---a birthday card from her ex, Steve. Much like Holly seemingly reappeared at a time when Oliver seemed ready to move on, so Shane was presented with her final reckoning on similar grounds.
But how she chose to handle the situation demonstrates Shane's personal evolution in what she values, ultimately earning the ability to make a choice between Steve and Oliver---a sort of final test see if she truly was ready to put the past where it belonged and move forward.
We learned a lot about Shane's relationship with Steve in Impossible Dream. She left D.C. for Denver because she never knew where she stood with Steve. In many ways, this likely explains her constant push to either determine, or create for herself, a place to stand with Oliver for a majority of the series.
It also explains why she flees from "situations she cannot control." Running away prevents Shane from both finding out the truth or facing the answer. As we heard in Truth Be Told, Shane reaffirmed to Oliver that she had no plans to leave, effectively ending her running for good. This is one of the first signs that her heart has changed.
In Impossible Dream, Shane finds herself presented with the opportunity to rekindle her romance with Steve, but listen to what she says to Steve about her relationship with Oliver.
But how she chose to handle the situation demonstrates Shane's personal evolution in what she values, ultimately earning the ability to make a choice between Steve and Oliver---a sort of final test see if she truly was ready to put the past where it belonged and move forward.
We learned a lot about Shane's relationship with Steve in Impossible Dream. She left D.C. for Denver because she never knew where she stood with Steve. In many ways, this likely explains her constant push to either determine, or create for herself, a place to stand with Oliver for a majority of the series.
It also explains why she flees from "situations she cannot control." Running away prevents Shane from both finding out the truth or facing the answer. As we heard in Truth Be Told, Shane reaffirmed to Oliver that she had no plans to leave, effectively ending her running for good. This is one of the first signs that her heart has changed.
In Impossible Dream, Shane finds herself presented with the opportunity to rekindle her romance with Steve, but listen to what she says to Steve about her relationship with Oliver.
With some artistic embellishment on my part, I only illustrated what Shane herself was trying to explain to Steve. Where Shane used to want the immediate satisfaction of knowing where she stood with the men in her life, she now values the wait. She doesn't want someone who can just buy her a porch swing. She wants someone who will take the time to build it for and, more importantly, with her, something Steve proved unable to do in the past. This was the choice Shane made when turning Steve down, and it's the ultimate 180 from where she was just a little over a year ago.
Shane's words to Steve can be seen as her final explanation aloud for herself as to why Oliver is the better choice, another interesting and rather telling observation. For anyone who thought she was seriously considering Steve as an option, this was her final decision. But it's clear she was conveying so much more than "I'm just not that into you."!
It took two films, but the culmination of Shane's original house rule found her reaping perhaps the greatest surprise of all, Oliver's purchase of the land on which her childhood home once stood.
If you'll remember, the porch swing was the sign Shane earned the relationship with Oliver she spent the early days of her relationship with him trying to force. To purchase her childhood home, something closer to heart even than the porch swing, it would seem Oliver has chosen Shane just as much as Shane has chosen Oliver.
Between her careful handling of Oliver's identity crisis and putting to rest any lingering questions she had about her relationship with Steve, Shane proved her mastery of her original house rule, and has placed herself in prime position to move forward into whatever the future may hold for her---and ShOliver.
Final Grade: A+
Have you check in on Norman and Rita's progress yet? Go do it!
Submitting Scores,
~C
House Rules 2 Series: Trailer | Norman | Rita | Shane | Oliver | Group Assessment
Shane's words to Steve can be seen as her final explanation aloud for herself as to why Oliver is the better choice, another interesting and rather telling observation. For anyone who thought she was seriously considering Steve as an option, this was her final decision. But it's clear she was conveying so much more than "I'm just not that into you."!
It took two films, but the culmination of Shane's original house rule found her reaping perhaps the greatest surprise of all, Oliver's purchase of the land on which her childhood home once stood.
If you'll remember, the porch swing was the sign Shane earned the relationship with Oliver she spent the early days of her relationship with him trying to force. To purchase her childhood home, something closer to heart even than the porch swing, it would seem Oliver has chosen Shane just as much as Shane has chosen Oliver.
Between her careful handling of Oliver's identity crisis and putting to rest any lingering questions she had about her relationship with Steve, Shane proved her mastery of her original house rule, and has placed herself in prime position to move forward into whatever the future may hold for her---and ShOliver.
Final Grade: A+
Have you check in on Norman and Rita's progress yet? Go do it!
Submitting Scores,
~C
House Rules 2 Series: Trailer | Norman | Rita | Shane | Oliver | Group Assessment
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