GH: Discussion for the Month of April

[VirginiaHamilton]

As for Jasus being a victim of bad writing, please. Ron is simply writing that character as he truly is - a bullying asshat that thinks nothing of disrespecting women. I haven't a clue why folks are appalled by the way he's treating his wife, as this is the same jackass that thought nothing of threatening to kill her a few years ago.

As far as I'm concerned, this sounds like just another day in Jasus-land.

[DRW50]

I'm not even sure if Jason is being written negatively. This is how RC wrote Rex for years, and there was never any doubt that he saw Rex as a hero.

I understand that, but I thought you were talking about online reactions in general.

[EricMontreal22]

I think part of it is the fact that it IS the same writing. And there doesn't seem to be any momentum to slowly change that fact... If Sam had someone else in her life who talked to Sam about the fact that she's really the one suffering here (aside from a few mumbles from John), that could at least help offset the story.

[VirginiaHamilton]

I actually find that things happen a lot quicker than they used to. Under the previous regime, it would've taken Sonny weeks to find out about Konnie and Johnny.

[DRW50]

McTavish always told stories which said rape was an act of violence.

I've never seen RC tell a story like that. The closest was when he brought back Zach and Powell, to remind viewers that Todd was not the "only" rapist.

Every other rape storyline RC has told has been about how women are confused and cry rape, and men are hot and horny victims of those silly crazy ladies.

[VirginiaHamilton]

I am speaking generally, as I take the reactions of various online sources into account.

As for Ron's depiction of that dummy, Rex, I didn't think that Ron was trying to get me to root for him as a hero. Rather, I thought that Ron was trying to get me to take Rex seriously as a lead character when he was best served as "comic relief" that viewers saw once in a while. Though it sucks just as much as wanting viewers to consider him a "hero", I don't think it is the same thing at all.

[DRW50]

I do think he saw Rex as a hero, especially with the endless regurgitations about going back in time to save true love, but that show is dead anyway, so I guess it's moot. I just can't help seeing any misogyny or cruelty towards women as being RC's idea of heroism. The "bad" guys are usually clearly marked as such, and it's not based on how they treat women.

[Mr. Vixen]

I know I'm in the minority at SON, but I really REALLY miss Kirsten Storms

[EricMontreal22]

McTavish used rape too often as an audience sympathizer (unlikeable person is raped and then sorta redeemed) but to be fair, that's a soap--and drama in general--stape, one that Nixon and Bell and Philips (and Tennessee Williamd and Arthur Miller) used all the time. But as you say, they never showed it as not being an act of violence (well Bell had the questionable one on DAYS in the early 70s).

[R Sinclair]

That, in and of itself, is the reason I've always had a problem with her rape stories. They were definite acts of violence, however used to punish female characters. Allegedly, when she came to GH, McTavish was going to have Sonny's bodyguard Johnny rape Alexis -- but MB and NLG voiced their objections loudly to JFP. Instead, JFP/McT rewrote it that Johnny betrayed Sonny and was "removed" from his organization and in came Max.

[DRW50]

That's true, although I think, in her last AMC stint, that did change somewhat, as Bianca's rape was not to punish her. I do think that she overused rape, and some of the stories were so poorly done, like the Kit Fisher one, that even she said she made a mistake (that was the one where they had Tad reveal she had once falsely accused him of rape).

[EricMontreal22]

I know this is a very off topic and not liked opinion on here--but the original plan pre McTavish of AMC having Kendall be the rape victim, and eventually, I assume, redeeming her, I think wa a lot less interesting. Partly, of course, because it seemed obvious Bianca as a sexually attractive lesbian character was not something the networks could deal with anyway.I thought the way Bianca's rape was handled, from her, and the reaction of everyone around her even the silly murder plot was the last time the subject has been handled decently on soaps (which, granted, OLTL under Higley and Carlivati did, or tried to, a half dozen times after).

[EricMontreal22]

Anyway even I know it's silly to excuse some of McTavish's worst stories just because RC seems to take them to cartooney new levels

[Skin]

Don't forget Blair either. Liza and Colby also lied about saying they were raped as well on AMC. This Johnny/Kate thing is a mess though. I don't even know how we are supposed to feel about it. I don't think Johnny is necessarily blameless but at the same time I have a hard time seeing it as a true form of rape because of both the blackmail and Connie wanting it.

Isn't that what all rape is? The attacker punishing the victim because they are angry with them? Rape at it's core is all about power and humiliation of the victim. Can that really be McT fault? I also don't think all of her rape stories were necessarily about punishment. Erica and Bianca were her two cornerstone stories and they weren't about punishment but about adding further dimensions into their characterization.

I agree. Bianca's Rape while harrowing was a very well told story. Having Kendell be raped storywise would have been redundant and unnecessary.

[Juliajms]

I'd say somewhere in between. They have had a couple of good conversations where Luke has shown real concern for his daughter, as opposed to the way he would have said "it's her life, her choice, what happens happens" in the past. I'm not saying it's perfect or at the level a lot of people might like. It is a noticeable change though, imo. I like to think of it as a damn good start.