OLTL: Discussion for the week November 10-14, 2008

[rhinohide]

Kassie is so underrated. Sometimes I think it's the southern accent that causes people to miss how very good she really is. One of the things that always impresses me about her is that Blair has been scribed under multiple head writers and executive producers, and there are often times things Blair is written to do or say that I think it completely OOC, but somehow Kassie manages to incorporate that into the character and keep it true.

BU is very good, but in fairness, she's closer in age to FF, JuB, Beth Ann Bonner. It's not as much of a stretch for her to play a teenager IMO. Again, I don't necessarily disagree with your assessment of some of the younger talent. I just don't get bogged down in it. I recognize that they have their weaknesses, but then I don't expect them to meet the standards of Robin Strasser and Erika Slezak. In fact, sometimes Erika Slezak doesn't meet the standards of Erika Slezak IMO.

I see some of the more talented, more experienced performers sleep walk through their scenes at time. And I get it. If the work isn't challenging or interesting to them, they just show up and get through the day, but I find that more unforgivable than the younger performers who just miss the mark through inexperience, or even sheer lack of talent. I admire those performers who show up everyday and give their best no matter what more than those "superior" talents who reserve their best for the material that excites them or inspires them. Just my personal opinion.

[JtSmarts]

Marty finally knows the truth!

[rhinohide]

How stupid~

John stands by like a stone through all these reveals, but when he finds out Todd and Marty slept together (even though she's said several times during all of this that she "loves" Todd) that's what sends him over the edge. They make John look like some kind of neanderthal. It's his sexual jealousy that makes him go nuts. HAAAAATE!

I need therapy.

Off to shop.

[parsons]

Natalie and Jared should know what its like make stupid decisions and then wanting/needing their family's forgiveness. I wish they would worry more about changing their clothes than about getting their digs in on Tina. I don't like when a character does something bad, then something bad is done to them, and it's all okay and they get back on their high-horses. This has happened on some sort of level with Charley, Rex & Gigi... but today with Natalie was driving me batty. I like these characters (mostly), it just rings false. It's lame that Tina's return was all about this crazy story for the past few months.

[Vee]

That was good for me. Marty said everything that needed to be said.

[rhinohide]

I see your point and it does come off as hypocritical. But something was going to

and it appears Natalie and Jared drew the short straw. Reminds me of Nash's death and everybody freaking out about whether Jared and Natalie were murderers or it was an accident and what the appropriate punishment would be -- when I think that was all about Nash was going to die somehow to give Jessica her next story and Jared was just the tool that got stuck with the job. Natalie has apologized up and down since they were freed. It's not like she has forgotten what she cost the family. Furthermore, it's like they've made a point to have her tell everyone how sorry she is (like she didn't apologize before) and had them all tell her it was forgiven just to drive the point home to the audience that the guilt phase of that story is over. I think it's kind of dumb that Jessica who was furious when Tess took over is all worried and apologetic about what Tess did to Natalie and Jared. It would have made sense for her to come to and say that Tess was wrong, but not be all guilt ridden over what Tess made Jared and Natalie suffer.

[parsons]

Makes sense, I didn't really consider the mechanics behind it while watching. It makes the flow a little choppy to have the characters go back and forth between these extreme moods in a matter of a few episodes to suit the various plots, but I guess if I were locked up for months I would be all over the place, too.

I agree. I would have enjoyed to see Jessica remain in control and have the sisters deal with each other head on, but the story obviously went a different direction. Or not have her guilt ridden now, like you said. I am interested to see how they deal with one another in the next few "days"... but at this point, I'm sorta just ready to see what's next for everyone involved as far as new storylines. Although the matter has moved forward and resolutions have been offered, the fact the Jessica was not a part of it at all was a mistake.

[rhinohide]

We shouldn't have to consider the mechanics and it's lazy writing when it becomes so obvious (IMHO). If I didn't really like the character of Natalie it might not have stuck out like a sore thumb to me. She's usually not so harsh and judgemental (think Jared, Miles Laurence and Vincent Jones), so this is completely out of character IMO. Unfortunately, when they take such a lazy approach and have a character act in a way that is contrary to what we know to be her history -- it then becomes a part of that character and now we can never again say "Natalie isn't a hypocrite or judgemental." She has proven to be that, at least in this case.

I always thought it was a shame they brought back Tess. It was lazy. I won't be the least surprised if Natalie and Jessica don't have any conflict at all. The show's focus has shifted and whatever has happened between them, the writers have taken great pains to show that all is forgiven. Natalie is all concerned about Jessica and the baby. Jessica feels terrible about what Tess did to Natalie and Jared. They've cleared the decks and none of it matters anymore. (My guess anyway). I did like that Viki today at least made a remark that Natalie has probably had time to let it sink in all that her sister tried to do to her. However, I suspect that comment was more about foreshadowing Viki having to deal with all HER sister did to her.

Everything about this story seems to have been abbreviated to make room for the new Quad. BE has been returned. All the family conflict is resolved. All that's left is for Jessica to get treatment and be declared cured and I suspect that's going to take some time. The only reason any of these characters exist now is because they are playing caretaker for Todd's grandchild until the baby switch is discovered. So if you're interested in these characters and don't care about Todd/Marty/John/Blair/Cole or Starr, I don't think we're going to be getting much interesting material for them to work with.

[Cheap21]

i feel so bad for Tina here bc she truly was conflicted. I thought Natalie saw that. Tina's daughter's life was at risk here. I wish there was some compassion for her and I wish she wouldnt let Natalie blackmail her

Go John! I loved him giving Todd a beatdown and Im glad they acknowledged what Todd did as rape. He needs to go down'

I was shocked to see Nora say that they need to arrest Jessica for attempted murder. I assumed that that wouldnt even be an issue considering she was crazy and her alter did the stuff

[rangethatrover]

The Natalie/Tina situation was LAZY and ridiculous. It definitely reflected a last minute rushed aspect to AE's departure. This was definitley due to Fron's decision to ditch her. Andrea Evans made it clear in all of her interviews that she was happy and saw her family more in this role than any other due to ABC's scheduling for her. What I saw was a lazy last minute way to get rid of Tina and of course Sarah. And it made me sick that Natalie is driving my Tina out of town!

It was the only part of this week that I hate. And of course the sight of McBain.

To me, the scene would have been more powerful with someone else beating the hell out of Todd- Even Bo.

[Cheap21]

I dont see how it would be more powerful with Bo since he doesnt have anything invested here. John is the guy that was dating Marty and the one thats been searching for her. He has a direct link to her son. He is the male with the most emotional investment in this story (outside of Cole) and it wouldnt make much sense for anyone else to be doing the beat down besides them 2. John has been trying to get to this mystery woman for the past 5 months and to find out it was his girlfriend who was kidnapped, mentally manipulated and now raped by Todd was pretty heavy stuff for me. Good for him for beating Todd for that bc he deserved it and John was justified in his rage

[rhinohide]

The John beatdown of Todd would have resonated with me more if it had been about something other than Todd and Marty having sex.

Think about it. John's relationship with Marty began because he developed a relationship with Cole. John's been playing surrogate father to Cole since Marty died (albeit, not very well).

So take these scenes and reverse the process. John says "He raped you!" Marty says "You raped me? How could you not tell me this. I loved you." John stands by all cool and emotionless like a cucumber. Todd explains "You changed me!" Blah Blah Blah. Then it comes out that they just had sex (or worse, that Marty begged Todd to "make love to her" retch). John still stands by like a cucumber. The conversation ensues. Marty threatens to shoot Todd. John says "You don't want to do this. You're not this kind of person. You're loving and understanding blah blah blah . . . that's what made you such a good mother!" Marty says "What do you mean? I have a child?!!!" THEN John beats Todd to a pulp.

Because they reduced this whole beatdown to John's sexual jealousy . . . it's so ridiculously trite and makes John look like a jackass. We spent the whole week revealing Todd's sins one at a time. Sex with Marty is the LEAST of them IMHO. But the writing, predictably has made that the ultimate transgression. Todd trying to steal Starr's baby means nothing. Todd keeping Marty from her child means nothing. Todd keeping Marty from the man she loves (well that means nothing to me). The ultimate sin is sex with Marty.

[RoseVioletDaisy]

I didn't take John's reaction as being about jealousy. He freaked out at the mention of them having sex because he realized that Todd had not only mentally raped Marty but had just re-raped her physically as well. The fact that Todd took this whole sick game so far as to manipulate Marty into a state of such ignorance that she would not only be willing to have sex with him but beg for it IS the greatest of his sins here. Lying to her about John's actions was bad, not telling her about Cole was reprehensible but the mental and physical rape Todd committed on her was a blow to her very essence.

[rhinohide]

Excuse me? I will try to withhold my fury here. But the essence of a mother is her child. There is no human emotion on earth that supercedes that of motherhood. That's why women throw themselves in front of moving trains. There is nothing that Todd has done that overshadows keeping her from her son.

PS. John doesn't have a clue about that depth of emotion. He's not responding to what Marty has endured. John (the bastid) is responding to what HE feels. What a Jack ass.

[Toups]

Todd fan here, but he deserved that beat down by John.

Another good cliffhanger today.

Can't wait for 2pm on Friday.