OLTL: Discussion for the week December 13

[DRW50]

If the show or the network see Matthew as any type of hindrance to their plans, then I think he will go, even if Eddie is Kristen's brother. They have already brought Danielle in to start to ease into the role Starr has, and they are heavily invested in the Fords. They've already trashed Matthew and made a lot of viewers hate him, all for the sake of Nate. It may just stay the way it is now, with Matthew as a delusional demon who causes problems for other characters (why is he so mean to Nate, why does he want to be in the way of Dani's happiness, why is he mean to Bo and Nora), or it may end up with Matthew taking Renee hostage with a staple gun and shooting Rex and Bo and Shaun. Any potential threats to the Fords or to Rex, in terms of their roles on the canvas, have to pay a price.

I don't believe Langston/Ford will be around much longer. It's a stopgap until the show is sure viewers see Ford as a sweetheart.

James/Starr I think will last because the actor is not very capable of playing material beyond Starr's puppy dog suitor, and that type of weepy romance where the girl is a little stronger than the guy, but not in a threatening way, is probably appealing to some younger demos, and is a good way to keep Starr in the niche they like to write her in.

Dani/Nate, I don't know. Of all the Ford brats I think Nate is most expendable. I think this relationship might become mostly about conflict between Todd and Dani. There is a real creepy vibe to Nate which at some point the writing has to acknowledge.

If Kriezman ever transfers from AMC, look out...

[MontyB]

I agree. Contrary to others, I don't hate Matthew at all and I think E.A. is doing a great job. I have no problem with him being the foil. Everyone can't be goody goody and play victim all of the time.

[Cheap21]

I guess they needed to hurray up and get rid of this psychopath so they can make room for the next one coming up

[TeamEric]

Figures, TIIC killed the ONLY Ford that could act worth a dime. JWS was quite entertaining as the psychopathic Eddie. I almost felt sorry for him to have such 3 wooden sticks as sons and a whiney, weak excuse for an ex-wife. ALMOST until he started to molest Nora then I was ready for his death.

These gym scenes really exposed how poorly RC is managing his young teen cast.

NR is in over his head and a perfect example of where OLTL often goes wrong with its raw talent, especially the teens. Newbies like NR just flop when material goes against their strengths. NR is good at delivering a sweet, loving, charming young man and he has decent comedic timing. So RC makes the bonehead decision to give him this heavy, dramatic material that exposes his every weakness as an actor. James comes off as a sniveling cry-baby because NR doesn't have the acting chops to deliver the torment and barely supressed rage of an abused child. He needs to watch reels of Roger Howarth's Todd scenes circa 93-94.

As for BU, her strength was playing a plucky, smart-mouthed, very unique teen heroine, but one who marches to her own drummer. BU doesn't know how to play up the sexual desire so she's over doing it to the extreme and it's coming off skanky and very off-putting. I blame her as much as RC's writing because she's acting like some cheap porn movie teen with her panting and drooling. The directors also deserve blame because they are failing to correct her.

As for LP, he's dreadful but a big part of his problem is he's overpowered by KM's talents. She's too strong for him, she conveys so much emotion in her face and reaction shots that it highlights even more his weak, wooden stare. KM was better matched with EA as both can deliver nuance without speaking a word of dialogue. KM's Dani should be the tomboy of the teen set, strong-willed to the extreme and not another helpless, teen twit standing around ringing their hands. Dani is a pro-active character and KM sells that driving need to act very well. KM was far better as the teen who broke down the door to rescue her mom.

I miss old feisty Starr but it appears Cole killed her so let KA continue selling the earnest, teen heroine who wrings her hands as boyfriend after boyfriend screws up royally. At least KA has learned how to sell that more passive role by now.

DAG is a weak actor and I don't find him sexy personally BUT he delivered a pretty believable sexual player and predator. So what does RC stupidly do? Rewrites Ford into an earnest, upstanding, protective, sweet guy. It's not working, it won't work because DAG's strength is the edgier material. He's better off tempting Langston like satan in her ear or chasing Aubrey's tail or even giving Kelly some sexual relief. RC has stripped DAG's only strength.

As for adults, JL fails miserably because she can't convey deep torment of any kind. Inez should be a tormented woman, a victim of domestic abuse forced to abandon her sons. I should feel this desperation in her to protect her sons at ALL costs to herself and even others. Instead, I get a self-pity party of a weak, whining woman. Today was her moment to shine... she needed to convey deep torment, and a sense of shame that she does want Bo's kisses... a real sense of hurt he only wants Nora. JL was dreadful, as bad as the teens and Inez needs to die ASAP.

[alexisfan07]

So glad I have someone on my side

I just think he's such a promising young actor. On this show, he's a breath of fresh air from the model barbie males and I find him very relatable. Who hasn't felt betrayed by those they love or been taken advantage of? And I like that in response to his pain, like you said, he's NOT reacting as a victim. He's taking control of his life and has bought into the Drake mentality of "That's right, I'm doing me" and I think that's no one can hold against a person. Self-preservation is a basic human instinct.

[alexisfan07]

You hit every nail on the head, standing ovation! I like that you were able to say that most of them DO have strengths - they're just not being showcased.

[Cheap21]

Shipp can act as Ive seen his work in other outlets but his acting on this show was downright atrocious. This OLTL run was by far the worst thing he's ever done. He was over the top, cartoonish and the role was beneath him. There was nothing good about his acting or the material here. I didnt find Eddie entertaining and he needed to go. I dont see this as a negative or a reason why anyone should be upset.

[DRW50]

I agree with what you said -- I am, well I don't want to say "disappointed," because that sounds patronizing, but that hasn't stopped me before, so yes, I am disappointed in Jessica Leccia. I have seen her do better work than this, much better work.

[alexisfan07]

Yeah, I'm disappointed from the standpoint of having HEARD good things about her and then getting...this.

[Cheap21]

Yeah she wasnt so bad from what Ive seen of her on GL but Inez is just so bland and does nothing for her

[TeamEric]

I watched JWS on Dawson's Creek, too and enjoyed both performances. Shipp reminded me of Roscoe Borne's performance, he too totally embraced Mitch's evilness and it was liberating. There wasn't a hint of nuance of good in either character and the actors "got that basic thrust" and ran with it.

So shoot me, I found JWS far more watchable than the rest of the Ford gaggle of lousy actors and far better psycho than MW's Eli, too.

I've never seen JL's work before and perhaps in another role she shone but good grief her Inez is horrid.

[TeamEric]

Well, strengths may be a tad too strong a word LOL!

But yes, I feel most of the teen set are being mis-used.

[Vee]

I think Eddie Alderson is the most talented teen/young adult on the show right now, and if this was GH or even OLTL in the '90s he wouldn't be in any danger.

The rumors would seem to imply that the show wants him but the network does not as he is not "sexy enough." I think he's got as much potential for teen adoration as Jonathan Jackson did at that age, provided they stopped dressing Matthew like Evil Reggie from Archie Comics and doing his hair with shoe polish. I remember hearing a rumor that one of the Fords was originally intended by Frons as a Matthew recast, and when that didn't happen he ordered the whole Alderson/Missal thing to be junked, as it was an RC idea. IMO for all his faults you can often tell when RC is hesitant to let something go, as with the endless mentions of Kim by Clint, and now the continued scenes and connection between Matthew and Danielle.

I don't think "legions" of viewers have turned on Matthew. There's always a somewhat passive section of the audience out there which I think tends to just take stuff in, but you can't really go by a bunch of fly by night kids on Facebook. I think there'll always be far more interest in Bo, Nora and Matthew than in Nate.

As for the other Fords, I think Nic Robuck's best role is as the sweet foil to a bitchier, tougher Starr. But so far they're both just saccharine. And David Gregory has made BU as intolerable as him, and I have been one of her biggest fans in the last couple years. Her character has been decimated.

[MontyB]

Or on this site or any other

[TeamEric]

EA is clearly the more experienced actor but I think KM matched him in raw talent. Unlike the rest of the teen set who stand around waiting to recite their lines, EA/KM convey a great deal of emotion without dialogue. They were well matched and RC was right Danielle/Matthew was the stronger story versus this dull Danielle/Nate crap. EA is a soulful actor like JJ but he can't cry as naturally as JJ nor convey the same depth of rage. Not yet anyway, IMO.

But KA in tougher Starr mode completely overpowers the weaker NR. They need lighter, fun material to make it work but writers feel compelled to make Starr's life a living hell daily.