OLTL 11/26/08
Viki the Cryptkeeper
The show will be off for the next few days, so I guess they decided to pull out all the stops. Some of the stories today were told with such fine craft that I wanted to pull them out of the alternating structure and watch each story as a whole…especially the Blair/John and Viki ones.
I had heard that today was the performance that might win Viki her next Emmy, so I was prepared to be at least a little skeptical; I’m funny that way. And it did start off a bit stilted. But it sure didn’t end that way. Holy crap. It’s hard to elicit emotion from the audience when the character is over the top with her own emotion, but she got to a point where it was quite a moving experience. I know the circumstances under which they tape these things — if you wonder why Viki’s last bout with the alters wasn’t as gripping as her previous bouts, it’s because they’ve cut way back on rehearsal time for these actors…like cut out rehearsal time altogether — and for her to give that kind of performance was quite exceptional. And the writers did her very proud, bringing up her dead sister Meredith (from a loooooong time ago), and framing the whole dilemma with such cohesion and history…such deep regard for the show. And I love the way that Charlie now fits into the history. It’s poignant and splendid that it takes such a broken man to help such a broken woman.
The other story that went above and beyond was Blair and John. I have never really found their scenes gripping, but something (or some writer) has taken over lately, and it is just great. Subtle and smart and compelling. They were playing cards in lieu of talking about their feelings — just as John would want it — and the textures they were given to play were splendid. I especially loved Blair’s imitation of John doing his Shove-It speech. But my favorite was when Blair was really starting to talk about stuff (in close-up) and suddenly the camera pulls back, John is dealing the cards, and Blair unhesitatingly drops it and jumps back into the game (and the cover). These are the scenes that, I suspect, would make an impressive little standalone play were they strung together. And I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a daytime storyline. So there.
Meanwhile, back at St. Anne’s, I have a new favorite day player. It’s Barb, the “you could poke someone’s eye out” paranoid neurotic! I love her. But, alas, she was only a device to get Brody and The Blonde (I’m not prepared to commit myself to which personality was talking) interacting. Apparently, we’re supposed to believe it’s Jessica talking to Brody, but boy did she have a Tess-attitude going. I started wondering if there wasn’t some new alter, Tessnatica, who was some sort of combo plate (with a little Natty thrown in). But I guess it’s supposed to be Jessie. Have I mentioned lately how much I like Brody’s work. And how I need to comfot the poor, teary-eyed hunk as only a best friend with benefits could? Never mind. It’s interesting work, and I like the new pairing here. Even though I’m still holding out for the David Vickers hot-tub thing.
Sarah at the loft blah blah catching Cristian and Nightie Latina blah blah blah deported blah Can’t you be supportive? blah blah She’s a Latina bitch blah I can’t believe it you’re jealous blah blah blah. “And while I’m not under siege from Immigration in my underwear, I have stuff going on too!” (Good line.)
Rex’s hair has de-poofed and so has Shane’s interest in him. Tough toenail, Rexster…somebody’s gonna have to go into a coma again before that kid’s ice melts. Update: or bribe him with the riches and video games at the Buchanan mansion. That was a peculiarly easy resolution, y’all. And apparently means that Shane is a baby prostitute who will forsake his hero for the pleasures of the turkey flesh.
So as to not end on a sour note, allow me to now describe the last two minutes of the show. First, Brody was made to say Grace for the St. Anne’s Thanksgiving meal…at which he was first pathetic and then it morphed into something very touching. Then Charlie took Viki to Angel Square and unveiled Carlotta’s new diner, which he has just finished rebuilding. (I let out a little gasp as he was opening the door, because I figured out what was coming.) Charlie rebuilt the diner as the spitting image of the Paris, Texas, cafe. Sniff sniff waaahhhh.
I’ll go find a Kleenex now, and wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.