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REFLECTIONS BY JILL….OK…so the battle lines are drawn once again. John and Natalie fans are rejoicing after last week’s scenes dealing with Natalie’s rescue and John and Evangeline fans are still waiting for him to come to his senses and return to the woman he “really” loves. So, some people are going to want to shoot me…take aim…because I’m lining up on the John/Natalie side of the fence, which is where I was in the beginning. Of course, I’m going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts, which may be about three days, or until John tells Natalie this week that Cristian is alive.
I will say this. I will be on Natalie’s side as long as she behaves like a mature human being, which I am hoping she has learned she needs to become. If she decides to be the Natalie she was before her kidnapping and engages in childish battles with Evangeline over John, I will once again want to slap her and send her back to Kindergarten. She seems very needy right now, which I am sure is a combination of her wanting John and a reaction to the trauma she’s been through. I’ll give her a while and see if she stuffs herself into those tight shirts and lies all over John before I pass judgment.
Actually, when I saw that she slipped out of Llanfair and went over to John’s apartment, I figured she was up to her old tricks hanging on him, but his reaction to her presence probably won’t deter her at all from her pursuit.
I loved the scenes between John and Natalie and if nothing else, fans on both sides of this controversy can’t help but admit that John’s feelings for Natalie are very strong and very real. It was never more evident that when she told him that she promised herself that if she ever got out of that pit she wouldn’t behave the same way…and he admitted that he promised himself that if he ever found her he’d do things differently. Obviously, John has a new reason for not being able to commit himself…Cristian. As if he didn’t have enough going on inside himself already that kept him from facing his true feelings, now he’s got Cristian added to the mix. I’m glad he’s going to tell Natalie the truth…but what choice does he have?
Oh, and I cannot go on without commenting on the “romantic” scenes between John and Natalie. Can you say HOT? I love the way he stayed at her bedside all night and…say what you want about him…that boy curls my toes! When he promised to take her dancing and told her that when she felt better they’d go up on the roof and watch the sunrise….everything else curled, too!
And let me say this about Evangeline…she’s a great woman…she doesn’t deserve what she has been going through with John and I think it’s horrible that with all she’s going through she has to put up with her “annoying as a mosquito” sister, Layla. I was wondering how far Layla was going to go at Capricorn in exasperating Evangeline…and I was amazed that Evangeline didn’t just up and throw a drink in her face. I was appalled when Hugh walked up to the bar and Layla embarrassed Evangeline but telling Hugh she was available and he should ask her to dance. I don’t want to tell you what I’d do to my sisters if they stuck their noses in my business like that. If Layla cares about Evangeline’s emotional state, she sure doesn’t know how to show it. Personally, I can’t stand her and when she opens her mouth, I know I’m not going to care about a word she says.
Let’s not even get into how Layla behaved at the diner around Carlotta. Even if she hadn’t found out who Carlotta was, she owed her a major apology. That was horrendous behavior. I’m surprised Evangeline didn’t just walk away from her.
Let’s move on to Todd. How stupid does a man have to be to never, never learn his lesson? I guess his ordeal with Margaret…having both legs shot up…being tied to a bed and nearly blown to smithereens as well as being forced to have sex with her…wasn’t enough to convince him to be honest with Blair and always tell her the truth. Does he think he’s being smart keeping it to himself that Margaret is in Llanview? Isn’t it enough for him that she’s already approached Starr? I have little hope for him, that’s for sure. I can’t imagine what would be enough punishment for him when Blair finds out all that he’s been hiding. Stupid Todd…really, really stupid!
What do you think about the new Paige? Since I don’t really see a need for the character of Paige, I’m reserving judgment, but I don’t see the chemistry between Paige and Bo. Actually, aside from Nora, I haven’t seen any chemistry between Bo and anyone since Gabrielle was around. Somehow, I still think it has to be Bo and Nora winding up together…there isn’t enough fire in any other relationship either of them has had.
Jessica/Tessica…where is this going? Obviously, nothing much is going to happen until Erika Slezak returns from her long summer vacation and Viki starts dealing with Jessica’s problem. And Nash, the boy is too much of a pushover for Tess, isn’t he? Too bad he didn’t get to tell Antonio that his girlfriend’s name was Tess…but we all knew that wasn’t going to happen yet, didn’t we? I heard a rumor that when Jessica finally gets her act together, she will be a nice combination of Jessica and Tess…big surprise…a bit tougher…more assertive. Well, Jessica certainly needs those qualities, doesn’t she? And people are saying she’ll wind up with Nash. Hmmm…can’t say that would destroy me, even though I have always been a fan of Jessica and Antonio. If we don’t find out that Nash is an axe murderer (Heaven forbid another killer in Llanview), then I have to say that I wouldn’t mind him winding up with the new Jessica. But wait…will that mean that we might have to endure a relationship between Antonio and Layla? OH BOY…please don’t let us have to live through that!
And doesn’t it figure that Roxy would be the one to find Tess and Nash in the park together? Isn’t it a riot that Roxy is always there when something crucial happens, like when Evangeline was kidnapped…but she’s always too drunk to know what’s really going on? But I will hand it to her, it was nice of her to think of throwing that welcome home party for Natalie, even if Roxy was the one who enjoyed the food and drink more than the company…LOL!
So Kevin and Kelly are on again…but for how long? I wish they’d both find out that Spencer was the one who sabotaged the Buchanan Enterprises merger and made a killing for himself. God, he’s like an itch I can’t scratch. Can you say SMARMY??? His latest trick of trying to get Paige to take the Chief of Staff job at the hospital is just one more storyline I am not interesting in watching. Who cares? It will just be one more thing for him to hold over her head. And when we find out what he really has on Paige and David, will we care? Well, we know Dorian will care.
And speaking of Dorian…I have to laugh. Her life has been reduced to trying to find out Spencer and David’s secrets, and meddling in Blair and Kelly’s lives. Have you ever stopped to think about how many times in a week Dorian butts into their lives and Kelly and Blair shout at her, “Dorian, stop it!” That’s getting to be the one line that we hear every time they are in scenes together.
And in closing, do we now have to hear about every new leap in modern medicine because of a new procedure Spencer has invented? Geez…he’s a wonder boy, isn’t he? He made a liver materialize for Lindsay’s friend and glued it in himself…LOL…he saved little Jack’s life when no other doctor could open an airwave for the poor kid…he miraculously has the same blood type as Todd so he could transfuse him on the spot…and now, by some stroke of genius, he has devised a new procedure by which Kelly can miraculously have children! Why hasn’t the Mayo Clinic heard of this guy and offered him a zillion dollars to head for Minnesota? Hey Spencer, I’ll pay your air fair!
See ya next week...
Jill Berry
FAN
FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS
Susan writes: “What is wrong with you dear? I was taken aback by your insensitivity regarding Mark Dobies. Sure he was bad as Daniel, but Mark is an all around great guy. His departure as Daniel back in June has caused me to lose interest in the show. The only thing I am rooting for is a pregnant Nora. I watch it occasionally now, but when Mark was on the show, I watched it daily for my Mark fix and to see what else Daniel was going to do. I was happy he won the award for Best Villain at the Luncheon. At least he took that award. Daniel had his fans and I was one of them. Mark is a tri-athlete and a scuba diver and a proud family man. He is a damned good looking man. He has an awesome body to boot and not fat as some people have said that he was. See those muscles on this man and see him topless and you would not boo him.”
Dear Susan: Whoa! First of all, I don’t know if anything is wrong with me…and second of all, only my mom gets to call me “Dear.” LOL!!! Back up a little, Hon, I never seriously meant that the fans would boo Mark Dobies and if they did it would be in goodhearted fun and he would take it as such, I am sure. I have no doubt that Mark is a great guy…and I have admired his fine physique many a time. Most people know when I’m being funny and most people, especially soap fans, have enough of a brain to know the difference between real life and soap life (or I hope they do). Personally, I used to watch Mark Dobies on Guiding Light when he played Noah and I loved him as Noah….so please, try to take everything in the lighthearted manner in which it is meant to be taken.
Cordell writes: “I 'm finally up to date on the show now, I have one questions. Has John finally chosen the person he wants to be with? After the last couple shows I figured out that Evangeline is a truly adorable person, I hate seeing her so lost, when she sang it broke my heart. For the next couple of shows I would like it if she kept a far distance from Natalie and John. She's a strong, intelligent women who deserves to be loved and admired not pitied.”
Dear Cordell: Heck NO!!! John has not decided whom he wants to be with…and I wonder if he ever will. I agree with you about Evangeline. I have been saying for a long time that she’s too good a person and too much of a self-assured, independent woman to let herself be sucked into a tug of war over a guy who can’t make up his mind. Now, if she could get rid of her obnoxious sister, she’d have a fighting chance of getting on with her life.
Kristi writes: “I must say after looking at the Updated Episode pictures, I can’t wait to see John and Natalie together. I am a true Jolie fan and have waited for this for a very long time! Hopefully, Jolie can stand together to withstand Christian returning. Keep Jolie scenes coming!”
Dear Kristi: And here comes the battle of the year (read the following e-mail below)! I have to say that I have been a John/Natalie fan from the beginning, of course wavering when Natalie reverted to being such an infantile noose around John’s neck and a pain in Evangeline’s butt. As I said earlier, I did love the scenes between John and Natalie and I can’t wait to see what happens when Cristian resurfaces this week.
Vivianchang3610 writes: “Can you pleaaaaaassssse let John and Evangeline get back together? PPPEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Dear Vivianchang3610: Come on girl…tell us who you really want John to wind up with…LOL! See what I mean…the battle continues…and I love it! Battling opinions are what keep this storyline going and it’s only getting more interesting if you ask me. Battle on John/Nat and John/Van fans…but please…trim the claws…I hate the sight of blood!
Maggie writes: “I have been a OLTL fan from the beginning of the soap. My mom and I watched it everyday when I was in high school and I continued after I married. Now, I find the soap totally different. Viki lost her class and Ben was a joke. Why are they not recasting Clint Ritchie? I love him. He is the only Clint. Please let us know a reason.”
Dear
Maggie: Viki lost her class? Ben was a joke? If I were a fighting woman I’d
prefer to have you face to face with me when you make these statements! Listen,
there isn’t a situation in the world that they could put Viki in where she could
even dream of losing her class. And if Ben was such a joke, then why was Mark
Derwin offered an open invitation to come back to the show when Life With
Bonnie left the air…and since he declined to return, why has it been more
than three years since he left and the best the show could give Viki was a bad
heart instead of finding her a new man and a new love life? Clint Ritchie was
not asked to return to the role of Clint…and you’d have to ask TPTB the reason
for that. I have my own thoughts on that but I’m not in a trouble-making kind of
mood today. Viki may have a new love life yet, but whomever they choose for her,
if they do, he will have BIG shoes to fill.
© Copyright by Katherine
Thurston, 2005
