Inside this issue:
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Last week I wrote about some of the newer couples
on PC---what’s working, what (IMHO) isn’t, so this week I want to take
a look at some of the (relatively) less recent additions to the PC couples
line-up.
I’ll start with my personal favourite, Victor
and Mary; this is one pairing that I thoroughly enjoy, and have since day
one. They’re cute, cuddly, and both heartbreaking and hilarious by turns
(remember the time Victor had disappeared and was presumed dead, and those
interminable accordion lessons where I’m sure Kevin and his various ladyloves
wished he would disappear?). This couple can do anything, from slapstick
comedy and light banter to tender love scenes and heartfelt emotional outpourings,
as evidenced by their nuptials, which had plenty of all of the above, and
has got to be one of my personal all-time favourite soap weddings. Now,
if only the writers would give them some story---there’s ample opportunity
to do so, what with Frank’s sudden penchant for time-travel, Joe’s uncertain
HIV status, Victor’s newly acquired granddaughter, etc., etc. And
while they’re at it, why not bring Mike (who has been languishing away
over on GH) back---isn’t he still partners with Mary in the Recovery Room?
I could really see a triangle with these three working; hey, why should
the youngsters have all the fun (or angst, for that matter!)? BTW, loved
Smokey’s storyline suggestions in last week’s newsletter---some of them
might not be too far-fetched, after all!
Speaking of the more mature set (and also of
couples who can do it all), Lee and Gail Baldwin are among some of PC’s
most underused yet valuable assets. They really shone when Lee had his
heart attack , and have loaned stellar support to Scotty and Serena throughout
all of their trials and tribulations. Unfortunately, what with Scotty having
taken up permanent residence over at GH, and Serena (yet another much-neglected
little gem of an actress) among the missing, so to speak, it looks as though
this pairing has been back-burnered for good, more’s the pity. To TPTB,
all of the above-mentioned deserve to be in the game, so why not just give
them the ball and let them run with it? I think you’d be pleasantly surprised
by the touchdowns (i.e., critical acclaim, and [gasp!] possibly even increased
ratings) that would ensue.
Next on my list---Kevin and Lucy. Where to
start? This is a couple that definitely belongs together, soulmates (as
that annoying [to me, anyways!] Lucy would say) through and through, to
the bitter end. Which may be their problem as of late; happiness has rendered
them stagnant and boring. Let’s face it, folks, this couple works much
better when in the midst of turmoil, preferably that created by some outside
force beyond their control. To that end, might I suggest that Eve’s
baby NOT belong to Ian, but rather to Kevin---one can only imagine the
havoc that little scenario would create! As I don’t believe the paternity
has been fully established at this point, I’m REALLY hoping that this will
prove to be the case, as the resulting mayhem could definitely do wonders
for this tepid relationship.
Last but not least, Ian and Eve. Sorry, PTB,
but that particular endless love just doesn’t fly with me. I know they
have many adherents, and I did like them as well, but that was before they
“fell in love” overnight, and all sense and reason just flew out the window.
I’m all for romance, but this whole topic brings to mind what was said
in last week’s excellent Chris&Eve column about what true love really
means. It seems to me that, especially on the soaps, LOL, people can fall
into and out of love as many times as they change their clothing without
so much as batting an eye. However, I would say, that love, true love,
ought to be of a somewhat more permanent cast than that. Therefore,
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that IMHO, the best, most enduring,
truest, love must be founded on friendship first and foremost. By that
definition Chris & Eve ought to be PC’s newest supercouple! Based on
the latest occurrences on the show, I’m certainly hoping so!
So that, in a nutshell, is what I think of
the state of romance on PC these days. There’s a lot of good stuff going
on right now, but by and large, there’s still definitely room for improvement.
And this, my friends, is the beauty of soaps---as Scarlett O’Hara so succinctly
puts it, “Tomorrow is another day!”
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