| "Reflections by Jill" - A Weekly Commentary on OLTL | |
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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….
This week we’re going to do a little comparison of the two major powerhouse characters (in my opinion) on OLTL...how they differ and how, surprisingly enough, they are alike. Are you trying to guess who these two characters are? One is the woman you can’t help but love and the other is the man you just love to hate. Still guessing? I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now....I’m talking about VIKI DAVIDSON AND ASA BUCHANAN!!!
I know, Viki and Asa are a study in contradiction, but they do have a lot in common....well, we can talk about that later and see if you agree with me.
First, let’s talk about the old coot, Asa. I’ve been wanting to write about him for months now and I didn’t do it because for the longest time I could feel nothing for him but powerful disdain (I hate the word “hatred”...lol). I have never really gotten over the fact that Asa was responsible for Grace’s death...but somehow, with the miracle of time, I have been able to soften a bit where Asa is concerned. I never thought I’d say that, especially since I could have strangled him myself last year when he put that hit out on Ben and almost had he and Viki killed at their beautiful wedding. I think the fact that Asa’s hatred for Ben has abated to the point where they can actually sit in a room and talk to each other without snarling, has reminded me a bit of the old Asa...the guy who loves his family above all else and no matter who or what they are, he takes care of them to the death…and these days that includes his own “death.” From the moment he hired those bodyguards for Ben (during the Gina debacle), we all knew that was Asa’s way of taking care of his son. And he did deserve it when Ben “threw” those bodyguards back in his face...but it was a beginning, albeit a clumsy attempt on Asa’s part to make amends.
One thing about Asa...he’s a man who loves revenge. He’s a conniver, a dirty dealer and a would-be killer...lol...and he just has to do things his own way. Of course, he could have easily sent Max to jail for fraud for all that time that Max duped him into thinking he was his real son. So big deal...Max was holding it over Asa’s head that he knew about him putting the hit out on Ben. Asa still hasn’t gone to trial for setting up Will, so there’s no way Hank would get around to prosecuting him for trying to kill Ben before his life ran out. So, Asa just goes and devises a little plan to have Max “kill him.” That is so “Asa” isn’t it? Ever the Drama King. He never stops...but is he losing a bit of his edge in his twilight years?
NOW...as is always a pleasure...let’s talk about Viki. There is no one on daytime anywhere on the dial like Viki. She is first and foremost a lady. She represents all that is good, all that is kind, all that is elegant and all that you want a soap heroine to be. Maybe that’s why Ben loves her so much....ya think??? She’s the perfect combination of all the things that make a wonderful person. She’s strong, soft, tough, easy-going, loving, driven...like I said...there’s no one like her. Viki can put up with Asa most of the time because of all the wonderful qualities she has. She gives people so many chances and even though Asa probably ran out of chances eons ago as far as most of us are concerned, if he’d just turns that little corner and try, she’d open her arms to him. Gee, too bad he’s not smart enough to see that.
Asa always loved and respected Viki, even though he thought she was mucho “loco” for picking up with that Davisson trash instead of going back to his son, Clint. At least Asa is finally “getting it” where Viki and Ben are concerned. And the thing that I really find interesting is that Asa and Ben are able to talk to each other calmly without wanting to strangle each other…and that is all because of Viki. Ben and Asa have their love for Viki in common and when it comes to anyone hurting Viki, she’s as much one of Asa’s kids as Clint or Bo…or Ben, for that matter. I loved that Ben went right to Asa with his concerns about Allison and I loved that Asa was up in arms about “that Perkins witch” being in town anywhere near Viki. If Viki can bring Asa and Ben together and give us the potential for some great family storylines, I would be a happy girl. Not that I think Asa deserves a son like Ben, but Asa and Ben are such strong-willed people and the dynamic between these two fascinates me…not to mention that I am dying for Ben to be a part of Renee’s life…and vice versa. It only makes sense, especially since Viki and Renee are so close.
It’s amazing that until she found out that Asa was actually the one who tried to kill Ben, Viki always found some way to explain Asa’s bad behavior. There were only a few times when I thought she would write him off for good...but she never did. There was the time she went to see him when he was railroading Will, trying to get him to realize what a mistake he was making by alienating his family. I thought she’d had enough of him at that point...but she didn’t. Then there was the time Asa came to Llanfair, right after Ben and Viki got back together last year and threatened to “get Ben” and see him in Hell with his whole family, including his sister Grace. How disgusting was Asa that day? And yet Viki, in all her anger, still didn’t write him off…even after she vowed that day to do anything to bring him to his knees in order to get Jessie home. If there was ever a time when Viki should have unleashed one of her alters on Asa, it was when she found out that he was the one who tried to kill Ben. Hey, she already conveniently had the alters out...Tommy could have scared 10 years off the life of that old bat…and therein lies the major difference between Viki and Asa. Viki doesn’t “do revenge.” She forgives just about anyone for just about anything. I’ll bet that if Gina Russo had lived (and maybe somewhere she has) and wanted to redeem herself, reform and keep her sorry butt out of prison, Viki would have somehow found it in her heart to let Gina keep breathing. I, personally, would lock her in a cell with no hairbrush and no mirror and watch her squirm for about 25 years…but hey, that’s only this writer’s opinion.
The thing I love most about Viki is that she’s a character that the writers seldom mess with. I’m referring to the fact that you can always count on Viki to be true to herself and to do what she considers the right thing. This was so evident in the way she treated the whole situation when Rae came to her about seeing Allison. Viki’s initial reaction was from her gut. She was scared and shocked and just wanted to stay away from the situation…but given a little bit of time, she did what Viki always does…she tried to be fair even at her own expense. It was huge that she could forgive Allison and wish her well in her recovery…but frankly, I think it’s great that Viki has Ben in her life now and not only for the obvious reasons. Ben has that radar and doesn’t trust people nearly as easily as Viki does. Thank goodness he’s onto Allison…especially now that we know she’s tied to “Little Miss Trouble” Natalie. I do have to say that Ben gave me a huge laugh the other day when Sam caught him at St. Ann’s and Ben said that he was able to handle Gina Russo and he surely could handle Allison Perkins….uh…um….excuse me, Ben, I love and adore you, but listen hon, GINA HANDLED YOU…until it almost killed Viki. Sam’s response of, “and look what happened with Gina Russo” was exactly the response I would have had. I will give Ben this…that boy learns from his mistakes…THANK GOODNESS!!!!!
What is evident about Asa and Viki is that as different as they may be, there are many things that tie them together. Of course there is the fact that Viki was a part of Asa’s family for many years…and is once again…and her children are her strongest tie to Asa….wherever the heck most of her children are….hint, hint, GT! Through her children she knows the side of Asa that we don’t get to see any more and in spite of everything, she’s always trying to find that old Asa again. Of course, she can’t help it if he keeps shooting himself in the foot. The one thing he wants more than anything could be his if he would just behave like a normal human being once or twice a week. He can’t even really do that….yet.
Viki and Asa share one major thing in common….their love and devotion to their families. Asa would kill for his family…literally…and Viki would kill for hers…although I mean that figuratively, of course. Their dedication to family is the same, it’s just the way they go about expressing that dedication that differs like night and day. Viki’s dedication to family even means that part of her still loves old Asa. That was evident in her conversation with him where she was so concerned about him marrying Gabrielle, and warned him that he was heading for disaster, as well as a lot of hurt, at the hands of his new wife. It was also unbelievable to me on the occasion when Asa tried to get his family’s sympathy by presenting those phony x-rays he brought to Crossroads. Everyone kicked him out….but Viki went after him…still trying her hardest to make him see the error of his ways in those scenes where she removed her wig to make her point. I can’t remember a scene ever that had that kind of impact…but too bad…not on Asa. Viki never gives up on him and he doesn’t know how lucky he is.
I am still wondering why Asa insisted on having Ben and Viki at his and Gabby’s little wedding reception at his mansion. Weren’t Ben and Viki supposed to be part of Asa’s plan to bring down Max? What happened there? If TPTB decided to remove Ben and Viki from that horror show, I am more than glad.
I think I’m almost ready to say I’d like to see the Buchanan family back together – not that it will happen any time soon, but can’t you just picture some of the scenes we’d get to see? OK…now suspend your disbelief for a while and drag out your sense of humor. Here are some of the scenes I could really get a kick out of:
Ben and Viki are having dinner at Asa’s mansion, with Renee back as the lady of the house…(of course, Gabby would be history). Viki and Renee are chatting over coffee in the kitchen and Ben and Asa are in the living room, reclining in a couple of big, cushy chairs, both having a bourbon and puffing on some big old stogies. Asa is trying to convince Ben to change his name and be a “real Buchanan.
Ben is having an afternoon off while Viki is working at The Banner and he pops on over to Dad’s house (he’ll never call Asa “Pa”) to spend the afternoon riding horses and talking about the stock market. (Note: If I were Asa, I would definitely think twice about this afternoon outing…I would especially be careful of getting too close to that tack room with Ben…LOL!)
Asa bellies up to the bar at Crossroads…Ben pours him his 5th bourbon as Jackie and Harry haul out the karaoke machine and cajole Asa into singing a rip-roaring version of “Rhinestone Cowboy.”
Asa catches Ben as “Dave” and is finally justified in asking, “Boy, have you gone completely loco?”
Yeah, yeah, I know…I’m a raving lunatic…but you have to admit…these scenes would be mighty funny…well, they would if you had my sick sense of humor. At any rate, I would love to see Asa come around and have some kind of relationship with Ben and his family again and Viki could do what she does best…look on with a face full of love, admiring her wonderful family. If Asa could ever stop blustering long enough for someone like Viki to get through to him, wouldn’t that be a sight to see? And now with Ben in the picture as Asa’s son, Viki has plenty of new reasons to work on Asa’s human side…if she has a strong enough shovel! Viki and Asa…what a team!
See
ya next week…..
Jill
FAN FEEDBACK AND
QUESTIONS
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Nancy writes: “Hey Jill~Thanks for sharing your insight about NYC for those of us who don't know the city. The e-mails were most entertaining, as were the answers. I think GT had best get with the 20th century insofar as electronic communication is concerned!”
Dear Nancy: I would have to agree with you
about GT…I can’t believe that he isn’t yet aware of the fact that the smartest,
most savvy soap watchers are the on-line fans from the U.S. and Canada…LOL!
Maybe we should play a little Executive Producer ping-pong back and forth across
the border. We can use mouse pads instead of rackets.
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The following e-mail is for the reader who asked me last week about Maria and her involvement with Allison. My good friend, Tina, was kind enough to fill me in a bit, so here it is:
Tina writes: “It was neat to read all the comments from the viewers. Maria was the first love of Clint who came back to town and decided that she just had to break up Viki and Clint. So she was the one who talked Allison into using the red wig to make it seem like Niki kidnapped Jessica. Maria later tried to poison Viki but she accidentally ended up poisoning herself.”
Dear Tina: Thanks for the info, Pal…at least now those of us who were
clueless know more than we did before. Maybe I should haul out that One Life To
Live History Book.
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Pookie writes: “Just wanted to say, I enjoyed your column today. Your comments on the WTC tragedy echo what many are feeling these days. I love reading the e-mails you get. The feedback you receive is interesting.”
Dear Pookie: It’s still such a tough thing to deal with and so many people are still walking around, going about their lives because they have no other choice but to carry on. I’m very glad we all have each other to talk to…somehow it does ease the sadness just a little bit.
