Reflections by Jill - A Weekly Commentary for OLTL for December 30, 2008

So, it is Christmas in Llanview and poor Rex can’t find a Z-Box for Shane. He has tried everything, even trying to beg Dorian to give him one of hers and she takes great joy in telling him to take a hike. But hold on! Dorian’s guardian angel, or her conscience as I like to call her, makes her realize the importance of family and being a good person. Shane, Rex and Gigi are at home opening gifts and Shane doesn’t get his Z-Box. Even though he is totally disappointed, he doesn’t make Rex feel bad and tells him that what is important is that he tried. It just shows how well Gigi raised this young man and that was never more evident than when Shane gave Rex his greatest gift by calling him Dad.

Bo showed up at Gigi’s place and reminded Rex that it’s not what he gives Shane; it’s what they share together. He told him a nice story about the fact that Matthew probably couldn’t remember what he got last Christmas, but he would definitely remember something he and his dad did together so Rex should concentrate on other things besides material gifts. That was great advice.

Dorian’s conscience finally gets the better of her, especially when she sees all the things that her family has in spite of what they are going through and she shows up at Gigi’s door with a Z-Box in her hands. As much as she would like to run Rex over with her car, she still has a tiny bit of goodness in her heart and won’t let a kid go without what he wants most. But I did laugh at her parting words as she leaves Gigi’s house when she told Rex, “By the way, this does not change anything between us.” (Translation: I still hate you for what you did to my daughter.) That’s why no matter how much I want to strangle Dorian about 95% of the time, I always wind up finding a tiny reason to want her to stick around.

So, Jared wants to marry Natalie and buys her an engagement, but before he proposes, he goes to Clint and asks for his blessing. The decent thing about Jared is that no matter what he might think of what he has been through with Clint, it is important for Natalie’s sake to get her father’s blessing. Clint knows how much Jared loves Natalie and gives him his blessing, but he does asks Jared how he plans to support his daughter. Oh, I knew this was coming. Jared winds up with Clint offering him the chance to come back and work at B.E., which is Jared’s dream come true. Gee, it’s nice to know that all is forgiven that easily, especially after Clint used Jared to get Ray out of prison.

Anyway, Jared finally proposed to Natalie and of course she says yes. I don’t know what it is but I’m just not feeling this couple. Maybe it’s me, or maybe I just wish that John would run away from his confusing life with Blair and Marty and find his way back to Natalie. Not that he and Natalie ever had a smooth ride, but whatever they had, it’s that special connection that I don’t feel from Jared and Natalie.

To end a short week on a very good note, adorable David Vickers has been hotfooting his way back to Llanview in the snow, dressed in garb like the Dali Lama. It seems he has had a spiritual awakening and is about to find out that he is the Buchanan heir. Oh, I can’t wait for this to unfold and if his first appearance is any indication, we are in for a treat and a lot of laughs. If the expression on Viki’s face when David showed up at her and Charlie’s table at the café is any indication, we’re in for a riot of a ride! Thank you to Tuc Watkins for coming back and for staying a while. I, as well as many others, am grateful for the lightness you bring to a show that has been way too dark lately.

I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Be safe and have fun!

See ya next week.

Jill

FAN FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS

Welease writes: “I had to smile when I read your comments about baby Chloe. Now I realize there are all sorts of rules about the use of children in the media, especially babies and I'm fine with that. Children should be protected at all costs, but nothing will make me believe that the casting director could not find an infant out there who did not look as if she was almost ready to climb out of a stroller! Yet oddly enough, in the scenes at Llanfair with Viki and Clint, she seemed smaller and I'm sure it was the same baby. Maybe it was those oversized clothes or a trick of the light, lol!”

Dear Welease: I don’t know the rules about babies on soaps either, but I’m sure they could have used infants that look fairly newborn. I’ve seen them do it before. I didn’t even think it was realistic when Viki was holding the baby up when they were at Llanfair because she wasn’t even supporting the baby’s head and neck. Nobody holds a baby that is a few weeks old like that. I’m sure there are several babies who play the part of Chloe and I won’t be surprise if next month Bree is about 10 years old and Chloe is starting school. LOL!