When Less is Not Only More, It's Everything You Need: The Beauty of OLTL, 2.0

I love to work in the extreme. I love to be over the top and a bit outrageous. I know that’s surprising to some of you as I’m so genteel and reserved…..but, at any rate, I’ve always been the melodramatic one in the crowd, unless there’s other melodramatic people with me. I tend to gravitate to them for obvious reasons.  I'm known to say things such as: “This is a nightmare” “This is the worst thing ever” “This is making me want to kill myself” "I'm so excited I could set myself on fire" "Touch that again and I'll cut your hand off" and so forth. But, for once, I’m not being over the top or hyperbolic or melodramatic.  This statement is simply true.

One Life to Live, 2.0., is the best soap opera I’ve ever seen.  

Really. The best. No bullshit. No qualms. Just fact. I don’t think this show could be better. Well, it could be in one way. If there was more of it. But, that’s it. It’s spec-fucking-tacular. And everyone involved should not only be proud, they should be privileged to be there. It’s fixing everything that’s wrong with this genre. Know why? It’s quiet, it’s smart, and it trusts it’s audience and it’s actors and characters. 

For years now, hacks have been in control. You know the ones. The ones who think all this audience wants is naked men in saunas or big explosions or soft core porn. They think that stunts are the way to make the audience go “OOO”, as if we’re twelve year old boys at the movies. They think that camp is the same as melodrama. And, most importantly, they forfeit good writing and acting for pretty faces, hot bodies, and little clothing.  It’s a bore, to say the least. And, finally, I think it may be over.

There have been moments of quality I’ve seen in recent years. Y&R has it's moments. Phyllis kicking out Nick for the 8,000,000th time when she found out he slept with Sharon- again. Jack and Billy having almost any conversation. Jack and dead Daddy having almost any conversation. Well, anything with Jack as Bergman’s a fucking God. Y&R has had a few. 

OLTL has had the most in it’s late network run. The cabin scenes where Blair operates on Todd, the New Year’s scenes with them, as well, and their reunion were all really nice. Charlie and Mitch in the jail cell- perfection in taunting. Bo's "I love you, Red' is a killer.  And, of course, Viki’s monologue about serial drama  is heartbreaking as the show ended but any Slezak scene is spectacular, as well. 

They existed but if I can quantify them, that’s the problem. They should be all that good. And, for once, they are. On OLTL. I can’t even begin to express how fabulous this show is as there’s too much to say. It’s smart and funny and intriguing and tragic and every other good adjective I can use. It’s just a pleasure to watch and I look forward to it every day. And I’m bummed when it’s not a new show, but I’ll watch the other ones, anyway. I tend to watch them all at least three times.

Examples are so numerous but here’s a few: 

Viki and Todd in her office. OMG, I knew Howarth would suck me back in when he came back. He always does and again, he did. And the bastard brought his A game all around. I don’t even remember Eddie Haskell Manning anymore. I don’t even know why I said that as I don’t know what it means………but I digress. Look at this face:

Holy crap. That’s Todd getting encouragement and love from his sister/mother figure. Todd on OLTL is a complex character who is trying to do better, knowing he may fail, but he’s raw and afraid, and now being poisoned but he doesn’t know it. Well, for now. He’s not some stupid caricature who manipulates everyone and yells and throws tantrums. He’s feeling. That’s the point. He’s feeling and I can see it and I can feel him feeling. And I don’t see Roger Howarth. I see Todd.

Viki in her office nervous about the Banner. Slezak is finally getting a story where she has some vulnerability that isn’t about the DID crap. It’s real fear for her life and her legacy and her self worth. It’s great. She’s nervous and I don’t know if I’ve seen Viki this afraid in years when it wasn’t from some stupid, campy story or being a handwringer for her kids. It’s great. It’s about her being insecure and out of touch. It’s, again, real.

Clint and Matthew about work and Drew. I love that my GILF Clint is getting to show some edge. He’s not just Viki’s purseholder. He’s a good man who’s getting a little scary with Matthew and I love it. He’s not threatening him, per se, he’s being “tough”. And he does it so well. It’s a massive turn on for me. Much more than a bunch of male models in a sauna in towels. UGH.

Bo and Nora making out at home. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read “I was never a Bo and Nora fan, but they are winning me over”. I see words like “cute”, “sweet”, and “fun”. And that’s what they are and more. They’re an older couple who still dig one another the most and aren’t gross in how they do it. They talk and flirt and don’t need to be nauseating. They’re just wonderful and there’s no need to backburner them.  I see a lot of twenty somethings becoming fans. 

That’s the point here. If you think that the audience is only interested in hard bodies getting their rocks off, you’re wrong. And that’s why this genre is failing on broadcast television. The Idiots in Control for the last decade were wrong. Well, let’s call it what it is. They’re stupid, arrogant, and do more harm than good.

Soap fans are not a bunch of horny broads who want to be wowed with spectacle. There are some but the majority are smart women and gay men- and even some straight ones- who like to watch shows about complex relationships with characters we know and care for. We don’t need to be titillated with flash. We want to be romanced and engaged. I see little of that on television. I see sex. Putting  a candle in there isn’t romance. It’s a candle, Dumbass. We want love and pain and angst and fun.  I can get porn on the internet if I want it. I don’t.

OLTL is hitting every mark. Characters are together and talking about things that really matter.  Hell, they're in the same room for once. They don’t live in vacuums with dayplayers because it’s cheaper. They don’t get to be out of character because the actor wants it. They are who they were and maybe have grown a bit, but they’re still them. 

Todd and Dorian were wonderful for the minute. Now, let’s get more. Dorian is so great, getting her evil bitch on. I’m afraid of her and I know she’s fictional!! But Strasser is all in with her particular brand of evil. This is the woman who slept with Viki’s son for revenge and then got caught in her own trap. She was digging that boy but, hey, who doesn’t love Fillion? He and RSW are way into the love thing, as much as Howarth and Slezak, but without making out in the car in the parking lot.

TSJ is not one of my favorites but he’s great as the complete psycho, SNV. He’s an automaton who can fake emotion and FL is always good, IMO, but I love seeing Tea on the edge of collapse and coming off the spool. She’s great as the control freak who can control nothing. She’s off the rail showing she knows her not-dead hubby is a headcase, but what can she do? She’s dealing with DanYeller, the pill popping slut with an attitude.

I have to admit to liking sleezy, one dimensional DanYeller. Using Todd for “stuff” is amusing to me and I know this “relationship” will be about as deep as a puddle. But she’s entertaining and the boys are adorable. I love RG’s Matt. He’s interesting, something Alderson rarely was, and adorable. CB is charming and fun and fits right in with the Vets and, for once, a newbie is fine with me. I like him.

David- well, what can be said? Tuc Watkins is one of my favorites as he’s funny as hell but he’s muted David. He’s not a clown like he was in Craptini’s world. He’s funny but he’s real and he just makes me smile. I love him in every scene. I thought his “interview” with Todd was hysterical and I’m crazy about the way he deals with Dorian. The “tip” scene was classic and so  much of what this show is- it’s quiet and subtle but wonderful.

Blair’s way of dealing with Todd is as good as ever and I almost expect her to grab him and start making out with him in every scene. It’s not because of what she does but what she doesn’t do. Like Howarth, I see KDP making Blair ‘feel’ and I can feel that. It’s great stuff, again, quiet, but just right. You see her falling more and more each moment and you see her pull herself back but, like us, she knows it’s useless. She’s doomed to be Todd’s forever and she knows it.

I could go on and on but I’ll end with this. I need more Nigel. I need more Natalie. I need more, well, everything. I’m liking Cutter and Rama and Vimal is a sweetie. I just need more. I could use a little Mitch. I know, it’s controversial, but I’m Roscoe Born’s bitch. He’s wonderful and in the hands of PP, he wouldn’t be the bullshit cartoon villain Tweedle Dum made him. 

I just need more because I’m loving the less. That’s the idea. Less is more and leaves me wanting more and more all the time. And I couldn’t be happier. I forgot what I was missing. And I’m so happy to get it back.

I know it sounds cruel to hope GH is cancelled soon but it’s in this spirit that I say it. If these guys do what they did with OLTL to GH, it should be one helluva show again. Remember, Craptini just shit on Luke and Laura yesterday, allegedly at Geary’s request.  Well, that’s nice. Now go quietly into the night and let the grown ups have a shot at fixing your mess.

Busting up the ultimate supercouple for good is a sacrilege. Comparing them to a sweatshirt makes it worse.  Shame on you, Nimnuts. I thought you couldn't go any lower. But, alas, your complete lack of respect and integrity knows no bounds.

Not a LNL fan but I know an institution when I see one. And I can feel the loss when it’s destroyed. Their fans didn’t deserve that. Hopefully soon, they’ll get what they deserve. And it might be as good as OLTL....but, hey, don't ask for the moon, you've got the stars.

Oh, and on that topic, RIP, Jeanne Cooper. She was one helluva broad.