The channel releasing the Loving videos has Christmas, 1985. It was nice to see some of the Johnny Forbes story. I don't think there is anything more than one video so far (#78) from that period. I do wish we saw the Christmas at the Rescotts since it sounds like Sheri and Tug Watley are in town, but it is hard for me to tell if that was even something they showed onscreen. I did chuckly how they had Isabelle make the point that (bought) Johnny Forbes looks nothing like his parents only for Cabot to claim a stake on the child's appearance given that Jack's adoption was well known.
I haven't seen all of the video, but it looks like one of the other Beecham brothers is in town for Christmas (maybe Judd). It's so bizarre to me how the show quickly threw out Linc, Zona, and Rebekah and shortly after brought Judd back. I wonder if Nixon had plans to bring Rebekah back because Rebekah vs. Ava is the real story, especially if you go down the rabbit hole of having Gwyn trying to "reform" Ava to make her acceptable to Rebekah to keep Ava / Curtis apart only for Curtis to be further drawn to the new Ava.
1986 is such an odd year. The best material is Gwyn's Monkey's Paw esque story where her arranging Steve Sowolsky's release on the contingency that her daughter Trisha and Steve stay apart has landed Trisha in the arms, and bed, or gangster Nick Dinatos. Gendleman doesn't completely work for me as Nick; he masters the sleaze but not the danger. He would work better in the Gus role, the henchman. Trisha popping uppers and basically being forced to go to bed with Nick is unpleasant, mostly because, like almost everythign else in 1986, there is no long term ramifications. I do like Gwyn having to admit that Steve / Trisha were preferable to Trisha / Nick, though honestly Nick seems more like the type that Gwyn might actually go to bed with.
I have no idea what the point of Jack's brain tumor story was. Maybe it was a contract negotiation tactic? I know that when Perry Stephens leaves in 1990, it is of Stephens accord. He stated in the summer of 1990 he was getting married and intended to leave the show unless he was made an offer he couldn't refuse. I wonder if the plan was to dump Jack if they needed to in 1986. In late 1990/early 1990 episodes (low 80s I believe), we see a hint of what I assume is Jack's exit story which is Stacey reporting that Jack went down to San Felipe to investigate General Ramirez, who they suspect is behind the faulty airline parts, and has disappeared. I imagine when Jack returns in January, 1991, it is Christopher Cass in the role.
I do like that there is a hint of a softer version of Ava, as played by Roya Megnot, in the aftermath of the baby Johnny story. I think that was smart. And Megnot did very well in her 1990 appearances as a version of Peluso's more mature Ava that I wish they had skipped Alex / Ava and tried something different in the late 1980s (mainly a Curtis / Ava redux or Ava / Rick).
It was nice seeing a blonder Dorothy Stinette as Rose supporting Stacey during the birth of J.J. It's a shame how quickly the Donovans were deconsturcted, and how much of their return visits were often lost to history until recently. The show maintained a lot of that sort of quiet continuity into the 1990s. I was shocked to hear Ava try to track down Jack because Judd needed papers signed for Forbes Construction. I believe Dane is back in control of Forbes in those 1990 episodes or maybe it's just mentioned during Rick's condo storyline in 1989-1990.
On that note, there really is such a line in the sand once the college kid part of Fran Sears reset occurs in 1992. I feel like a lot of old Loving is lost after Walsh arrives. Det. Hindman is last seen in 1991. As are Rose and Patrick Donovan. I don't think Forbes Construction is around either. We do get some returns (Alex, Curtis, Sheri), but there seems like 1992 could be used a demarcation point for the show.
It's great seeing more 1991. I think it brings us almost to the last episode of Jacqueline Babbin's run. I believe I have an episode several days later where Fran Sears is credited. I haven't watched all of the 1991 stuff, but it sounds like Howie Miller, the district attorney, is suggesting that even though Monty did in fact kill himself with the overdose, it was most likely someone in the family who switched the vials.
I hope the uploader continues.
By
dc11786 ·
