The symbolism of David’s sweaters re: vibrant colors = vulnerability
Obviously David has worn more than just these three sweaters with dashes of color on them, but for the sake of the theme of 6x13 “Start Spreading the News” I’m just gonna talk about these three.
The flame sweater in Open Mic:
The flames are covering the entire sweater, front to back with very little black. Black, as we know, is where David feels safe; it’s where he can hide himself and not be seen. We know he never wears anything with color because his facade is meant to be basic blocks of black and white. Yet here, not only is he wearing color, he’s the ONLY one wearing color. For lack of a better phrase, it’s almost like he’s putting his heart on his sleeve. Having Patrick do something so (in his opinion) embarrassing like singing in front of people, in front of him, especially, isn’t going to make or break his relationship because he’ll support Patrick no matter what. But despite being physically closed off through him crossing his arms, his shirt reveals that he’s laying himself bare. That ultimately he’s setting himself on fire with uncertainty.
The open palm sweater:
Dan said that the open palm symbolizes honesty, truth, and openness. I would agree, because he is the one who chose this sweater after all (and he knows David Rose more than any of us here so I’m not gonna refute him lol). I see the open palm as being empty, waiting for something to hold. It’s not him being vulnerable in the same sense as before, but rather it’s him coming to Patrick with no personal agenda and wanting to listen to what Patrick has to say, and to, hopefully, do what makes Patrick happy. But that takes him having to put down his own handful of concerns and personal reasoning, and take on Patrick’s needs. He also wears the sweater through his scenes with Stevie and later when he announces to his family that he’s staying. Which leads to the next sweater
The hands holding the flame sweater:
This sweater hits me right in the solar plexus with its symbolism. Oof Dan, on the nose much?? Combining the flame sweater he wore when he allowed Patrick to pretty much serenade an “I love you David Rose” to a room full of people with the open palm one he wore in the previous scene, it’s showcasing David taking grasp of his uncertainties. The hands seem to be cradling the flame tenderly, as though they are in control of it but not letting it burn any less vibrant. David’s taken control of his vulnerability, and offering up his heart to Patrick isn’t as difficult of a task as it was two years prior. He’s still himself, with the signature amounts of black and the white stripes in the back, but it’s no longer a facade. The flame is burning, on the backside too, small and contained. David’s vulnerability has now become who he is, something he’s willing to let show when he needs to let Patrick know through actions his love for him. Patrick’s gesture of having the house be his first gift to David after they’ve gotten married is already romantic enough. But for David to then take that gift that Patrick thought was incomparable to the lure of New York, and reiterate to Patrick through securing the house that what makes Patrick happy, is what makes him happy– speaks loads to how much Patrick is absolutely home for him.
