This is something I think we've all noticed across all the soaps. In soap families with two or more siblings, there is almost always that one sibling who is given more attention, considering, or passes, either from the parents or from the show's PTB. And usually, all of this comes at the expense of the other sibling(s).

Perhaps the most obvious example would be B&B's Ridge, but who would be other examples?

GH: Jason Quartermaine/Morgan and Michael Corinthos III/Quartermaine

Days: Would Daniel Jonas count?

Santa Bianca, AMC

Jessica, OLTL

Edited July 3, 201510 yr by SFK

GH: Jason Quartermaine/Morgan and Michael Corinthos III/Quartermaine

Days: Would Daniel Jonas count?

No, considering he's a retcon and has only been an only child on the show. Maggie's other kids havent been on in years so we havent seen him get golden child status against them, even though I dont doubt that he would

OLTL: Jessica

This is a tough question, because in many cases said child never had siblings for most of the time they were most heavily spoilt (Lily Snyder). Or the character's siblings were written out for lengthy periods of time (like Lily, or Tad on AMC).

It's not actually as common as I thought on soaps...

Edited July 3, 201510 yr by DRW50

This is a tough question, because in many cases said child never had siblings for most of the time they were most heavily spoilt (Lily Snyder). Or the character's siblings were written out for lengthy periods of time (like Lily, or Tad on AMC).

It's not actually as common as I thought on soaps...

Yeah, it's hard to judge because I don't think it's fair to compare the situation of a child who grew up in the family (Bianca, AMC/Jessica,OLTL) to one who was discovered when she showed up as a grown adult (Kendall/Natalie respectively).

But my answer to the question is AMC's Greenlee. She was pampered, coddled and endlessly forgiven no matter what family that bony bitch was shoved into.

This is a tough question, because in many cases said child never had siblings for most of the time they were most heavily spoilt (Lily Snyder). Or the character's siblings were written out for lengthy periods of time (like Lily, or Tad on AMC).

It's not actually as common as I thought on soaps...

See, and that's actually what got me started thinking about this. I was listening to some radio episodes of GL this morning during my workout, and I had never realized that Trudy Bauer was Bill and Meta's sister. So, of course, I started thinking, "Why did they never bring her back or her children/grandchildren on later during the run of the show?" Then I started thinking of all of the "other siblings" who were phased out on different soaps in favor of focusing on just one sibling, his/her family, etc. Trudy and Meta were phased out in favor of Bill and his family, on ATWT, Penny and Don were phased out in favor of Bob and his family, on AMC, Paul was phased out in favor of Joe and his family, and then to a lesser degree, Tara and Jeff were phased out in favor of Tad and his family. This doesn't necessarily make them the "golden" child, but there was definitely a decision made at some point that these particular characters had "enough" of whatever to make it as the center point of the family while the others were written out and largely forgotten.

The biggest one is B&B's Ridge

Jamie and Amanda on AW

All the Capwell children BUT Mason on Santa Barbara

Caitlin on Sunset Beach

Carrie on Days

I was listening to some radio episodes of GL this morning during my workout,,,

Edited July 3, 201510 yr by All My Shadows

I totally agree about the Capwell kids on SB. Mason was the firstborn - but while Channing got a horse for Christmas when they were kids, Mason got a suit!! "I hated that suit!" LOL

Frank Ryan - RH

Jill and Faith Coleridge - RH

Lily Walsh - ATWT

Edited July 3, 201510 yr by amybrickwallace

Yeah, it's hard to judge because I don't think it's fair to compare the situation of a child who grew up in the family (Bianca, AMC/Jessica,OLTL) to one who was discovered when she showed up as a grown adult (Kendall/Natalie respectively).

You dont have to compare Jessica to Natalie. Jessica was favored period. Kevin never got the same level of treatment from Viki, (although that was primarily in comparison to Todd). Still he wasnt looked favorably on or given many free passes, whereas Princess Jessica was

Yeah, when I mentioned Jessica, I was thinking as far back as the Erin Torpey days. They did begin to give Kevin that dickish snark which fluctuated and made him less easy to like at times. The major point of contention with Joey was his relationship with Dorian, but he was for all intents and purposes a very kind soul. Erika Slezak said she missed his presence on the show because that kind of young man was sorely missing in daytime. But when Jessica started going through her teen rebellious streak and would be so unkind to Viki, it used to break my heart.

B&B:Ridge, Steffy, Liam,Hope

DOOL;Carrie, Belle

PSSNS:Charity,Ethan,Whitney

I feel like there are more, but these are the ones that popped into my head..