Jump to content

SOAPnet's--"The Devil Made Me Do it"--Marlena's Possession Episodes


Recommended Posts

  • Members

Watching this again as an adult, the story was godawful. GL and then GH had good writing and acting in the early and mid 90s, and even AW was plugging along, trying its best to turn out quality drama within this subpar network, and I'm so glad I got to see as much of those shows as I did. But I am ashamed to admit I was enthralled by DAYS' over-the-top production values at the time. I remember how Marlena was mysteriously sick and took to her bed repeatedly throughout this story, and each time she had new designer pajamas to wear. And once the exorcism was underway, I seem to recall that she had a change of sleepwear each day - how thoughtful that someone risked being strangled with superhuman strength to untie her and change her clothes. (Such high drama - what does a stylish diva wear to her exorcism?) And the set design in her penthouse...looking back now, it's funny that Marlena probably had as much seating in her bedroom as I have in my entire apartment: I'd guess the couch alone could seat 2-3 people, and I counted at least 3 chairs. Really, I could see someone wanting to be Marlena - even at the risk of one's immortal soul - just to be able to live in that apartment...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 173
  • Created
  • Last Reply
  • Members

Honestly, I think what people don't realize is that as slow and as repetitive as Reilly's stories were on DAYS, things ALWAYS happened. That was one thing I always noticed about the show when I watched and when I see old clips online. Things happened!

That's what I miss about DAYS and just about every soap on the air right now...when Reilly wrote for DAYS from 93-97...things happened! Stories would come to a head, characters interacted with each other in their storylines, hell, even Alice had something to do, even if she was a Bo/Hope prop device.

This is what soaps should be about...romance, relationships, etc. With DAYS, Reilly(under heavy and necessary supervision) just did it his way and it worked! That's what I miss about DAYS...that "tune in tomorrow" thing. If you stripped away the camp elements from DAYS and added social issues in, you guys wouldn't be saying the same thing.

I do think soaps need to tell more down to earth stories, but, as it was back then, Reilly did great things for, not only DAYS, but the whole genre when he brought DAYS up from cancellation hell. I have mixed feelings when it comes to Reilly, but I do respect the 93-97 era.

Now, I'm lucky if I am even interested in watching any soap opera anymore.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

LOL...I dunno. I mean, the Nightmare at Graceland wedding of 97? DAYS came thisclose to tying Y&R in the ratings. I bet if DAYS had another summer under Reilly(and the camp/romance blend he had going in his first tenure), it probably would have happened.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

This is my take on the Possession and Stalker years of JER's tenure:

They were campy. They were totally unrealistic. BUT... They were HELL interesting, entertaining, addictive! I would rather another Salem Stalker storyline than what we have now.

It was trash TV, but it was trash at its best.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Administrator

Again, word. Damn, I just love seeing people praise Reilly. It warms my heart. LOL

Hogan should go watch those 1993-1997 dvds and follow Reilly's formula. Now Hogan doesn't have to dumb it down to Reilly's level, but the storyline structure and the type of storylines, Hogan should definitely look at what Reilly did. To start, you gotta have triangles/quads and have the storylines be about the female characters just like Reilly did. Secondly, DAYS really needs female villains (Reilly had 3 big ones in Sami, Vivian and Kristen) to drive the story. Thirdly, dangle the carrot in front of our face and then take it away.....do it multiple times.....and then at a huge event.....finally give us the carrot......but don't let us eat all the carrot.....just let us nibble on it...and then take it away again. And that's just some of the Reilly structure/formula that Hogan needs to do to get the ratings up. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.



  • Recent Posts

    • TR eventually came to be a nickname for Theresa Regina, the name her kidnappers gave her. Estelle never referred to her as Rebecca, though, always Theresa. I guess that was what TR wanted.    TR went to Switzerland. Jane returned for the last week.  After Ryder died, TR never had a love interest. I assume they gave up. I wouldn’t have dropped John Loprieno as Danny but he got squeezed out by Quinn, really. A TR/Evie/Jerry triangle might’ve worked.    David Forsyth and Jackie Schultz had good chemistry. I liked Luann though. I think Sharon Gabet would’ve been a more interesting recast, and she might’ve kept Joe Lambie on as Lloyd.    But Suzi and Wendy were gone, and Liza was talking about leaving town to join Gary in Africa, so before the cancellation, I do believe Liza was getting phased out.  Sunny and Patti and Evie were set up as heroines, and it was a small show. 
    • Andre/Ashley are a mismatch and not in a cute opposites attract sort of way. He is a very stylish photographer, independently wealthy, wordly  and she is a simple, struggling nurse with limited experiences. He has been having a covert sexual relationship with an older divorced woman and she is involved with a meat and potatoes blue collar  dude. Just  don't see what the attraction would be on either side.
    • I read that somewhere too - maybe it was mentioned in that book? I hope it's true.
    • I took a break from Edge of Night to finally start watching this. I watched the first week's worth of episodes. I started off chronologically even though they released the show originally with the Barnabas era first (don't know when he comes in). I had those discs in the complete coffin collection. I'm watching the complete series on Amazon so I hope Amazon doesn't pull a Knots Landing and yank the series before I finish as I don't have all of the beginning episodes. Thoughts: I appreciate the creepy black and white vibe and how everything is so mysterious even when it's just people walking into rooms. I also like seeing actors I know (Louis Edmonds, Joan Bennett, Mitchell Ryan, Conrad Bain (although he might be a cameo), etc.). It was nice to finally see Joel Crothers as I have yet to see him on Edge of Night. Crothers is quite looking so I wish he'd show up on EON. Mitchell Ryan is also attractive. I like how they set up Devlin's animosity towards the Collins family during this week.  We're left to wonder why Roger is so upset. Why is Devlin angry? What happened to Roger's wife? Who wrote to Victoria? Not much has really happened but I'm intrigued. The dialogue is certainly not on the level of EON. It amuses me they leave bloopers in. Bennett in particular struggles with doors. Was this filmed live? 
    • Please register in order to view this content

       
    • Happy Mother's Day from Ernestine Johnson Morrison (Nurse Shanice) video, sound on https://www.instagram.com/p/DJhGWm_ABNl/          
    • @BoldRestless @fivethej Apologies for the late reply! But yes as far as I know I do still have the tape. I remember asking for instructions on this wayy back in 2020, but I will definitely reach out. Only issue is I know my VHS tape collection is in my basement, which looks like the Chancellor mansion attic at the moment.

      Please register in order to view this content

      Also I while I still have DVD/VHS combo player do they even hook-up to modern TV sets or still need a CRT TV? Just asking as I know some folks being off off guard when trying to hook older equipment like some VHS sets and older game consoles quite unsuccessfully 
    • It's evident that there was reset of Derek and Ashley's storyline. The attempt to build tension over Derek not resting enough after being injured on the job was not working but the tension over moving in together is. The characters are still not thrilling, but today they at least were worth paying attention to. The writers do want Ashdre and they are easing toward it again. 
    • Yes, I believe that is the case. ABC wanted Siobhan and Joe to be a very popular couple and apparently didn't think Sarah Felder was glamorous enough. I don't know if this story is true, but I heard somewhere that Felder told everyone off at her farewell party because of the reason she was fired. If it's not true, it should be! 

      Please register in order to view this content

    • And so it's Andre and Ashley again? Why don't they go ahead and make something bad happen between them? I don't trust the stereotypical vibe. I don't.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy