Random Thoughts
juli...@gmail.com
year is over so I have a few minutes, so I thought I would pitch in a
few thoughts to maybe generate some discussion. First of all, let me
say at the outset that I think that Carlivati has turned things around
so dramatically from the Higley nonsense that I must admit to being
extremely impressed. I'm glad that the 40th anniversary time-travel
stoopid stuff is over, and we are finally seeing some real conclusions
to most of the storylines, while I see the seeds of future storylines
beginning. This is exactly what the May sweeps period is supposed to
do. If I admit to being just a little glad to see these storylines
coming to a close, well, let's just say that although it took to clean
up the mess, it has been worth the wait.
First: The Hope/Chloe switch
I really like how the switched-baby story overlaps with: the return of
Marty's memory; the long-standing tension between Blair and Tea and
both of their conflicted feelings for Todd; the rivalry for both Blair
and Marty between Todd and John; Jessica's unresolved issues with Nash
and Natalie and Jared's role in his death; the budding relationship
between Jessica and Brody; and how it sets up yet another heartbreak
for Marcie and Michael (this one is inevitable--get your Kleenex boxes
ready), more than likely leading to their departure from Llanview.
And in the middle of all of this is the history of Marty's rape. I
like it that Powell and Rebecca ended up being the perps. Their mutual
insanity is an acceptable explanation for the whole "KAD Killer" mess.
I'm also incredibly grateful that the serial killer storyline did not
drag on forever.
Also I really, really like how Starr and Cole, by coincidence and
through no interference (subtle or otherwise) by Natalie and Jared,
arrived independently (with a little help from Marcie and Michael) at
the conclusion that the child in the grave that they thought was their
baby was actually someone else's baby. I like it when people follow
clues logically and for compelling reasons. If I had been them, I also
would have started with the hair sample in the locket (although why a
*cut* hair sample would have DNA on it that was still viable after
months in a non-sealed locket is beyond me--but I won't quibble).
Each step in the discovery process has been logical and followed if
not with a sense of urgency, at least with some curiosity and growing
suspicions.
Finally, I appreciated it so much that Starr had two break-throughs
the night she argued with Todd, trying to get back to de-toxing Cole.
First, that her behavior with that poor sap Schyler was motivated by
emotions that had nothing to do with Schyler, and second, that her
decision to offer her baby to Marcie had everything to do with her
anger at her father and how he treated her and Cole. Her
understanding of her feelings, finally, about that are going to make
her understand--soon--just how she ripped Marcie and Michael's lives
to pieces, all just to punish Todd for being, well, being Todd. I
predict that Starr and Cole (and this may already have been revealed
in Birdie's spoilers, which I don't read, not because Birdie doesn't
do a good job, but because I don't want to know stuff ahead of time)
will now choose to raise Hope on their own (with a whole lotta help
from their parents), leaving Marcie and Michael baby-less--AGAIN. This
of course will be the reason they ultimately decide to leave Llanview
in the dust. I can only pray that Marcie makes her way to New York,
where she will become a huge Broadway star, which is what she should
be doing with a voice like that!
Second: Stacy's Come-uppance Cometh
But not soon enough! I just cannot stand this skanky ho. I am so ready
for her to be slapped down by the truth's being revealed, Rex and Gigi
to come to their senses, Shane to get back to being a sweet kid, and
Brody to be redeemed as an honorable man. I hope that Carlivati is
considering having the Morasco parents appear in Llanview, to expose
yet another lie told by this manipulative be-yotch.
I think I may even be hoping that they stay in Llanview for a while,
wanting to get to know Shane and make up for their mistake in
rejecting Gigi all those years ago. I'd like to see them be a little
humbled by their own mistake, and ask Gigi for her forgiveness. I'd
like to see that whole relationship repaired.
I wouldn't mind if Stacy stuck around, and the entire Morasco family
worked out some of the issues Stacy so obviously has with the over-
powering sibling rivalry with Gigi, but I doubt that this will happen.
Once the truth about what Stacy has done comes out, I don't see how
she will be able to show her face, much less stick around. And not
only is she a manipulative liar, she's also a thief, AND, on top of
that, she's a lazy bitch, too. How long has she been mooching off
Gigi, Rex, Schyler and anybody else she could possible mooch off of?
Isn't anybody tired of footing the bill for her lazy ass? Man, I
really want her to be kicked OUT on her ass.
And this all leads, of course, to the revelation of Rex's real father,
and the fact that he is not dead at all. I see this, though, being
revealed (to Rex) next November. The viewers will of course know the
truth long before the characters do. This is a soap opera after, and
dramatic irony is the bread of life to the genre.
And finally, something that has nothing to do with anything:
I really, really love the cars they have shown since the night of the
accident. They are spot-on, character-wise:
Of course John McBain would drive a classic muscle car from he 1960s.
A 1969 GTO, even! That thing had to have a 400 hemi. I just wish they
had let us hear that engine rumble! Awesome! And so totally McBain.
Of course Gigi would drive a Mini Cooper, which I presume she bought
while she worked for Buchanan Enterprises. Hopefully, she was able to
put a large down payment on it, and her payments are low enough that
she can make them on her pitiful income from Rodi's, since she hardly
puts in any time there. But the car suits her perfectly.
Of course Cole would drive a modern-day Mustang. It's totally the High
School senior's car of choice.
Of course Jessica would drive a Volvo. Although Bess make a comment
about it being "too flashy" (which I think was more of reference to
the color than the type of car), Jessica would indeed own a car that
is famous for its sturdiness (Volvos are long renowned for being built
like tanks; it has taken many, many years of work for them to look
even remotely stylish), and they are relatively expensive. I certainly
cannot afford one on my meager teacher's salary. They are moderately
high-priced, but Jessica would be able to afford it without a problem.
But she would want something sturdy to protect her children, but the
red color (and the fact that it was NOT a station-wagon or an SUV)
shows that she resists the "soccer-mom-grocery-grabber" stereotype.
This is prefect for Jessica.
I think that the car that John and Blair were in on Friday was Blair's
car, but I can't be sure, since they didn't identify it. I remember
John suggesting to Todd that he and Marty take Rebecca's car because
it had a car-seat in it (where did she get that car seat? did she stop
and buy one at Walmart on the way to KAD house?), but I don't recall
anyone mentioning anything about whose car John and Blair were in. If
it is Blair's, I could believe it, because it was a high-end (which of
course Blair would drive), but not the cliche of a Mercedes or a BMW.
It looked sort of like a really high-end Buick--like a Park Avenue or
whatever. But I suppose it could just as easily have been a Bentley. I
just didn't get a good enough look at it. Did anybody rewind and
freeze-frame to make the determination?
I love talking about cars on this show (I started a thread on this
topic once years and years ago on RATSA, and it went on for days,
until finally every single post was all about how every single
character in Llanview should drive either a Mercedes or a Porsche,
regardless of who they were, what they did for a living, or whether
they could afford it or not). This is mainly because I think that
when the writers give it some real thought and choose a vehicle that
matches the character's personality, income or resources, and
expressed values, then it shows me that they care about character
development being consistent and logical. To me, that's a sign of good
writing.
So all in all, I must congratulate Carlivati for his work, and I look
forward to seeing Tea's secret being revealed (another child for Todd,
given up for adoption, hmmm?), Stacy being kicked to the curb (and the
possible return-from-the-dead of Stacy and Gigi's parents), Rex's
father being revealed (and whatever kind of havoc he can cause before
The Reveal), and whatever else he comes up with.
I still would like to see more of RJ Gannon, but that's just me.
Cheers!
--julinoe