| "Reflections by Jill" - A Weekly Commentary on OLTL | |
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REFLECTIONS
BY JILL…..
Did you ever stop to think about how many characters on OLTL are out to “get someone?” Well, I have and the list is endless! It seems as though the need for retribution is the theme that runs through most of the storylines we are seeing these days so this week, let’s talk about REVENGE….who’s looking for it….who will do anything to get it….who deserves to finally get some….and who really needs to get a life and find another source of entertainment!
Now, don’t we all wish that when someone annoys us we could just do what sweet little Starr Manning does and send them a sack of “you know what”, or fill their tub with some live piranhas? Well, I’ll admit it…I’ve thought about it…LOL…but of course, I’d never do anything so mean…not me…but for Llanview’s deadliest citizens, Starr’s antics are just “child’s play.”
I think I’ll start with those folks…the loveliest of human beings who live to get revenge…and although it was a toss up for first place, I have to give that honor to…
Todd Manning – Isn’t this man’s middle name “revenge?” It was almost too tough a decision to pick who would be my choice for the biggest revenge seeker, but I finally had to give the honor to Todd because he actually has a “Get” list…remember?…Get Sam, Get Viki, Get Ben, Get Skye…who the heck else was on that wacky list anyway? Todd beat out #2 by far because he just wants to get everyone and doesn’t even always have a good reason. He even bites the hands that feed him. He doesn’t have anyone who cares about him as much as Viki and Sam do….and I know all you Todd fans are now screaming “Blair”, but if she has any sense left in her head, she will make him suffer Big Time for what he has recently done to her. What a guy…leaving a pregnant woman writhing in pain on the floor, begging for help and running away with her child, which he knows is killing her. At least most of the other people Todd goes after have a good enough support system (Viki, Ben, Sam, Nora) that they can bounce back from even Todd’s nastiest blows, but Blair doesn’t have anyone, especially since Kelly has gone. And I surely don’t call Max a support system…geez. Compared to Todd, Blair is a relationship expert. How many times is he going to shoot himself in the foot before he realizes that getting revenge on those he thinks deserve it is not giving him what he wants…or what he thinks he wants? He has tried to ruin the lives of people who never even did anything to him…Rae, Skye, Ben…Rae tried to help him and Ben did nothing but love his sister. Skye…well, she was enough to annoy anyone into making trouble for her…LOL. I think the only time I applauded Todd was when he tried to blow Max out of the water with that “Max Buchanan is a Fraud” computer bug…and that really fizzled out. He never even hurt Max…the one guy who I wouldn’t mind seeing knocked down a peg….or 10!
OK…the #2 spot has to go to…
Asa Buchanan – who would be very miffed that he didn’t make the #1 spot on my list. Asa, you old coot…before the Rappadavidson’s came to Llanview, I would have let you be the big man in town and I would have chuckled at your lust for revenge because you used to only wipe out the people who wronged you….but not any more. You ornery old codger…you have been merciless in trying to extinguish the people I love most in Llanview and I am not a very forgiving soul when it comes to those people getting hurt…SORRY! I will applaud you a little bit…just a little…for trying to get back at Max, because even when his number was up and he was exposed as the fraud of the decade, he blackmailed you in the Intensive Care Unit after heart attack #43…and that’s not a very familiarial thing to do….as Harry the Hook would say. And Asa, as far as Max goes…with all the moolah you have and all the people on your payroll, why the heck are you the one behind the camera taping the Max/Gabby romp? Doing your own dirty work these days? I am impressed! Do me a favor and stick to wiping out Max. Leave the Rappadavidsons alone for 5 minutes….and could you do me another big favor and wipe out Gabrielle at the same time as Max? Maybe adjoining cells for the two of them would be good…you know…tell them to use the cell you belong in and never stepped a foot in! Come on…after the stunts you’ve pulled, getting rid of Max and Gabby should be a piece of cake for an old sidewinder like you.
Since this list is a bit unbalanced and lacking in female blondes…LOL…we must discuss “Madame Revenge”….you know her, you love her…well, I know one person who loves her (and you know who you are). The #3 spot goes to none other than…
Lindsay Rappaport – We need to talk about Lindsay, because since I last wrote about her, she’s moved up in the world….she’s high-tech now. Do you think she knows how to turn on a computer? It’s amazing how much trouble she can make being totally ignorant. That woman has got talent. She is out to get Cris in the worst way and for the life of me, I don’t get it. I know she thinks he’s beneath Jen and I know he makes Lindsay uncomfortable because he’s “good” and he sees every one of her nasty flaws…but she’d be a lot better off if she just left Jen and Cris alone. If seeing a naked woman in Cris’ arms didn’t send Jen running, I can’t wait to see Lindsay and Chad’s next move. What Cris doesn’t get yet is that when he corners Lindsay, she doesn’t get scared…it drives her to get even nastier. Or does he know that. He sure has proven to us that he’s sharper than we ever gave him credit for. When will Lindsay learn? I was hoping that Chad would turn the tables on her and blackmail her for some bucks to keep quiet…he’s not very bright, is he? Why does he think anyone would care at this point if Lindsay revealed that he helped move Colin’s body? He’s not much of a match for our Lindsay, is he?
What Lindsay did in front of her family and Cris’ family was disgusting. Her need for revenge overrides anything else…her children’s feelings, her reputation (I know, what reputation?) and any desire she might have to be accepted as a human being in the community. What she did to Bo, Nora and anyone else is, in my book, small potatoes in comparison to hurting her own children. They are keeping the most disgusting of secrets for their mother…knowing what she did to Nora…and it doesn’t even bother her. I just might have to rethink this list and move her above the old cowboy.
Time to add some newbies to the list…we have a new dynamic duo in Llanview…
Seth and Natalie – What the heck are these two up to…and why do they hate Jessica so much…or should I say…why does Natalie hate her so much? Do you really think she could be the real daughter of Clint and Viki? I’m kind of agreeing with the people who are speculating that she looks a lot like Allison Perkins and could be her daughter. This is obviously a major revenge plot that could have serious repercussions. Natalie is convincing, in my opinion, as the girl who grew up with nothing and has a chip on her shoulder about everyone who has more than a bus pass and a dollar in their pocket. Seth…I’m not so sure about him. I could possibly see him down the line being one of those “bad boys” that is “reformed” by the good girl…but then would Natalie let Jessica live???? And does Seth appear to have the potential to be the guy that Jessica deserves? I don’t see it…but he might prove me wrong. At this point, he’s got a lot of work to do to make me even want to see him on my screen. I want to know what his stake is in Natalie’s revenge against Jessica. Does he love Natalie? Is he just in this for the money he thinks she’s going to “inherit?” They don’t really convince me…but I can sure see that little Natalie making some big trouble with her sweet smile and “poor me” attitude. She’s already laying it on for Ben…you’d think his antenna would go up just a bit when someone lays it on that thick…especially after Gina Russo. Ben, I adore you, but try to catch on this time before someone gets kidnapped…or worse!!!!
There are plenty more people in Llanview who live for revenge….hey, Colin is still doing it from the grave. And Troy better watch his derriere because everyone wants a piece of his hide and I don’t mean in a good way….LOL. He’s been in town 2 days and people have tried to murder him twice already. People are taking revenge on him who don’t even know who the poor guy is. He’s going to get quite a complex. And by the way…what’s with Colin leaving his brother a fortune? He haunted Lindsay for every nickel she could blackmail out of Asa because he had no money…Colin, you sneaky little devil…and I do mean that, literally. Then there’s Gabrielle…oh Pretzel, I cannot even stand to watch you embarrass yourself and me any more. What does she want more…revenge on Max or Max in her bed? Gee, tough questions…Max….Asa’s Money….Max….Asa’s Money. What’s a girl to do? Oh, and let’s not forget Blair…she’s out to get Max AND Todd…she has such a fun life…I actually hope she swats them both like flies. I know she’s protecting herself against Todd right now, but I’d still love to see Max get what’s coming to him for what he did to Blair with Skye. Maybe Blair can give Troy a run for his money…literally…we all know how much Blair worships the almighty dollar….and Troy is sure going to have plenty.
NOW…for my favorite part….those nearest and dearest to my heart whose revenge, if they had the guts to exact it, would warm my heart. Let’s start with my two favorites…
Viki and Ben – Ok, Viki should start with Todd and shut him out of her life for a while…just long enough for him to realize he should treat her like the wonderful person and sister that she is. Then…and I know the Viki and Ben fans don’t agree with me…I want Viki to have the satisfaction of seeing Gina pay for what she did. Yell at me all you want…I know you like Gina where she is…dead as a doorknob…but Viki has no peace since Gina went over that cliff and in my opinion, Gina got away easy. I say drag Gina’s sorry butt out of the river (maybe she’s been living washed up on an island somewhere…LOL…do they have islands in Pennsylvania?) and let her come back to town long enough for Viki to get on the witness stand and finish her off for good. Oh, and Viki could have the pleasure of shaving Gina’s head before they lock her up. Hey, what about Gina sharing a cell with Lindsay? Oooh…what’s wrong with me today? Writing about revenge is really giving me ideas. Viki needs to take her life back and Allison Perkins sure isn’t helping her do that.
Oh, did I forget to talk about Ben? Silly me…well, let’s do that. I wouldn’t mind Ben taking a swipe at Todd either for hurting Viki all the time and for blowing his secret out of the water at that fiasco of a wedding Todd and Blair had…boy, am I going to get blasted this week. Todd fans, I’m sorry, but he needs a good smack lately. Oh, and while we’re talking about Ben, let’s just say that after Asa tried to have him killed at his own wedding, there’s not a lot Ben could do to Asa that I’d object to…unless it sent him to jail and took him away from Viki. I think Ben should at least tape Asa’s mouth shut for a few months so we wouldn’t have to hear him using those horrible nicknames he has for everyone…you know the ones I mean, “little lady”, “WOMAN”, “fillie”, “Sammy Boy”, “Davidson trash”…and the one that makes my ears hurt most, “BENJI.” Ben, I don’t think you can go to jail for assault with a deadly roll of duct tape….GO FOR IT!
The following guy should have been #1 on this list because his revenge is going to be so sweet…but Viki and Ben always come first with me…LOL. Nevertheless, this guy has got my full attention and my sore hands from applauding him…and he is…
Cristian – Not since Nora Buchanan has anyone be so “on to Lindsay” as Cris is and I am just loving it. She can’t get away with jaywalking with him around. I know she’s got more in store for him, but I am praying for him to get some solid proof of what she’s up to…and I know he and Antonio can get Chad to turn on her. I think Cristian deserves the “Llanview Award for Excellence in Mathematics” for being one of the very, very few good guys in Llanview who knows how to put 2 and 2 together and actually get 4. Go Cris! His revenge would be the sweetest of all. Oh, and let’s not forget that while Cris is getting Lindsay, he should save a punch or two for Will…how cocky he was and how mean when he found that website in front of both of their families…as if he never did anything stupid for money. And he really did what he was accused of. Hey Will, does the name Roseanne and the measly sum of $35,000 ring a bell?
We can’t talk about Cris getting revenge without talking about….
Jen – Someone needs to bust this girl’s bubble and Cris is just the guy to do it. Jen’s shining moment was when she got her mother to confess to Colin’s murder by threatening to expose what she did to Nora. So what if Lindsay really didn’t kill Colin. Nora just beat her to it. Jen needs to remember just what kind of a woman her momma is and write her off for good. I know that getting revenge on your mama can’t make a person feel very good, but at least Jen would be able to live her life without delusions about her mother.
No list of deserved revenge would be complete without giving a little satisfaction to….
Nora – Boy, if anyone deserves to exact a little revenge it’s Nora. Maybe when Cris gets through with Lindsay, Nora can toss her around a little bit. Frankly, I think Nora’s happiness with Sam is going to be annoying enough for Lindsay. No matter what she’s done to Nora, Nora still finds her happiness and I am just adoring her new relationship with Sam. What a great scene at the airport this week when Matthew told her to kiss Sam goodbye. Wow, I haven’t enjoyed a budding romance this much since…well, do I have to tell you? I think Nora being happy will continue to kill Lindsay…so that’s enough for me. What’s is it that they say?….Living well is the best revenge!
Now there is one huge group of people who I’m thinking might deserve a little revenge…or maybe that’s too harsh a word to use. That huge group of people who deserve a little ‘SATISFACTION’ is US…the loyal viewers. We sit day after day watching our show and although I can think of several things I like about the show, I’d like for us to be heard…A LOT MORE! For example…was it necessary for us to be without Ben for what…6 weeks this summer? Was there a point to “Summer School at Llanview University?” Lord help me…do we have to continue to watch Gabrielle throw herself at Max? Were we supposed to be as intrigued by Max and Gabby on the card table as we were by Ben and Viki on the pool table? (Sorry, couldn’t resist!) Can Blair finally tell Todd the truth and can he shut up and sit still long enough to listen? I think that TPTB owe us a little satisfaction…after all…we are among the ones who have stuck around….can’t say that about everyone!
See
ya next week….
Jill
FAN FEEDBACK AND
QUESTIONS
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Melanie writes: “Jill, I really enjoy your comments on TPTB, and how they (if they paid attention to the OLTL fans) could make the show better. I was disappointed however on how little you said about the rumor that Natalie is actually Jessica Buchanan. I understand that it is still an unconfirmed rumor, but if it turns out to be fact a whole lot of OLTL fans will be hysterically upset (to say the least)! I for one will stop watching the show all together! TPTB have been changing characters around to fit storylines for quite sometime now. The personality changes are really making the show into something that people like me who have been a fan of OLTL for many years don't care to tune in for. But messing around with a character like J.B. is really going to far! I would really love to hear your opinion on the storyline, and the writers who are taking the show in an awful direction.”
Dear
Melanie: I totally agree with you that if it turns out that Jessica is not
Clint and Viki’s daughter, a lot of people will be tremendously angry…MYSELF
INCLUDED! I won’t stop watching…I’ll just hope that even if they go in that
direction, they ultimately find out that it’s not true. Like I said above, I go
more for the theory that Natalie is the daughter of Allison Perkins and is out
for revenge since she feels her mother’s life was ruined because of Viki. Who
knows? I also agree that they have lost the essence of who some of the
characters are, simply for plotline purposes and I hate when that happens. Stay
tuned…I am the cockeyed optimist who still believes we’re going to get a fair
shake…one of these years.
_______________
Brenda writes: “Jill, I don't have a question, but a comment. Lawrence Lau is a terribly weak actor. I loved him in the All My Children Jenny/Greg storyline many, many years ago. But, hey, I was just a teenager and didn't have discerning tastes regarding acting. As a woman in her mid-forties, I recognize the weakness in his acting ability, especially when you compare him to a Roger Howarth or a Ty Treadway or even a James DePaiva. It is unfortunate that such a nice-looking package doesn't come with stronger acting skills. Thanks for allowing me to disagree with you.”
Dear
Brenda: I welcome comments from anyone who disagrees with me. That’s what
makes this job interesting. I do have to say though, that we sure don’t agree
about Larry Lau. I find him totally endearing and I have come to a point where
I no longer compare him to Kale Brown, whom I love so much. Comparing him to
Kale did not allow me to give him a chance as Sam, and since I love the
character of Sam, I gave Lau a shot and I am not disappointed. I think he’s
doing a good job as Sam and has adapted graciously to a role that was vacated by
a beloved actor, as well as a good friend of his.
_______________
Gerry writes: “Hi Jill, Now that Melanie (Darlene Vogel) is leaving the show (this makes me happy) I just never liked this character...Anyway do you think it is possible that BO AND NORA can get back together (I love Bo and Nora) I also like Sam but I still would LOVE to see BO AND NORA Together Again...Thank you for your weekly story, I just love reading it and I DO AGREE with you on every topic.”
Dear Gerry: Thank you for the nice compliment. I’m sorry that Darlene Vogel is leaving the show and I guess anything is possible, even a Bo/Nora reunion. Since I’m very fond of Sam and Nora, my hope is for them to be together…but you never know…on OLTL we’ve seen that anything can happen…whether we like it or not. I do want very much for Bo to have a nice woman in his life. Bo is one of my favorites and I think if he doesn’t have Melanie or Nora, then TPTB should not waste him…they should give him a great storyline with a great romance. He does that so well.
