The Decline and Fall of the Monty Empire
Week Six (Feb. 3-7, 1986) -- Part I
Stella: "Sometimes this house is just too big."
Monica: "(after she exits) And too lonely."
Sean vs. the Quartermaines, the Alan & Monica stuff: Leslie Charleson wins the acting crown for this week with her heartbreaking work as Monica reaches what feels like the end of her marriage. This isn't the first time she's been there, and it won't be the last -- Jason's parentage even gets a shout-out! -- but it's being written and played as if the depths of despair are new. I'm giving special attention to that moment when Monica looks at herself in a hallway mirror with resigned acceptance -- there's little to nothing left at the Q mansion, so she's going to sleep with Sean. I know that eventually we'll get to the extreme stuff, namely Alan faking his death and trying to set up Monica for murder, but right now, their estrangement feels real and relatable. It's things like Monica feeling like she's being taken advantage of, or Alan and Monica disagreeing on if the marriage is worth saving, and exactly how to do so.
Alan: "... Have you lost all interest in me physically?"
Monica: "Oh, hey, wait a minute, pal, we haven't even gotten to that area yet."
Thursday's episode includes Monica and Sean doing the deed. "How could I regret feeling alive again?"
Sean vs. the Quartermaines, the Celia stuff: Most of Sean's airtime this week is devoted to conning Edward, Alan, and Celia. Dimitri Cassadine comes to town, and the Qs are tricked into holding a dinner party for Sean's phony illustrious guest. Leading up to it, Celia is encouraged by Edward to get friendly with Dimitri. I still think it's sleazy, but there is something fascinating about Celia accepting that it's something she must do for the good of the family and that type of actions and behavior are just what a Quartermaine does/who a Quartermaine is*. I don't regularly watch the current show, but I still read the discussions, and it feels like Celia's scenes at this point in 1986 work thematically with what's going on in 2026.
*Lila's apparently the exception. Monica notes that Lila probably wouldn't have did what she did at the party, spill champagne on Dimitri so that his suit jacket would have to be removed and quickly taken away. The jacket was containing sham papers that Sean & Dimitri knew that Edward & Alan would want to see.
I've got some errands to run, so I'll give my thoughts on Laurelton, Frisco & Felicia, and the Mike situation a little later. I just wanted to get down my thoughts on the Qs stuff while it was fresh in my mind.
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Franko ·
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