Everything you've cited is exactly what I think these shows need to avoid. This soap fetish (I'm referring to the genre, not you) that every character on the canvas has to be tied by blood to the almighty core makes these shows closed off and incestuous. It also kills the possibility for diversity and I'm not referring just to racial diversity, I mean the diversity of the types of stories that can be told. When all of your characters come from the same primordial sea of two or three families with all those shared experiences you kill off the drama that comes from different kinds of people with different experiences bouncing off of each other and end up with a canvas full of people who all remember summers in Pigeon Hollow.

in theory IA with you but with a shorter show, less airtime and a limited cast, I think they should invest in characters than can serve multiple purposes/roles. One with ties fulfills this than just a random newbie.

Did someone seriously just suggest we should have Krystal instead of Jane? !@#$%^&*] no.

Where? No one said that

Not to pick on AMCHistory--but I believe that's exactly what they said...

I'm a guy, Eric! LOL.

You're right, "dire" is too exaggerated, as is my saying the whole school is against Miranda ... I think Miranda's style of making everything seem so horrible for her was rubbing off on me, not that that's an excuse. Also, yes, it's still early days for the story.

I do still think David/Angie was the only good story in the episode though, and perhaps in the show overall so far right now. I also continue to have concerns about the young actors.

Thanks for the explanation--I see your point somewhat (though I think the youth dialogue has been better this week--after two episodes anyway--than last.) I will say as much as I seem to fight most points with you, I actually, perhaps oddly, look forward to reading your reviews.

I stand by my statement. I would have rather saw Krystal and the BJ's set back over a newbie like Jane. I think that Cheap hit it on the head, this is a short-show, I would rather a character be able to fit more than just one role a be more than just a glorified extra.

Even Myrtle was more than just a "listening ear" at her inception. She was Kelly's surrogate mother. She was Lincoln's surrogate mother. She was a thorn in Langley and Phoebe's side. Her days as the town Sage came around much later. They played up her relationship to the Tyler family throught the 80's until the majority fell off the canvas.

Uh KWAK was a newbie at one time.

but on that note I'll take Jane over KWAK any day. THe show can stay Carey twit free as far as I'm concerned.

Even Myrtle was more than just a "listening ear" at her inception. She was Kelly's surrogate mother. She was Lincoln's surrogate mother. She was a thorn in Langley and Phoebe's side. Her days as the town Sage came around much later. They played up her relationship to the Tyler family throught the 80's until the majority fell off the canvas.

Myrtle was a lot of things. Enemy to Phoebe, surrogate mother to Erica, town feminist, business owner, voice of reason, etc... my point is that she was allowed to grow into all those roles. The fact that Jane isn't on the frontburner right now isn't a drawback. It's good. We get to slowly watch her develop relationships with the people of PV so that when she finally does come to the forefront it will make sense. I'd rather watch Jane become important to the canvas than be handed a character like Lanie and told that she's important because of her pedigree. It's the CJ Holden Syndrome all over again.

What happened to letting a character become important? At least she isnt being shoved down our throats.

I stand by my statement. I would have rather saw Krystal and the BJ's set back over a newbie like Jane. I think that Cheap hit it on the head, this is a short-show, I would rather a character be able to fit more than just one role a be more than just a glorified extra.

Even Myrtle was more than just a "listening ear" at her inception. She was Kelly's surrogate mother. She was Lincoln's surrogate mother. She was a thorn in Langley and Phoebe's side. Her days as the town Sage came around much later. They played up her relationship to the Tyler family throught the 80's until the majority fell off the canvas.

I guess I have two arguments--though I see your point. One is, that I would hope this show would never become the incestuous romp that B&B is. Check out the original AMC cast--there are a few contract actors (and Jane's not contract) who went nowhere and seemed to just be nurses, etc. I don't know if that's a bad thing at all.

But my second point is I suspect Jane does have a key function in the show and we just haven't seen it yet.

Myrtle was a lot of things. Enemy to Phoebe, surrogate mother to Erica, town feminist, business owner, voice of reason, etc... my point is that she was allowed to grow into all those roles. The fact that Jane isn't on the frontburner right now isn't a drawback. It's good. We get to slowly watch her develop relationships with the people of PV so that when she finally does come to the forefront it will make sense. I'd rather watch Jane become important to the canvas than be handed a character like Lanie and told that she's important because of her pedigree. It's the CJ Holden Syndrome all over again.

who is CJ Holden?

I'd really rather not see Krystal or BJ's ever again.

who is CJ Holden?

OLTL, silly. The character everyone constantly wants, or is told rumours about that any new male character will be his return. No matter that since he left the show as a kid, he really doesn't have any clear personality, etc.

OLTL, silly. The character everyone constantly wants, or is told rumours about that any new male character will be his return. No matter that since he left the show as a kid, he really doesn't have any clear personality, etc.

there is no character on OLTL called CJ Holden. Now there is a CJ Roberts

Well, they did intend to bring him back at least once or twice in the last ten years. But yes, when everyone these days (or in the last five years) assumes any white male under 40 coming to OLTL is C.J. - I just don't think that's going to happen. (And his name is Roberts.)

I'd really rather not see Krystal or BJ's ever again.

I'd rather not see Krystal give BJ's ever again.