5 hours ago, dc11786 said:

The show feels vibrant.

It certainly does, especially in your recaps/analyses! Once again, @dc11786 , I must commend you for your ability to write about AL so beautifully. I keep saying I need to make time to watch whatever I can of this show on YT.

Thanks @Khan ! There's something very unique about the show. The power of forgiveness and letting go among the Davidson clan is something that I find very appealing. It is something that has been present since at least late 1981 when Lori Davidson quickly accepts that her best friend Becky Hewitt was having an affair with Lori's fiance, Russ Weaver. Granted, Lori also had been introduced to her true love, Dr. Ben Martin, but there is something quite beautiful about watching joyful, jubliant Lori planning her wedding while Becky is more emotionally unfulfilled by her relationship with Russ. Becky's punishment is just dealing with the reality of being with a sexually frustrated man who only was with her because of the moral compass of the woman he really loved.

This power of forgiveness also plays out in other relationships. Terry's attempts to keep the peace with Nancy even when Nancy is going havoc in her home after Nancy's initial arrival in Kingsley. Terry's forgiveness of Dennis Fraser, the man who killed her mother and husband, at the very emotional climax of the story where Fraser nearly takes his own life. Miriam finding God because of the Davidson clan seeing through the past and knowing that Miriam needs love, not judgement, during the end stages of her pill addiction. All of these are incredibly powerful sequences.

The opposite end, the failure to forgive one's self, provides a lot of torment. Becky seems to be miserable after her actions involving the affair with Russ, the pregnancy, and the marriage under less than perfect circumstances. Peter Davidson gives himself grief for weeks for not picking Lori on the night of her attack because he was being seduced by older woman Vicki Lang. Now, there is the fall out of Russ killing a man and having to deal with the emotional residue left behind by the acting of taking a life. I really would be curious how a Jason Vinley approach could have played out on mob centric General Hospital in the early 2000s. Vinley's underworld is richly developed full of complex motivations and complicated relationships that focuses on the betrayal and the value system over the glorification of violence and failure to comply with the laws of the land.

The murder of Blue Noble by Russ is quite honestly one of the strongest pieces of soap opera I think I've ever seen for sheer amount of emotional complexity in the final scene with Russ fulling embracing mob life as Blue, in his final breaths, finds peace in the embrace of Jesus. I'm not a super religious person, but having spent so much of the last 25 years watching characters be deconstructed and never restored, seeing the low level criminal given such a tragic backstory that doesn't forgive him, but rather helps the audience understand how Blue became the person he did is fascinating. I don't remember if I've really addressed this, but there does seem to be a bit of backpedaling with Blue with Sgt. Bruebaker suggesting Blue might not be the Cinderella Rapist and the emphasis on the fact that Blue never actually violated Lori Martin. I almost wonder if this was to help soften the character for the audience.

With that said, I'm not sure how long the mob story could be appealing in this universe, but I'll be curious to see how it plays out.

On a separate note, how great is it that we have been able to double the length of this thread in a year's time. I think the last post of 2024 is on page 8.

I did a little research using a newspaper archive and looking at which of the major soap opera columnists overdue Another Life. Jon-Michael Reed only covered monthly synopses for the show for the first and second month. Seli Groves seems to start with summaries in late August, 1981. The earliest consistent summaries come from Mary Ann Cooper's column. With these, we are able to get a broad overview of the missing episodes.

A real treasure was finding 2 weeks worth of summaries (9 days) from late July from a Massachusetts newpaper where the show was carried in primetime. I suspect other papers may have provided daily teasers so hopefully we will, in the nearish future, get an even clear picture of the missing weeks.

June 1981 

Miriam Mason accused her professor husband, Paul, of adultery with student, Lori Davidson. Lori's parents, Scott and Terry, hired Mitch Dunbar to defend Lori. Paul was suspended and Miriam sought custody of their child, Frederick. Miriam conned her father, Charles Carpenter, to pay for student Norman Eliot's false testimony. Norm is Miriam's secret lover. Lori's friend, Becky, and Lori's sweetheart, Russ Weaver, failed to break Norm's lies. Liz Cummings' husband, Jeff, took to drink. Lori learned that her brother, Peter, also hit the bottle. Scott convinced Gene Redlon to help him investigate drug traffic

July 1981

Miriam was granted a divorce from Paul and won custody of Frederick. Scott and Terry filed a countersuit to clear Lori's name. Jeff seduced Mandy Bolen, who has a married lover, Loring Chase. Jeff assured Mandy he's divorced, while Liz suspected Jeff is cheating on her. Mitch convinced the judge to reopen the case because of evidence that Norm perjured himself in return for loot from Charles. Paul was fired because of the adultery scandal. 

Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 3, 1981

(episodes #21 - 25)

Paul Mason and Lori Davidson refuse to settle out of court and are determined to clear their names. Charles Carpenter pays Norm Elliot and Creasy to testify against Paul. Paul admits to Terry Davidson that he loves her daughter Lori, but would never say so. Liz Cummings threatens to divorce her husband Jeff Cummings as he continues to drink. 

Monday, July 6 - Friday, July 10, 1981

(episodes #26 - 30)

Lori Davidson worries about her boyfriend Russ Weaver's lack of faith. Miriam Carpenter Mason and Charles Carpenter try to put more pressure on Paul Mason. Creasy says that Paul Mason's tie clasp was found in Lori Davidson's room. The divorce is granted on the grounds of adultery. Miriam Carpenter Mason gets custody of Frederick Mason. When Miriam condemns Paul to their son Frederick Mason, Frederick runs away. 

Monday, July 13 - Friday, July 17, 1981

(episodes #31 - 35)

Paul Mason refuses to resign his post. Scott Davidson accuses Miriam Carpenter Mason and Charles Carpenter of a frame up. 

Monday, July 20 - Friday, July 24, 1981

(episodes #36 - 40)

Jeff Cummings makes a play for Mandy Bolen and succeeds. Becky Hewitt steals a deposit slip and letter addressed to Norm Elliot from Miriam Carpenter Mason from Norm's room. Scott Davidson discovers that Norm was dishonorably discharged for stealing and dealing in the black market. 

July 20, 1981: Mitch investigates Creasy's financial situation and Paul checks around the church for further leads.

July 22, 1981: Becky steals a deposite slip and a letter addressed to Norm from Miriam; Mitch learns that Creasy deposited a $2,500 check in May. 

July 23, 1981: Back from investigating Norm in Washington, Scott praises Becky for her discoveries and makes copies of Norm's letter from Miriam. 

July 24, 1981: Scott's findings in Washington reveal that Norm was dishonorably discharged from the army for stealing and dealing in the black market

Monday, July 27 - Friday, July 31, 1981

(episodes #41-45)

Mitch Dubar plans to reopen the case soon. Scott Davidson praises Becky Hewitt's efforts. Miriam Carpenter Mason fights back when Paul Mason reopens the case. Jeff Cummings continues his affair with Mandy Bolen. Lori Davidson tries to maintain her optimism despite her fears that the tables will be turned on her and Paul once more. 

July 27, 1981: Jeff assures Mandy that he is divorced, but she puts him off. Charles warns Norm to stay away from Miriam. 

July 28, 1981: Liz confides in Terry that Jeff may be cheating on her. Russ considers working at the Norfolk waterfront to earn money for medical school. 

July 29, 1981: Moran is having second thoughts about pulling Scott off the air. Norm learns that Becky has been seeing his roommate, Francis. 

July 30, 1981: Mitch convinces judge to re-open case after revealing new evidence.

July 31, 1981: Warren tells Charles and Miriam that Mitch is suing them for defamation of character and that they could go to jail if the witnesses were bribed. 

Monday, August 3 - Friday, August 7, 1981

(episodes #46-50)

Scott Davidson and Becky Hewitt land a hand to Paul Mason. Charles Carpenter learns money won't buy everything. Jeff Cummings lies when he tells Many Bolen he is divorced. Scott Davidson has to hold his temper on the job. Lori Davidson receives a great deal of peer pressure to change her values. 

Monday, August 10 - Friday, August 14, 1981

(episodes #51-55)

Paul Mason gets support from an unlikely source. Jeff Cummings is almost caught. Norm Elliot is picked up by the police for questioning and threatens to get even with Francis Miller for squealing to Becky Hewitt. Helen Carpenter tells Charles Carpenter that she'll seel th house and leave him if he's guilty of framing their son-in-law, Paul Mason. Moran gives Scott Davidson editorial control and his old job back. Russ Weaver asks Lori Davidson to marry him, but Lori thinks they're not ready yet. 

Monday, August 17 - Friday, August 21, 1981

(episodes #56-60) 

Russ Weaver has an angry confrontation with Norm Elliot. Helen Carpenter takes strong action. After Norm Elliot is beaten up by Russ Weaver, Norm suffers flashbacks about his life in Vietnam. Charles Carpenter plans to sell his import business and return to his trucking firm which services Capital Distributors, dealing with liquor and drugs. Jeff Cummings' drivers license is suspended and he may lose his sales job. Scott Davidson and Gene Redlon plan to begin their drug trafficking investigation.

  

Monday, August 24 - Friday, August 28, 1981

(episodes #61-65)

Jeff Cummings' life hangs in the balance. Norm Elliot has more violent outbursts. Mandy Bolen is hired by Capital Distributor's new boss (Nick Trench?) as a secretary and Jeff Cummings, out of the hospital, is also hired as a sales rep. Miriam Carpenter Mason puts her lover Norm Elliot down, but convinces her father, Charles Carpenter, to hire Norm. Norm says he is available to do anything, even drive, steal, or kill. Jimmy Redlon is in the hospital from a drug overdose. The loss of his driver's license threatened Jeff Cummings' sales job. In a panic, he asked Nick Trench for a job. Mandy Bolen promised Jeff she would behave. 

Monday, August 31 - Friday, September 4, 1981

(episodes #66-70)

Miriam Mason moves to Richmond. Russ Weaver gets a new job. Afraid of being hurt, Jimmy Redlon will not tell who gave him the drugs. At Paul Mason's home for dinner, Lori Davidson, Russ Weaver, and Becky Hewitt learn that Charles Carpenter and Miriam Carpenter Mason, Paul's former wife and father-in-law, have moved to Richmond. Norm Elliot goes on his first assignment for Charles delivering "fish" with a gun for protection. On the way to Lori's parents home, Russ and Lori are side-swiped and overturn many times before landing at the bottom of a hill. Norm Elliott realizes he needs help, but isn't ready to ask for it. Scott Davidson agreed Terry Davidson must befriend Liz Cummings, no matter how much Jeff Cummings hates the Davidsons. Scott crusaded against drugs on the air. 

Reading through the "lost" episode summaries, it's interesting seeing how the faux infidelity story was plotted out with the first arc being the divorce case and custody suite where Charles paid off Creasy and Norm to lie about the infidelity including the tie clip. This seems to be such a silly plot point to secure a divorce on. The second arc seems to be the countersuit with the Davidsons going after the Carpenters because of the perjury and the bribes. It's also worth mentioning, I believe Norm Elliott is also Lori's former boyfriend. I don't think this made the summaries, but was mentioned in a summary of the premier episode. The review was rather vague so I didn't include it in this.

It would seem that the show replaced this story with drug trafficking plot involving Scott's investigation and Capital Distributors. I'm actually surprised that CBN didn't reset the show in 1984 back to episodes 56-60. That seems to be a rather engaging week with the introduction of the Capital Distributors plot, Jeff's DUI, and Russ' attack on Norm. It would seem that the Lori / Paul / Miriam story was wrapped up in the week or two prior. I have to wonder if those episodes weren't somehow legally bound up because they had been syndicated with The 700 Club. The original distribution deal had the first 13 weeks sold as a part of a package deal with CBN's more established series.

It was also nice to fill in some holes. Becky had spent time with Francis in order to get intel on Norm. Mitch was brought in for the initial divorce trial representing Lori. I don't think I knew the intricacies of Norm's connection. Peter drinking is a sequence I would like to see. As is the material surrounding Jimmy's overdose.

The secondary plot in these opening episodes involving Jeff's fall from grace is less clear to me based on what is happening. I think it picks up a bit with Mandy Bolen. It is a surprise to see that Nick Trench was only there a few weeks before episode 70. Mandy still seems intriguing and less problematic with Jeff's deception regarding his marital status.

I can't say I find any of this super appealing in the broader sense, but it was nice to have a bit more of an idea of what was going on.

I managed to watch 10 more episodes this weekend so I am at 460.

I'll start off with Another Life's answer to Bobbie and Lucy. The rivalry between Babs Farley and Nancy Lawson is just fun. Babs arrived on the scene as Nancy's prison cellmate and, from the beginning, Nancy has always thought of herself as better than reformed hooker Babs even though Nancy is never against using her body to get what she wants. For all my praise for Jason Vinley, I will say Nancy is one of the few characters not better served by this writing, yet. Babs, on the other hand, has emerged as a comical secondary heroine who will make you laugh and break your heart in the same scene. I do feel these episodes moved the dial slightly towards improving Nancy's position on the canvas.

Nancy and Babs' separate stories collided when both women were visiting Harold Webster and a cat fight ensued. Babs' got the upper hand and left Nancy with a nasty bruise on her face, which led Nancy to file charges against Babs. Nancy's pursuit of "justice" later ends up saving Babs' life when another hit is arranged for her in Fairmount involving Lance and Marty, an informant for the organization.

Before we even get this far, there is a very great episode that highlights the hypocrisy of Nancy. When Russ comes to collect the money that Nancy owes, Nancy alludes to the fact that she is willing to sleep with Russ in order to work off her debt. For all the grief that Nancy puts Babs through, Nancy is the one who offer her body still to pay off man. In the same episode, Gene visits Babs at Walter's Restaurant where Babs is employed with money from Harold. Babs vows she will pay the money back. It's a very deliberate contrast to Nancy who thinks she doesn't have to pay.

Nancy's big story has been dragging for weeks with her refusal to leave Nora's house, which she cannot afford, and her desire to keep the Redlons from owning it due to Nancy's blatant racism. Nancy's money problems have been brewing for awhile and we finally learn that, yes, she has borrowed money from a loan shark from Vince and Nick's organization. It's a delightful turn which I figured was coming, but I hadn't expected. When Russ comes to collect, now Nancy is privy to knowledge that should move forward Russ' story. It's only a matter of time now before Nancy lets the Davidsons know Russ is working for the mob. I can't wait for Lori to react.

Nancy is back to a lot of lower level scheming with characters like Vicki and Carla. With Vicki, Nancy manages to not only get 500 dollars from her, but also a place to crash once Nancy is evicted. With Carla, Nancy goes the extortion route and offers to vacate the house without issue and sell to the Redlons if Carla will give her 1000 dollars. Carla later considers it as she despertely wants the house with the baby on the way.

There is little movement in the Monk story with Carla and Gene arguing over whether or not Monk can move in, and Harold making it clear that securing Monk's release is dependent on Gene agreeing to become Monk's guardian. It's a story I wish got a little more play because I do think there is threads to play given that Monk was Lori's student.

I think Lori's pregnancy is a complicated story. I do think Lori isn't completely healed and I do think it's a stretch for her to think the baby is Blueś, but I don't hate it. I just wish they would lean into others acknowledging that Lori isn't as mentally well as they would like her to be. For me, the biggest issue is that we are suppose to believe that Lori got pregnant around the time of the attack in September so Lori is supposedly fairly far along and this wasn´t caught at all when Lori was in the hospital.

The movement in the mob story is nice. I cannot beleive how much I am enjoying this story, but because Vinley has grounded it in relationships, I am fascinated. Ron has decided to make Russ his second in command which aggravates the current second in command, Lance. The tension between Lance and Russ is continuing to build. I am not really sure where they are taking it, but I enjoy it. Russ' loan collections has put him in contact with Nancy, which threatens to cause problems in his world. There also seems to be a bit of a suggestion that Ron might be elevating Russ just to stick it to Vince for insisting that Russ be in the organization. While I do think Ron admires Russ to an extent, I do think part of this is making things more chaotic for Vince so that he doesn´t look too deep into the record keeping. I also wonder if Lance and Ron will set up Russ as the fall guy for the side hustles.

I hope Nancy becomes more involved in this world. I do think Nancy would be the perfet mob wife for either Ron or Vince or married to Vince and sleeping with Ron on the side.

I am ready for the kidnapping to end. It's gone on for a long time and I feel like it has stalled the Carpenters as characters.

There was a lot of good stuff in the Phillips' story, but I'll save that for a later post.