Entertainment

Marge & Deke Face Hard Times On 'Astronaut Wives'

No matter who you are or how famous you get, there's always a chance that the past will come back to haunt you, which is something Marge Slayton learned all too well this week. During Thursday night's episode of The Astronaut Wives Club " Protocol," Marge's secret (and rather scandalous) past took center stage when a tabloid reporter threatened to reveal to the world that she was married to someone else before her husband, Deke, thereby confirming that she's a divorced woman. (Gasp!) And while Duncan managed to use his NASA powers to make the story disappear, his knowledge about this particular skeleton in her closet may have inadvertently affected her husband's career. By the end of the hour, we learn that Deke gets grounded shortly before his space launch is scheduled to occur. Why? Perhaps Duncan used his sway to trash more than just Marge's story.

After all, divorce may not seem like a big deal now, but back in the 1960s it was a much less common occurrence, and when it did happen, it wasn't looked upon in the most favorable light, especially for women. "What did she do to make her husband leave her?," would no doubt be one of many whispered discussions that women were forced to endure. (Because, you know, it was never the man's fault.) However, there could be more going on here in regards to Deke's flight cancelation that we simply don't know about yet.

When Deke informed Marge that his flight was being taken away, she asked why NASA would do that and he said nothing in return. No blame was actually attributed to anyone, but the heavy silence that hung in the air between the two of them spoke volumes and made it seem as though Marge's past was to blame. But that might not be the only thing going on with this storyline. Like all members of the Mercury Seven, Deke Slayton is based on the real-life astronaut of the same name, who was also grounded during the early '60s. It wasn't because of his wife, but rather due to a heart condition that didn't allow him to fly for decades. So I have to imagine that this will factor into the equation if the show decides to stay true to life for this storyline.

But regardless of the why, it looks like Deke will be forced to keep his feet planted firmly on solid ground for the remainder of the series, which I'm sure is going to put an extra bit of strain upon his marriage. Prepare yourselves.

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