There is a touch of violence to the Mab and Clyde relationship. I’ve mentioned this before in passing, but now I’m going to think a bit more. It is an important dynamic to how they operate and it’s not a common, or healthy, thing to add. At least when the people are mortal because it takes a really bizarre tone when it’s being done between immortals who can heal quickly. Still, I find it strange at how this came about organically and stuck for the long haul.
First, I did notice that there is a difference between when Mab strikes Clyde and the other way around. She definitely does it more often, which stems from her thinking that she couldn’t possibly kill him. This done either playfully or out of anger. In a way, Mab will punch Clyde before a wall because it takes more time to fix a hole in the wall than for him to regenerate a few ribs. There’s no malicious intent here and he deals with it to a point before he gives her a warning that he’s getting tired of the treatment. For his part, Clyde only does it when Mab is about to do something very dangerous and he can’t stop her with words. Locking her up won’t work because of her shadow abilities, so this turns into the only way he can stop her from causing trouble. Again, they take each other’s regenerative abilities for granted.
I have toned this down a lot since the beginning, but it turns up usually when Mab gets anger at Clyde. That’s going to be happening a lot as the series progresses for various reasons. Many people won’t like it because it is abusive. Yet, I also see how a pair of immortals wouldn’t think twice about this action. They aren’t delivering lethal blows or anything that can’t be healed in a matter of minutes. I’ve always found that giving a mortal mentality to immortals doesn’t work in all ways. They have different concerns and thoughts on diseases, injury, time, etc. If the couple is a fairly violent one by nature then this is a possibility, especially when this is presented as a bizarre, sado-masochistic style of flirting. Even so, I do have some trouble with parts of it and usually have it be that Mab is hitting Clyde.
Honestly, I might be making a mountain out of a molehill here. Nobody has mentioned this aspect of their relationship beyond stating that it’s kind of funny at parts. This takes on a slapstick type of reaction, which may be due to there being no permanent damage and their reaction isn’t one of pain. Normally, Clyde will sigh or just keep on talking as if he doesn’t have slash marks across his chest. Mostly because those marks will be gone before he finishes his next sentence. The incident comes and goes fairly quickly between them and they don’t revisit it. It’s almost like how we might do a gentle punch to the shoulder or a playful tickle. Only there’s blood being drawn.
Legends of Windemere 
When I think of violent couples, I can’t help thinking of the Joker and Harley and Bonnie and Clyde. But Mab and Clyde are different from those couples.
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Were Bonnie and Clyde violent to each other? I only remember them doing violence together. Joker and Harley tended to be one-sided with him being rough to her. Makes one wonder how immortality would change things.
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That’s what makes Mab and Clyde interesting.
As for Bonnie and Clyde, I’m not really sure. Might have to research that.
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I thought of Mr./Mrs. Smith upon reading your title; also, Wilhelmina Harker/Dorian Gray in “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.” I agree that it’s just a natural result of immortality.
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I forgot about that second movie. Been a long time, but it does work.
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Good ones!
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It’s a touchy area, but there is value in mining there. The world has seen a lot of violent couples in serious situations, but comedy can work well.
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True. The casual tone and regeneration helps here.
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The couples version of The Three Stooges?
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More or less.
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LIke Chelsea commented, I thought of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Romantic in a way (well, sort of), but violent and a little funny. Very complex!
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With them, I think it works because they’re rival assassins. That’s their job and they assume the other is out to kill them when they learn the truth. So, the violence ends up shifting after the initial fight.
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As opposed to abusive behavior I think it adds a fascinating dimension to the character’s personalities.
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True. It’s a weird relationship trait that can’t be mimicked by reality.
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Do Clyde and Mab also feel no pain? Because it seems like the pain stimulus should overwhelm reason (“This will heal in a few minutes”) at least for a while.
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Dawn Fangs do, but they have a high threshold. The area tends to go numb right away since healing begins immediately. It would be the equivalent of us getting a scratch or stubbed toe.
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Very nice Charles! Take care and thank you for following.
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Thanks and you’re welcome.
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