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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….
Not a bad mix of shows last week. I found that there were several highlights, and of course, as always, a few “low-lights”, but I’m hoping things are picking up. Several things happened that I have been waiting for….and as poor, troubled Martha Stewart would say, “That’s a good thing!”
I will start with the long-awaited apology from Jessica to Natalie. Of course in my opinion, Jessica has been so horrible to Natalie for so long now that I thought it would be hard for her to give a good enough apology to her sister. However, in good old “Viki taught me how to be a lady” fashion, Jessica gave me a glimmer of hope that deep inside she’s still the Jessie that I’ve always loved. Aside from getting down on her knees and begging forgiveness, there wasn’t much more she could say than she did. I thought her apology was heartfelt and I liked the fact that when Natalie tried to let her off the hook easily, she wouldn’t accept it. It was also very humble of Jessica to want to give Natalie her apology in front of everyone in the room, especially since they were the ones Jessica kept trying to convince of Natalie’s guilt. The hug between the two sisters (understandably not so warm) was a great first step to forging a relationship and most importantly, they agreed that the most important thing was finding Viki.
Ahhh…and speaking of Viki, how long did Allison think she was going to keep her in that trunk unconscious? Kudos over and over again to Barbara Garrick, who never ceases to amaze me. She has made Allison the most raving of lunatics One Life To Live has seen in a long time and I have to say that whereas I wanted her gone so many months ago, I am now saddened by her upcoming departure from the show. Since I don’t think she’s going to be the one killed off in the next couple of weeks (who is????….if anyone) I am optimistic that the door will remain open for her to come back at a later date and terrorize Llanview some more. Of course, by the time she comes back, Viki can be completely cured (for real this time) and she can be ready to face Allison. I did enjoy Niki’s hands flying out of the trunk and landing around Allison’s neck…very much the horror show.
Do you think Allison knows the big secret about Viki? Do you think there IS a big secret about Viki? Is Niki just pulling everyone’s chain? Rumor has it that this big secret that caused this whole fiasco will be the major problem Viki deals with this coming fall. I’ve had my ears open and the one theory that a lot of people have about this big secret is that somehow, Jessica and Natalie are both Viki’s biological fraternal twins…that Viki gave birth to Jessica and then Niki came out and gave birth to Natalie. Now I know this sounds like that show that begins “Do not adjust your picture. There is nothing wrong with your television. You have entered The Outer Limits.” I know this sounds totally absurd, unless you are a soap fan like we all are and know that anything is possible on television in the afternoon…LOL. There are people who actually remember Jessica’s birth (I personally don’t) and they say that Clint was in the delivery room and the twin thing could not have happened. I say when has changing history ever stopped TPTB from creating a ridiculous storyline? So, we wait and see…what’s your guess?
Have you all seen that glimmer of Lindsay coming out in Jen lately? Geez, I figured that when she overheard Cris and Natalie talking about almost sleeping together, she’d confront them in her best “poor me” fashion and really let them have it. I was shocked that she actually thought it out and is turning the tables on them. Boy, what a way to inflict guilt. I’d say she was a chip off the old block, but no one does it like Lindsay does…I will give Jen points though…she’s doing well at dragging the guilt out of Cris and Natalie.
I loved Starr and Jessica’s talk up in the attic. I sure did feel for little Starr when she went up to the attic absolutely sure that her daddy was hiding up there. Boy, how much is one kid supposed to go through in a short lifetime? The conversation between Jessie and Starr was very interesting. It was almost like Starr was the older one and was trying to console Jessie. And at the end of the talk when Starr assured Jessie that Todd and Viki would both come back to them, I think she even gave Jessie some comfort. I think lots of people could learn something from the logic Starr has had to make of her life. And for anyone who thought this kid was only good at throwing tantrums and being a brat…she proves them wrong every single day.
Ok…I have tried…really I have…but I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around Nora and Troy. What is it about them together that people like? I don’t get it and it’s not even that for so long I wanted Nora with Sam. I just don’t see the chemistry between these two. I see her as an older sister to him maybe…but not a lover. I think it takes a special combination of people to make it work when two people really have nothing in common to start with and have an age difference…and it’s very rare…like Ben and Viki…somehow, as unlikely as their pairing was at the beginning, it worked like a charm. That doesn’t happen every day….ARE YOU LISTENING PTB?
Do you think Gabrielle believes Al started that fire in Jen’s room and she’s too scared and horrified by it to let herself think it? I do.
And Max….come on…give Roxy a break. She’s going to turn out to be a hero in Llanview and she’s your beloved wife…LOL.
I was very impressed with Blair last week. She just walked into The Sun and took over. She’s finally putting her life back together and realizes that she can’t manipulate others to give herself satisfactions. What a long way she has come! Oh, and by the way, could anyone else pull off wearing what she had on the other day? There I was thinking what a beautiful business suit she had on and then I saw the entire back cut out of it. Only Blair could get away with wearing something like that. That’s a negotiating outfit if I’ve ever seen one. You go, Kassie!
And for my favorite happening of the week….You know, I’d love to think that Rae has been listening to me these last couple of weeks when I told her to expose Asa’s dirty deeds and not worry because that doctor/patient confidentiality thing is meaningless in this situation…but she did me one better. I wanted her to splash Asa’s life all over the newspapers…but when she decided to write a book, I was cheering. Bravo Rae! And did anyone but me die laughing when Asa asked her, “Why are you doing this to me?” Duh, Asa, you’ve been raking this woman over the coals and destroying her life for weeks. Did you expect a thank you? He is one dense cowboy! Someone should keep long, hard objects away from this old coot…remember when he tried to brain Ben with his cane? Now he goes after Rae with a fireplace poker. Good thing he wasn’t near his gun collections. Hey, Rae has done wrong in her life, but compared to Asa, like most other people on this earth, she’s a saint and he deserves what he gets for messing with her so heartlessly.
That’s it for this week…I hope everyone is “weathering” the hot summer well. I, personally, cannot wait for a chill to hit the air and stay. New York has been too hot for too long this summer….much more sizzling than daytime television. I hope that changes soon.
See ya
next week...
Jill Berry
FAN FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS
Monica writes: “Hi Jill! I am a huge Blair fan and I want her to be strong, independent and find someone who will love her as she deserves to be loved. Do you think we’ll get to see that in the near future?”
Dear Monica: I feel exactly the same way
about Blair. I want her to stay tough and make a good life for herself and her
kids. Lots of people seem to think that it will be with Sam. I don’t really know
how I feel about that. I love them as friends and I think that Blair has learned
a lesson about making trouble for others…but will she stick to her new “grown
up” ways? I hope so, because it’s too big a job for Starr to be the adult in
that family.
______________
Ann writes: “Jill, My 12-year old daughter is a very big fan of Nathaniel Marsten. We heard rumors that he is leaving OLTL. Is this true? I will appreciate your response. Also when is the next Fan club luncheon? We noticed that Nathaniel Marsten was not an attendant. Will he be at the next luncheon?”
Dear Ann: Ooooh, your daughter likes the bad
guy…LOL…watch out! Actually, I have no idea whether or not the character of Al
will be written off the show. I’d say they’d have to make a major change in Al
to keep him around, wouldn’t you? As far as the luncheon goes, no he wasn’t at
the last one in April of this year and I have just been notified that next
year’s luncheon is not until August 2003…so in a whole year a lot sure can
happen. I’d say if he’s a cast member next year, hopefully he’ll attend the
luncheon and we’ll have a better turnout than we had this year.
______________
Mary writes: “I also have watched OLTL forever. Is it my imagination or is there an excruciating amount of anger, deviousness and revenge going on these days in Llanview? Everyone and everything seems to be in pain, one way or another. There is not one couple that comes across as happy or exciting. They try to make Jessica and Seth out to be "the" couple, yet she is so busy suspecting and crucifying Natalie! Al is mean, Max is mean, Todd is mean, RJ is mean. Meanness, suspicion and trickery is all there seems to be. Does it seem that way to anyone else?”
Dear Mary: I totally agree with you…much too
much concentration on the “bad guys” as I lovingly call them, and never enough
lighthearted scenes and romance. I’ve been complaining about the lack of romance
on the show since I started writing last year. We don’t have one romantic couple
and Mr. Tomlin gave up on the last and only great one when he ruined Ben and
Viki. What can I say? They’re not listening to what the fans want most and it’s
what soaps are supposed to be made of.
______________
Elaine writes: “You wrote "Does anyone see Blair and Sam getting together?" Well, I don't know how long you have been watching OLTL, but during the time when Todd and Tea were getting married for the last time (when Tea left the show last time) Sam and Blair were an item. They were together because Nora was with Bo, and the whole "Lindsay changing the fertility results" thing hadn't happened yet. Just a little correction for you.”
Dear Elaine: Thanks so much for offering to
correct me, but I never said that Sam and Blair had never been together. I said
I don’t see them together, which is what a lot of people are writing to me
about. I do, of course, remember that they were together before and they didn’t
do much for me back then either. I didn’t go for it then and I don’t now. I love
them as friends…maybe I’ll change my mind down the road, but for now, that’s my
opinion.
______________
And For Vera: Keep writing…I never get tired of hearing from you. Thanks for all your support.
© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, 2002
