3 hours ago, Broderick said:

First time I remember seeing him --- and I believe it was his VERY first scene on the show --- was in February 1980 when he was hovering over Brock's desk like a vampire. Brock (foolishly) thought he had an open-and-shut case as the public defender of a teenage girl (Cathy Bruder) who had stolen a Rolls-Royce and gone joy riding. Brock's plan was to meet with the car's owner and convince him to prosecute Cathy Bruder as a juvenile rather than as an adult, which meant she'd get community service and nothing permanent on her criminal record. The owner of the car burst into Brock's office, and he was insistent he wanted to charge the girl as an adult; he was VERY spooky. While Victor's hardline position on the matter seemed a bit far-fetched and frivolous, Eric Braeden played the scenes quietly and formidably, and you could tell immediately that Brock was WAY in over his head with the guy.

I remember instantly becoming interested in where the stolen car storyline was heading, even though on the surface it seemed like a "throwaway" story. It was because Eric Braeden immediately brought such formidable intensity and gravity into his (short-term) role as the owner of the car.

Great description, thanks! Hard to fathom why this was not re-aired during the 2020 covid classics

4 hours ago, Broderick said:

First time I remember seeing him --- and I believe it was his VERY first scene on the show --- was in February 1980 when he was hovering over Brock's desk like a vampire. Brock (foolishly) thought he had an open-and-shut case as the public defender of a teenage girl (Cathy Bruder) who had stolen a Rolls-Royce and gone joy riding. Brock's plan was to meet with the car's owner and convince him to prosecute Cathy Bruder as a juvenile rather than as an adult, which meant she'd get community service and nothing permanent on her criminal record. The owner of the car burst into Brock's office, and he was insistent he wanted to charge the girl as an adult; he was VERY spooky. While Victor's hardline position on the matter seemed a bit far-fetched and frivolous, Eric Braeden played the scenes quietly and formidably, and you could tell immediately that Brock was WAY in over his head with the guy.

I remember instantly becoming interested in where the stolen car storyline was heading, even though on the surface it seemed like a "throwaway" story. It was because Eric Braeden immediately brought such formidable intensity and gravity into his (short-term) role as the owner of the car.

Oooo