I
always find this relationship very dubious in terms of doctor/patient
ethics, and think Frank should have shut up about his feelings while
Phoebe was in his care. Can you imagine anything worse than some medic
making sheep's eyes at you across the medical charts, as you're trying
to recover from a bad attack of whatever (rheumatoid arthritis?) she
had, if you didn't actually reciprocate his feelings? Even if Frank was
so carried away he wasn't thinking about his responsibilities, surely
Jack should have had a word about it being unwise to fall for
vulnerable patients who automatically feel grateful to you because
you're treating them?
Although EBD obviously intends this
relationship (a doctor to look after you!) as her best possible reward
to Phoebe, it always tickles me also that she feels the need to make it
plain that 'little' Frank, with his mouth like a 'gash' (always sounds
rather horrifying and Frankenstein-ish to me!) is nowhere near as tall
or 'pleasant-looking' as Jack, despite the fact we're told more than
once that Jack is 'no film star for looks'... Can't have anyone
stealing a march on Joey, I suppose.
I always imagine Phoebe
and Frank's relationship after their marriage as being vaguely like
Leonard and Virginia Woolf's marriage, with Frank continually
forbidding too much excitement and physical exertion and doling out the
pills. Maybe I'm slightly overreacting to what kind of marriage might
follow a wedding where the entire CS is invited, despite the fact that
the bride at least can't have met more than a couple of the girls. Sort
of Rent-a-Crowd...
ETA While I know Joey was only criticising Frank's looks to gauge whether Phoebe was interested in him, I still think Phoebe is going to remember after they're married...
|
! I always thought that it was a lovely happy ending for Phoebe as it
would have been very miserable for her to go back to leaving just with
Debby and the fact that she has the kids later makes it even better as
she very much wants a family life in Jo to the Rescue.