What DOOL is Doing Right, #1: "Viki-fying" Marlena

So it seems it’s time for a new soap for me.  It’s hard to let go of something you felt would always be there, but sometimes we have to move on.  When OLTL ended and the travesty that was GH occurred, I thought I was done with the form forever. I literally couldn’t stomach watching another show.  It was like going out on your first date after your boyfriend dumps you.  It was nauseating to think about it. However, the other day I turned on DOOL and was shocked. “OMG”, I said aloud to no one, “This actually is playing like a real soap opera!”

Now, I am not new to DOOL but I wouldn’t call myself a fan either. I was raised on ABC and stayed with it until the end.  Even though I had to leave AMC before the final curtain as I couldn’t even sit through an episode anymore, I was still an ABC girl.  Yet many years ago I thought, due to my chosen field of study, I should be at least aware of all the American soap operas.  I did a pretty good job and started to familiarize myself with DOOL and Y&R and ATWT.  I never could catch GL as it was shown at 9am in my market and I tried B&B.  I really did, recently even, but no, just, well, no. 

At any rate, I was familiar with DOOL and watched fairly regularly for a while. I loved Bo and thought he was one of the only not annoying “good” guys in daytime, besides the other Bo (RIP Bo Buchanan, sigh, silently weeping).  I watched during the "John isn’t Roman" era which would later prepare me for the Two Todds, so I suppose it was worth the effort. I thought it was silly but fun yet I couldn’t stand Marlena and thought her a treacherous bitch for keeping the impostor. What a hosebag!! DOOL, although I found Stefano amusing, was too wrapped up in the camp for me- and that’s coming from a OLTL fan!

So, DOOL was not one of my soaps. I’d watch it occasionally but in my market it was against BOTH ATWT and OLTL, shows I preferred, so it was usually off when I was home.  You can’t really flip through three shows and this was pre-DVR days.  Besides, when I was growing up, you were a Days person or an AMC person- you couldn’t be both.  So, there was that, as well.  It was like being a Cubs fan and a Sox fan in Chicago. It JUST doesn’t happen!!

Imagine my surprise when I turned it on the other day and was floored by what I saw.  Marlena, who I detest, was interesting and warm and likable.  Marlena, of the Salem Strangler fame (she was likable then as she was evil) didn’t annoy me.  Marlena, the smug, smarmy non- matriarch of the world’s worst supercouple, John and Marlena, was actually caring and didn’t make me change the channel. 

Let me step back for a moment, as a non DOOL expert.  In regard to John and Marlena, I’m not sure  if they qualify as a supercouple as they’re both SO unappealing and DOOL has a legit supercouple in Bo and Hope.  Can you have two?  I don’t know.  I doubt there’s any rulebook for supercoupledom, but these are things I think about when I’m bored on a train.  Maybe someone else can enlighten me.

At any rate, Marlena was SO appealing!  Marlena, of the Linda Blair possession fame.  Marlena, who dumped the much hotter Roman, IMO, for that dolt John who thinks acting is squinting.  Marlena, a big squinter herself, who overacts in every scene, especially when she does nothing.  It’s so obvious she’s acting, nothing ever feels real- even breathing. OMFG, I thought,  I’m liking Marlena!!!

Then I realized why.  It was Will who made her palatable.  The actor playing Will, her grandson who is slowly but surely coming to terms with his homosexuality, is not only one helluva an actor, but the story is so damn touching, I can’t take it.  He’s dealing with coming out not only to his family, but to himself.  Now, being a devout and unashamed heterosexual female, I have no idea what it’s like to come out or even realize you’re gay.  I mean like most people, I have close friends and family members that are gay and although I’ve had them come out to me or listen to them as they went through it, I would never be so arrogant as to say I can even imagine the experience.

But, in this instance, I’m not sure if whether this is “real” or not is relevant.  I think what matters is that it’s great soap and it’s reminding me what is missing from so many shows, like that crapfest GH.  It’s a story about love and fear and family. It’s about generations being there for one another when they need it the most. It’s about someone being afraid and feeling alone and realizing that they aren’t.  Marlena is there for Will because she loves him- whoever he is- and watching that relationship is so touching, it makes me weep. It’s what every show should be about.  Love and understanding and, finally, acceptance, truth, and, hopefully, happiness.  It’s truly being done well and everyone involved should be proud. It’s lovely to see.

Now, I’ve seen that this isn’t realistic as Marlena wasn’t close to Will, blah blah blah, but that’s not the point here. I’m talking about what’s happening now, on the screen, and how it needs to be the core of these shows. It’s what gotten lost along the way as maybe it’s old fashioned or not hip or dull.  But, it’s not. It’s what makes soap operas soap operas.  It’s what kept the audience for years loyal and committed.  It is, I would argue, what makes the form unique. It’s about long term relationships with good characters.  It’s about all of them coming to terms with one another while we, the audience, do the same.  It’s about finding love in the warmth of your family and always in the mother figure we all would want in our own lives.  Damn it, it’s about VIKI!!

It makes me miss Viki and Todd and Viki and Natalie and Viki and Dorian and Viki and, well, damn it, everyone.  In other words, every show needs a VIKI!! And DOOL is making Marlena Viki, in this story anyway.

By a “Viki”, I mean a character who is strong and supportive and loving and the conscience of the show.  A FEMALE character who is there to provide the warmth and understanding the crazies all need in those damn towns.  This past Halloween, Todd told Viki that she’s the one thing he relies upon to be the same.  And so do we.  And every show needs a Viki.  So few have them.  And kudos to DOOL for trying to rework the formerly unlikable Marlena into a Viki.  They lost their Viki with Alice Horton’s death.  I know they’re trying for a Viki/Dorian thing with Kate/Marlena, but, Baby, it ain’t working.

So, that’s what DOOL is doing right, along with some other things.  They remember the important things, like home and love and caring and TALKING. Oh, and to my “friends” at GH, they have female characters that aren’t whores or dumbasses or evil or crazy. They have women who are strong and caring and interesting and, yes, they’re over 25 and not just looking to get laid!!!

You want to improve GH, find a fucking matriarch, as I’ve said before.  If you can’t rework one on the canvas already, bring in Slezak as Viki could really straighten out that brother who’s about to go off the rails psycho, it seems.  And, Dumbasses, Todd and Viki are a real supercouple.   If you’re too stubborn to give the audience what they want- as in Todd and Blair- at least bring in Viki.  

I’m sure Slezak would help you out.  She’s a pro. She’s a team player.  And, most importantly,  she knows what these shows are about- and it’s her, as in Viki.  Just watch DOOL and you’ll see what you’re missing.  But I’m sure you’re too busy helping Sonny and Jason run a muck.  Thankfully, I won’t be watching.  That show’s not for me, is it?