| "Reflections by Jill" - A Weekly Commentary on One Life to Live | |
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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….I have to say that I think there have been enough tears shed thus far when it comes to One Life To Live and we haven’t even gotten to the victims of The Music Box Killer yet…well, I don’t think anyone is crying for his first victim, Kevin’s private eye. How convenient that the serial killer, who was about to take John McBain to New Jersey, has shown up in Llanview, PA.
There sure was a lot of sadness surrounding the “death” of Cristian last week. So, is he dead? Your guess is as good as mine. Did you think it was just a bit strange that Antonio was notified that the FBI identified Cristian’s body and he just accepted that? Gee, I always thought that a member of the family, if available, had to identify the body. Antonio was right there in Las Vegas and it sure wasn’t true to his character not to ask to see his brother’s body. And what exactly was in that box that was opened? I guess one thing that was in it was Cristian’s wedding ring, but what about those rumors circulating that Flynn had sent back Cristian’s hand? Where do people get this stuff?
The scenes surrounding Cristian’s death were very well done and very powerful. There were so many people who were tied to him and loved him. The gathering at Llanfair was really well done…from Viki’s reaction…to poor Carlotta’s grief…to Natalie’s sadness, feeling she’d just lost the only thing in her life that was good.
One of the most touching scenes of the whole week was when Gabrielle went to console Carlotta over the death of her son. She surely could relate to what Carlotta was going through and it was a very powerful scene…two mothers who so completely understood each other’s grief and didn’t need to say a word.
And wasn’t little Matthew wonderful when he told Carlotta that his dad had died and was in his heart and he asked Carlotta if Cristian was in hers? That sure got me. Out of the mouths of babes, huh?
I must admit that the comic relief provided by Roxy was welcome. I laughed when Joey offered her some tea and she looked at him like he had two heads…then Viki, knowing what Roxy would want, offered her a good stiff drink. I died laughing later on when Roxy went up to the ice bucket and popped an ice cube in her mouth with the ice tongs as Viki looked on in amazement. How long do you think it took Viki after everyone left to sterilize those tongs? LOL! How can you not love Roxy…especially since now, as she puts it…she and Viki are like sisters and Viki needs her since Todd is gone. Oh yeah, that’s what Viki needs. Viki is such a classy lady. Her reactions to Roxy are as funny as Roxy’s antics.
Poor little Starr…I hope she doesn’t find out she gave Flynn the combination to her dad’s safe thinking he was Todd. Thank goodness the money wasn’t there. She probably feels guilty enough that she didn’t keep her dear cousin Kevin from finding out that Walker was Todd.
And speaking of Starr…wasn’t she so aptly dressed for Halloween? How funny when Nora asked Blair what made Starr want to be something as romantic as a bride…and then Starr comes down the stairs dressed as the bride of Frankenstein. And how hysterical when Nora and the kids met Bo at the diner and Starr was mouthing off about how there better be candy there and not just flan…and Bo said, “How come Starr doesn’t have a costume?” I died laughing. Sometimes they give Bo the funniest lines and Bob Woods delivers them so nonchalantly I just crack up.
OK…I have to talk about Kevin and Todd. I don’t know about you, but I sure didn’t feel one ounce of sympathy for Kevin the other day when he was so cocky and thought he had the upper hand over Todd. I just knew that Todd had to have something up his sleeve that concerned the affair Kelly had in Texas. I figured he knew the name of Kelly’s lover and would threaten to make it public…but when he said he had it all on tape…oh boy…for once Kevin was left speechless. He should have known better than to mess with Todd. Like Todd said…Kevin should have figured that Todd had a way of protecting himself. Kevin should have kept his nose in his own backyard and tended to his own problems rather than pretending he was protecting Blair when he was just chasing after her skirt…and anything else she might have been wearing. Kelly was right to warn Kevin not to reveal that he knows about Todd because she was smart enough to know he would retaliate. I wonder what’s going to happen when Kelly herself confronts Todd with what she knows about him.
And what about Kelly? She is so obsessed with saving her marriage and always talks about how much work she and Kevin have put into his career and his path to the top of the heap. Then she goes out and agrees to let David Vickers help her buy a baby when she’s knows it’s not legal. What has happened to the brains of some of the women on this show?
You’ve got to hand it to Dorian for letting everyone know the most important fact involved in Cristian’s death…that SHE was the one who put up $500,000 for Natalie’s ransom. How tacky was that? I thought even Dorian had more class than that. She must really have thought she was going to score some points…especially with the governor.
Regarding the governor…sorry, but there is less and less chemistry between he and Viki every time I see them. I think his storyline will wind up just being a vehicle for Viki and Dorian to scratch each other’s eyes out, because I sure don’t see a romance blossoming here. And it’s not because I want Ben back so much, which obviously I do, but if they want to divert Viki’s attention from Ben in a romantic way, it’s not going to happen with Governor Brooks…or with anyone as long as Ben is alive.
Is it me, or is this Al/Marcie ghost business not cutting it? At first I found it really cute and romantic, but now it’s getting annoying. Unfortunately, I heard that Nathaniel Marston will only be playing Al for another few months and Al will take on the body of a new character on the show…supposedly someone new at the hospital named Michael. I’m not sure about how this will work, but hopefully it will be an interesting storyline for Kathy Brier. She’s wonderful on the show with anyone they put her in a scene with.
And yes, it appears that Matthew Ashford IS coming to OLTL. I am surprised. I really thought he was going to As The World Turns. So he’s going to be a teacher at the university. I knew the rumors were ridiculous when they said that he was going to be a recast for Ben. Ashford happens to be older than Mark Derwin, but he can pass for about 30…which is exactly what his character is supposed to be. He might pass for one of Viki’s sons…but not her husband.
In closing…I have to say it…when are they going to give Jen a brain and some self-esteem? This girl is ridiculous. Her attraction for Rex is sickening. The fact that she kissed him last week wasn’t bad enough…then after he betrayed her and made sure that Joe knew about her miscarriage…and he told her that he’d lie, cheat and even blackmail her to get her back…she goes home with him? You know, I never fast forward through anything like a lot of people do when they watch the show, but Jen and Rex have brought me as close to using that “FF” button as I’ve ever come. Rex is like RJ’s Mini Me…he makes trouble and lives a low-life existence and somehow never pays…and somehow he attracts the women. I don’t get it.
See ya next week...
Jill Berry
FAN FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS
Leeann38 writes: “I would like to know why they are getting ready to axe the present actor who is playing Joey. He can't be costing the show a lot of money. I think he kind of resembles his mom and his dad Joe. This tells you how long I’ve been watching this show. I will also miss Max. I think bringing him home with the twins at some time would make for a great story. I am only a long time viewer, and I am about ready to quit One Life To Live. Maybe that’s what TPTB want. If they lose enough fans, they think they can off this soap too.”
Dear Leeann38: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Your sentiments about the show match those of tons of fans who are talking about not being fans for long…and yes, there are always rumors circulating that soaps in general are not long for this world…OLTL definitely being at or near the top of that list. I hope that never happens. I hope TPTB figure out what the fans want before it’s too late, but the longer things go on the way they are, the more and more people lose hope that they will be heard. As far as I know, it is only a rumor so far that they are searching for an actor to replace Bruce Michael Hall in the role of Joey, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it were true. Some people things it’s a foregone conclusion…I don’t know that. Lots of people are going to miss Max, too. I’m sure they don’t have plans for his twins right now…but we never know what the future will hold.
Delores and Bob write: “Do TPTB at OLTL get to see any of the fans letters? I guess they saw the letters regarding Nathaniel Marston. I only hope they come up with something to make Al "live" and not just in Marcie's eyes. I've got my fingers and toes crossed!”
Dear Delores and Bob: From what I’ve been told, TPTB do see fan letters. I’ve heard that they pay a lot more attention to snail mail than email and that they DON’T pay a lot of attention to irate letters that are written in a hostile way. So feel free to write…as you said, someone listened to the fans outcry to keep Al around. As I said in the above article, I have heard that there are plans for the character of Al (maybe not as Al), but not long term for Nathaniel Marston.
Hannele writes: “One quick question - what happened to Hank Gannon?”
Dear Hannele: I have gotten several emails asking the same questions. I don’t know about most people, but I sure do miss Nathan Purdee…and I don’t mean when he played Hank for 5 minutes every time someone was arrested. I mean I miss Hank when he was headed for a story line…more than once. Nathan was put on recurring status quite a while ago and recently “disappeared” from the show when we were “graced” (NOT) with the character of Daniel Colson. Nathan Purdee is not only an attractive man, but also a good actor who probably was just not young enough by today’s soap standards to attract the “target audience.” I did see a glimmer of hope when he was getting involved with Rae, but that was nipped in the bud…too bad for us.
Carol writes: “I have been a fan of Michael Easton's even before Port Charles! He is a wonderful actor and I feel One Life To Live is lucky to have someone like him! Give him a chance! He is a great leading actor if given the chance! I have been a fan of OLTL for years and I too hope Bo and Nora get back together. I think the show really did a no-no when they let Max go! He has always been a great one on that show! Some of his story lines have been the most exciting on there. I just HOPE they give Michael Easton half the story line they have given some of the others and not to show a dark side of him. Let him be his warm and charming self.”
Dear Carol: I am giving Michael Easton a chance. I give everyone a chance. I, too, watched him a long time ago in his first soap role on Days Of Our Lives. My concern and disappointment come from the fact that so many actors who are loved by so many fans have been and are going to be let go in order to pay the salaries of the younger actors who I don’t always feel are worthy. I don’t necessarily put Michael in that group, but I do take issue with the tossing away of so many good veteran actors.
© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, 2003
