#the scene where the boys refuse to play without their blessing healed years of scars from bad movie religion portrayals

[fictionadventurer]

It's been a couple of weeks since I watched The Perfect Game, but I'm still reeling from the fact that one of the best Catholic priest portrayals I've ever seen onscreen was played by Cheech Marin.

Can't wrap my head around it. Actual Cheech (of 'and Chong' fame) playing a kindly, lovable, devout Catholic priest who serves as mentor and friend and role model to this team of baseball-playing boys who take their faith seriously. He blesses the boys before every game. Teaches them doctrine while still encouraging their love of baseball. The faith is just part of their very human lives. I didn't think we could see it on-screen and especially never would have expected that casting.

[cowandcalf]

There are still many trails of thoughts I need to explore

The other angel on the final scene between Steve and Danny – 10.22

Yes, Steve's dad had kept him on the island and other important details.

Hawaii stood for loss and struggle, for emotional pain and terrible childhood memories. In Steve's memory, Hawaii wasn't a place he would want to return to. Hawaii flipped from a happy place into an emotional hell hole Steve fought to forget over a long period. He had the chance to return for shore leave while he served his country but he didn't visit his father's house for years. Hawaii wasn't a place where Steve wanted to spend time. Steve lost the innocent touch of being a member of a happy, normal family forever when his mother got killed. His soul never healed from that tragic accident and everything that followed suit in the wake of grief and despair cut out pieces of his soul. Steve wanted to forget Hawaii. Maybe he planned to never return, to never set foot on that island again.

Steve lost Freddie in the same year his father got shot by the gun of his nemesis. He didn't deal with anything from that trauma. He stored it away and turned to his next mission - to find the murder of his father. He returned to Hawaii, a place he had run from since he'd been sixteen and now, he was forced to come back. He kept chasing forward, dashing away, pushing through everything for ten long years to revenge his father's death, to get it right and to make his parents proud. He only experienced more pain and revealed all the nasty secrets his parents had lied to him about for years.

Danno gave him an anchor, a reason to stay grounded and to fight the black mass of pain in his chest. Danny and also Steve's ohana helped him so he wouldn't turn into a living zombie with all the emotional and physical cruelty he had to deal with. Steve had never had the time to take a full stop for a deep breath of air. Never. He wasn't ready for that until now.

Ten years later, his emotional world has been nuked one more time. He has learned that his father knew for years that his mother was alive. John McGarrett kept his children in the dark and bound them to their pain. A betrayal no one will be able to overcome, such an abusive attitude. But Steve needs to find a way. And Hawaii is the unhealthiest place to do that. Steve needs to leave. He finally hits rock bottom and he acknowledges this with clarity. Steve is finally ready to face the past. And he's back to square one. He has to find a way how to deal with all of that.

Steve wouldn't be able to move on and to build a new life with Danny from where he stands after everything is done and solved. His scarred heart would always be in the way, hindering him to be with Danny. Steve leaves out of love for Danny to return when he has found a way through the darkness because it's there overpowering everything else.

As Aunt Deb once commented to Catherine, Steve would always be this sad, little boy who tried to be strong for his baby sister after their mother's death when he was anything but. And that pain is still locked up in Steve's heart to this very day.

The only person Steve needs to be with is Mary and his niece Joanie. Mary shares the same pain and they need to talk. They need to spend time together and they need to try to save what's left from this unyielding trust children are born with.

Danny is not the person for this matter, at least not yet. Steve trusts Danny with all his heart but Steve also needs Danny's understanding. He needs Danny to let him do this, to let him go, so he can find answers and to deal with everything that has turned him into the person he is now.

Danny has lost people too, Matty for example but Danny's parents weren't murdered. They are alive and healthy and they love their children unconditionally.

And here it comes guys, this is not the nicest part about McDanno but in good and in bad times, right? I need to get this out of my head because it's important and I need to explain why Steve has to leave. Steve needs to go for his own sake and the sake of his ohana and for the sake of the love he feels for Danny.

Danny is pushy at times and he can be over the top to avoid getting hurt. It's a streak I'm not fond of. I love Danny and I respect him deeply. He's only human and he has is way to deal with things. But he toys with power plays and emotional pressure when things get too close to his heart. When his mother came to Hawaii ready to get a divorce Danny moved heaven and earth to get his parents back together. He didn't respect his mother's wishes to get it done in her way. Yes, his parents found a way to be back together with Danny's help. But Danny didn't respect the boundaries his mother set.

And in a way, he doesn't respect the boundaries Steve has set. Danny's sad, he's upset and he's afraid to lose Steve. But Steve would have needed him at this moment and Danny refuses to give Steve this important emotional support. Steve would have needed Danny's approval and his blessing for the trip to roam the earth. And Danny denies it because he's too caught up in his hurt and his fear that Steve leaves for good.

Steve sits on the beaten wooden chair and stares out onto the ocean, emotionally torn to pieces because he just solved the last puzzle piece that kept him awake at night for ten long years. Steve's heart got broken so many times and he's not in a good place mentally and emotionally.

He's so occupied with the pain his parents have caused him and his sister Mary. And he has no idea how to deal with that big load of abusive shit his parents dumped on their children. Additional to this heavy weight there's the other one where every beloved person, every dear friend in Steve's life lives in a potential danger to be taken and tortured to get to Steve.

Steve nearly lost it over the fact that Danny might not make it because they wanted to get to him, pressure him to hand over the last damn secret his mother has left him.

Steve is tired. Steve is broken and he needs a break. Steve's in no emotional condition to work on a relationship and to be there for others. He had played the last ounce of strength that he has had in him. He has nothing more to give. He's the one who needs moral and emotional support, who needs his friends, especially Danny. Only Danny.

Steve said it more than once that he needs time, that he feels lost, that he hopes to find peace.

And the person who should have listened and should have understood what Steve's going through is Danny.

So, Steve tries to make it up to Danny in every way. He says he loves him, hugs him, looks at him closely and searches his eyes, hopes to catch Danny's gaze and Steve hopes to hear it back – the 'I love you, too'. Yes, Danny utters it but very reluctantly and a bit upset, even a bit angrily. He turns away from Steve refuses to look at him. What the hell, Danny? This is childish behavior. Steve watches him carefully but with the knowledge that Danny's so hurt he can't deal with it.

Steve waits but Danny drops down on the chair again and refuses to look at Steve. It's Danny's own choice to sit there all alone and to let Steve leave. Steve is the one who turns around to look back. He hopes Danny might turn his head one more time so Steve would be assured Danny loves him and that he understands Steve's reasons. But Danny gives him nothing but the cold shoulder and that's not okay. Nevertheless, Steve understands.

Danny could have walked Steve to the door. He could have been there at Steve's side until he got into the car to drive to the airport or whatever. But – and that's not easy to read but I have to say it - Danny throws his self-pity party at the beach, sitting there alone, drowning in hurt while he knows that everyone will drop by to say their goodbyes. He punishes Steve with a silent treatment because Steve, for the first time, is ready to only take care of himself and to only look after himself without looking after all others. Steve takes some 'me-time' and Danny feels excluded and can't handle it.

Steve doesn't leave Danny hurt and bruised on the beach. No! The bruises and the cracked ribs aren't even important. The guys deal with injuries like warriors. No, Danny decides on his own terms to sit there all alone and to feel sorry for himself instead of joining Steve. And that's what is happening and not the other way round. Danny could have walked with Steve up to the house.

Yes, Danny feels super sorry about his behavior a few moments later when he texts Steve and tells him he misses him already. That's also Danny's way to say 'sorry, babe, I was such an ass and I love you'.

That’s my other angle to have a close look at this amazing, great and intense scene at the beach.

The boys are going to be fine because their love has been forged lifetimes ago and it'll hold forever. Danny will come around to accept Steve's choice. I enjoyed watching this exchange of feelings. Steve and Danny are in a relationship and there are hurdles to take. At one point, Steve is going to call Danny and tells him to pack his bag because he misses him like hell and that he needs to see him. And Danny grabs his to-go bag which is ready since day one and races over the highway to catch the first flight that comes along to get as fast as possible to Steve.

McDanno forever. Thanks for reading.