I hated RR's Alan so much, the only way he would work is to lean into humor. His Alan was a joke. RR and SS were both so hammy, couldn't stand either one. Dusty was a fine Alex, for her first two runs, but that 2002 run stunk. She was so hammy and different, of course the writing was poor but I wonder if her acting choices were largely influenced by her AMC run just prior? I got the vibe that AMC's Vanessa was a way OTT villain.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Spoon

1 hour ago, GL95 said:

RR’s love interests as Alan served two purposes: 1) reinforcing that Alan is a one-note villain and 2) making Marj’s Alex go crazy with jealousy. Alex always had more passion about Alan’s women than he did.

That was always true about these characters, even in the better days with better actors playing the characters.

The Spauldings saw people who other Spauldings loved as a threat. That's why Alan hated Beth--there wasn't a damn thing wrong with Beth (not back then, anyway). She was just a threat to his dominance over Phillip. (This also showed how much he preferred Phillip over Alan Michael, how deep down, Phillip was the "real" Spaulding to him. He was fine with AM marrying Harley. Of course, he was motivated to get some of AM's trust fund but he should have loathed Harley. Back then, he had no problem with her).

Alex and Alan were always threatened by whoever the other was involved with. (Chris and Bev made those scenes pretty funny, the ascerbic barbs always landed perfectly).

Yep, you could see it as something mildly incestuous. Alan and Alex grew up protecting each other against an abusive father, they were probably isolated from others by him. It makes sense. In the end, they really only loved each other. The way Chris and Bev played it, it wasn't icky. Underneath the humor of their constant making fun of each other's partners, it was sad.

But in the later years, with not as good writers and actors who didn't play the subtleties of their relationship, it came across as very cringe.

2 hours ago, Spoon said:

I hated RR's Alan so much, the only way he would work is to lean into humor. His Alan was a joke.

ICAM.

Thanks @alwaysAMC

You weren't kidding about how long the Blake/Ben back-and-forth goes on. Longer than I remembered. I do think they had more chemistry than he has with Carmen, although they have some decent moments.

So India is still there. Such a waste of her...

Some very unnecessary contrivances in delaying the Drew and Selena reveal, but I thought the buildup of Jesse falling for Drew was natural.

And Annie is still there, after any real story value is over.

I'd forgotten they had Dinah becoming a nun. That would have been a hilarious and perfect end for her. Likely becoming this:

The Devils (Ken Russell, 1971)

3 hours ago, Spoon said:

I hated RR's Alan so much, the only way he would work is to lean into humor. His Alan was a joke. RR and SS were both so hammy, couldn't stand either one. Dusty was a fine Alex, for her first two runs, but that 2002 run stunk. She was so hammy and different, of course the writing was poor but I wonder if her acting choices were largely influenced by her AMC run just prior? I got the vibe that AMC's Vanessa was a way OTT villain.

I thought Dusay was all over the place in her first run. The second was her best. The third was also all over the place. I agree she, and the writing, were influenced by Vanessa. They even ripped off a Vanessa story not long after Marj returned. The difference was Vanessa was meant to be a monster, from the start. Alex was not. Dusay, likely thrilled to not be playing yet another recast, tapped into Vanessa immediately and kept her going for longer than anyone else would have.

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks @alwaysAMC

You weren't kidding about how long the Blake/Ben back-and-forth goes on. Longer than I remembered. I do think they had more chemistry than he has with Carmen, although they have some decent moments.

And why Ross should've moved on. By this time, Block's must've been on the chopping block.

3 hours ago, DeeVee said:

Alex and Alan were always threatened by whoever the other was involved with. (Chris and Bev made those scenes pretty funny, the ascerbic barbs always landed perfectly).

Well, Alex had plenty of reason. Alan tended to lose his mind when he became obsessed with a woman. coughRevacough comes to mind.

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks @alwaysAMC

You weren't kidding about how long the Blake/Ben back-and-forth goes on. Longer than I remembered. I do think they had more chemistry than he has with Carmen, although they have some decent moments.

So India is still there. Such a waste of her...

Some very unnecessary contrivances in delaying the Drew and Selena reveal, but I thought the buildup of Jesse falling for Drew was natural.

And Annie is still there, after any real story value is over.

I'd forgotten they had Dinah becoming a nun. That would have been a hilarious and perfect end for her. Likely becoming this:

The Devils (Ken Russell, 1971)

Oh the Ben/Blake thing just goes on and on. I have such torn feelings about it. I did love Ross/Blake but the amount of times Blake has messed up, when she could have told the truth and made things fine, is hard to accept. I also think Ben is best when he's being a sexual flirt with Blake, and yes, their chemistry is actually very strong. Unfortunately Ben is an ass to everyone else, so he's not very likable. So... I don't know what I want LOL.

Beyond India's first episode, she's been such a non-factor, and it's odd to me. They clearly don't have much interest in using her, which is very similar to Vicky/David to me (which is a whole other issue GL has with black actors in this era).

I'll have to continue watching the Drew/Jesse build up to see if I agree. But yeah, it just doesn't make sense why this Selena/Drew and then Ben thing has taken SO long.

That's how I feel about Annie. Now that she's free, it almost seems like they don't know what to do with her. And Alan has been MIA.

LOL at that clip of the nun you posted. I'm not familiar with it, but in the context of Dinah becoming a nun, very LOL :)

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

I thought Dusay was all over the place in her first run. The second was her best. The third was also all over the place. I agree she, and the writing, were influenced by Vanessa. They even ripped off a Vanessa story not long after Marj returned. The difference was Vanessa was meant to be a monster, from the start. Alex was not. Dusay, likely thrilled to not be playing yet another recast, tapped into Vanessa immediately and kept her going for longer than anyone else would have.

5 hours ago, Spoon said:

I hated RR's Alan so much, the only way he would work is to lean into humor. His Alan was a joke. RR and SS were both so hammy, couldn't stand either one. Dusty was a fine Alex, for her first two runs, but that 2002 run stunk. She was so hammy and different, of course the writing was poor but I wonder if her acting choices were largely influenced by her AMC run just prior? I got the vibe that AMC's Vanessa was a way OTT villain.

I haven't seen her Alex post-Vanessa, but if I had to guess, I think @DRW50 is likely right.

Probably not a shocker to most, but I just LOVED Dusay's Vanessa on AMC. Honestly one of my favorite new characters of that era. I don't love that they wrote her off after becoming one the supreme villains (which didn't need to happen), and Dusay clearly didn't like it either, so that part sucked. But, it did give one of the best performances when she held Budig, my favorite GL Michelle , at knifepoint in front of everyone. Such a fantastic scene.