Thanks @Maxim . I love all those clips (my only complaint is that while I know it happens plenty in real life, I'm never a big fan of the dramatic scene of the child coming into scream for her parents to stop). The Dorian and Clint scene was especially wonderful. I loved when he asked what she was doing at the Banner and she matter-of-factly says, "Spying!"

I'm not sure if they gave a reason in the story for Dorian to lash out at Viki again (beyond her being upset over Sloan wanting Viki, not her), but I prefer them not trying to throw in too much justification beyond Dorian just disliking her. 

@janea4old Thanks for the Bo and Nora clip. I always enjoyed their banter - RSW and HSB were among the best at it, like a '30s comedy couple. 

3 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks @Maxim . I love all those clips (my only complaint is that while I know it happens plenty in real life, I'm never a big fan of the dramatic scene of the child coming into scream for her parents to stop). The Dorian and Clint scene was especially wonderful. I loved when he asked what she was doing at the Banner and she matter-of-factly says, "Spying!"

I'm not sure if they gave a reason in the story for Dorian to lash out at Viki again (beyond her being upset over Sloan wanting Viki, not her), but I prefer them not trying to throw in too much justification beyond Dorian just disliking her. 

@janea4old Thanks for the Bo and Nora clip. I always enjoyed their banter - RSW and HSB were among the best at it, like a '30s comedy couple. 

I think they did a good job building that animosity back up without making it artificial. Dorian had just been dumped by Jason for the tenth time. When yet another man preferred different woman to her (and this woman happened to be someone she despised)... she got very triggered. Old wounds opened and bled. She remembered how they supposedly threw her out of Llanfair. (God I would love to see these episodes some day) and the fact that her own daughter seemed to want to defend Viki more than her own mother... fueled that hate even more. Hate mixed with jealousy. It's almost like Cassie detonated a bomb when she forbid Dorian in doing anything against Viki. 😂

5 minutes ago, Maxim said:

I think they did a good job building that animosity back up without making it artificial. Dorian had just been dumped by Jason for the tenth time. When yet another man preferred different woman to her (and this woman happened to be someone she despised)... she got very triggered. Old wounds opened and bled. She remembered how they supposedly threw her out of Llanfair. (God I would love to see these episodes some day) and the fact that her own daughter seemed to want to defend Viki more than her own mother... fueled that hate even more. Hate mixed with jealousy. It's almost like Cassie detonated a bomb when she forbid Dorian in doing anything against Viki. 😂

If you ever want to see that material, there are a few episodes/clips here:

 

Up to November 4th, 1992.

  🦩

"The break-up."

🔷

I can't believe that I'm finally watching the November episodes. Ladies and gentlemen... it has happened - Viki and Clint have kind of... split. Kind of. Not completely. But this opens up a whole new range of possibilities. Let's dive in, shall we?

🔷

Just when everything seemed to be falling into place for Viki and Clint (and we all know these are the moments when sh-t hits the fan in soaps), Dorian Lord waltzed back into the scene.  This time, she brought the picture evidence straight to him, and there was no escaping it - the proof was right there in front of Clint's eyes. After yet another brutal argument with Viki...  Clint finally drew a HARD line in the sand - a boundary that must not be crossed. If Viki wants her family intact, she must PROMISE, and I mean really promise - swear a thousand times and then head to church to make a vow to God too... to NEVER. EVER. SEE. Sloan. AGAIN. Well, Clint... if you have to force someone to promise anything, it’s a sign you’ve already lost them. But Viki agreed. She had to, to salvage her marriage. So... just as Halloween was starting, there was a moment of peace in Llanfair where everyone seemed to be getting along. It lasted...  about a minute. 

🔷

Parallel to the chaos unfolding in Llanfair... Sloan Carpenter was in his own hell - just the idea of parting ways with Viki stressed him so much... he nearly gave himself a heart attack. Left in the hospital with a case of pathological arrhythmia, the doctors informed him that he absolutely MUST take his medication in order to survive. But then, in a move that was IMO highly manipulative (maybe not on purpose), he decided to not take the pills. So self-destructive and narcissistic. Then came Andrew - he couldn't stand by and watch his father die. So, who does he turn to for help? You guessed it. The Saint of Llanview. (Or the high-minded tramp.) Viki. The very same Viki who had just sworn to her husband that she would never see him again. Now Andrew had put her in an impossible situation. She had to choose between betraying Clint and breaking up her family or allowing a man to die. Forced to make a quick decision... she chose to "save" Sloan Carpenter. All of this, of course... was the final straw. Clint left the house for his father's mansion. Viki had crossed that boundary not even hours after promising him. And now... not even the children could make him change his mind. He had lost complete faith in his wife. Viki begged and cried and pleaded and begged again... but it was like shouting into a void. They left it... like that - in ruins, with no map to reconciliation. And then there was Sloan Carpenter, who couldn't even wait a second before coming through the back window of Llanfair and wrapping his arms around Viki. She didn't exactly push him away either.  

🔷

And that leads me to the juiciest part. Dorian Lord aka The Witch Of Llanview... just couldn't resist not to gloat when she smelled that emotional carrion from miles away. She was fully aware of the chaos she set in motion with those photos and her little visit to Viki... was just to witness the wreck firsthand. But Victoria? Oh chileee, she wasn’t about to just stand there and take it during her most vulnerable moment. The victim turned into the aggressor. Victoria slapped Dorian so hard... I screamed. Old wounds reopened, and their age-old feud was  now as fresh and raw as if it had never stopped in the first place.

🔷

In other corners of Llanview... we had Alex turning Mortimer into Carlo for the 19829th time, this time giving him dancing lessons... we had the parasites (Blair and Cain) bickering at Asa's mansion... we also had a sparring match between Marty and Nora when it was revealed that Marty had LIED about the motorcycle fiasco. For some bizarre reason, Nora feels sort of maternal towards this wretched girl, as if she can mold her into something... SOMEONE... better. Meanwhile, her own daughter is drifting away. Speaking of Rachel - she finally came face to face with Leanne. Rachel was feeling threatened by Leanne's hold on Kevin, and the moment Leanne caught a glimpse of that vulnerability... she started playing games. Telling Rachel that she will always be a part of Kevin's life. Hmmm. Last, but not least... Cain and Tina finally broke up. After Renee skillfully exposed Cain's lies. It was beautiful, actually. She made him retell a story that he could have only read in her private diary... making him think that she once told him this story. He took the bait and then proved that he was lying about everything. Tina unleashes such a beautiful rage onto him... Finally some backbone! Finally some character! Brava. I may clip this moment too.

 Overall -  10/10 - Keep this going, writers! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Clip of the day

Viki slaps Dorian

Edited October 28Oct 28 by Maxim

54 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

If you ever want to see that material, there are a few episodes/clips here:

 

Oh my God! One and a million thank you! I'm pressing play in my next work break. 😍

P.S. @DRW50 I just saw these clips and absolutely loved them. I actually was impressed by Robin Strasser's performance. Especially when she was giving the interview from the hospital bed and acting like this poor victim. I laughed so much. The way she was talking like she barely has energy left. So funny. Before that when they threw the fake snake on the bed.  It was really 60 minutes of non stop laughter. Thank you again. 

"I was literally dragged from my home... From my sick bed... In my night gown in fact... By force... "

🤣

Edited October 28Oct 28 by Maxim

7 hours ago, Maxim said:

P.S. @DRW50 I just saw these clips and absolutely loved them. I actually was impressed by Robin Strasser's performance. Especially when she was giving the interview from the hospital bed and acting like this poor victim. I laughed so much. The way she was talking like she barely has energy left. So funny. Before that when they threw the fake snake on the bed.  It was really 60 minutes of non stop laughter. Thank you again. 

"I was literally dragged from my home... From my sick bed... In my night gown in fact... By force... "

🤣

The scenes are lots of fun - I hadn't seen all of them so thanks for reminding me to go look. Robin played the absurdity well, like Dorian was remembering productions of Camille she was probably an extra in at school. I liked that they had Viki being somewhat understanding about Dorian to Cassie, which reminded us of Viki's grace. 

It's still strange sometimes to remember how long Viki lived in that little cottage or wherever, rather than Llanfair. Sometimes I wonder if certain writers and producers just didn't want Viki in Llanfair and thought it suited Dorian. 

Thank you for the clip with Dorian and Viki. Once again everything is so professionally done. Soap slaps can often be framed in ways that showcase how fake they are - this one just going from the back of Dorian's head helps add to the illusion. 

I love that moment with Viki saying, "I am NOT playing." You genuinely worry for how far Dorian has pushed her. 

I don't know if it was intentional or not but, in the photo, Sloan looks like a vampire and Viki his victim.

10 hours ago, DRW50 said:

The scenes are lots of fun - I hadn't seen all of them so thanks for reminding me to go look. Robin played the absurdity well, like Dorian was remembering productions of Camille she was probably an extra in at school. I liked that they had Viki being somewhat understanding about Dorian to Cassie, which reminded us of Viki's grace. 

It's still strange sometimes to remember how long Viki lived in that little cottage or wherever, rather than Llanfair. Sometimes I wonder if certain writers and producers just didn't want Viki in Llanfair and thought it suited Dorian. 

Thank you for the clip with Dorian and Viki. Once again everything is so professionally done. Soap slaps can often be framed in ways that showcase how fake they are - this one just going from the back of Dorian's head helps add to the illusion. 

I love that moment with Viki saying, "I am NOT playing." You genuinely worry for how far Dorian has pushed her. 

I don't know if it was intentional or not but, in the photo, Sloan looks like a vampire and Viki his victim.

Oooh, yes... Now as you mention it... I see it too (the picture). Maybe it was some sort of metaphor for their relationship dynamics. 🧛‍♂️

Btw, last night I dived in a little (after you linked me to the 1982 scenes and they got my interest) into the German dubbed 1980 episodes on YouTube and boy what a handsome devil Clint was. Really charming man. I didn't know he had this kind of history with Dorian. You can really tell that in 1992 something is going on with him. More than just growing old.

I think I might watch these German eps as an occasional thing... to get more context about the show and the history. They are not that many on YouTube, but still enough. 

 

Up to November 9th, 1992.

  🦩

"Anna Karenina Buchanan."

🔷

Well, well, well... They did it. The Saint Of Llanview has fallen.  

🔷

 For the first time since the start of the emotional affair, Viki found the courage to face Clint and confess that she might... have feelings for Sloan. That she might... love him. I was really amazed at how Erika Slezak can turn a script like this into something so breathtaking and relatable. When I say "a script like this," I mean... something that would make any other character seem like a total adulteress. But she played it with such depth, such inner struggle, and such nuance... that you almost feel sorry for someone who is about to cheat. You feel bad for the bad guy. In this case - a bad girl. Because that's what she is about to do. Isn't she? She even told Andrew that she has a hard time sleeping, dreaming about Sloan. Knowing how soaps work... I think we are very close to the "accident" moment.   

🔷

She didn't admit it directly... but when Clint asked her... Do you love him?... she replied - I don't know. Honey, those words are more than a YES. I believe there’s no such thing as "I don't know" when it comes to love. Clint isn’t dumb... he could see right through her. He had already packed his bags, and this was the FINAL push he needed... to leave the house. Then, it was a moment of total darkness for Viki. The end of a marriage? Perhaps. Maybe not.  But the death of the image she had of herself - this good, moral woman... that would never fall in love with another man? - INDEED.

Renee found her lying on the stairs. That’s always a bad sign, btw. I end up lying on the stairs at least 1 time a year. LOL. Viki's hurricane of emotions then came out like a fountain in front of her best friend. What she couldn’t say to Clint... she cried out to her. Tears were streaming down... the music was, as @DRW50 likes to say - "enhancing" - making everything feel more intense... even the decor was lit in such a beautiful, atmospheric way... that the whole scene was film-noir-like.

🔷

Far away from Llanview... Max Holden was battling for his life. I had made up my mind not to talk anyyyyything about this story, but I feel like I have to. Because some parts of it... really bother me. I don't like the direction they are taking with this whole "GHOST" thing and Luna hearing "Death" moving around the room. I really dislike supernatural stuff like this when it's in a show that has a totally different vibe. I would enjoy this if I was watching a thriller-horror themed soap, but not here. And the desired effect is opposite. I felt like laughing when they had Ghost Max wandering around the room. But I understand why some people might enjoy it... especially back then. Wasn't the Demi Moore movie just a year or two ago? And we all know how soaps love to get "inspired" by popular blockbusters. For example... we've seen the "Fatal Attraction" trope done so many times since that movie came out. To ad nauseam.

🔷

One part of the story that I really LIKE is having Blair involved. When she found out that Max got shot... she quickly took the private jet to see him, of course keeping it a secret from Asa. I think I know where this is headed... Cain is likely going to reveal her secret and it will lead to a big fight. But it's great that they are acknowledging Blair's feelings, and how she was in love, and maybe still is... with Max... They had totally ignored that for a long time and it was bothering me. 

🔷

The show is firing on all cylinders. Really. The last time it was this exciting... was with the Dorian-Blair-Addie reveal. The other powerful story was the AIDS quilt/homophobia story. And now this is their third best of the year - The Viki/Clint/Sloan triangle. SUCH a strong year, really. So much drama, so many things happening in just 1 year. With a few missteps (too many characters being killed off one by one due to actors leaving/being fired) - it's a very very impressive first year of Michael Malone. I started watching the material just after he took over in September 1991. Can't wait to see what my second year of his material will bring. Now with the addition of Josh Griffith, who I've heard so much bad things about.  

 Overall -  9.5/10!  (the 0.5 is for the supernatural stuff)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Clip of the day

Viki Buchanan's breakdown.

 

I’m very much enjoying these recaps and I hope you keep them coming! 

33 minutes ago, soapfave06 said:

I’m very much enjoying these recaps and I hope you keep them coming! 

This just makes me happy.🥰 Thank you! I don't plan to stop soon... (at least till the material keeps on being this good.)

Thanks again @Maxim Both wonderful scenes. The layers are what make you feel involved. The dilemma is all too real. You aren't just seeing cutouts being thrown through plot points. A real contrast to a year and a half earlier when Viki was helping Renee with the DuAnn hysteria. And that moment with Viki and Jessica is genuinely very effective, seeing her tell Jessica she is entitled to the worry and anger she is feeling.

I hadn't seen Viki's outfit before - all those big buttons. 

9 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks again @Maxim Both wonderful scenes. The layers are what make you feel involved. The dilemma is all too real. You aren't just seeing cutouts being thrown through plot points. A real contrast to a year and a half earlier when Viki was helping Renee with the DuAnn hysteria. And that moment with Viki and Jessica is genuinely very effective, seeing her tell Jessica she is entitled to the worry and anger she is feeling.

I hadn't seen Viki's outfit before - all those big buttons. 

I absolutely looved seeing her in that outfit. Give me big buttons any day! ❤️Typically, they style her in a way that feels overly domestic for my liking. I was also thrilled to see her waist accentuated... it was long overdue. The more elegant silhouettes truly suit her.

Overall, she appears so much younger in both vibe and appearance compared to a year ago. There were moments when she seemed almost like a grandmother figure when I first began watching.

Additionally, the presence of the older man beside her (Sloan) makes her appear even younger. This is particularly flattering and a drastic change from the usual bulged-up hunks in their 20s and 30s pursuing older women in soap operas. I appreciate that Viki's attraction to Sloan is rooted in intellect and character. It's a type of attraction that no amount of oiled muscles can compete with. 

Edited October 30Oct 30 by Maxim

Up to November 11th, 1992.

  🦩

"Breakdown № 2."

🔷

With Clint finally gone... Viki Buchanan's world has slipped into pure emotional chaos. As the old image of herself... the one of the perfect wife and mother crumbles... (an illusion which Tina called the "Saint")... a new one is starting to emerge. We are not talking about dissociative identity disorder, but a discovery of hidden desires and wants. This new Viki is a mystery. Is she a woman in love, someone who has finally become REAL and HUMAN like the rest of us, or is she transforming into a corrupted adulteress destined to destroy her family? This situation presents an impossible conflict, meaning that whatever choice she makes will inevitably cause a tragedy. This is the hardest and most complicated conflict you could write about. I admire the fact that they are executing it without missing a beat. The scene with Kevin begging her not to break their family, to not be like Leanne... was so raw and so authentic. I could feel his hurt and his fear... and I could also feel for Viki - for the amount of expectations and pressure this is putting on her again. Everyone wants her to be what they want HER to be for THEM. Nobody is letting her... just BE. 

🔷

Max Holden is now in Llanview, about to undergo surgery. That’s just the surface. There’s a whole other realm that’s kept hidden from all the normal people or the ones who take their medications. But we, the poor viewers, have to sit through it. A blend of fantasy, paranormal nonsense, and a sprinkle of schizophrenia... this Ghost vs Death circus is starting to get on my nerves. I see what they’re trying to do, so I’ll just close my eyes for this one. They love pulling this kind of craziness, by the way... Remember when Megan’s ghost was popping up everywhere trying to fix their lives? Now we’re stuck watching a showdown between Luna and Death. Not my cup of... whatever this is. I struggle not to fast-forward it. 

🔷

The war between Blair and Cain (the war of the parasites as I like to call it) is still going strong. And... it's not that it's getting old, it's just that they’ve been at this sparring match every single episode. The new twist is that Cain is putting on this act of being a reformed man and has promised to reunite Asa and Renee. I’m not opposed to that. BTW. I remember how entertaining the Renee-Asa codependent dynamic was. Ever since Asa got stuck with Blair... he’s been a total FLOP. They don’t even share kisses btw, not a SINGLE scene with any physical affection. All we hear about is his supposed sexual harassment towards her. But when he was with Renee, you could just FEEL the chemistry. Blair is way too cold and calculating for Asa. I had high hopes when she married him, but so far... - DEAD.  I’d rather watch another round of tipsy Asa and Renee screaming at him to quit drinking. 😂

🔷

Leanne Demerest and Jason are finally back together. Jason came back from jail to find a somewhat... changed Leanne. Something about her seems different... she's hiding things and acting all weird. But we all know what she's up to - secretly meeting Viki and the baby... Jason is not gonna like it when he discovers she's been lying to him. Speaking of lies... let's go back to Viki and Kevin - just imagine Kevin finding out about the betrayal his mother is pulling behind his back... this could really FINISH this family off.  

🔷

Oh and I almost forgot - Carlo... excuse me... Mortimer... has been getting more and more erections since he met Renee. Alex has tried to get some of that action for herself, but he's been running away. A 50 year old virgin man is no joke. I still cringe at the fact that these powerful actors are given this one note, cartoonish material. Especially Mortimer... the actor has so much more in him than this. Alex... well, she overacts in every single scene and at this point I think this is on purpose. We are supposed to think this woman is in a constant state of mania or something. If this is not on purpose, then YIKES. 

 Overall -  9.5/10!  (it would be a perfect 10 without the Death stuff)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Clip of the day

Victoria's world collapses.

14 minutes ago, Maxim said:

Leanne Demerest and Jason

You make a good case for Jason.  At the time, there were so many ponytailed male characters that I disliked in daytime (Rocco, Edge Jerome, Zach Hamilton, etc..).  So, I may have dismissed Jason unfairly as a member of that pack of actors.

Edited October 31Oct 31 by j swift