DRW50

One of the biggest issues is how plot-driven so many of the new characters feel - they just lack any inner life. If they had kept some of the vets then the actors or the viewers could have filled in the blanks due to history, but I'm not sure it would have done enough to combat the empty writing.

I hope you're alright.

It's interesting how many different regimes capitalized on the Ross/Vanessa history, even when they didn't have a great deal of plot together. The whole Lujack music saga and the characters it brought in is a great example of how much GL was trying to be like anything but itself at this point. Imagine what the Dobsons could have done with Frances Fisher. Miss Sally is just an exhausting watch. I'm so used to seeing Ross with the same hair year after year that when it's not the same (like in this period), I just get weirded out, like when your father tried to grow a mustache. I have no idea why they did all this buildup with Simon and India when he then went after Jessie. Was it down to Pam Long leaving?

An episode of The Crew guest starring Kristoff St. John.

Thanks for mentioning it. I saw those but was afraid of dumping too many videos at once.

I think Richard would always have a lot of regrets. I do think he would have stayed with his new wife, but you'd see he always loved Laura most (even though we know if he'd stayed with her, he would have also been miserable because he will always want what he doesn't have).

That would make sense. I suppose after the all-good/all-bad writing for many like Sonny, Carly or Jason in recent decades I'm never sure what nuance is intended or what is down to the actors or maybe different writers having different takes on a character (like Ava and Nina).

That's a great idea. Home & Away is currently doing a storyline where a man whose parents split up due to the father cheating and leaving for another woman ends up cheating and leaving his wife for another woman, which estranges him from his sister, who never forgave their father. It's very strong soap that impacts generations of characters. Anything that would get John Pleshette back would be a bonus. Sorry to say Claudia instead of Diana in my post... Interestingly I do think they knew how to make Paige a fairly complex character, but she was an exception to the rule for them. I definitely cannot imagine a character like Laura existing in the last 5-6 years of Knots. You only had a few archetypes.

I do wonder if the show is assuming viewers will sympathize with Kristina either because she's Kristina or because Kate Mansi was popular at DAYS. They have created a situation where a lot of fans hate her. It's certainly one of the best things to happen to Molly (although she will likely go under the bus soon enough), and they seem to be writing to the strengths of the new actress. The bit where she found the papers while Alexis was swearing protection to Kristina was a great soap moment. Nice to know they can do them.

Second Chances, also by the Lechowicks, gives a glimpse of the approach that might have benefited Knots if it had gone on longer. They add a bit of populism (fighting against Ray Wise as an evil judge) but have female-centric narratives and still a suburban flavor. I think a reboot would have worked mostly if they just kept the original regulars to guest appearances. Maybe bring in Mack's daughter Annie (recast), or bring back Claudia (recast), or bring back Mack's adopted son Jason. I know a reboot is not likely today, but I still think it could work because of the cul-de-sac as the main focus, rather than any character. There are still a few who could return, for short runs. I might have Abby return because of some money or priceless item she might have left in her place when she last lived there. She could meddle and manipulate and then leave when she gets what she wants - and possibly leave a parting gift (like helping someone who needs an operation or a new car or whatever) to a resident (maybe someone who reminds of her of herself, or one of her kids, or even Karen).

For me it depends on the core of the show. It worked more with Knots than it would have with a show like Dallas because the core was the cul-de-sac and the businesses employing the residents, whereas Dallas was just so defined by JR and Bobby. Other than the bad camp Val story, I think season 12 set up a number of pieces that could have kept the show running...but the end of that season, and the fire choices made in early season 13, all put paid to any future.

It helped that many Rauch-era viewers had already cleared out by that time, but I notice from various reviews at the time that it was not as well-received then as it was later on.

A few major stories are currently winding down. I'm not watching very often but maybe you should just try now.

I think Tonya also struggled with her performances and finding the character more (as often happens when younger actors age). I loved what they did with Linda in her last few seasons. Lar Park Lincoln was unmissable in the part, and she added a fun and fresh spirit to a show with a number of moribund characters. Killing her was essentially snuffing out the show's future. By the time they brought Vanessa in I was barely interested. It didn't help that I never really cared about the Greek guy either.

A number of July 1980 episodes were just uploaded to Youtube. Most of them have been up for years on another channel, but the first I'm posting was only up in part and the second one isn't up at all.

You're right. They had that tension with people like Gary. Olivia had unique relationships on the canvas, with Gary or Val, which could have been exploited. I agree Linda probably filled that vein more, although you see how that ended.

Thanks. I can see where they just phased most of the Ted material out and relied on Todd McKee being likeable and hot.

That makes sense about why Robert was asked back, especially as JFP didn't want Kim Zimmer back. If they hadn't lost so many fan favorites, I don't think he would have been asked back. Roger was such a brilliant character because he could easily drive multiple stories just through his presence and how people on the canvas felt about him. I don't know if GL had a woman along those lines. ATWT did with Lucinda in that same period.

I think Michael could have still stayed on the show, as a himbo (the way he was with Linda), but budget cuts were likely a factor and the character had no real purpose, especially as Karen had moved on and had a new child (a story I hated, but that's another topic). The biggest mistake was how they mishandled Olivia, especially how one-note she became in constant judgmental attitudes toward Abby. The marriage to Harold also trapped her, even though I liked Harold. She should have been so much more. As mentioned above, the show also had no idea how to introduce younger men. Peter Reckell's character, DIRTY COP DIRTY COP, the Tidal Energy guy who bedded Kate. I did like Claudia's son, but he was inexplicably killed off. I have never known what went on there.

I hadn't thought of the Wild West story (I had just been thinking of PC getting some buzz at the time - although their time travel story may have been after GL's was already in the works). Makes sense. I think that story also just was a more natural fit for the Buchanans due to their Western roots. Casting Shari Headley and having her play a slave...not so much.

Thanks @slick jones I always forget there was another Dixie.

That makes a lot of sense. I think that may also be why Clone Reva was (for me) the best of that batch, as the aspect of Reva learning she was replaced, and then having to interact with her clone, including watching her clone die, did have some human element amidst the absurdity. Some stories, like Time Traveling Reva, I still don't even get the point of.

I was replying to a post about '80s GL, not those stories. To be honest I never felt like Erica's stories were inflicted on AMC (not until the last decade of the show, when it had many, many problems) and the few that were Emmy bait were mostly well done, but that's a whole other thread.