Round Table - The Bat Cave Affair Beckons...

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

This week's Episode Challenge includes a scenario from the Bat Cave Affair, which prompted me to think about that episode and the various characters and situations that occur within it.  One of the most baffling, to me, and perhaps meant only as a vapid comment without real intention, is when Illya makes a rather clumsy attempt to ask Clemency out to dinner.
First of all, is he sincere? It is a slightly haphazard invitation at best, and one can only hope that he did it out of a sense of duty rather than real interest in this most irritating of innocents.
Secondly, is Napoleon in the least interested in Clemency or merely fulfilling a promise?
And thirdly, what the deuce is Mr. Waverly doing, always asking out these women when his wife is waiting for him at home?  No wonder his cousin held him up for his past indiscretions, he seems to be a bit of a womanizer based on his constant attempts to seduce these women.
What say ye?

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

It think it was an awkward situation for Illya, perhaps asking her out because she had saved his life, so perhaps he felt somewhat obligated to make an effort to repay her in some small way. Napoleon can't be interested in her, as she's just not his type. I think he's just being polite.

Now the really good question you've put forth is Mr. Waverly...the old devil. Though in fan fiction he's portrayed as thoroughly devoted to Mrs. Waverly, yet he keeps walking off with these women on his arm. Hmm, cousin holding him up for his past indiscretions indeed! It's a given that Waverly was a former spy himself, most likely British Intelligence and as we've had Napoleon and Illya sleeping around for the sake of duty (well not always duty) One must assume Waverly did the same thing. He has an eye for the ladies, though he does chastise Napoleon for his womanizing, perhaps it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

I think you've hit on something that will make for interesting stories about Mr. Waverly.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Just the fact that it's referenced in the Bow Wow Affair lets us have some latitude about the possibilities here. I like to think he's totally devoted to Mrs. Waverly, but he does enjoy escorting a pretty woman around.

[otherhawk.livejournal.com]

I always thought, since it had been made clear earlier in the episode that she wanted to enjoy men flirting with her, even if she was going to say no, that Napoleon probably suggested Illya ask her out to make her happy. Probably with some bribery/guilt tripping going along with the suggestion.

And actually, I always thought of Mr Waverly's actions being entirely chaste with the young women he walks off with. A sort of avuncular thing, and a way of reminding Napoleon in particular that he can't have everything his own way. That might just be me though.

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Illya is a little churlish in the delivery of his invitation. One gets the impression he doesn't really want to spend time with her. And you're right, Napoleon would do his flirtatious best in order to fulfill the girl's desire.
As for Waverly, we have that one bit of mystery in the Bow Wow Affair where his cousin has held that indiscretion over his head for decades. By today's standards, it probably isn't much.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on Mr. Waverly's intentions. That's how I've always seen it too.

Regarding the specific episodic question, I'll have to wait until I've seen it again to answer that. :) I think it's coming up on MeTV soon (maybe tonight).

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

Have fun watching!