REFLECTIONS BY JILL for November 6, 2006

FAN FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS

Carol writes: “Your comments about Antonio made me laugh, and I have to agree. I still want Jessica with Nash, but it's not as cut and dried when Antonio is being reasonable. My biggest peeve this week is the judge letting Spencer carry on about who his father is. Truman is the name he has used his entire life and is his legal name. Who got his mother pregnant has absolutely no bearing on anything. I understand dramatic license, but lawyers (and doctors) should show some resemblance to reality.”

Dear Carol: I couldn’t agree more. The judge should have given him a week without food and water just for annoying everyone in the courtroom. Now that’s justice I could live with. The writers are taking way too much leeway with Spencer. It was stupid for them to let him out of jail to visit Hugh in the hospital and it was even more ridiculous for them to let him out to go to Asa’s for the DNA test results. Look at how that turned out. But I am thrilled that at least for now we know that Spencer is not a Buchanan. It was worth having all the Bukes around to witness his humiliation when he read the DNA results and it was that much more fun watching Bo lock him up again.

ol2live4 writes: “I agree with some viewers’ comments about Ms. Archer's portrayal of Natalie. Ms. Archer's character development hasn't allowed for any maturity, but surely as an actress she could make Nat human. After all, this is the second time (supposedly) that her character has lost the love of her life. Being stoic doesn't fit the bill. Why not allow her character to mature? Most characters learn from their mistakes; not Nat, she continues to take whatever she wants. I would love for Nora to be the one to successfully prosecute Spencer. Replacing Nora with Evangeline appears to be another plot device to assure that McBain and Evangeline don't interact. She will most likely lose the case and give McBain another reason to distance himself from her. Speaking of Evangeline, I can't stand the pairing of Chris/Evangeline. Chris is a great and supportive friend, but he is way too immature for her. Chris seems totally infatuated with her. Evangeline is in love with the fact that Chris is so in touch with his feelings.”

Dear ol2live4: I am the first one to agree that Natalie has a long way to go in the maturity department, but I do believe she has come a long way since she first blew into Llanview. In some ways Natalie still doesn’t feel like she fits in with her family, although it was more than evident last week when she had those wonderful scenes with Viki where they took off their rings that Natalie is learning to accept support from her family and trying to do what’s right for her life. And as far as Natalie being stoic and your comment that it doesn’t fit the bill, why does someone’s method of grieving have to fit anyone else’s idea of how it should be done? For the life of me I can’t understand why people criticize the way she deals with her grief. And you really have me laughing when you say that TPTB gave Evangeline Spencer’s case to prosecute so they could have another reason to distance her from John? WHAT? I can’t even begin to understand that one. This is all so NOT about Evangeline and John. And I don’t believe that Cristian is immature. I think he’s a bit overprotective and domineering sometimes, but Evangeline doesn’t let him get away with that and I do believe he truly loves her. I’m not sure I can see them together forever, but we’ll see. If Cris were just infatuated with her, he wouldn’t have stuck with her through thick and thin when it looked like she would never get her eyesight back. And she gave him plenty of reasons to walk away without feeling guilty. Yes, Evangeline does still have feelings for John and I think it’s a sign of maturity on Cristian’s part that he acknowledges that and doesn’t let it upset him. That’s not immaturity in my book, that’s true understanding of the fact that when someone you loved dies, you have to live through the feelings.

Candy writes: “I don't think there's an alien living in Jessica. I don't think Antonio's as obnoxious as most "fans" seem to think he is either. It won't matter anyway. If he does end up losing Jessica after all of this, he will get NO sympathy...he is hated too much.”

Dear Candy: I know where you’re coming from because I used to be a big fan of Antonio’s and a big fan of Antonio and Jessica being together for the long haul. I do have to admit though, that Antonio has been obnoxious enough of the time in the past for people to get tired of watching him huff and puff through every situation while he tries (many times unsuccessfully) to control his temper. I have received a lot of mail from people who don’t want to see Jessica with Nash, so there are people out there who are still loyal to Antonio. I am a Jessica/Nash fan, but if they hook up Antonio with Claudia, I will forever feel sorry for him. Even Antonio doesn’t deserve Claudia Reston. He’s a decent man; I just don’t think he’s the man for Jessica any more.