Jason Weisenbachfeld - Tumblr Posts
Sing for yourself as we march along
The beauty of Marvin and Jason's relationship (an analysis)
was reading a post-breakup falsettos fic and one of the chapters was abt Marvin fixing his relationship w Jason; Marvin telling him that he loves him no matter what is literally one of my favourite things ever abt them.
If u rlly think of it, Marvin never speaks ill of his son or treats him badly throughout the entirety of Falsettos (him mocking Jason during "Everyone Tells Jason To See A Psychiatrist" barely counts). Out of everyone in Act 1/MoTF, Jason is the only person he loved unconditionally and knew he loved.
And it's not like it's "implied" or "hidden between the lines:" he clearly cares abt his relationship w his son, as evident in "Marvin Sees a Psychiatrist" (J: I love my mother / M: Why not me?") and, obviously, "Father to Son." And him pushing him to see a psychiatrist? Jason is his pride and joy but he can see that he is also very much like him, especially when compared to his younger self (see: In Trousers). He tries to help his son solve any problems he may have now, in fear of having him grow up to be like his father - Marvin states this sentiment explicitly in "I Never Wanted To Love You:" ("I never wanted to love you / I only wanted to see my face in yours / Jason's wild, save this child").
The cherry on top: my absolute favourite detail ever abt them (especially the 2016 revival version) is the contrast between the way they look at/interact w each other at the end of both Act 1/MoTF and Act 2/FL. In MoTF, during "Father to Son," they're sitting across each other and don't hold prolonged eye/physical contact. Yes, they make up in the end, and even hug, but there's still some tension and uncertainty (which is to be expected, especially after such a strained past history).
But in FL, during "Jason's Bar Mitzvah," Marvin holds him gently and sings to him abt how proud he is of his son ("You hold my dreams / Kid, I burst at the seams / 'Cause of you"). And Jason, in return, looks up at his father in adoration and pure love, smiling fondly because Marvin, too, has grown up to be someone he's proud to call his father.
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Anyways, ty for attending my ass-o-clock TED talk again abt Falsettos. I love this show too much for my own health and sanity !!!!
