Comments through December 6, 2002
(Spoiler Mentions)
Not stressing, not
stressing…that’s my mantra until Christmas.
C’mon now, say it with me… I’m
thinking we should make a gift list for our favorite characters.
Ideas welcome for your favorites.
Here’s my list so far.
Carly – Easy Bake Oven
Edward – A really annoying Big Mouth Billy Bass or Rockin’ Santa
Mac and Taggert – Some of those 5-Minute Mystery Books so they can brush up on their case solving skills.
Sonny – Books on tape by Dr. Phil
Courtney – “GI Jane” DVD so she can learn the meaning of tough and smart.
Brenda – Self defense
classes or advanced swimming lessons since she gets restrained and wet so
often.
I have an observation and question about the Thanksgiving episode that didn’t occur to me until this week. Did anyone else think that it was Jason dreaming and Courtney was caught in his little mind loop? When AJ played District Attorney and answered in his Donald Duck voice, “He was just trying to help,” in the background Jason was smiling and Taggert smirking. I bet they had a lot of fun playing some of those scenes and I like when it shows on tape.
Way too much fun goin’ on here.
If I had to title the show this
week I’d call it “The Week of People Behaving Badly.”
At first I thought a virus had infected the women.
But no, by Wednesday the tide turned and the bad behavior began seeping
through the men. Some examples:
- Jason left Brenda at the police
station and they agreed not to say anything to the cops.
As soon as he leaves, Brenda spills the beans about acting out her bad
thoughts with a steak knife on Alcazar.
- Carly promised Jason that
she’d calm down and support Sonny. Next
we see her at the police station peeking into the interrogation room at Brenda
and Sonny. We all know she
didn’t hurry down to the PCPD to declare her support of Brenda.
- Gia, who by the way has worked hard to change her image from blackmailing opportunist to princess with an attitude, reverted in a second by declaring to the really good looking Mr. Dern that of course, she’s an attorney. Of course, she’s a liar.
Could be a keeper.
- Liz was snooping in Ric’s room no matter how she played it. So the door opened when she knocked on it. I don’t think there’s an etiquette rule that says the knocker must then stroll completely around the room looking over its contents on the pretense of dropping an envelope that could have been deposited immediately on the desk.
Busted for snooping.
Now for the men:
- Scotty’s badness reverberated
throughout the week. I’m trying
to figure out if he’s supposed to be farcical as DA or if I’m expected to
swallow his blatant corruption. Surely
no politician can be that over the line and not be reined in.
Taggert certainly gets that Scotty is playing Go Fish and keeping all
the aces for himself. And I’m
really wondering what the job duties require for the office of District
Attorney. I understand the
difference between creative license and reality TV, but I’m not grasping
what I’m supposed to be seeing in this character.
- It’s hard to start on Mr.
Jasper Jacks. Let me begin with
his supreme conceit, which leads him to believe that his opinion matters over
every one else’s. Brenda agrees
to see an attorney. It is her
right as an American citizen to have the attorney of her choice or one
appointed by the court. Jax sends
her attorney away without checking with her because of course, he knows best,
his will shall be done, and all in Port Chucky should crawl into his presence
just to bask in his shadow. OK, I
know that’s little harsh, but after his treatment of Skye as a troublesome
puppy that refused to quit following him when he kicked her, I think about
barf bags whenever he spouts with the pompous attitude.
I admit to a vengeful corner in my heart that hopes he’ll need Skye
in the near future and she, sober, will roll her eyes and turn away because
he’s not worth her time.
- AJ, oh AJ, you poor sucker. I hate that he’s the bad guy again, but bad he is.
He comes to see Courtney at Kelly’s and states that he said things in
anger that he regrets and he’s sure she did too.
The attitude that yes, he’s done wrong, but justified in a sense
because Courtney did wrong also is what messes him up.
It conveys that he still expects to be excused since he only made those
bad choices as a reaction another’s wrong choices.
- Sonny said he didn’t care if
Ric got caught digging dirt on Scotty because he was expendable.
I know, MOB guy, gangster. It’s
contradictory but while I enjoy the danger and excitement implied by MOB
storyline, I don’t want the badness shoved in my face.
Hey, I never claimed to be rational.
This doesn’t pertain to anything,
but isn’t this man good looking?
Never having seen Skye on the other soaps I had no preconceived notions about her. At first I considered her a Carly of a different color - generally bad with occasional good intentions and a vulnerability that creeps out once in a blue moon. She is all that, but more and I’ve come to admire her ability to act a scene while saying little. This week I watched as Jason threatened her for pointing the finger at Brenda. Skye’s backtalk came across as bravado and when Jason said she was nothing to him she sort of flinched like it hurt. Even though she behaves badly at times, her lack of value in herself comes across loud and clear. I find myself hurting with her and rooting for her. Except now she’s gone and hit Nicholas while driving drunk so I don’t think her world will return to an even keel any time soon. On a lighter note, Skye’s remark that saving Brenda “seems to be a cottage industry around here,” made me laugh with its ring of truth.
Discussing Brenda, the cottage industry of Port Charles
The scene that tickled me most
this week occurred on Friday when Scotty listened in on Jax and Brenda’s
conversation with what Taggert referred to as an illegal tap.
The illegal tap consisted of a cheap, yellow two-way radio badly taped
with grey tape under the table. Oooh,
now that’s sneaky and subtle.
Alexis slapped Sonny and blamed little Kristina’s current trauma on him. My thoughts ran along the line of Sonny’s gonna be maaaaaad when he discovers that his daughter was rushed out of neonatal ICU for heart surgery right in front of him and he wasn’t in the information loop. Usually, Sonny gets to star in the big secrets around town. Not this time, Buddy.
Slapped, yelled at and still unaware of fatherhood.
It could get ugly.
Do you suppose that ABC hired an employee whose job title is Candle Genie? When he fills out his tax return does he write candle lighter for romantic soap scenes on General Hospital? Candles on the table for dinner are appealing, friendly. Kissing certainly provides entertainment, but it’s hard to jump from kissing over spilled wine to passion and romantic candles lit all over the apartment. When did that happen? Does Jason’s half a chest on Friday count as a bare-chested scene? I’m keeping track; I need to know.
The Candle
Genie was here.
Half a chest is better than no chest at all.
Courtney appears to be changing. She’s becoming perky.
It pleases me that she’s not so naïve towards AJ, but she has a ways
to go before I can apply smart or tough.
I say this because Jason walked her home, she remarked that her
neighborhood isn’t so bad which she proved by opening her unlocked door. Apparently a stalking, more than one break in, and
threatening telephone calls haven’t created any permanent cautionary sense.
At least Courtney gets to talk to
Rosie, everyone else just talks to themselves.
When do the boarders pay for food
at Kelly’s?
I like Felicia as friend to Ned. Goodness knows he needs one, because according to scoops
Studly Nedly’s going to have his hands full with Alexis and her, ummm,
issues.
Luke stopped smoking cigars on
screen but now he pours drinks for customers at the bar and tells them to take
it with them and drink it in their car. Huh?
I think the writers missed the set-a-good-example code on this one.
GH may get labeled a bad habit for me because lately I’ve experienced criminal urges to break into a department store and play with stuff. Wouldn’t it be fun to play dress up, dance to any music and dine on expensive foods? Luke and Laura started the tradition. Lucky and Liz followed in their footsteps. Now, Luke and Summer had their time in the designer departments. I didn’t watch way back so I’m not sure of the significance of the red dress. Feel free to enlighten me if you know the history. Luke pulled me in this week. He said he just wants to quit falling and I empathize with how grief pulls a person’s world off kilter. When he cried out to Laura/Summer that he just wants her to be his Laura, I felt tears. Hopefully, Luke will turn a corner soon and begin to heal – or something, because I’m ready for a glimpse of the smart mouth, outrageous but savvy Luke.
Lady
in a red dress
If any of you are wondering what
happened to my potato friend featured last week, I’ll tell you.
He’s sitting on my dresser because I don’t know what to do with
him. Can’t seem to peel or cook
him so I guess he’ll just reside in splendor until he shrivels up and
becomes wrinkly. Now there’s a
picture for ya. I’m off to
negotiate a peace treaty with some strands of Christmas lights.
Have a great week everyone. I
am wishing lots of Christmas cheer your way, and eggnog, and candy canes, and
carols, and successful gift procuring. Thank
you for checking in.
Thanks and photo credit for this week and last: http://groups.msn.com/GHWorld2
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