Reflections by Jill - A Weekly Commentary for OLTL for December 31, 2007

FAN FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS

Mary writes: “I'm glad that Viki is finally being given a real storyline after all this time. Nothing against the actor playing Charlie, but I wish that TPTB would have brought back the actor that played Ben as a new character that "looks like" Ben since Ben is dead. Or even Clint Ritchie as a new character would have been okay with me since I liked the chemistry between him and Erika when he came on the show so many years ago.”

Dear Mary: I, too, am very glad that Viki has a storyline that doesn’t revolve around taking care of her grown kids. She needs to take care of her own happiness for a change. You’re not the only one who would have liked to see Mark Derwin return to the show, but it doesn’t look like that’s about to happen any time soon. I understand that you’d like him back as a new character that looks like Ben, but if Mark ever came back to the show, I would want him to be Ben. Of course I choose not to believe that Ben dead. I think it would be totally feasible for Asa to have hidden Ben somewhere to protect him from the mob or something sinister and now that Asa is dead, someone would have to fall upon Ben and discover that he is alive. I also think it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to find out that Viki’s heart was not Ben’s, but someone involved with Dr. Long when he was selling organs on the black market. Hey, do you think it’s any more far-fetched than everyone in Llanview winding up in a dinky little diner in Paris, Texas? As far as Clint Ritchie goes, he and Viki lost that chemistry a long time ago as far as I’m concerned. Once Ben was on the scene, Clint just didn’t compare.

Alison writes: “I do have to say that I really agree with you regarding the casting of Chris Stack as Michael. Although I was definitely sorry to see Nathaniel Marston go and I feel for the actor and all his troubles, I too was impressed with both the physical similarity of Stack to Marston and also his impressive acting ability and the way he seemed to have inhabited this role for a long time. It is one recast that I felt was really done well and far more seamlessly than most. I also agree with you regarding the acting of Brandon Buddy. I have liked him, but he had not been given a major opportunity to show his abilities, and I am glad to see him give this story a great deal of believability and pathos.”

Dear Alison: I think Chris Stack is doing a great job and I feel more and more that he is Michael every time I see him. He’s very believable, doesn’t overact and he seems comfortable in the role. I’m sorry that we lost Nathaniel, but I’m very glad that the storyline can go on and that we have a believable actor playing the part of Michael. I think I’m going to enjoy Cole living with Nora because I’m looking forward to seeing him forge a relationship with Matthew as a little brother. Everyone shines in scenes with Eddie Alderson. He’s a great young actor and I think other young actors can learn from him.

Dallas writes: “I loved Marty Saybrooke. I cried when I saw her die. Bring her back! Unlike everyone else I thought that Marty and John made a perfect couple. I don't care how she comes back I just want to see her back. Please let me know if there is anything in the future for her?”

Dear Dallas: I’m with the majority of the fans on the subject of Marty and John. I didn’t really find their romance very believable. I thought they were great as friends and I liked Marty’s interaction with the others in Llanview. I thought the romance moved too quickly and it was not believable because John doesn’t form emotional or romantic ties that easily and from the adversarial start he and Marty had, I didn’t see the romance as realistic. Maybe in time I would have felt differently, but Marty and John’s romance was one I won’t be crying over. I know you want Marty back and obviously the reason there is no body to be found is that she probably could come back to life one day, so keep your fingers crossed. I never say never.