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Some
Rambling Thoughts on OLTL, While reading Sage’s Spoiler Party this week, I was motivated to try my hand at a muse column. Sage commented on Viki’s treatment of Tess throughout this DID storyline. So here are some of my ramblings on the DID storyline, Viki, Antonio, and other players! I have also not seen the ‘Viki comforts Tess’ episode yet this week, so please keep that in mind while reading! I’ve always loved Viki (and of course Erika Slezak). Viki is a heroine, but with flaws, and admitted flaws. She is a good person, but I have never felt that she was this super saccharine sweet character that the writers force down out throats as they do with some others (GH’s Emily comes to mind). I mean, I loved that scene back during the Killing Club storyline when she laid into Marcie. Viki had some serious fire there! And Viki is a good mother; of course she makes mistakes, but what parent doesn’t? In fact on some level, she reminds me of my own mom, a woman who would do anything for her children no matter what. This is why Viki’s interaction with Tess has been driving me crazy! First of all, why do Tess/Jess’s family members and Antonio treat Tess as if she is some sort of alien that has taken over Jessica’s body and must be driven out? Tess is Jessica and vice versa, they are not separate entities. And while Viki has acknowledged in past episodes (especially to selfish, thick-headed, chauvinistic Antonio) that Tess is Jess, she doesn’t seem to practice what she preaches. In fact I agree with Sage, she has been downright cold! The constant “I want my Jesse back” whining is grating on my nerves! And what really surprised me, is that I am seeing Viki’s behavior as being more about her than Jess/Tess. She wants ‘her’ Jessica back, Tess be damned! It feels, at least to me, that all of the characters involved in this storyline are being, well, selfish. With the exceptions of Clint and Nash, the other characters seem to want Tess annihilated and an unspoiled Jessica to return. I don’t know why it is, but every time I see Viki and Clint on screen dealing with their feelings over the abuse Jessica suffered, Clint (or JvD) displays true guilt, heartbreak, and deep concern for his daughter – Jess and Tess. Viki, well, I’m sad to say that the feeling I get watching Viki is that she is more devastated by how that guilt is making her feel, and shifting the blame onto Niki is a cop out. I am not attacking Viki, I still love her, but I will try to articulate why I think it is a cop out. And I should say that I don’t remember exactly when Viki became aware of Niki’s presence, but she at least knew she was having blackouts. She also knew she was her daughter’s primary caregiver, especially with Clint’s late night Banner work. I am a mom; if I were having blackouts and ‘losing time,’ my first thought would be the care of my children. Don’t get me wrong, I am not blaming Viki for what happened to Jess, I’m simply saying that I don’t buy the whole ‘it’s all Niki’s fault’ argument. I’m also stunned by Viki’s unwavering support of Antonio as the better man for her Jessica. Like I said before, Viki reminds me a little of my own mom, and one of the things my mom could do very well is figure out what type of person my boyfriend at the time was, and whether or not we were good for each other. She was always pretty careful about sharing her opinions with me because she wanted to give me the opportunity to, basically, be in control of my own love life and had faith in my decisions. Here is where I get thoroughly confused by Viki’s support of Antonio and Jessica. It may just be me, but Antonio strikes me as a self-absorbed, possessive, chauvinistic pig with a self control problem (how many times was he suspended from the police force?) that is more interested in winning the Jess/Tess struggle than actually trying to help Jessica. He just wants Tess exorcised. And if he truly ‘loved’ Jess, he would want the best for her, even if that means Tess is the dominant personality. But oh no, he makes it clear that he just wants his Jessica back, punctuated by his usual huffing and puffing. I wonder if he wants all traces of Tess gone because she doesn’t obey his commands or accept being treated like a child. Antonio treats Jess as if she were 10 years old and unable to make adult decisions. That’s not love, that’s control. That’s also not Tess. Sure, the girl has her faults, but that is one strong willed, self assured girl who speaks her mind, especially to Antonio. No one has acknowledged that while Jessica seems to like, or at least tolerate Nash, Tess hates Antonio. She must hate him for a reason, or reasons. While Antonio claims he and Jess have this perfect love, I can’t help thinking that a pretty good chunk of Jess’s psyche hates Antonio. I don’t think that one’s a match made in heaven. Back to Viki, how has she not seen Antonio for what he is, and his apparent lack of respect for her daughter as an intelligent adult? Let me tell you, my mom would have has him pegged in a heartbeat. You would think Viki would want someone for her daughter who loves and respects Jess, accepts her for who she is and sees their relationship as a partnership. Someone who sees her for the intelligent, loving, capable adult she is, and accepts all of her personality traits, good and bad. Antonio reminds of those guys I knew that wanted ‘trophy’ girlfriends; y’know, “look pretty, agree with my decisions and stroke my ego. Don’t worry, in return I’ll protect and care for you, which means I’ll make all the important decisions and deal with all the situations I know you can’t handle.” That’s love and respect? Please. My mom would have seen it, I know she would have – has Viki? And what was with all the judgmental comments and behavior from Antonio towards Nash when he admitted to his past with Claudia; umm, did everyone forget Antonio’s past?? And by the way Antonio, where is Jamie? Y’know, the daughter you LIED to a court to get custody of because RJ is unfit?!? Um, didn’t he drop her like a hot potato on RJ’s doorstep while he played Santi? RJ seemed OK then! All right maybe I’m being a bit harsh. I obviously do not like Antonio. But what I don’t like even more are TPTB shoving him down our throats as a hero. TPTB on all three ABC soaps need to realize that chauvinistic men who constantly need to ‘protect’ their perpetual ‘damsels in distress’ are not heroes, they are overbearing, controlling, obnoxious ego maniacs. Ryan Lavery, Antonio Vega, Sonny Corinthos…… I see similarities. I don’t mind these characters being on the canvas, but heroes? Rambling on, I also obviously love Tess. I just do! I love Nash and their relationship. That does not mean I don’t like Jess, I do, but she needs more Tess! I find Tess fun to watch, and Bree Williamson – Bravo!! She has made Tess a person, not some cartoon character like Niki. She also seems to have a lot of fun with the role. The girl is bringing it and I for one am enjoying it! Who knows what will happen post integration, I think (at least hope) it will be interesting to watch Thanks so much for letting me ramble on!! Take care!! By: Melissa |
