OLTL Discussion: Week of September 22, 2008

[detroitpiston]

I have to say, Melissa Archer looks absolutely ridiculous screaming and hollering all day. Somebody please tell that girl to tone it down.

[miajere]

You don't want to open those flood gates with your therapists- you get comfortable and it becomes the only thing you gripe about....they start looking for a connection.....you get off topic easily....don't ever discuss soaps with your therapist!!

Soaps aren't shameful compared to Dancing With the Stars, American Idol, and Eli Stone!

Those shower scenes were hella confusing! I remembering thinking "Brody is imagining this!" which would have been cool because it would have heightened things to some extent. But JPL and FF were not doing it for me....(I own porn)

Brody on the other hand was quite interesting. I kept thinking ," Why does he look like he's concentrating on something?" I kept hoping OLTL would get ghetto and pull a Janet Jackson.

[EricMontreal22]

Hahah I'd never even think to discuss reality shows with a shrink I was half joking anyway--you're right about the dangers of when it can become mor elike havign a conversation with a friend...

Yeah the bizarro bathroom that Brody was in sorta made me think it was a dream too--I dunno I'm so mixed on it. A part of me likes how over the top he's "snapped" but the whole shower/"super soldier mode" was... I think it was meant to contrast with Res and Gigi's "loving" shower but I didn't quite get that.

[miajere]

Discussing television with a shrink is like discussing your dreams- If you pick apart at the little details at some point it will all roll back to you and what's really going on in your everyday. My being pissed with this show has more to do with hating my lack of control....blah blah blah.

I personally think it was bad editing. I think it should have been a possible imagination running wild on Brody's part- It made rex and Gigi look like selfish tramps, Because in all their rekindling of old flames- Gigi has yet to own up to her lies- in fact she sent Rex to go get Shane. It only served Brody's story line- which sucks because I really wish his character had something longterm with the show. Gigi should be open to the idea of allowing Shane and Brody to remain friends after some time has gone by, But the writing is on the wall for this character. There goes another hour on the couch.

The scenes in bed were very disconnecting for the audience- I really thought they should have played more on the idea of how familiar these two are with one another- because of their past. Instead they gave them these virginal honeymoon scenes which made it look less like two people who miss one another and have reconnected with their best friend. When Rex was getting dressed and excited I thought it looked more as though he was obsessed with the idea of family- NOT gigi. I really hope this relationship doesn't last.

[EricMontreal22]

You're right re dicusssing things with a shrink (at least a good one--and there are more crap ones than good ones out there but that's another thread... Although I always wonder why soaps don't seem to keep longterm shrink characters on more often--it seems such an easy way to have exposition scenes, etc).

And I agree with everything else too. Brody is an itneresting character--it's too bad they're making him snap to hardcore psycho so much--but I don't think the writers realize that audiences--at least me (and it's not just due to a Brody crush) find his situation EVERN with taking Shane, so much more sympathetic than Rex and gigi. I liked Rex as a character pre Gigi and, while nto a huge fan, I liked gigi's character before the Summer too. I don't really liek tiehr right now. Even when Gigi was sorta saying to Brody he could still be a part of Shane's life she didn't sound the least bit convincing or sympathetic. She talks to him like he's a nuissance.

[evermore]

I enjoyed the show today... I kind of like Brody and hope they'll figure out a way to keep the character around. Maybe he and Jessica can spend some quality time together in St Anne's

Susan Haskell was great today! she and Trevor are making this story work for me, and I'm really looking forward to whatever happens when Marty gets her memory back.

Natalie in the basement is a mess tho. I don't know how much longer I can watch Tess taunting Natalie thru that window; I'm already fast forwarding thru those scenes, and it seems like this story has a long way to go yet. The only thing that's making it worth watching is Tina

[miajere]

I've had problems with Gigi ever since she showed up in Llanview. I didn't buy into the idea of Ramsey forcing her into town- nor did I buy into her staying and getting a job. Her move into town was so contrived- I've always felt she was here to get Rex and would have preferred if the writers just gave her the pair to go after what she wants- but instead she's another virgin bride sacrificed to the alter of Rex...Look at the boring sack that was once Adrianna...She'll get interesting only after they break up.

I wasn't down with OPP nor am I down with Todd and Marty but I liked their scenes today- I can see why people like them- they have something "old school" going on- where the woman's allowed to be vulnerable and yet controlled, and the man is in charge- very primitive- very Wuthering Heights....although I doubt RC is clever enough to make that connection. If it continues like Wuthering Heights- Todd and Marty should have enough story line to last them into Starr and Cole's relationship- once again, I doubt RC recognizes the connection. But now that it's happening I don't think RC should pull back- he could have something epic for the fans that enjoy this pairing's possibilities. If they rekindle the Todd/Starr relationship there would be another layer to Todd's story line that will invite back some of the fans that are leaving camp.

[EricMontreal22]

Yeah that's my prob with Natalie in the basement too--I've sat thru these kinds of stories on soaps ever since I got hooked on AMC with Janet in the well but this one is already boring me with scenes feeling the same--we all KNOW she won't get out till prob end of November, and that already feels SOOOo long away to me

Jen was never a fave character of mine--I was always mixe don the actress--but still her character fit WAY more with Rex than, like you say, the virginal characters we've had since. Gigi is meant to be tough--but when she's with Rex she somehow doesn't come off that way. I forgot that Ramsey forced her to stay in Llanview... I don't even remember what the leverage he had on her was--why did he want her there again?

Yeah I think it's the gothic melodrama of the story that's appealing to me. It's shaky ground though in this day and age to do a rape victim falls in love with her rapist story--and they'll have to be more careful than I think RC can be... But I agree with you about what is appealing about the story (and it's a kinda story I admit I like soaps for and they do less of). And I admit the perversity of it does kinda appeal to me--but yeah I go back and forth But please no more piano bonding scenes grrr

Who/what iss OPP?

[SFK]

Other People's Property (i.e., their bits and pieces). Eric, where were you in the '90s??

[Toups]

I could see Frank thinking, as he reads the script, "I"m soooooooo directing this episode!!"

[miajere]

I was referring to One Pure People of the 2007 OLTL era- you don't want to know if you don't know.

I think FF is trying to go for the whimsical sex appeal- that damsel in distress that the machismo in every male is drawn to. She must have forgot this is a soap and not Entourage. I hate the look on character's faces when they are about to do a love scene and they want to incorporate something tender. I much prefer when lovers appear to be having a good time in bed (some laughing and light teasing)- it shows a comfortable element that plenty of characters need to bump up the chemistry. but when FF removed that towel- JPL looked like he hasn't seen a woman in years- or just frightened by the idea that he wasn't going to get some peace in the shower.

I think the gothic melodrama has its time...Right now, people are in an economic recession- we don't want to watch goth all day. Ron could have gone with Jane Eyre and just made Marty a crazy person.

Wuthering Heights didn't incorporate rape- but there was a sense of hatred and abuse inflicted on each one of Heathcliff's subjects that is present in the attitude Todd has taken with Marty and his family. I remember reading the story and being happy Heathcliff was able to get his revenge- but I also remember thinking- these people don't deserve his revenge- they haven't done anything. Very conflicted and leads me to make the non-professional call that Ron is a very dark and twisted man.

[Dale]

I agree with your sentiments...the story is WRONG and I bet the OLTL brass knows it's WRONG! But that's the element of me that has me intrigued. Every day I watch to see how far they are gonna actually dare this thing to go!

Toups, I think you hit the nail on the head, so to speak!

[EricMontreal22]

I thought the escapism of goth would be MORE popular in a recession?

I do remember One Pure People--though I only kinda FForwarded most of Higley's run--I don't quite get why you're comparing it to Todd and Marty though...

Wuthering Heights might as well have rape--you're right, Heathcliff is basically as abusive in many ways (tangent but as a teen it always amused me that the movies never bothered with the scene where he dances with the corpse of his love in the moonlight...)

And yeah agree don the shower--that was bizarre--the epxressions when Gigi removed the towel--they had JUST had sex and been with each other naked--why would she even bother wearing a towel let alone acting like it was some big reveal or "gift"

[Gordon24]

I just watched again and DAMN it was up there with HBO & Cinemax

Another thing I forgot to mention but caught today was another one of RC's GREAT parallels. Did anyone catch the parallel between Todd/Marcie/Sam/Tommy and Gigi/Shane/Brody story?? Gigi does not want to eliminate Brody from the picture. Gigi told Brody the other day she wants him to be in Shane's life. Brody flew off the handle and said NO because it is all or nothing with him similar to the way it was for Marcie. Todd told Marcie they can visit Tommy but Marcie thought Todd was a bad parent. Marcie got nervous and ran and that is what Brody is doing. Brody thinks he is and will be a better parent than Gigi or Rex and now he is on the run with Shane.

This is such a heartbreaking s/l for all characters involved, love it!

[rhinohide]

She has to do something to prevent Bree from looking TOTALLY absurd. And she still hasn't risen to the level of suckage that is Tess.