Ryan's Hope Discussion Thread

[Khan]

I think early RH had arguably some of the most complex characters on daytime; people who were truly neither all saints nor all sinners.

[DRW50]

I agree in a sense, but I think in some cases that was down to the actors. When some of those actors, like Kate Mulgrew, left, some of the issues with the writing came to the fore. 

There were complex characters who were well-written and acted, like Jill, but many times we would end up with "good" characters I wanted to kick off a cliff. It's one of the reasons I was so protective toward Delia when Randall Edwards played her.

Edited 4 hours ago by DRW50

[DeeVee]

Absolutely. On any other show, Frank Ryan would have been a shining romantic hero. I think they made Delia so impossible so you would feel as though he had a right to cheat on her. But he was a deadbeat dad, neglectful of the women in his life, even neglectful of his family, ridiculously ambitious. Once in a while he'd show some integrity, and then he'd go back to being a self-centered jerk.

But he was definitely an interesting character. 

When Pat was married to Delia, it was two incredibly neurotic people caught together in a very toxic relationship. Again, fascinating to watch.

Yeah, when those first contracts ran out, the people leaving caused a big issue. Almost like they did too good a job with the initial casting. 

I actually liked the first recast for Mary. (I think her name was Mary Carney?) Part of the problem was after being so front-burner for 3 years, Mary and Jack's story was basically resolved and they had to fall back on the tired "marriage vs career" trope. Then they brought in the second and third recasts that were total misses. Plus, they were ramping up Siobhan's character. It seemed they were more interested in focusing on her once Mulgrew left. 

Edited 2 hours ago by DeeVee

[DRW50]

Mary Carney was the best of the Mary recasts. I think everyone I've seen talk about the show has said this, or almost everyone. The show just gave up too quickly. I agree the story was over. I don't think the show ever developed Mary's career enough to make viewers care about that aspect.

I remember reading an interview with Ilene Kristen where she talked about how much support she got from viewers with Jill and Frank (I think it was from around then). I don't know if Roger/Delia was always the plan (wasn't he interested in Mary early on?) but I sometimes think they threw that together to try to make viewers feel Delia had no moral high ground.

Frank was an interesting construct as a man who looked like the ideal politician yet behaved...like a typical politician. I think that's why he mostly took off once they cast Daniel Hugh Kelly, who fit the duality. 

Edited 2 hours ago by DRW50