I have really enjoyed reading your commentary. You've obviously put a lot of time and thought into these and I end up seeing things, thinking things that I hadn't before. Some of it is as painful as watching the show though, so I read with my fingers over my eyes.
When I watched the show, I saw the first layer of storylines, the goings on of various people; and I saw the second layer, what wasn't being said but was meant; and I saw the third layer, where other relationships were used to highlight what was or wasn't going on with the storylines. But I didn't go beyond that like you have.
I have a question for you- do you think the writers put as much thought into the emotional cause and effect, the long-term ramifications into the writing? Linking the end of the B/J relationship in S2 to the bashing, rather than seeing Michael/Ben in domestic bliss, is giving the writers a ton of credit. This question seems insulting to them, which isn't what I mean at all. I only ask because I've found tv writing to be rushed, since it is so deadline-oriented. The writers don't have a month to make each episode as perfect and seamless as I am sure they'd like.