Reflections by Jill - A Weekly Commentary for OLTL for September 24, 2007

Why is it that some of the most horrible characters are selected for redemption and others that we want to see move forward and mature take one step forward and two steps back? Yes, I am talking about Natalie Buchanan. I wish the writers or directors or someone could tell me why they give Natalie a chance to become a grown up with responsibility and respectability one minute and then have her revert to her bimbo ways the first chance they get.

It was ridiculous enough that at this point in her life Natalie was so despondent over seeing John and Marty kissing that she got herself drunk to the point of waking up in the bed of someone she doesn’t even care to share a conversation with. It was even more ridiculous and may I say disgusting, to have her wake up in bed with Jared and be so mortified that she didn’t even know whether or not they had sex, and instead of trying to cover herself up like any halfway normal woman would, she leaves the blanket way down at her waist, exposing her entire chest in a way that suggests she’s not to mortified at all. Now let’s be real here. I’m betting that the director took full advantage of the fact that Melissa Archer has impressive assets and had her hold that blanket below her chest. To me, it ruined the entire scene because if it were in any way to be a believable scene, Natalie would have pulled that blanket up under her chin. It was so over the top that I think if Natalie arched her back any further to jut out her breasts, they would have propelled Jared right out of the bed. Honestly, if TPTB are not going to start giving Natalie a little dignity and let her be a person independent of her big chest, her character on the show is a lost cause to me and to so many other fans as well. I have no interest in seeing Natalie portrayed this way any longer.

And finally Jessica had to admit to having a connection to Jared. We got a really good refresher course on Tess’s behavior when Jessica found out that Natalie slept with Jared and she ran over to his motel room and popped him in the gut. He sure got her to listen up when he told her that he’d leave Natalie alone and keep the secret about their past if she got him a job at Buchanan Enterprises. I can’t imagine what his game plan is, but I am glad that Natalie could see through Jessica well enough that Jessica had to admit to her that she not only knew Jared, but that he was blackmailing her. I believe Nash is going to find out this week, too, so I am very happy that at least we won’t be dragging this lying out for as long as we usually do. Where they all go from here is anyone’s guess.

And there’s Nash, trying to make the best of the situation and trying to work with Jared while Jessica keeps trying to find a way to break up their partnership. I think Nash is trying to settle in on all fronts and just get on with his life making the best of the way things are, like when he walked into the steam room and found Antonio and Cristian there. Nash’s first impulse was to walk out and not confront them, but he did make an attempt at peace when he said that he hoped someday he and Antonio could be civil to each other. Of course, we can’t blame Antonio for not being interested in such a deal and Cristian just backs up Antonio’s anger. Nash better look elsewhere for friends, no?

Okay, on to the big jerk. Why on earth would Todd think he could do his cause any good by speaking up in court? He’s a maniac with a hair-trigger temper and since he sees the world through eyes that never see things the way they really are, he couldn’t have possibly done himself any good. There is so much evidence to prove that he is unfit to take custody of Tommy that it would take months just to read the paperwork. And I don’t agree with those who think that although he is a maniac in many ways, he is a good father to Starr and Jack. Those two kids did not grow up so far to be as okay as they are because of their father’s influence. With all of the schemes and scams he has pulled over the years, he hasn’t even been around for most of their childhood. How many times has he run away, been kidnapped, or just flown the coop when his first thought should have been to take care of his family rather than embark on yet another self-serving mission? Those kids grew up as well as they did because of their mother (who many times was off the wall, too), their Aunt Viki and yes, even Aunt Dorian. At least Dorian was usually there when Todd and Blair were involved in some crazy plot to bilk someone.

It was bad enough when Todd had several outbursts in court and the judge had to tell him to just sit down and shut up, but then he had to put some more nails in his coffin by admitting that he wanted to kill Margaret.

At this point, I don’t even know why Blair bothers to try and help Todd. He did finally thank her after he made things infinitely worse for himself in court. After all, aside from his kids and Blair, he has no one on his side but Viki and she’s not around. She couldn’t do him any good anyway at this point because she’d never do anything crooked to help him out.

Todd will never learn his lesson which was made ever so clear when he decided he needed a way outside the law to get his son and offered Michael and Marcie money for Tommy. It showed how disgusting Todd is when he went to the apartment, offered them money, laughed and said, “I can give you enough money to buy ten babies. And by the looks of this place and the way you dress, it’s obvious that you have no money.” Todd is reprehensible and there is no doubt about it. I was cheering my head off when Marcie sneakily took him up on his offer and had him write that huge check.