#tcot misguided model

[theperrylleluniverse]

Just a gifset of Paul being SO cute and SO handsome and SO charming <333

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Those eyes <3

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I love the idea that whenever Perry and Paul roll up to the police station together everyone that works there is like "uh oh what's up now" heehee

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Honestly the absolute meltdown this woman has at the end of this episode is iconic... that actress really went for it

[theperrylleluniverse]

her 👏 name 👏 is👏 millicent 👏

[theperrylleluniverse]

Paul and Fern: Part One

This scene exhibits so much of the things that I love about Paul Drake so I'm going to list out some in this post and in Part Two and Three.

He's quick on his feet - he shows up to interview this woman Fern and her husband answers the door instead. Paul is ready to explain the situation to the husband when Fern darts over and whispers in his ear to "play along". After that, Paul seamlessly adopts Fern's story that he's her friend from school. He literally doesn't even hesitate or show any sort of surprise or confusion on his face, he immediately acts the part and turns up his full Paul Drake Charm (TM) toward the husband which brings me to my next point.

He's charming as all get out - LOOK AT THAT SMILE!! AND HIS BODY LANGUAGE!!! This is Paul turning on his full charm and charisma and it is really something to see. No wonder he manages to get everyone to spill their entire life story to him! How could you say no to that face???

He’s clever - this might be a bit of conjecture but I think Paul clocks right away that Fern is going to be much more receptive to him if he plays along with her in front of her husband. Paul knows next to nothing about this woman - he spoke to her once on the phone. He doesn’t know why she’s lying to her husband or what to expect after this but his goal is to get information from Fern and he makes the decision (based on probably a combo of a quick analysis of the situation and his investigative instinct) that will maximize his chances of getting the info he needs.

Part Two

[theperrylleluniverse]

Paul Drake giving two very firm handshakes accompanied by two very goofy charming smiles <33

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Okay but this woman is C H E W I N G the scenery I love it

And look at how gently Paul touches her arm even when she reacts violently to the touch. He's such a sweet man <3

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Poor Perry :( what a brave choice he made and the Judge is just like "well it should've been easy" like okay man

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He's so feral omg

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Sorry but Perry was listening to this girl's agent talk her up to a sponsor and when the agent said the girl was pure and sweet Perry made these faces 😂

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Paul and Fern: Part Two

Part One

Context:

We find out in this scene that Fern used to run a badger con game with the victim Art Grover but she got out and now she’s married and hasn’t told her husband anything about her shady past. Paul is trying to see if she had the means/motive murder Art and what other information she can give about the victim.

More things I love about this scene:

1. Paul talking explicitly about how he works with other private detectives to share information and coordinate. And the fact that Paul is so willing to 1) be transparent about his methods, and 2) give credit where credit is due. He could’ve easily just been like “I have my ways” but instead he acknowledges that it’s a team effort.

2. The way Paul approaches interviews is fascinating. At this point he’s trying to suss out if Fern could be the murderer, but also if she isn’t the murderer, she’s a great source of information about the victim. So we see him being firm with her (calling her out on her lie, pointing out that she had a lot to lose if Art exposed her past, showing her the evidence he has of her being blackmailed by the victim) but also being polite and calm at the same time. It’s almost a form of that “lethal calm” @caseopened often describes - his body language and his tone are unyielding without being aggressive or scary. He doesn’t give her an inch but he’s not taking an inch either - he’s keeping them at even footing despite the leverage he now has over her.

3. Fern clearly thinks that Paul is there to blackmail her over her past or harass her into giving over the information Art wanted from her. You can see the fear and tension in her body language and in the way she’s speaking even before she flat out says “I suppose now with Art dead, I have to deal with you.” After she says that, Paul takes a breath and he like softens his demeanor just the tiniest bit before assuring her (again firmly but politely!) that he just wants to know what Art wanted from her.

4. Also this is probably such a reach but I also feel like Paul calling her “Mrs. Bronwyn” at the end is a very deliberate move. He’s reassuring her that he has no intention of ruining her marriage or making her go back to who she used to be when she was running cons.

Part Three

[theperrylleluniverse]

Paul: Perry, they've got the wrong man. You're gonna have to get Duke to -

Perry: Do you have a dime?

Look at the way Paul touches Perry's back to establish a connection before he starts expressing his concern about Perry's client. Paul just looks so worried about him, it's very sweet.

Then look how Paul takes almost a protective position outside of the telephone booth. Perry is facing a rough choice - he has to decide if he's going to turn in his client or allow an innocent man to be convicted in his place. And Paul clearly wants to help so he automatically goes into protective boyfriend mode

(I didn't gif it, but right after this, Steve appears in the hallway, clearly intending to eavesdrop on Perry's conversation to try and find his client but he backs down with one look from Paul heehee <3)

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Perry is such a good noodle <3

His client came to him and told him they thought they killed a man but weren't going to turn themselves in because they were afraid of going to jail. The client goes on the run and Perry finds out that a homeless man is being accused of the murder instead.

So instead of being relieved his client was off the hook, Perry went to the wrongly accused man's trial. You can see the entire time, Perry is getting more and more upset at the idea that an innocent man might go to jail. He ultimately decides that he has to tell the Court the truth and betray his client's trust to report the crime.

His sense of justice and pursuit of truth is his truest guide and he won't betray that even for a client. And I love that about him <3

[jisforjudi2]

@theperrylleluniverse I adore this! you posted this the other day from TCOT Misguided Model - I love the huge American Cancer Society banner

I think sometime in the 70s, Della goes on the warpath trying to get Perry and Paul to stop smoking.

Perry is bemused but he only really smoked socially or during really stressful cases so he doesn’t have that difficult of a time.

But our poor chimney stack Paul STRUGGLES.

At first he kind of blows her off like “I’ve always done this and look at me! I’m strong as an ox!”

Then Della starts leaving articles on his desk about the research around cancer and smoking, and taking them to smoking-free restaurants, etc. but Paul just digs in harder

until one day Della bursts into tears and he’s horrified and she tells him between her sobs that she just can’t imagine losing him and he holds her close and promises he’ll at least TRY to cut back.

Cue Paul drinking coffee (even more than usual) and chewing gum and literally trying everything to wean off the cigarettes. He’s always sneaking cigs though (he’s not going to be able to go cold turkey no way) and Della refuses to kiss him when she can smell the tobacco.

Perry is supportive and will throw away Paul’s cigarettes every time he finds them (and he has an annoyingly accurate sixth sense for where Paul is trying to hide them). But he also sneaks a smoke with Paul every so often when he knows Paul is having a rough week.

Hamilton quits smoking when Della tells him it causes wrinkles 😁