On 4/24/2026 at 6:46 PM, DeeVee said:

Her death amounted to pretty much nothing except causing this big gap on the show that was felt for years. Part of the problem was the lack of other Reardons on the canvas at the time. But even if they couldn't have found a way to bring them in even briefly, many possibilities were left on the table: Ed and Lillian being ostsracized, their good reputations left in the dust, Ed drinking again, the impact on Ed and Lillian's professional relationship, Michelle finding out why the accident happened--that would have impacted her relationship with her father for years! Rick, too, because he loved Maureen (was he on the show at the time? I can't recall).

This is why I wanted Nola to find out about the affair and cause of death two years later..when she returned. Michelle, Rick, Bridget and AM would have all had to deal with their perfect "parents" having this horrible cloud over them. Nola who had been gone for years would turn her guilt over not being there for her sister to torturing Ed and Lillian (and give Nola a good reason to go back to her bad ways for a bit.)This could have given PS something to do at the time as Ed finally returns to the bottle, and Holly rushes in to help him (so its Ed causing the issue in the Folly relationship..not Roger, though he would love Ed fall from grace and make use of it.)

On 4/24/2026 at 2:04 AM, Paul Raven said:

Smart writers, like Bill Bell rarely killed off major characters so when he did there was drama. Otherwise, characters were recast or just left town, leaving the possibility of a return of an actor open w/o having to jump through hoops to explain their return.

He usually did a good job with those exits. They either just faded away, or they left town after a round of heartfelt goodbyes. You could tell they thought about the impact down the line. Phillip’s death set up Nina for years of stories, and kind of grew up that younger set of characters because of the tragedy.

2 hours ago, Mitch64 said:

Vanessa, Nola or Jenna abusing...Henry??? What, did you find McTavish's storyline projections somewhere?

The only storyline like this that would work is Reva slapping that old fool (and cliche) Hawk. Well, I could accept actually Reva and or Buzz being strapped to a chair and the people of SF collectively come and slap the hell out of them, like the citizens of Haddonfield turning on the Monsters that have been abusing(their ears) for years.

I don't think it's beyond the scope of possibility. Not at all, sad to say. Elder abuse as committed by adult women is more common than most people realize. And much of it is committed by family members. Unassuming, gentile Henry would make an easy target, no matter how unpalatable the thought.

You could have Hawk or HB be the target of the abuse, but that would involve Reva, which means the story would be about her, her blubbering and how misunderstood she is. No thanks.

Reva needed to be Patient Zero in a STD story that left some additional Springfield residents sterile. Have her sh*tty, self-centered behavior permanently (negatively) affect the lives of others. Reva deserved nothing less.

Buzz needed to flip out in a PTSD rage and commit suicide.

Just now, Speed Racer said:

I don't think it's beyond the scope of possibility. Not at all, sad to say. Elder abuse as committed by adult women is more common than most people realize. And much of it is committed by family members. Unassuming, gentile Henry would make an easy target, no matter how unpalatable the thought.

You could have Hawk or HB be the target of the abuse, but that would involve Reva, which means the story would be about her, her blubbering and how misunderstood she is. No thanks.

Reva needed to be Patient Zero in a STD story that left some additional Springfield residents sterile. Have her sh*tty, self-centered behavior permanently (negatively) affect the lives of others. Reva deserved nothing less.

Buzz needed to flip out in a PTSD rage and commit suicide.

genteel Henry, not gentile

3 hours ago, Mitch64 said:

On 4/24/2026 at 7:46 PM, DeeVee said:

their good reputations left in the dust, Ed drinking again, the impact on Ed and Lillian's professional relationship, Michelle finding out why the accident happened--that would have impacted her relationship with her father for years! Rick, too, because he loved Maureen (was he on the show at the time? I can't recall).

That is actually what happened after Maureen was killed off. Ed was struggling and very close to falling off the wagon. It had to do with the conflicts between him and Michelle, as she suspected what had happened and was punishing him (as well as Lillian) for the affair. No one wanted to tell Michelle, but she was a smart girl and figured it out all on her own.

3 hours ago, Mitch64 said:

This is why I wanted Nola to find out about the affair and cause of death two years later..when she returned.

There was a scene where Nola shunned Ed, when she returned to town. Nola had to go to the Emergency Room, and Ed was on call. But she refused to be seen by him, and they had this big blow-up over the affair.

IIRC, Ed was drinking and was made to think that he caused Dylan blindness but he was framed. The real culprit was the dad of Dylan's girlfriend. I think they were crooks involved in construction? Feel free to fill in the blanks, please.