Most overly dramatic characters and scenes

[ReddFoxx]

Soaps are obviously supposed to be dramatic, but if the characters and scenes are done too melodramatic it can get funny. I was re-watching some old B&B clips of when Eric woke up from the coma after his heart attack and Donna was super dramatic. Stephanie had Thorne put her out the house and she yelling "I'M NEVER GIVING UP US! NEVER! NEVER!". That made me laugh so hard and now I'm interested in other overly dramatic scenes and characters, so please share.

[BetterForgotten]

While many would say this is in line with how Erica Kane would react - apparently the blue ribbon panel had a good laugh at this scene when Lucci submitted it as her Emmy reel that year. The soap press generally wasn’t that kind to Lucci around this time as well.

 

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[All My Shadows]

See, I've never read this scene as overdramatic or campy because in my 30-almost-31 years, I've gone to at least 20 funerals, and in my family, this is type of heart-wrenching grieving is extremely common. I actually find it hard to watch because it feels so real.

[ReddFoxx]

Somehow that scene did work for Erica and it does have a dose of realism to it. There are people who do become consumed enough by grief to react that way.

[AbcNbc247]

Stefano fighting the demon during Marlena's possession on DAYS. 

 

Joe Mascolo gave it his all, but I can't help but chuckle every time I watch it. Definitely needed some Wonder Bread to go with that ham and cheese 

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[Soapsuds]

Martha Byrne hands down....The Hans kidnapping where she overacts and screams all over the place.

 

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[titan1978]

Lots of soaps had characters that were larger than life, but the great ones knew how to walk that line.

 

On GH both Lucy and Tiffany could go over the top and had characterizations that were larger than life.  But I always felt they managed to reign it in.  Tony Geary used to be able too as well, until he became miserable shouty Luke during the latter JFP era.

 

Lucinda on ATWT was forgiven for sometimes hammy work.  For example, I never saw Larry Bryggman go anywhere near the camp of Hubbard.  I also think Kim Zimmer steps over the line on GL quite often.

 

Susan Lucci owns this type of thing.  It might have been in character, but that funeral was totally campy and lacking in grief completely.  I didn’t think so back then as much, but in isolation it really does scream over the top in a soap way.  It could have been an Emmy clip from Soapdish.

The scenes with Lily and Iva where she learns her parentage are so over the top from Lily, and yet Iva is there barely emoting, which creates this strange scene to watch.

Edited February 15, 2021 by titan1978

[jam6242]

I love her but it has to be Grayson Hall on Dark Shadows.

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[titan1978]

Oh my god!!!  That was great!  AAAAACCKKK

[ReddFoxx]

LOL, now that is hilarious. Bravo.

[Soapsuds]

The revelation of her parentage played off better when it originally aired. Now as I see again...it isn't that great. I thought Paul Lammers should've directed those episodes.

Edited February 15, 2021 by Soapsuds

[Faulkner]

Someone on another board used to compare Gina Tognoni’s facial expressions as Phyllis on Y&R to that of Dr. Julia Hoffman.

[beebs]

Not that the performance was particularly OTT, but the direction, and the FEKKING SPOTLIGHT???
 

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[juppiter]

 

What a queen

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[ReddFoxx]

B&B does tend to have dramatic direction. When Brooke saw that Taylor was alive the camera zoom ins were extra dramatic.

 

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Edited February 15, 2021 by ReddFoxx