Does Bill ever really open up to Ralph?

[Hubcap Stealing Shrimp]

WARNING: Possible spoilers ahead for those who have not seen "Don't Mess Around with Jim", "Hog Wild", and "The Beast in Black."

OK, call me a sap, but I have watched TGAH up through "Hog Wild", and there were a couple of times I really wish Bill would have come forth and told Ralph how much it meant to him to have him for a partner, that Ralph balances him out, and damn it, that "I love ya, kid." I know that isn't really like Maxwell, and to overdo it would take away from his character, but I'd sure like to see it just happen just once.

I thought this might happen at the end of "Don't Mess Around with Jim" when Bill saw Beck and Marshall (the former of which had become corrupt with the suit) being taken away in the spaceship, and he feared that this might happen to him and Ralph when their "time is up." Bill had thought about using the suit for personal gain in that very same episode, which is what had led to Beck's downfall, and Ralph immediately steered him right. If you want to get all spritual about it (which Bill really was with his fear), I thought Bill might express true gratitude that Ralph kept him from "condemning" himself as Beck had. It was nice to see Bill approaching Ralph truly nervous about his fate, and seeking Ralph's input, but I guess I wish their conversation had gone a little deeper than Bill thinking a fate on the ship would be "horrible" and Ralph thinking it would be "wonderful."

ALSO: I thought Bill show deep appreciation for Ralph risking his life against "The Beast in Black" to save him. (As mentioned in another post, I skipped ahead and watched that episode on Friday the 13th.) Instead, it went on as undestood, with the expected laugh about the worthless stock certificates.

Anyway, I know that Ralph and Bill's bond is best left understood for the most part, and I like Bill being the "hard egg to crack" that he is. (He basically carried the "Hog Wild" episode trying to get the bikers to take themselves out one by one testing the suit, and by just plain being stubborn as usual. I REALLY liked seeing Bill kick butt in that episode, and I especially liked how he actually won Ralph over on his way of thinking in that episode.

Still, though, I am waiting for a breakthrough moment for him to really tell Ralph what his friendship means to him. If it only happens once in the entire series, that is all I would really need. I just hope the group hug in "The Greatest American Heroine" isn't as sentimental as it gets.

So, can anyone who has the entire series tell me if my hopes are in vain? Does such a breakthough ever happen? And in what episode(s)?

Thanks!

[MiltonMaxwell]

I remember Bill opening up a couple of times, although I can't specifically remember the episodes. I know that in Plague Bill is extremely grateful when ... well, watch and see. And I know that there are a few episodes (particularly the ones written by Culp) where Bill displays his human side in one way or another. Those are touching episodes.

[Maxwell - F.B.I.]

You definitely see a 'softer' side of Bill in Plague and Lilac's, Mr. Maxwell and can sure see how much Bill cares for Ralph in Divorce Venusian Style.

[HoudiniDerek]

Come on...in the BEST DESK SCENARIO, Bill tells Ralph all about his problems and how he is feeling older and is nervous that people his age are dying. Of course, when Ralph tries to tell Pam about it, he goes, "I am not...and we don't talk about that stuff in front of the Counselor."

[The J-Man]

[The J-Man]

miltonmaxwell said:

And I know that there are a few episodes (particularly the ones written by Culp) where Bill displays his human side in one way or another. Those are touching episodes.

[HoudiniDerek]

Great pictures....good quotes too.

[The J-Man]

houdiniderek said:

Great pictures....good quotes too.

Thank you. It's all part of being a middle-aged man who lives in his parents' basement.

[billswoman]

OK, some examples I was going to cite were here, esp from "Lilacs..." and "Divorce..."

Let me see... How about the one I just watched, "Here's Looking At You Kid," at the end? Bill comes by the school, and Ralph is like, "Okay, NOW what?" And all Bill wanted to do was say thank you. I think it's significant cuz Bill's actually reaching out to Ralph, to be a friend, not two guys who the aliens stuck together with a suit.

The example from "Lilacs..." is good, though, because I believe it's the ONLY time a wife is mentioned in the whole series.

My interpretation of The Beast in the Black, IMO at least, is valid too... Notice how Bill doesn't "win" over Sheila, once he knows Ralph is on the way, when Bill says, "You gotta help me!" He knows... I mean, come ON, this woman doesn't have a stronger spirit than my man Bill, right??

I think I'm digressing from the original thread, though, about opening up. I'm just showing some examples of their friendship, I guess.

Oh, yeah, I just watched "The Lost Diablo." The ending was the very very best part of the whole ep! Bill was REALLY showing his soft cuddly side, and right in front of Ralph, Pam and the kids. They were amazed, too, at seeing this side of Bill. Great scene.

[billswoman]

The shrimp said "I am waiting for a breakthrough moment for him to really tell Ralph what his friendship means to him. "

I missed that in my earlier reply. Go watch "Divorce Venusian Style," which I think I might call the very best episode of the series.

We all know Bill is terrified of the green guys, yet he doesn't even hesitate to bring the wounded Ralph under the ship, so they can be beamed up. And then there's that great pic and quote above

Ralph, choking out: They're sending down...another partner... as good as me.
Bill: I've got the best partner in the world, I don't want another partner!

And during the song part (one of the very few song segments I truly enjoy), when Ralph walks out on Bill, and Bill yells "Who needs you any way??"; the shots between Bill and Ralph are great. Bill's obviously upset and trying not to think about the implications of their little "divorce", lol.

"We're opposites, we're idiots, but we're still friends." That sums them up perfectly.

[HoudiniDerek]

I concur....that song also worked well in the season 2 finale of the A-Team, when Murdock gets mortally wounded.

[billswoman]

OK, something else about "Lilacs..." that made me think of this thread, in addition to mention of the wife:

When O'Neil returns, after Bill and Ralph have had their little talk, Bill and she talk it all out. I realized something: he's doing all this, KNOWING Ralph's in the room with him. He's speaking candidly with O'Neil, knowing his partner's hearing it all. Now that's not opening up TO Ralph, but at least in FRONT of Ralph.

I mentioned this in another thread, but there's one (the ep escapes me right now), when Ralph asks Bill, "What would you do without me?"

Thinking this was a great opening for one of Bill's infamous one-liners, I was surprised when Bill simply says, "I don't know."

I thought that little interchange spoke volumes for their friendship.

[HoudiniDerek]

Yes, once you see the whole series in its perspective, you get to see how Bill and Ralph are friends...Pam too. Especially in the first season when Bill fails his lie detector test and in HEROES when Bill is relating everything about Winslow. Very in-depth aspects to his life that he need not have shared.