| "Reflections by Jill" - A Weekly Commentary on One Life to Live | |
|
REFLECTIONS BY JILL….Just a note to The Powers That Be….Listen guys….when I (as well as zillions of other fans) asked for more romance and some nice love scenes on One Life To Live, I didn’t think I’d have to be specific about who I wanted involved in those scenes. I certainly didn’t think I had to tell you that, NO, I DIDN’T WANT TO SEE BLAIR AND SPENCER HIT THE SHEETS TOGETHER! Jeez…talk about a way to kill someone’s appetite! That was even worse than having to watch Margaret force Todd to have sex.
Wasn’t it convenient that Blair needed to take a hot shower the minute she got up to Spencer’s suite…and wasn’t it convenient that there was a woman’s robe available that fit her like it was made for her. Let me just say that there was only one good thing about having to watch that sludge…and that was that after it was all over, Blair had major regrets and by telling Spencer that she still loved Todd and just used him to forget her troubles for a while, she stuck a KING SIZED pin in that tremendous hot air balloon that is Spencer’s ego. I loved it! What I would have loved even more was to see her push him away when he tried for an encore without Paige knocking on the door and interrupting his plans.
Do you think Spencer bit off more than he could chew when he decided to enlist Margaret in his sinister plans? I think she’s going to give him a run for his money now that she’s pretty sure that he used her to get Blair for himself and has no intentions of freeing Todd. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m cheering for Margaret to haul out her biggest guns to figure out a way to bring Spencer down. Hey, she held Todd and his family as emotional and physical hostages for a year. Anyone got a spare trunk we can dump Spencer in and leave him at the junkyard?
Margaret is one scary chick and when she was screaming in labor all I could think was that if they ever did a remake of The Exorcist, she could make Linda Blair look like Cinderella. Poor little Todd, Jr. While Margaret is busy trying to think up another middle name for him, other than Spencer, I already have one. I think the kid should be named Todd “Please help me she’s not my mother” Manning, Jr.
I have to give kudos to Kassie DePaiva for her performance as Blair in court when Todd was sentenced to death. The way she totally lost it was incredible to watch. You could feel the depth of Blair’s pain…her love and hatred for Todd and what he got himself into all at the same time…and her sorrow for her children when she screamed at the jury wondering what she should tell her children about the fact that their father was going to be put to death. But in typical Blair fashion, she had to go and say, “I can’t get through this without Spencer.” UGH…another appetite suppressant.
I was glad to see Hugh’s reaction when Todd’s sentence was handed down. Even Hugh looked like he was going to lose his lunch when he heard that Todd got the death penalty. It can’t be too comforting to be thinking, “What if I was wrong and he dies?”
And now, just when you think Spencer has done enough damage for three lifetimes, he has Paige and Bo framed for what happened to Todd. I am no longer surprised at the lengths to which Spencer will go to torture the people of Llanview. I never even saw that one coming.
I kind of like the new Paige. I wonder what her role will be when Nora finally wakes up. Somehow I think this new actress is a better fit for Bob Woods. We’ll see.
Wow…lots of good stuff going on with my favorite foursome…John, Natalie, Evangeline and Cristian. I think it was great that Natalie got so much out of her talk with Clint. Her dad gave her good advice and finally she listened to someone. I loved the scenes where she told John that she finally understands that he did what he did because he cares about her and that although she’s not ready to forgive and forget, she would be there for him. It was very clear how well she knows him when he asked her why she was offering him the olive branch and she told him that she knew he didn’t need a shrink but that he did need a friend and she could be that for him whenever he needed it. It said a lot when he just looked at her and said, “I could use the help…Thank you.” I’m telling you…we’re seeing major growth for John here. It also said a lot about how he still feels about her when he told he that he couldn’t do the “friends” thing with her….but they both know they are more than friends and when they sat together having a drink that was obvious when they agreed that it was nice to be together and John said it was like old time. When they were at the police station and he told her he could be getting his job back, Natalie jumping into his arms said it all for me. He looked shocked and pleased all at the same time.
On the other side of town, Cristian and Evangeline aren’t suffering too much. I really like these two together. They care about each other…the respect each other….and they have fun together…all very important factors in a mature relationship. And although Cristian insists that he won’t stop until he gets Natalie back, he might just change his mind while he is being distracted with his “friend” Evangeline. No matter how much of a connection Natalie still feels to Cristian….and even though she admitted that she would hate it if he wound up with Evangeline…I don’t see her looking at Cristian the same way that she is looking at John these days. And Natalie gave Cris a well-deserved shot when he told her that Evangeline was there for him when he was stuck in Statesville and she reminded him that she would have been there for him but he didn’t let her. Good for you Natalie…he deserved that one…he has a short memory.
And talk about growth…I loved the fact that John blurted out a few things about his father to Dr. Crosby at the gym. Two things are obvious to me…one is how much John wants his job back…and the other is that he is finally admitting (even if he hates to admit it) that he needs to get his feelings out because what he’s keeping inside is ruining his life and his career.
How cute are Rex and Adriana? I think they are a very cute couple and I am anxious to see them develop their relationship. I’m also anxious to see them deal with Dorian’s reaction to it, which will be totally over the top.
Did RJ really think that after Lindsay’s humiliation when she thought he was going to propose that he could just whip out a ring a day later and she’d jump at the chance to say yes? I wonder if he really wants to marry her or if he has such strong feelings for her that he’d do it to make up for hurting her. I think he does love her, but with these two it’s more like nobody else would have either of them so they make a good pair.
Wasn’t that a nice visit Dorian had with Todd? She surely always knows the right thing to say, doesn’t she? I’m sure she thought it was very appropriate to tell Todd, “Why don’t you just do us all a favor and die?” Nice words to a guy who is getting his face bashed in at the jail every day. Dorian is such a darling, isn’t she? I do hope that someone can get the goods on Spencer and so many people want to that it’s got to happen sooner or later.
OKAY…I am getting tired of Niki Smith…she annoyed me endlessly all week with her tormenting of Tess and when she finally got Tess to believe that Viki was totally responsible for what happened to her, I was furious at her. The only good thing about watching Niki is hearing some of the wild and hysterical things that come out of her mouth…like calling Antonio…Bolonio. That made laugh so hard I nearly cried.
In conclusion, let me just take a minute to congratulate Renee Goldsberry on her Emmy nomination. I was thrilled for her. On the other hand, once again our show was robbed. It is ridiculous that Bree Williamson didn’t get a nomination for her incredible performance as Jessica/Tess…and just as ridiculous was the failure of the committee, or whoever does the picking, that John Paul Lavoisier was passed over for his portrayal of Rex. These were two of the most dynamic characters in daytime and they both deserve to be recognized. I won’t even comment on how Erika Slezak and Robin Strasser were overlooked…just plain stupid…well, so, there’s my comment. Should we rename the show, “The CBS Daytime Emmy Awards?”
See ya
next week….
Jill Berry
FAN
FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS
Jpalmer writes: “It is time for Victoria Lord Riley
Buchanan Buchanan Carpenter Davidson to be a strong powerful member of the
community-against Dorian, against Asa, for her children and for Todd. It is
ridiculous to think that someone with multimillions could allow such things to
happen to her and her family. She is by far my favorite character but they need
to give her some testosterone or something since she waits until things happen
to her. My wife tells me that the writers have gone haywire and don't know the
history of their own show. I'd love for Viki to realize that a psychiatrist put
in her head the molestation and that it really didn't happen-and the
psychiatrist was paid by Dorian. Now that would be a twist.”
Dear Jpalmer: Although I love Viki as much as you claim to love her, we certainly don’t agree about her at all. Since when is Viki not the strongest and most upstanding citizen in Llanview? And since when does she “allow things to happen to her family?” I would never say that Viki waits until things happen to her. Being the soap opera matriarch that she is, everything in creation happens to her and her family but how is she responsible for letting these things happen? For a woman whose life has included horrors that most people would collapse under, I think she has more strength than anyone on the show. Should she have predicted all the things that have happened to Jessica and Natalie? Oh, and one more questions…Since when does being a multi-millionaire have anything at all to do with what happens to a person’s family? Your wife is right…the writers, many times, alter history to suit current storylines (which I hate)…but we can’t blame the characters for that…it goes with the territory of being a soap fan…too bad for us.
Mary writes: “I hate the current hair styles of Nash and Cristian. Both look like they could use a good shampoo and cut. I think that when Duke got his new look it was such an improvement.”
Dear Mary: It’s true, Nash and Cristian do have that current sloppy, unwashed hair look, but I have to tell you…on those two boys, anything would look good. Nash is adorable no matter what and as far as Cristian goes, the hairstyle suits the change in him since he “came back to life” with a much edgier personality. Duke looks good, too, but the clean- cut look doesn’t make me like him more or less. Where Nash and Cristian are concerned, neither one of them is hard to look at no matter what hairstyle they are wearing.
Ida writes: “Will Blair ever wake up and see reality about this dashing doctor who happens to be the night mare of her entire family and the Buchanans?”
Dear Ida: Well, I sure wish Blair had woken up and realized what a slime Spencer is before she hopped into his bed, but no such luck…she’s a dope where men are concerned…and a weakling for any man who gives her attention.
Mary writes: “When is Blair going to wake up to "CROOKED, CROOKED" Spencer? I groan each time I see him. Also, what is the matter with his brother that he does whatever Spencer asks him to do? Is what he holds "over his head" so terrible? I can't wait until we find out ALL the things that Spencer has done to many people.”
Dear
Mary: Obviously, Blair is going to wake up when it’s much too late to fix what
she’s done. And Spencer makes me groan, too…AND GAG!!! As far as David goes, it
seems that years ago, Paige was the doctor who operated on John McBain’s father
when he was shot in the line of duty…Paige was under the influence (alcohol or
drugs) and John’s dad died. David helped Paige cover up the incident and Spencer
knows what they did…that’s what he’s been holding over their heads all this
time…and who knows what else?
© Copyright by Katherine
Thurston, 2006
