| "Reflections by Jill" - A Weekly Commentary on One Life to Live | |
|
REFLECTIONS BY JILL….I was thinking the other day about slippery little Paul Cramer and a question suddenly came to mind. Do we actually know for a fact that he’s a Cramer? He just kind of blew into town and had everyone believing very quickly that he was who he claimed to be, but I don’t believe we ever got solid proof of whom he really is. Kelly was the only one who really held out on accepting him as a member of the family and she sure didn’t ask for any kind of proof. Not that a DNA test in the Land of Soaps has any meaning whatsoever, but it would be nice to see someone challenge Paul’s roots.
Kelly’s boat is sure sinking fast, isn’t it? I’ll bet she thought that story she fabricated about her old lover blackmailing her was going to hold water for more than thirty seconds. I will admit that at first I thought she was thinking pretty quickly on her feet when Kevin confronted her, but did she think he wouldn’t try to verify that story…or that he’d just let the guy get away with supposedly blackmailing her? Kelly is way beyond desperate and she’s going to stumble all over herself trying to cover her tracks now. At least she knows now that she can’t even trust her own brother…and I didn’t for a minute give Paul any points for not taking Kelly’s diamond ring. I’m sure he didn’t really feel compassion for her attachment to the ring…I’m sure he just figured that if he hocked the ring he’d somehow leave a trail that could bite him in the butt later on. And of course, Kevin’s first impulse is to blame Todd for everything from blackmailing his wife to the war in Iraq. Kevin, you’re like a broken record.
And before I leave the wonderful subject of Paul (NOT), let’s talk for a minute about Natalie. I was hoping that Natalie was beyond the point where she would be swayed by a little phony attention and concern by such an obvious con man. What did Paul ever do to convince her that he cared about her or that she should trust him? That girl is so starved for love and validation that she’s allowing herself to fall under the spell of a snake like Paul. And did Dr. Long really think he would get away so easily with firing Paul? He’s pretty dumb if he thinks a creep like Paul wouldn’t take him down right along with him.
And to tell you the truth, as much as I like John and Natalie together, I’d like to take both of them and knock their heads together…maybe knock some sense into the two of them. Kathryn, who is just about the most useless character to be added to the cast in years, shouldn’t even have a chance of getting between John and Natalie. John has major, major responsibility for all the misunderstandings and mixed signals between himself and Natalie. I mean, Natalie doesn’t go about showing her feelings in a very mature and appropriate manner when she uses Paul, but John is beyond lame when it comes to being honest with himself and Natalie. He’s been without Caitlin for a lot longer than Natalie has been without Cristian and even though his dealings with Dr. Haver ripped John’s broken heart open even further than it already was, it’s time he got honest with himself and everyone around him. He needs to be honest about his feelings and maybe if he were honest with Natalie she wouldn’t feel so stupid about showing her feelings for him. I really like this couple…and as much as Kathryn annoys me…like when she told Natalie that with John work always comes first (Who asked her?)…she won’t be a thorn in Natalie’s side unless John lets her be.
Hey, thank you for the laughs Asa. It sure didn’t surprise me that he went after that reporter with a gun. Why shouldn’t he? Asa has done tons of things worse than that and he’s never been punished beyond a few hours in the Llanview PD holding cell. Isn’t he still awaiting trial for railroading Will Rappaport and almost costing the kid seven years in prison? Yep, he is…so I guess threatening to shoot a reporter and getting caught is about as inconvenient to him as having to eat at the Diner rather than The Palace. And Bo’s threats about the seriousness of “Pa’s” actions are laughable. Asa still treats life in Llanview like the Wild West and I am going to enjoy watching Evangeline try to handle him. If anyone can, she can.
Oh, and how ridiculous was Asa when he went to visit Viki to complain about Todd? I laughed my head off when he asked her how she was and she told him she’s been better. In typical Asa fashion he told her, “I’ve had more heart attack scares than you can shake a stick at…you’ll be fine.” I wanted to slap the old fool. The only thing funnier was Viki’s response when she told him she was glad to hear it and it made her feel much better. You have to give Viki credit…in the face of her latest awful dilemma she’s still got her sense of humor. Hang onto it Viki, you’re going to need it.
And thanks to Viki I got my little “Ben moment” for the week when she went to the hospital, wanting to see for herself that Ben was okay and showed Jessica the article she found in her research that Dr. Ben, her “sweetie pie” had written. I could take that as quite the little tease. I would like nothing better than for Ben to suddenly wake up and stay awake…and be the miracle doctor who could help his beloved Viki. Hey, so I love fiction…sue me!!!
I’m glad to see Starr’s runaway storyline heating up. I was getting a little bored there for a while and was wondering when they’d step up the plot. I guess that’s NOW. I have to say it sure gave me the willies to see Starr and Travis cavorting around Central Park when no one was around (except for Starr’s abductor). Being a New Yorker I can definitely attest to the beauty of Central Park…and I guess the story puts a little extra scare into me because I know what bad things could really happen to kids like that in real life. Also, I thought it was a bit silly…no very silly…for New York writers to have Matthew running around that hotel by himself when Bo was downstairs having coffee. That little boy going around the hotel by himself when he went up to see Starr was ridiculous. H E L L O…..Bo is a cop and his kid has already proven that he’s naïve and easily persuaded to do the wrong thing. Matthew could have been abducted a lot sooner than Starr. I guess I’ll have to suspend my disbelief on that one.
Wasn’t it convenient for Starr that her cell phone was the only thing she didn’t put in her backpack? Too bad that guy caught up with her before she could say a word to Todd and Blair. Poor Starr is getting into worse and worse trouble. Too bad she’ll always remember that her first kiss was followed by being held for ransom. I wonder just how much this is going to change Starr in the long run. I imagine that this ordeal will grow her up quite a bit…and maybe it will mature her parents a bit, too. Could that be a bad thing?
Did you laugh as hard as I did when Lindsay saw Nora out with Daniel and asked her, “Are you picking at my leftovers?” Oh Lindsay, you are so pathetic. All I can say is that when Jen’s behavior becomes good enough to be a role model for Lindsay, then you know Lindsay has got a big problem. Linz and Natalie should join a little self-help group for people who need to find their long-lost self esteem. I wonder if Rex thinks Lindsay will care if he uses that XXX tape of her that he made.
Well, it looks like the demise of the relationship between Antonio and Jessica is on the horizon. Supposedly he’s going to go on an undercover assignment in a strip club and will be displaying his…um, “assets” for all to see. Well, at least Viki won’t have to pay to see what he’s got to show off…LOL…she’s already seen the goods. Since Jessica is not really hot on the idea of marriage as it is, I suppose that Antonio’s new assignment could put a really hitch in his quest to convince her to walk down the aisle. Actually, I think it was wrong for her to even accept the engagement ring. I do believe that she should come right out and say she doesn’t want to get married…period…and instead she’s leading him on by sugar coating the truth. If she really wanted to marry him she would do it and her life wouldn’t change. She’s already fine with not living in the lap of luxury and being a parent to Jamie. She’s just using excuses and I don’t blame him for being upset by that. She would be kinder to just spit out the truth. It looks like that’s going to happen now anyway.
Now we come to River, Adriana and Shannon…and I still say…who cares? I don’t find anything interesting about this storyline. Shannon is just annoying…River doesn’t have any direction at all…and Adriana might have in interesting storyline if her father is actually alive…but she’s not interesting tied to River. Her storyline with Dorian might get interesting if her supposedly dead father, “El Toro” comes to town. After all, if your father is a big drug lord who is called “The Bull,” who knows what kind of trouble awaits you? LOL!
And my poor Roxy…having the “knee-cappers” on her trail. I guess the ponies haven’t been so good to her. I hear that there could be a real romance in the future for Roxy and Nigel. Can you just imagine some thugs coming after Roxy for what she owes them and Nigel trying to protect her? Now that would be something I might pay money to see. Don’t forget, Nigel knows where the key is to Asa’s gun cabinet. Maybe Asa can give Nigel a few tips…after all, he is a pro at dealing with the mob. Taking care of Roxy’s debts couldn’t be nearly as hard as hiring a hit man to kill your son at his wedding!
See ya next week...
Jill Berry
FAN FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS
Cookie writes: “Why would anyone want Todd and Blair back together again when we all know it's always on & off & on & off? Frankly, I'm sick of the whole thing! I think Todd should get the kids (he IS a good father!). I would like to see him find a good-hearted beautiful woman who will love him & his children, unconditionally. And Blair ought to move in with Cassie, wherever she lives! If she really ever loved Todd she wouldn't always be trying to make him jealous! I don't care for the way Blair acts now! She’s always suspicious of Todd, thinking that if anything isn't to her liking that it MUST be Todd's fault!”
Dear Cookie: Like all other characters on the show, Todd and Blair have a very strong and loyal fan base. Being a completely devoted fan of another couple myself, I can surely understand loving a couple when lots of other fans don’t. As sick as it may often be, I do believe that Blair and Todd love each other and on some level will never be happy with other partners. I think they should have joint custody of their kids if they aren’t going to be together, because although individually Todd and Blair usually behave more like children than Starr and Jack do, they do dearly love their kids. I don’t ever see Todd having sole custody…in some ways he’s a good father and in other ways he leaves a lot to be desired…he’s more like a playmate. And Blair’s need to feed her own ego is a detriment to her kids in many instances. I don’t see Blair ever moving away from her kids and as far as her being suspicious of Todd…she has a million reasons to be suspicious of Todd…and vice versa.
Lin writes: “I fervently hope that Viki does not get a heart transplant storyline. The poor woman has been through enough. They should have tapped another character for that, maybe Nora or Renee…not to mention that in every transplant story I've seen on ABC, the person recovers in a few days, (i.e. Laura on AMC a few years ago), which is pushing the bounds of reality even for soaps! I, too, have really enjoyed, Todd and Viki's interaction lately. I never thought I could accept Trevor St. John as Todd (being a huge fan of R.H.) but I have to say St John has added a whole new dimension of lovability creepiness to Todd. And please spare me from Kathryn and her weird voice and mannerisms. I hope her purpose is to bring John and Natalie together and then leave - quickly. And I'm still harboring hope that Roxy and Nigel will get together for real, Talk about priceless!”
Dear Lin: As much as I hate Viki being sick again, if it had to be anyone on the show…nobody does it better than Erika. I have no doubt why they gave it to her. Unfortunately, Viki’s condition is going to continue to get worse through the next several weeks. I wish we knew exactly what was going to happen as far as a transplant goes and where the darned thing would come from…then I would sleep better at night…LOL. Usually I don’t like knowing too much in advance but this time…hmmm…maybe ignorance is bliss. I agree about Todd. I love what Trevor has brought to the role, especially the vulnerability, because I was never a big fan of Roger’s Todd…too creepy for me. I like the balance Trevor gives Todd, even if he is reverting a bit too much sometimes.
Sharon writes: “On a Bo-Nora reunion, I think Bo brings out the best in Nora. She laughs so much more when she is with him and we are able to see her wit and love her. Where is Larry Wolek during Dr. Long and Paul’s activities? This is a great time to give Larry some screen time and a life. I hate the new Kevin, the actor himself is so cute and nice when being himself, but I don't think he brings Kevin to life very well. I loved Timothy Gibbs as Kevin and Gina T. as Kelly and for me no one else can fill their shoes. I cannot imagine Gina/Kelly ever going along with this baby story; it just didn't fit her personality. She wasn't a needy whiner like the current Kelly. What are the writers trying to do to us?”
Dear Sharon: I agree about Bo and Nora…they have a bond that I think is very special. As far as Dr. Larry goes…we will be seeing him again soon, although I’m sure he won’t be around nearly long enough to have a life…LOL…much to my dismay. Tim Gibbs was definitely my favorite Kevin…no question…and when it comes to Kelly, I have to say that if Gina Tognoni were still playing the role of Kelly and the writers wanted to take her down the silly path they now have her on, Gina would also have no choice in what happens to Kelly. In my opinion, the failure of the Kelly storyline to excite many viewers has all to do with what is written and nothing to do with the actresses who have played the role. Heather Tom is a fine actress…Kelly is just not the strong woman she used to be.
Lynn writes: “I have watched OLTL for the past 30 years and I am wondering if Erika Slezak is going to leave the show. I certainly hope not. Viki shows that a woman can do it all and still be alluring. I love the way her and Ben were on the show and I would like to see this again. They made their love for each other so real that you believed every moment you saw them together. Now with Viki having this heart condition I am wondering if she is thinking of leaving the show? I believe she is by far the most superb actress and OLTL would not be the same without her.”
Dear Lynn: I couldn’t possibly agree with you more about Erika Slezak. She is invaluable to the show and CERTAINLY I couldn’t possibly agree with you more about the relationship between Viki and Ben…big surprise there…LOL! You will be happy to know that I have it on very good authority that Erika was personally quoted as saying there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that she is leaving the show…AND…there is also no truth to the rumor that she will be going on recurring status. I was told she was shocked to hear those rumors. That made me very happy…I’m sure you feel the same way.
© Copyright by Katherine Thurston, 2004
