| "Reflections by Jill" - A Weekly Commentary on One Life to Live | |
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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….OK…say what you will. Tell me you believe that the young actors and storylines are going to save the show…tell me that bringing back characters in the form of ghosts is going to satisfy the viewers…tell me that watching yet another serial killer plow through a tiny town makes your heart beat faster…and JUST TRY to tell me that there is no longer a place in daytime television for the veteran actors…and I will simply tell you this, “You need your head examined!”
For any young person interested in a career in acting who dreams of really learning what the craft is all about, the lessons begin right here at One Life To Live and the instructors are none other than Erika Slezak and Robin Strasser. I would say they leave me speechless if I didn’t have so much to say about theses two incredible actresses. I will start by saying that not since the romance of my favorite couple on this show have I been so glued to every word and waited with such anticipation for the next episode. Separately, they are both phenomenal actresses in their own right. Together, in their latest test to see if they can survive together without killing each other, they are a delight to behold. We’ve just seen the first of a couple of week’s worth of shows that will pit Viki and Dorian against each other and to say that it didn’t disappoint would be the understatement of the century…it was amazing!
From the moment Viki heard Dorian cry out from the plane, tried to help her crawl out only to have Dorian shriek at her every step of the way, I knew it was going to be a laugh a minute. Viki is the epitome of grace under fire. Dorian is the biggest, most self-centered, annoying crybaby in creation. Together, couples like Abbott and Costello, Ralph Cramden and Ed Norton and Laverne and Shirley pale in comparison. This is saying a lot because I worshipped Laverne and Shirley…lol. Oh, and for those of you young’uns who don’t know about Abbott and Costello and Ralph Cramden and Ed Norton…ask your mom and dad. Boy, now I feel old…LOL!
Here are just a few examples of why these two women had me rolling off my couch laughing…continually hitting the rewind button so I could laugh again:
- Dorian complaining about the cold and Viki, even though she doesn’t even have her warm coat on, offers her coat to Dorian…and Dorian refuses the coat saying that she could just see Viki dying of hypothermia and her getting blamed for it.
- Viki trying to fix the airplane’s radio and Dorian asking her if she knew how to do that. Viki tells her she doesn’t and asks Dorian if she knows how to fix it, only to have Dorian reply that she can’t even program her VCR.
- Both women dragging whatever supplies they could from the plane to the cave and Dorian being so grateful that she found her makeup case. I died laughing when Viki commented that moisturizer would come in so handy and Dorian agreed…Viki’s sarcastic comment went right over her head.
- Dorian being afraid of being alone with Viki for fear that her alters would take over…and Viki warning her that if she didn’t watch her step she’d let Jean out…and reminded Dorian that Jean didn’t like her very much. Wasn’t it great to see those flashbacks of Viki and Dorian in their past escapades?
- And how hysterical was it when Viki tried to call Kevin back, realized her cell phone battery was dead and screamed out, “Oh, Bloody Hell!!!” I don’t know that I’ve ever heard curse words come out of Viki’s mouth…I loved it!
- And underlying every scene, Dorian’s belligerence and refusal to cooperate, only to have Viki call her bluff every time…leading Dorian to follow whatever Viki does out of her fear of being alone. Dorian would rather die that let Viki get the best of her and see her vulnerability…well, almost.
I found it very interesting that when the plane was bouncing around before the crash, I could feel Viki’s terror and felt so sorry for her being alone in that cabin thinking she was going to die…while at the same time I laughed hysterically at Dorian bouncing around in the cargo compartment terrified, trying to keep that big, old furry hat on her head.
I was very glad that at least Viki was able to let Kevin know that she was alive. I don’t think I could have enjoyed this storyline quiet as much if I had to watch Viki’s family back home suffering, thinking she might have died in the plane crash.
Watching these two fine actresses playing out scenes much more entertaining than Survivor…which I love…was a real treat. From the bickering, to the sarcasm, to Dorian doling out the peanuts they had to share…what can I say? Anyone who has threatened to quit watching the show and has already done so…BIG MISTAKE! I can’t wait to see the rest of this storyline play out. I know these actresses will not disappoint.
Did you get a warm and fuzzy feeling about the governor in the wake of the plane crash? Don’t even tell me if you did. Were you waiting for him to bundle up in his parka and go out and start searching for Viki? I sure hope you weren’t holding your breath. Talk about someone’s true colors coming out. When he first heard that the plane had disappeared he was more concerned that Blair not go out searching with Kevin than he was for Viki’s life. Even after he knew the plane had crashed the only emotion he showed was for his constituents and how he was going to spin things for the press. By the way, was that the phoniest canned applause you’ve ever heard after Kevin made his speech…geez that was awful!
And speaking of Kevin…I am sick of this guy. Now he admits that he’s so much in love with Blair. Where the heck did that even come from? Yes, he’s in love, but it’s with the face he sees when he looks in the mirror. His tremendous ego just won’t let him leave Blair alone. If there’s a conquest he hasn’t made, he’s not satisfied. I can just see it now…Blair will find out that Walker is Todd and she’ll immediately turn to Kevin because she can’t be without a man and she knows all she has to do is breathe and Kevin will be at her feet. It will be so typically Blair and I am not looking forward to watching her kick Todd out on his butt, only to finally take him back and marry him for the…what…fourth time? I’ve lost count. And once she turns to Kevin, his head will be so big it won’t fit through the double doors at Llanfair.
There were a few other bright spots on the show last week aside from the plane crash. I enjoyed Bo and Nora dancing together…it brought back some nice old memories and I wish they had made those scenes longer. Aunt Betsy continues to be a real hoot…and obviously Paul has a lot more about him that we need to learn. And I really like John McBain a lot better than when he first arrived in Llanview. Michael Easton is a good actor and you can feel John’s guilt over Natalie losing Cristian. Whatever garbage she throws at him, he takes it, knowing she is just getting out her grief. I liked the scene where he found out for everyone that Viki and Dorian were alive and Natalie went and thanked him. Maybe these two can come to some kind of peace with each other…I am starting to see good things for them together.
Jen, Jen, Jen…I just sit and shake my head…what is she thinking? I have to say I was surprised when she found Karen’s body in the hotel room and called Joey first. I could have sworn she’d call Rex first. I knew she wouldn’t dare finally decide to tell Joey what kind of a sick predicament she was in. Ah, Rex to the rescue…something else for him to hold over her silly little head.
In closing, let me just say one thing about…you know…that topic I can’t help but mention. I was not happy to see Ben’s pool table carted off to Rodi’s. Don’t they know that pool table is a sacred monument to the love between Viki and Ben? Crossroads shouldn’t be closed and the pool table should be where it has always been…for when Ben finally comes home. Well, come on…do you see a bright future for Viki and the governor when she figures out that he’s not really different from any other political vulture? I have to say…he’s not honorable enough to brush the snow off of Viki’s frozen toes. Enough said!
See ya next week...
Jill Berry
FAN FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS
Brenda T writes: “I'm on your side. I wish TPTB would bring back Ben. I do not see ANY chemistry between Viki and the governor…None, zippo, nada, well you get my point. Also, it definitely is NOT Tracey Melchior's fault that the writers have changed Kelly so much. She is doing a great job of portraying Kelly as she is now being written. Frankly, as a long time viewer of Y&R, I absolutely hate to see Heather Tom come on board as the character stands now. I will miss her as Victoria Newman. As for Kevin, I am so sick of this character and his smarminess that I could scream. It's getting quite old watching him panting after Blair. He needs to grow up, and it can't happen soon enough for me. I have to say that I am not liking the whole Bo/Nora thing. I am one of a small group of people that do not want to see them get back together. I like him with Gabby. She has made him be not quite such a perfectionist. But of course, since I like Gabby, she will be killed off. Go figure.”
Dear Brenda: Obviously I cannot disagree with you about bringing back Ben and believe me, all you have to do is surf the Net for a few minutes and you’d have to search far and wide to find many people who think there is chemistry between Viki and the governor. I don’t see this relationship going very far, especially since Kevin Dobson is only on recurring status and I figure that if TPTB were happy with the storyline, they’d have tried to snag him into a contract my now…only my opinion. I like Bo with Gabby and I agree that she has made Bo more accepting of peoples’ imperfections, but they are doing a very good job of making Bo and Nora seem like they belong together again. You are not in such a small group of people who don’t want them back together…Bo and Nora have a big fan base, but lots of people are really upset about Gabby’s departure. I was one who never liked Gabby with Bo…I was waiting and waiting for her to revert to her old ways…and she almost did there for a minute, but she truly has changed and I think Fiona has done a wonderful job with her character. I would love to see Gabby stay, even if not with Bo.
Kim writes: “I don't think I missed an episode about Cristian dying but what happened to his funeral? It seems weird there has not been a funeral or even a memorial service yet. Can you explain?”
Dear Kim: They did not have a funeral or a memorial service for Cristian yet. It is currently being planned. If you remember, earlier last week Natalie stopped by the police station looking for Bo to ask him if he would speak at the memorial service that was being planned. With all that’s going on…especially with Viki being gone for the next few weeks, I have no idea when that memorial service will be…but I’m sure we will see one.
Wojtek writes: “Why is it that Kevin and Todd hate each other so much? Is it because Kevin was initially implicated in Marty's rape? I used to like Kevin but now I hate his guts!”
Dear Wojtek: Yes, I believe that Kevin and Todd’s hatred does go back to Marty’s rape and it has never gotten any better for these two…not to mention that Kevin, as well as his brother and sister have seen Todd hurt their mom countless times with whatever his latest antic seems to be. I wanted Kevin back on the show very badly, mostly because I loved so much what Tim Gibbs had done with the role and hoped we’d get a new Kevin who would at least have a shadow of the old Kevin’s personality and heart. Unfortunately, TPTB did not give us that and we got a reincarnated Kevin who I don’t even recognize.
© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, 2003
