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| August 11, 2008
NOnononononononononononononono!!!
I'm directing this barb straight at your heart,
Bobby Guza... You have trashed this show and these characters more
than enough as it is. You have turned the PCPD into nothing more
than a cracker box full of goofy cartoon cops who couldn't find
their way out of a paper bag, let alone to a crime scene. You
have taken the rich potential of bringing in war veterans (HEROES)
and shown them NO respect whatsoever. Now you bring back a
character, with ENORMOUS potential to be an all-time great, who is
a war veteran, and the rumors are flying fast and furious that he
will be the one to betray favored-son, Jason?! I'm speaking, of
course, about Cody Paul, who is portrayed by the fabulous Graham
Shiels. He is the last remaining military war veteran and you are
plotting to make him a traitor?! Not just to Jason, but to the
Country (by having him aligned with Andre Karpov)???!!!!
I know there are still alot of people out there
who never had a chance to see Cody Paul on the first season of GH:
Nightshift, and that's a shame, because he was RIVETING!!!
Despite the fact that he had gotten hooked on prescription drugs -
his way of dealing with the PTSD after the war - he was still
shown to be a man of honor and courage. Take note, Guza, these
are NOT bad traits to have; just so you know. Not only was he
honorable and courageous, but he was compassionate and smart as a
whip. The respect he showed for a man he didn't even know (Lainey
Winters' father, Roger - an Alzheimer's sufferer) was heartwarming
to behold. He didn't know that man, but he knew that he was
suffering. He knew that he was losing his dignity and he did for
Roger Winters what no one else had - he showed him the PROPER
RESPECT DUE A MILITARY VETERAN. He spoke to Roger Winters with
the respect and deference due a superior officer and it worked.
It calmed Roger down in a way that nothing else did.
When Lainey could not do what her father begged
her to do - end his suffering - Cody stepped in and did it for
her. Now, whatever your thoughts about euthanasia are, there is
no denying that Cody's actions were not the actions of a coward -
not by any stretch of the imagination. He took responsibility for
what he did and didn't try to foist blame on anyone else. He
went to jail - until Diane managed to get him out, and he got
clean and sober. THAT is a character worth better treatment than
to turn him into a criminal and a traitor. That is a character
who deserves respect; not ONLY because he served his Country with
honor and distinction, but because he turned his life around.
Lest anyone think that I believe ALL people who serve in the
military are perfect and should never be portrayed in a negative
light - that's just not the case. As with people in all walks of
life, military personnel have their problems and issues too. My
beef with Guza is that he has taken any and every vet that appears
on the show and makes them either crazy, or a killer, or a
criminal, or all of the above! He has never let any of them BE a
true hero. Even Cooper Barrett, who became a cop, didn't do so
because he WANTED to BE a cop - he did it because Sonny MADE him.
Why? Because he was a criminal who helped in the Metro-Court
fiasco. So yeah... I take issue with Guza's treatment of those
who are SUPPOSED to be the good guys. As for Graham Shiels
himself? He is a FABULOUS actor. He may not be your
stereotypical soap pretty-boy, but he has depth and heart
and charisma. (For the record, back in the day, Tony Geary was
no pretty boy either and look how THAT turned out!!) Shiels is a
perfect example of what this show is lacking and desperately
needs. Put him in scenes with Carly, Sam, Liz, or Maxie and watch
the sparks fly!! (I'm not saying it has to be a romance, mind
you, but chemistry doesn't HAVE TO be sexual.)
Okay, enough about THAT affront to the fans and
onto something else...
How about vets of another kind? Soap vets!
Specifically Q's, Bobbie and the Brothers Scorpio... I'm pretty
sure I've mentioned before how ridiculously insulting it is to
those of us who have invested decades in GH that two people who
were ENGAGED before have yet to cross paths since one of them
returned to the show. Namely Bobbie Spencer and Jerry Jax.
Especially given the fact that Bobbie's daughter is MARRIED to
Jerry's brother!!! Is it because THIS Jerry is now much
younger-looking in appearance than Bobbie? Or is it that we're
not supposed to remember that Bobbie and Jerry were once very much
in love? Perhaps it's that TPTB don't want to explore the
vitality of still gorgeous "older" women, such as Bobbie - who is
SURE to have mad chemistry with Jerry no matter what their
relationship? "Older" women aren't supposed to be perceived as
"sexual beings"? How very insulting!
The Q's are ALWAYS a welcome addition to any
episode - haven't you learned that by now? Their scenes crackle
and sizzle every time, even if they're just arguing about
breakfast - but especially when they are a united front against
anyone coming after one of their own. The Q's are a core LEGACY
family and they should be treated with more respect - and given
more air time than they have been getting. AND they should be
built back up in numbers, since they've all but killed off or
moved away the entire family. Since there's no way anyone is
planning to bring Laura back on a permanent basis, then by all
means, allow TRACY to mother Lulu. She genuinely seems to care for
the girl - separately and aside from any Luke consideration. Let
Tracy be the mother that Lulu soooooo desperately needs.
Likewise for the Brothers Scorpio. Mac is not
the buffoon he's been made out to be, so STOP IT! Give the man
back his dignity and for crying out loud, give the man a
woman!!!! Mac is dead-sexy and it's a crime for him to have no
love in his life! He's also not stupid, so stop writing him as
such. As for Robert? Some of us (who get Soapnet) have finally
seen glimpses of the real Robert Scorpio over on Nightshift.
Yes, it was kind of chuckle-inducing to watch Robert's exploits
while trying to escape the hospital following his plane crash, but
at the heart of it was his undying love for his daughter. He may
have been confused about what year it was (he thought Robin was 8
years old) but he was being driven by his love and commitment to
his only child - and his need to get to her at all costs. Later
on, when he'd regained most of his senses and came back to the
present, it was touching to see him schmoof all over Robin about
how happy he was at the prospect of being a grandfather. Likewise
to see his genuine concern for her over the HIV+ issues that could
arise for her and her child. Why can't we see that on GH?! Oh
wait... I know...
BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE AWAY VALUABLE MOB AIR
TIME!!!!!
Yeesh! I've said it before and I'll say it
again, it is NOT the MOB that so many fans love - it's the people
IN the mob! People we love in SPITE of them being in the mob, not
BECAUSE they are in the mob!!! There IS a difference! Why do we
love the people who are in the mob? Because THEY are the ones
written to be the heroes!!! I can almost guarantee that if Sonny,
Jason, or Johnny were written as, oh say... Karpov or Anthony Z.
they would not be so loved. If they were written as REAL mobsters
and cold-blooded killers with no conscience, they would not be
loved. If Jason were not written to be the Patron Saint of Port
Chuckles - the only one who can save the whole city from the big
bad REAL mobsters - but as a REAL hitman-cum-mob-boss, he would
not be so loved. Pretty is as pretty does.
Case in point? Look at Sonny and his fall from
grace. For probably over a year now, Sonny has been written as a
complete ass. He's always been an ass, of course, but he always
had some redeeming qualities before. Now? None whatsoever! The
fans are turning away from Sonny more and more with each passing
day. Why? Because he's no longer being written as the mobster
with a heart of gold, but as a man with a heart of stone. People
can say all they want that Sonny gave up custody of the boys to
keep them safe, but that doesn't make it true. He signed those
boys away so he could resign from the mob and have a life with
KATE. She was his true motivation, not the boys and not Krystina,
or he would have given up his parental rights to her as well. We
all know that Sonny can't stay away from the power or "respect"
that being a mob boss afforded him, and he waited all of about
five minutes before hopping into bed (figuratively) with another
mob boss. To protect Jason, as he claims? NOOOO! It was about
feeling powerful and respected again. He's made a huge mess of it
(as we all knew he would) and now (like always) he expects Jason
to clean up his mess again. Way to go, Sonny! See what I'm
getting at here? Stop writing them as heroes and the fans see
them for what they really are...
As for Johnny-Lulu (JoLu), I will only touch on
that briefly, lest I spin off into a dimension of pissed off that
I can never return from. While I cannot even claim to be a
supporter/proponent/fan of JoLu, I can still see how very
insulting it is to true JoLu fans who have longed for more air
time for their favorite couple. They may be getting more air
time, but come ON! For THIS?!! I'd be highly insulted and
offended if MY favorites were being written to appear as though
they were stupid or inept. The potential was right there for a
great summer love on the run storyline for JoLu - the pieces were
all in place - but... they get THIS?! First of all, love on the
run implies... well... RUNNING!! To have them stay in one place,
where they have already been recognized by a girl who could turn
on them the second Johnny spurns her affections? It's beyond
stupid and it's lazy writing. A fan base that big deserves far
better.
Speaking of fan bases? Please stop jerking the
Liasonites around? It's not even funny anymore. It's cruel and
insulting. That particular fan base has been patiently waiting
for close to a decade only to be jerked around again and again.
Why?! Either get them together or put them with someone else,
(and I don't mean back with Sam and Lucky) because it's gotten
really, really old. The JoLu and Liason things are NO way to
treat your most loyal fans.
Yet, for all my gloom and doom, not everything
in Port Chuckles is dark and gloomy. Robin and Patrick are on
a... better... track. At least they're not fighting every single
time we see them now - so that's progress!! Hip-hip-HOORAY!!!!
DinoMax haven't been on as much as we'd like to see, but they are
still WONDERFUL in scenes together. Diane is magnificent in any
scene, but it's FUN to see her with Max. It's fun to see her with
Alexis, too. And speaking of fun? I give you SPIXIE!!!! What an
awesome pairing!! Even if they never get romantic (which would be
a shame IMO) they are pure soap gold together. Their friendship
has the potential to be the stuff of legends. Maxie's obvious
caring, concern and affection for Spins gives her a humanity that
Maxie was lacking for a long, long time. It gives her someone to
care about, other than herself, and it's WONDERFUL to see the
changes and growth in her character since putting her and Spins
together. Absolutely inspired. Also inspired? Scenes with Maxie
and Kate!! Especially when it's just the two of them. I can't
tell you how rewarding it was to SEE Kate recognize/realize just
how much Maxie idolizes her and wants to succeed in the fashion
industry. For Kate to acknowledge that Maxie IS serious about her
job and that she DOES listen to her? PERFECTION!! (I mean,
please... "I'm sponge, you're water..." FECKING BRILLIANT!!!!
May Kate never again utter the notion that Maxie is as expendable
as Lulu or that their respective continued employment is dependent
upon the other. THAT is a scene that is a perfect example of what
we'd like to see more often. Simple and real. No cattiness, no
threats, just two women conducting business in a very believable
fashion. LOVE IT! Also refreshing to see? Sam in action mode -
so to speak. She's not whining, or throwing around any "poor me's".
THAT is real progress and it gives me genuine hope for this
character.
Well, my pretties, that's all I have for now.
As usual, the bar is open and the booze/soft drinks are flowing.
Enjoy!
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