@teti: Hum, I must admit I never saw it like that, but it's quite true. There's a reason after all why Sinbad gets to have so many ladies... he's handsome, famous, he's a good guy... and if then in addition to that he starts to show that he cares, not even mentioning the special bond thanx to the bracelets, it would indeed be something of a miracle for a girl/lady not to feel flustered and develop a crush. And this crush then could lead to many different things: it could pass, like you said, and be replaced with a deep friendship; or it could evolve into something more profound and deeper.
It's quite true that just like with Sinbad and Maeve it was never really told on what level Bryn and Sinbad are. Although it was even harder to tell with the latter because we had way more other women interact with him and draw his attention. Which again makes it even more difficult to depict of what kind his feelings for the brunette might be. Of course, there are scenes that speak a rather clear language, but then again in others you are left to wonder.
I don't know though if that was due to the fans' reaction because I would think that everything was already shot and finished when S2 got aired. So by the time the fandom realized what's happened, there already was no time anymore to change anything. I would thus rather think that since decisions had to be made so quickly producers and script-writers were just quite unsure about what to do with the new setting. Give Sinbad a new permanent love interest and risk upsetting the S1 fans? Still sticking to the original plans (given the rumours are true) and pairing Bryn up with Doubar - risking to be frowned at for how could it be the hero has only short-time love-interests while the big jolly guy gets the new leading lady? Just generally leave romance out of this? I must admit, that sometimes I get the impression they were quite clueless about what to do. In some of the earlier eps you almost get the impression that Doubar might just be developing a crush on her, but then it shifts to Sinbad clearly showing interest, and Bryn definitely falling for him. At any rate though I support your belief that "Hell House" was meant to make it up to the Maeve fans, and to make a fresh start. I guess by the time Hell House was planned they had already gotten the go for S3 (which then, rather suddenly, was ditched) and thus wanted to kind of close the file and move on - presenting the S1 and Maeve fans one last time before with S3 we would have seen a mixture of S1&2, and a forming S/B relationship.
I think it was Ed who said about S3 that when they planned it and still thought it would be shot, he wasn't sure yet whether Sinbad and Bryn would have gotten together in the end, but if they had their relationship would have been based on their life together, on their friendship and on trust. I actually think it would have been quite a beautiful story and much more focused than what it was like during S2. I also guess there wouldn't have been as many 'ladies of the week' anymore.
Oh, and true that - this caress Sinbad gives Bryn at the end of the show does indeed speak volumes. Because it's too long and in a way too gentle and intimate to just show his friendship. And the way he looks out on the horizon with a smile... he looks like a burden has been lifted off his heart, as if finally admitting that he missed Maeve and that she truly meant something to him, let him find his peace with the situation.
And I agree with you on the psychology, too. I, too, think he never really felt anything for any of those girls in S2 apart from physical attraction. It was just his way of coping with things. The only one I think he truly harboured feelings for is Bryn, though I'm not quite sure whether he himself really knows whether it's love or just a soul-bond that he confuses with it. But maybe I just say the latter because I actually love the idea of him and her being like siblings and best friends.
Now as for Stalkers being kind of a turning point... hum... I am tempted to say that I, too, don't remember any hints towards a forming romance between Bryn and Sinbad after that, but I can't because I'm not sure which eps followed Stalkers. Since the eps were rather disconnected from each other, in both seasons, I always find it difficult to remember the order in which they were aired, and atm I'm too lazy to look that up. xP But at any rate I bet our Bryn would be able to tell us if there were any scenes after Stalkers that indicate more than friendship being between them.
Anyhow though, I really think Stalkers was tough on Bryn. I recall how she smiles in relief after Sinbad is back safe and sound, and how he nods at her so sincerely and you think that this is it... now they're going to become a couple and then suddenly this native girl appears and he snogs her right in front of Bryn. And you just could see how something inside her breaks in that moment.
And loving Bryn as much as I do now, I just cannot help but want to kick Sinbad for that! At least in "Village Vanishes" he had the decency to be taken aback and not respond to the kiss, even look somewhat embarrassed as he realizes Maeve was watching him. But here he does not seem to spend a single thought on what he's just doing to Bryn and that's just... mean, really.
Aw, but I'm getting carried away. In any case I, too, really enjoy the thought of Bryn finding someone to love her and be faithful right from the start. Bryn being the one to heal Sinbad is incredibly beautiful as well, but somehow I feel like she deserves more than that. She's too sweet a person to just mend a broken heart (although, I am aware that just this sweetness makes her be the perfect person to do so).
@ban: Yeah, I agree with you. He certainly has understood quite some things about himself, his feelings and what has happened and is going to happen. Although it would appear to be a mystery as to how he can know, but indeed it seems he's finally realized that Maeve's not going to come back. And he's also realized that he loved her, that he mourned her... and that he has to move on.
I guess his caress and the way he looks at Bryn just tell of the latter - that he's ready to start anew. Which at the same time would have also been true for the show which would have undergone another change as well - becoming more of a mixture of both seasons and bringing some homour and some characters back.
Well, and that IS a beautiful thought, a bitter and sad one, but still beautiful.
As for Sinbad: right? All S1 characters underwent a slight change, well except maybe Rongar, but Sinbad's was the strongest. He turned from boyish and carefree to fare more serious and mature in a way. And while this boyish version of him was a perfect match for the burdened Maeve, the serious sailor was a great match to this gentle and calm girl Bryn. While in S1 Sinbad could have functioned as Maeve's anchor and redemption, in S2 it was the other way round - with Bryn being the one to root Sinbad and help him heal.
This stark change in character has puzzled me ever since, but I actually never came to think of something like it being two different Sinbads indeed. But tell you what? I totally like that idea. ;D It's fascinating in a way to imagine that Sinbad was found by a look-alike (though near to impossible as that would be) and pleaded him to look after his crew, knowing he was not going to make it. There's again such a tragic beauty in imagining that both Sinbad and Maeve died in the storm, and that the other man and Bryn can be truly happy together.
Aye, that's just the key I think!
To S/B fans Maeve is just a past chapter. We as, M/S fans usually don't ponder much about Lee as well. We know he's loved her once, but also that he finally made his peace with the situation. And for S/B fans exactly this finding peace would have taken place during Hell House.
For a M/S fan though the story would by far not have ended there. It would have been a slow progress of healing and growing closer, as that's the only way we, ourselves, can come to accept the fact that out favourite pairing is never going to be.
Whoa, wait, that fic that you told about... what was its content then? I gather Sinbad was forced to choose between Maeve and Bryn right? He could only save one while the other would die? And I take it he chose Bryn while Maeve was left to perish. Whoa, yeah, that's tough. And I can well imagine it hurt you to read that. Wouldn't be any different for a B/S fan to read a story where Sinbad left Bryn behind to die.
I really think any fic that has Sinbad just let one of the two women die isn't true to the character at all. Because no matter who you ship, he DOES also feel for the other. If you want to see Maeve and Sinbad together, you still have to accept that Sinbad and Bryn are very close friends, and if you want to ship him and the brunette, you still have to accept the fact that Maeve and Sinbad are close friends/were almost lovers. And it's just not him to let either of them die while living happily ever after with the other. Or at least that's how I see it.
Owww, but thanx for your lovely words about my vid. I'm really glad you like it!!!
Hehe, and so you prefer "What you don't know" over it? That's cool. ;D I guess our preferences also depend on what mood we're in and whether we want to watch something joyful or not. ^^
manche&Ban: Gonna watch the vid and reply to the latest post later.
And loving Bryn as much as I do now, I just cannot help but want to kick Sinbad for that! At least in "Village Vanishes" he had the decency to be taken aback and not respond to the kiss, even look somewhat embarrassed as he realizes Maeve was watching him. But here he does not seem to spend a single thought on what he's just doing to Bryn and that's just... mean, really. 
Hehe, and so you prefer "What you don't know" over it? That's cool. ;D I guess our preferences also depend on what mood we're in and whether we want to watch something joyful or not. ^^
;D ;D ;D
It's like the Queen is reborn you know. However I must admit that the new Queen is stronger than the one who dies. 
