Y&R: Week of June 1, 2009

[cara mia]

Friday’s US episode was incredible with only a couple of bum notes. Tom Casiello wrote it, right? Bravo, Tom, bravo!

False Note #1: Jeff/Gloria. They weren’t bad, they just weren’t anything beyond filler. Though I did chuckle a few times at Nikki/Gloria and the lightning.

False note #2: Sharon & Nick having sex. They should have talked and ended the night on the couch laughing, crying and reminiscing. We know Nick is attracted to Sharon. I’m all for on-screen sex but it didn’t serve any story purpose at the moment to watch them get it on. We needed to them connecting emotionally as a contrast to Phack finding comfort in each other physically.

It was great seeing Phyllis get her dignity back, even if it’s short-lived. Phack getting it on while Mary Jane watched? Hot and Creepy!!! LOL!

There’s art and there’s entertainment, and the Adam/Ashley story was art on Friday. Smart move to bring Jack to the house to remind us of a major motive for Adam’s actions and smart to have Jack use direct speech and physical force to threaten Adam, which contrasts with Adam’s sneaky and slippery modus operandi.

Adam in a Sabrina’s dress is a vision I will not soon forget. So funny, so creepy. The story is working on so many levels here. There’s the obvious plot level – Adam terrorizes Ashley. Then there’s the symbolism. Adam dressed up like his father’s dead bride. Whoa. Talk about wanting your father’s “love”. IMO, even Adam doesn’t begin to even understand all the subconscious motivations that are driving him and I bet that MAB & the writers & CE can’t articulate fully what makes Adam who he is but that they obviously get it on some gut level which is why they’re able to put this together. Adam instinctively grabbing at Ashley before she fell shows how his twisted plan conflicts with his basic nature. The homage to Psycho was very appropo. What’s fresh about this take on the Psycho motif is that Adam represents a contempary & real monster in today’s culture. The nice-looking boy next door who’s a killer on the inside. Craigslist killer, Virgina Tech shooter, Columbine killers, etc. Boy-men who turn to horrifying violence to cope with their powerlessness. It’s obvious to me that MAB & Rauch do not fully understand what makes this story so powerful & so disturbing to many people by the recast they choose, going from a youthful looking actor to someone who looks 35. ED hasn’t been perfect but she & CE have this really freaky cool dynamic where they sometimes read as mother/son and then sometimes read as lovers. The perceived age (she looks about 15 years older than him) works perfectly. Even though Adam is a freak, you understand why she feels safe around him. That’s also a deep fear for a lot of mothers – that their sons will turn out to be wrong in some way. I am sure that once MM starts, the story will still be entertaining on some level, but it ceases to be art. It’s no longer a commentary on psycho-boys and becomes a generic evildoer tale. Then again, it might be more tolerable to people since they’re less likely to have an emotional investment in Adam and more easily dissociate from the story. CE is crazy to leave and TPTB are crazy to let him.

[BadZoe]

Aside from Morrow, I think the rest can be saved with better writing. Unfortunately once the Katherine storyline turned from being a character driven drama, to a plot driven kidnapping, the show has been stuck in that rut. All the characters are running around doing things without any compelling explanation for their motivations. I am finding the show to be rather depressing lately, while not too long ago, I couldn't wait to watch it.

I said before that Sharon should find out she's HIV positive, although better still it should be Billy who is diagnosed. With the new anti-virals, this diagnosis is not a death sentence and a person can live for decades with it. Y&R does not have decades to go before cancellation. The entire town freak out would drive storyline for months and for Billy it would drive it for years.

[MarkH]

It ensures, and I assume that is the point, that there is not a single redeemable member of this quad. "Grey"? I guess...

Totally Bravo to Tom and Janice Ferri Esser (the SW). I don't think Shick sex is a false note. It seems an INTENTIONAL choice to show us this is not the 'fabled reunion'. Instead, this is "be careful what you ask for". This shows what happens when two individuals who have NOT worked on their fundamental emotional problems (Nick NEVER got therapy, and Sharon bailed and didn't take it seriously) reunite. They are doomed to repeat their failures.

I guess I like that. It's the dark side, the real side, of the fairy tale. Nick and Sharon are doomed. The vindictive part of me enjoys that Phyllis will be able to watch the train wreck happen.

IMO, drunken grief sex on that stained bordello sofa is not dignity...but I accept variable definitions. I know you mean earlier, when she sent Nick away. But it got kind of invalidated.

Yes, but the FLAW was that Ashley was the defenseless victim who did no ill. When this is over, I hope she gets her strength and DESTROYS him, using the same sneaky MO.

I can't prejudge like this. First, they had to do the best they could in a hurry. Second, recasts like this happen all the time, and sometimes they change story direction, and that's the nature of the beast. Third, it could be even HIGHER art if the actor is committed to the character (as Engen claims he was not). So, let's see....

I get your point. Engen's sweet face makes up for his inability, as an actor, to play the layers. Seeing an actor who might be able to do that...it might get even better.

[DRW50]

I probably shouldn't, but I tend to separate that part of the story, which was more low-key and made some sense and was just a kiss, to what happened later, which became Cassie's death suddenly being responsible for Sharon having sex with three men, including her husband's brother, Sharon stealing, Nick cheating on his wife, Sharon being pregnant and not knowing who the father is.

I wonder if there are even supposed to be layers. Ashley is the generic victim of the crazy guy. I wouldn't be surprised if Engen wanted to look for layers and the show preferred the more over the top, unsympathetic version.

[Cashton]

The thing i think that came through about all the quad is that Sharon's still sick. And all the other 3 may not be just as sick, but just as on the edge and not making rational choices.

All of them are just gasping for air. These people started a company together, they've all been maried to each other, divorced each other, lied, cheated, yet enjoyed the best times of their lives with each other- Friday's ep was like the explosion when all these desperate people don't think about a damn thing.

Having the certifiably crazy Mary Jane Benson watch on in these people - Sharon and Nick, then Jack and Phyllis was like "I'm crazy? These people are crazy! What is going on??"

As for that line that Paul gave Mary Jane "I don't know why I care about you" - I said the same thing weeks ago. I just hope and pray that she's a long-term character that won't be shown the door once all is exposed. But the way they're writing her, I don't think that's the case.

And somewhere, poor Pratt is like..."oh so this is how you're supposed to do a thunderstorm. Damn you Y&R!!"

[MarkH]

I feel the reverse. First of all, so far, Mary Jane has done nothing unredeemable. But she hates Sharon!

Second, I think Mary Jane is going to do the "most redeemable" crime on soaps...steal a baby because hers was lost. She'll love and care for that baby. So, that is redeemable in the soap world. I think that is part of why skanky Sharon and Nick and Jack are all being written as unsympathetic. We'll see Mary Jane's perspective that these rascals are unfit.

Third, Paul is already caring for her on a visceral, instinctive level.

Put it all together, and I think Mary Jane has "legs". In addition, the way she loves that kitty of hers...who could hate a pet lover like that???

[Cashton]

Hmm..so you think they're purposely making Sharon, Jack and Phyllis "unsympathetic" to prop up MJ? Interesting theory. I don't know how I feel about that. It all seems pretty organic to me. they don't seem to be telling us what to think about anyone but I do see your point. it's rare to have a new character so universally liked maybe it is engineered for that! I don't know - but glad we agree she's got long legs!

I love it when she strokes that cat, too! )))

[cara mia]

Engen is playing the layers. By his statements, it's obvious that CE is his own worst enemy and thinks he's not pulling this off -- maybe because he's been hypercritical of himself and perhaps Rauch has been too hard on him, also. He's wrong though. He's pulling this off beautifully. If I didn't know about the back-stage insanity, I never would have guessed that CE was unhappy with the role or his performance. I seriously question the "taste" of the cast & crew when Judith Chapman is pre-nommed and MTS is not. What reads as good acting in theater or in person is wildly different from what reads as good acting on tv or film. TV/Film demand naturalism and sophistication. The camera is zooming in a performance and even a small arch of the eyebrow means something -- just like in real life.

IMO, there is no or little correlation between an actor's happiness and his or her performance. Some of the most unhappy sets have produced some of the greatest work -- Singin' in the Rain is a classic example of that.

The silver lining in MTS leaving is that it probably means Mary Jane is a keeper. Victor always has to have a back-up woman, and it surely won't be Gloria. What does it say about the show that Phyllis is actually more sane than Sharon and Mary Jane?

I predict that someone (Mary Jane or Adam or maybe even Chloe) will steal Sharon's baby and give it to Ashley. Sharon will be led to believe that her baby is dead. The baby raised by Ashley will look like Jack but everyone will assume that's just because he's the "uncle". Vashley will raise the baby and grow attached only to discover a year later that the child is indeed Sharon & Jack's.

[Cashton]

Oh my!!! I love that theory! Head is spinning!

[Juliajms]

It's a good idea, but in this case it would be extremely outlandish. Ashley was only a few months pregnant. How can NO ONE notice that she isn't pregnant for 6 months. How will Ashley believe that she is pregnant for 6 months when she isn't? I'm sorry, but pregnancy and childbirth take a toll on the body, there is noway anyone including Ashley will believe she has given birth if she hasn't. if they do, we are heading into Passions territory.

[cara mia]

If she weren't sleeping next to Victor, Adam could probably trick Ashley into she has given birth. Maybe Adam will get lucky, Mary Jane will kidnap Victor (EB is nearing vacation time) and this can be pulled off.

[Juliajms]

How do you trick someone into believing they have given birth? It's not like the pain goes away in a couple of days. She's had a child before, she knows the recovery takes a couple of months. Even if they cut her open and faked a C section (which is extreme) what about lactation, stretch marks and the hormone surges that accompany giving birth? How are they going to make her believe she's 9 months pregnant when she's skinny as a rail? I'm sorry, but if they do this, it will disrespect my intelligence in a way that Y&R rarely does (to their credit).

[MarkH]

Yes, of course, that is outstanding.

Of course.

Adam and Mary Jane will partner up. Mary Jane will steal the baby and Adam will give it to Ashley.

Perfect!

The only question is how they'll adjust the timing, since Ashley was a few months ahead, no?

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Yawn, baby switch drama...

[MarkH]

Sorry, those are my FAVORITE stories. I can't help myself.