Cross sticking around as Kimberly would have been too much, imo. Another season, maybe, but more than that and shed have run her course imo.

Kimberly could have left and then returned like Jane did. Maybe a break from her would have been a better solution

MP characters ranked on how bad they are

Edited April 24, 201312 yr by Cheap21

I'm still re-watching this series, currently in season five and I have a completely new appreciation for Melrose Place and this fantastic cast! This show has just one of the greatest primetime soap casts ever and I include all of the late additions as well. Hell, even Traci Lords, a fricking porn star, worked in the role they gave her. I just can't get over how fun this show is! It feels so mature, but young and fresh at the same time. I love the way they handled the business storylines and were able to bring together such diverse people and professions and it made sense. Even for the bad parts, I don't think anybody could pull Melrose Place off today. One huge disappointment though, is the lack of a proper exit for Daphne Zuniga. I don't think she gets enough credit for saving this show. I feel like the arrival of Jo is what kept the show on the air long enough for Heather Locklear to make any kind of impact. I enjoyed her in season four once she got over the victim complex they had her in, but towards the end she was isolated in story and didn't get a proper exit, just Matt saying that she moved. She deserved a big exit arc similar to what Kimberly received. Speaking of Kimberly, WHY DID MARCIA CROSS HAVE TO LEAVE?! I never realized how fabulous she was until now and I'm dreading her exit. Everything from her chemistry with Thomas Calabro to Doug Savant to all the different female cast members, she was just perfection. Marcia Cross deserved an Emmy for this role. Now that I'm a good way through season five I must give props to Lisa Rinna. Out of all the newbies, she's the one that catches my eye. She fits in well and has a nice mysterious air. I also love how sexy her outfits are, even when they don't show much skin. Seeing her in a well-fitted role like Taylor makes me miss her acting.

I agree that Jo really suffered as a character through most of season 4. There was one scene near the end of season 4 where she and Jake were talking.. and they talked about why they never could make it work.. and she was preparing to go on a trip of some sort. I would have had that be her exit because she was leaving Melrose for a new start, but then she returned and got involved in a story involving Sydney's friend and her little boy. I will say that Jo's character near the end, did regain some of her former essence until her last scene where she tearfully wondered if she should go with her new boyfriend to Bosnia... even though it had been reported for months that she was leaving the show.

Taylor.. the character was on for two seasons and it felt like it was two different characters. I think season 5 Taylor was written for Hunter Tylo to play until she was fired suddenly for being pregnant. I think Lisa Rinna was an odd choice, but she made that Taylor work very well and it was shame that they turned her character into a cartoon in season 6.. since I think Lisa was up to playing Taylor as written in season 5.

I have picked back up with season 4 right after Jack died. I'm still enjoying it but their seems to be so much unnecessary conflict like Brooke's dad flipping out when Alison was touching Ms. Armstrong's door and Jake getting mad that Jo was going to Hawaii with Richard not knowing she did not yet know Jane wasn't coming. I understand where the conflict was coming from but it came off bad and lazy to me. Season 4 is kind of hit or miss. I think Season 2 will forever be my favorite.

Season 3 all the way for me. That was MP at its peak

Edited April 24, 201312 yr by Cheap21

I found most of season two to be a little slow, but I LOVED season one and season three so far.

Seasons 2 and 3 are my favorite, but in terms of "quality" where there's better characterization and better relationship development between friends and lovers, I'd say 2 is best as 3 is pretty quick-paced. I do love that innocence of Season 1 though, especially once they find their groove when Amanda joins.

Soapfave06, I agree with unnecessary conflicts in season 4, and I *totally* thought the same thing when recently rewatching when Hayley gets mad at Allison for going into his ex-wife's room, like it was some sacred shrine... only to reveal in the very next scene that their marriage was loveless and the room was only there for Brooke's benefit. Made no sense other than to have conflict between 1 commercial break.

And yes, the personality shift in Taylor from season 5 to 6 goes from edgy east coast bitch who's a force to be reckoned with... to a flighty, cartoon dingbat. Despite this drastic personality change, I thought Rinna pulled off both personalities perfectly.

What was everyone's favorite and least favorite versions of Allison Parker? I think Courtney Thorne-Smith is such a dynamic underrated actress. I'm not gonna lie, I love how season 1 is basically The Allison Parker Show. Every nuance of her life was discussed ad nauseum, especially the first half when it was self-contained episodes. Season 3 is Allison at her all-time hot-mess self, being an alcoholic and then a power-bitch in heels as President of D&D. I love how she gets her strength back in season 4 (and my husband LOVES her HAIR in season 4, ha!) but I HATE that she gives up her job so easily and takes a minimum wage waitressing job at Shooters and then gets involved with Jake. Allison was established as being such a determined woman who wanted to make something great of herself; to have her working at Shooters for an entire year was ridiculous IMO.

Edited April 25, 201312 yr by Gray Bunny

What was everyone's favorite and least favorite versions of Allison Parker? I think Courtney Thorne-Smith is such a dynamic underrated actress. I'm not gonna lie, I love how season 1 is basically The Allison Parker Show. Every nuance of her life was discussed ad nauseum, especially the first half when it was self-contained episodes. Season 3 is Allison at her all-time hot-mess self, being an alcoholic and then a power-bitch in heels as President of D&D. I love how she gets her strength back in season 4 (and my husband LOVES her HAIR in season 4, ha!) but I HATE that she gives up her job so easily and takes a minimum wage waitressing job at Shooters and then gets involved with Jake. Allison was established as being such a determined woman who wanted to make something great of herself; to have her working at Shooters for an entire year was ridiculous IMO.

If i have to choose the most meatiest season then I would choose season 3. Her alcoholic behavior was in full swing, she had some fun flings with David James Elliott and Brian Bloom, she was head bitch in charge for a short time, and ended the season drinking her sorrows away after witnessing Billy and Brooke marrying.

However, in terms of character stability, I would have to say season 1 and season 2 though she was less whiny in season 2 then in season 1 for sure, imho

Season 5 was like the show had amnesia and forgot that she had been on for 4 previous seasons. I thought she and Jake were an interesting match.. but having them exist in a separate island from the rest of the show hindered both of them.

Edited April 25, 201312 yr by Soaplovers

Kimberly was messed up by that split personality story. They so clearly had no idea what to do with her.

Its been a while since I have watched Season 2 and I've only seen a few Season 3 episodes but what's up with Sydney's fashion in Season 4? Its like she's stuck in the 60s. I don't remember her dressing like that in Season 2.

I had heard about Jake and Jane getting involved and couldn't picture it but now that I have watched it..I still don't know what to think. I didn't like the kiss they had with him falling into the pool with her though. Wasn't feeling it. I was enjoying Jane using Michael and that cliffhanger with her having the stroke was amazing but that excitement died down for me once they pushed her towards Jake.

im confused by the credits in season 7?? wasn't frank south out by the end of season 5 and Charles pratt jr. and carol mendholson the shows runners the last two seasons, which I enjoyed and felt more like Melrose???

I had heard about Jake and Jane getting involved and couldn't picture it but now that I have watched it..I still don't know what to think. I didn't like the kiss they had with him falling into the pool with her though. Wasn't feeling it. I was enjoying Jane using Michael and that cliffhanger with her having the stroke was amazing but that excitement died down for me once they pushed her towards Jake.

Jake and Jane were one of my favorite couple

Jake and Jane were one of my favorite couple

I have to admit they are kind of growing on me. Not as bad as I thought they would be.

I've hated Brooke all throughout Season 4 and was finally starting to at least pity her when she hit her head in the pool. Bad timing.

Kristen Davis was amazing as Brooke but I hated how the character was written. She was written as so weak and so much in need of having to have Billy that it was almost pathetic to me. I liked Brooke when she was at D&D scheming with Amanda against Alison but then it fell apart for me.

I didn't mind Jane and Jake but it seemed like it was very short and then all of a sudden he was off with Alison. I kind of liked Jane's evil side when it was coming out though (setting off the sprinklers at the fashion show was it? Throwing a stone/rock through the window where Jake and Alison were).

Jake and Alison did nothing for me while they were off away from Melrose Place to try and start the other bar/restaurant. It made me not like them as a couple because I just found them boring. Maybe if they had still been living at the complex and had to deal with Jane, Billy, and Amanda it could have given me a reason to root for them.