| "Reflections by Jill" - A Weekly Commentary on One Life to Live | |
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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….We had some really good shows on One Life To Live last week. I think things are building very well to February sweeps. I hope the trend continues after sweeps are over.
I have to say that I have come to the end of my rope with Jen. Yes, it did take me a bit longer than I thought it would to get to the end of that rope, since I did see tiny glimmers of hope for her in the last couple of months…but I have now thrown in the towel where she’s concerned. She needs to go…no matter how. I was horrified at her behavior last week. Did she let Marcie move in with her so she could have her close by in order to abuse her friendship even more than she already has? I have no more sympathy for the fact that poor Jen lost her father and has a lunatic for a mother. She’s had plenty of support around her lately and she has continually refused to reach out, take the support and grow up. I could almost forgive any of the ridiculous situations she gets herself into, but what she did to Marcie last week was unforgivable. She doesn’t deserve a friend like Marcie. I couldn’t believe she actually came out and said she preferred the old Marcie. Of course she did…the old Marcie was a timid little girl who was starved for friendship and acceptance any way she could get it. She was a prime candidate for Jen to use…and Jen did just that. It’s beautiful to see the way Marcie has blossomed and for Jen to be sorry for the loss of a friend who was a patsy makes me sick. Flirting with Michael was about as low as she could go and she went there willingly and in a very calculated manner without a second thought. I was so glad that Ron wised up and left her at Ultra Violet later on…and I didn’t feel a bit upset that she saw her mother all over Rex. I certainly hope that either the rumors that Jen and Ron will be paired are false, or that they get smart and take Ron in another direction. Enough about Jen.
So now everyone is being led to believe that the Music Box Killer is Dr. Haver. He is looking guiltier than they made Troy look. He sure was creepy last week. I was uncomfortable with the way he “found” Jessica home address and it was way too weird the way he focused on Viki…the way he stared after her for so long when she walked away from he and Jessica. There is definitely a “mom” fixation going on with this guy. Is it all tied into a package that’s way too neat? I know that one website already claims that he is the killer…I’m still reserving judgment, although it very well could be him. There are still questions about Riley, his lovely dad Daniel Colson and several others. I was thinking that if Dr. Haver were the killer…and since we know that the killer is somehow tied to John…maybe they are tied together by John’s mother somehow. Could Haver have been abandoned by her as a child, causing him to seek revenge against John? Could Haver have been involved with someone whom he thinks was hurt by John in one of his cases? You know me…I’m never right about these things…and even though I always joked around and said that Troy was Colin who never really died, I do reject that comical rumor on the Net that says Haver could be Colin after plastic surgery. Some people have better imaginations than I do. Or maybe Colin had the same fine plastic surgeon that Todd had. Poor Troy…he’s so pumped up with drugs he can’t complete a whole sentence. Did you hear that? I said I feel sorry for Troy…wonders will never cease.
It was great seeing Cord again. Too bad he couldn’t stick around longer. It was a breath of fresh air having him back and I had a great nostalgic surge of emotion when they showed the scene at Asa’s mansion with Asa, Viki, Bo and Cord. How great was it having all of those great veteran Llanviewites in the same room together again. I loved it. We sure need more of that. The scenes surrounding Flash’s departure were very well done. I was surprised at how sad I was to see Flash leave since she never made a great impression on me. I really liked her recent relationship with Asa and I guess anything that softens that old grizzly bear at all makes me enjoy watching.
Speaking of Asa…I felt so sorry for Bo when Asa did his usual lashing out routine and blamed Bo for not protecting Sara and letting her get attacked by the Music Box Killer. I loved the scene where Bo went back at him and reminded him that he had just lost Gabrielle, whom he loved, to the killer. With all that’s been going on, Bo has not had a chance to properly grieve or have time for himself to just reflect on the loss of Gabrielle and finally Asa figured that out when Bo was storming out of the house and he asked him to stay. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen some good Buchanan emotions…it was good to see some of that again.
And the rumors continue to fly about Blair. Is she pregnant…and if so, is the baby Kevin’s or Todd’s? OR…does she have an inoperable brain tumor, which is the latest rumor I’ve heard? And if the latter is true, will that inoperable brain tumor be like Ben’s irreversible coma? Is anything ever irreversible or inoperable on soaps?
Speaking of irreversible comas, I have definitely decided that Ben is NOT going to die. (Please PTB, don’t prove me wrong.) I know, there are those “Hostile Hannahs” out there who believe differently, but I’m sticking to my guns. Of course I’m not sure whether he’ll open his eyes or appear in a dream or fantasy of Viki’s, but anything that keeps Ben from flat lining is ok with me. Since I don’t believe that Mark Derwin will return on any kind of regular basis, maybe they are paving the way for a future recast of Ben. Hey, you know me; I’ll hold out hope until they kill off Ben at least as many times as they killed of Victor Lord.
Hmmm…Kevin and Kelly…I thought they could do well together…at least I could see them having a decent chance…that is, of course, until “Mr. Pants On Fire Kevin” came up with the brilliant idea to hire Blair at the Banner. Who is he kidding? And what about Kelly? Who is this new doctor who all of a sudden doesn’t agree that having a baby could kill her? Can you give me a break? And Kelly is no better than Kevin…a few days ago she was begging David to sleep with her so she could become pregnant…and now he approaches her in a restaurant and she kicks him to the curb like dirt on her shoe. Where is the old Kelly? I guess she’s somewhere out there with the old Kevin because neither one of them is currently on One Life To Live.
And what a nice surprise…RJ and Carlotta being civil to each other. Maybe RJ is in the same anger management program as Antonio. Finally, RJ and Carlotta…two mature adults behaving like mature adults for the good of a child. Someone should get Blair and Todd over there quickly to take lessons. On a funny note…who was the brainchild that thought a baby Jamie’s size belonged in a little bassinet like that? No wonder she fell out of it. Hey prop guys, get the kid a playpen.
Did you all like John and Michael’s mom? I thought she was a fun character…quite the diva, but likeable nonetheless. I loved the way she got along with Natalie…just two Jersey girls from Atlantic City. I have to say that I’m really getting hooked on John and Natalie. I think it’s great the way they are moving them along slowly in their relationship and I officially take back anything I said about not needing Michael Easton on OLTL. He’s got everything I love in a romantic leading man…a bit rough on the outside and sensitive on the inside. And he’s bringing life back to the character of Natalie, which we haven’t seen in 2 years since she first came to Llanview to wreak havoc on Viki and Jessica’s lives. Let’s keep this guy around…please.
I still have no clearer understanding of the Michael/Al storyline than I did before. I don’t think the writers do either. It’s silly…sometimes Al has all of his own and Michael’s memories and sometimes he doesn’t have a clue. Al, as Michael, can’t remember something that his mother always said to him as a child, yet he has stepped right into Michael’s shoes and is practicing medicine. I think that if we’re going to be handed a ridiculous and tedious storyline, at least get a bit of continuity going within the craziness. I don’t even bother to figure it out any more…I just find that the inconsistencies stick out like a hundred sore thumbs.
And to end on a comical note…did anyone find it funny when both Jessica and Jen mentioned last week that they were seniors at the university? When did either of these girls go to school anywhere near full time enough to be seniors? Jessica has had one trauma after another in her life and Jen has spent 90% of her college years in bars. Oh and one more thing…how convenient was it that Troy tried to commit suicide up in Statesville, which is supposed to be hours away from Llanview, yet the dragged him to Llanview Hospital like it was 5 minutes away. I guess they are using the same map they use when people on the show fly from Las Vegas to Llanview in 15 minutes…or when they drive from Llanview to Atlantic City in 5 minutes. Creative geography…I love it!
See ya next week...
Jill Berry
FAN FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS
J.K. writes: "Just to let you know, the killer is Al/Michael. How…you ask? Well, Al/Michael was at the scene of the crime when Madison got killed (yet was released, just like in the movie Scream), he was at the club on New Year's Eve where the music box was found, and then later that evening he was at the Palace where Gabrielle's body was found (and he didn't know why he was there). Michael also stays in the same building as John, reads mystery novels, and his mother is a singer. There is going to be a twist to explain why Al/Michael is the killer, but, believe me, he is. Malone likes to write sick, twisted tales involving mental illness (e.g., Powell Lord being the copycat rapist and Viki supposedly killing her own father). You heard it here first.”
Dear J.K.: Ah, another good theory. I suppose yours is at least as good as any at this point and I will definitely give you credit for insight if you are correct. We’ll see soon enough. At this point I’m overloaded with thoughts on several people being the culprit. At least it’s still a guessing game…well, at least to most of us…lol. I agree with what you said about Malone and mental illness…he sure drives me over the edge sometimes.
Donna writes: “I have been watching OLTL for 34 years now and I am still waiting to see Blair and Todd really, I mean really get together...It would beat any other soap around, trust me!!! Blair and Todd belong together and you can have a good storyline with the Mannings in Llanview. So come on…give us what we have been waiting for… Blair finally telling Todd she was wrong and have the biggest bash in town.”
Dear Donna: I agree that the Mannings do have their place together in Llanview. Who else would have either of them? They did entertain me for quite a while but now I am getting a bit too tired of them getting together…Blair being deceived by Todd…Blair taking her own childish revenge…messing up their kids’ lives…only to get together yet again to try and be a “normal” family. They’d be totally boring as a normal family, don’t you think? As far as them beating any other storyline around…hmmm…can’t go along with that one.
Carol writes: “I agree with you on wanting a recast for Ben. I didn't think anyone could replace Mark Derwin, but he's been gone long enough that I think it's now possible, at least if they do as good a job as they did recasting Todd. And Blondie needs her Ben!!”
Dear Carol: Yes, I certainly agree…Blondie needs her Ben. I agree that no one can replace Mark Derwin but I don’t think they’ve really tried…YET. He gave such special qualities to the character of Ben, but I do believe for sure that a recast could work well. After all, how hard could it be to find a tall, dark, handsome actor with an impish personality, a rough exterior and a heart of gold? LOL…all kidding aside…if it is the intention of TPTB to recast Ben, then they will be able to find a very suitable replacement…I have no doubt.
Lelando writes: “I am so upset about the pairing of older women with younger men on OLTL that I have to e-mail you. What is up with: Viki and Ben…Dorian and David …Blair and Todd…Lindsay and Ben???? It's disgusting to me and pretty unlikely in real life to happen that frequently. Can't they find older actors for those ladies?”
Dear Lelando: I’m sorry about you feeling disgusted about the pairings of older women and younger men on OLTL. I don’t necessarily agree with you because to be honest, most of the pairings of same age couples on the show have certainly not proven to be successful recently, whether it’s the storylines or the casting. If you look around at what is going on in society today, like it or not, there is a huge increase in these May/December romances in real life and whether or not we agree with them, they are very popular. As far as the couples you’ve mentioned…it comes as no surprise to anyone who regularly reads this column that in my opinion, Viki and Ben had (have) the greatest romance and mature, respectful relationship of any couple the show has seen in a very long time. Dorian and David are a huge source of comic relief and I love them together. Blair and Todd….they don’t fit in this category because they are not from different age groups…and WHEN were Lindsay and Ben a couple? This never happened and is too scary to even think about. I also find these relationships acceptable because Viki and Dorian are not involved with teenagers or men in their 20’s. Ben and David are probably in their early 40’s. If you want to talk about disgusting, let’s talk about Lindsay fooling around with the young, slimy, 20-something Rex. Ewww…makes my skin crawl.
© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, 2004
