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Best Use of History
One Life to Live – Of all the soaps, ABC’s One Life to Live definitely utilized its history to the best of their ability for the year that was 2008. Allison Perkins (Barbara Garrick) returned in January for a big storyline head writer Ron Carlivati planned. During that time Alison taunted Jessica with a secret only she knew. Fans speculated it could be the undoing of the “Natalie is the real Buchanan heir” storyline from 2001. Thanks to the writer’s strike we never found out Alison’s secret, it’s something Carlivati could easy return to down the line.
Don’t count out Dorian’s scheme to take over Buchanan Enterprises. Though it was campy to the fullest, it played off the recent history between Clint and Dorian, Dorian’s longstanding hatred of the Buchanans and her arch-nemesis Viki. Clint breaking up with Dorian set her plan on motion and she vowed to make him and all the Buchanan’s pay. For months she secretly purchased stock and waited for her time to pounce. When part of her plan could be unravaled due to Charlie telling his secret (He was Jared’s biological father, not Asa) to Viki, she drugged the man and forced booze down his throat! Putting Charlie out of commision set the stage for Dorian to make her grand entrance and drop a bomshell on the Buchanans. The fallout from that resulted in Nash’s untimely death, the return of Jessica’s alter Tess (which would tie into another story) and furthered the hatred the Buchanans have for Dorian and vice versa.
The controversial storyline involving Todd and Marty definitely made this a shoe-in. If Starr and Cole’s expectant child wasn’t enough, Todd found a very much alive Marty in his old penthouse being nursed back to health by the corrupt (and now dead) police commissioner Ramsey. It’s clear Todd’s reasons for keeping Marty away from everyone else changed over time. For months he selectively told her truths of her past and their past together. All the while John was more and more suspicious that Todd was holding a woman hostage in his house.
Though the story was a turnoff to many, Ron Carlivati did his job by creating a shocking story that had fans glued to their TV screens. Think of all the story points that elicited response from fans: Todd slowly falling in love with Marty, their first kiss, the first time they made love, talk of planning a future together. It was disturbing, disgusting and riveting at the same time. Now the truth is out and the story continues on with new additions to this particular storyline, but not to the history. Now Nora, Blair, Dorian, Tea, Starr and Cole, Viki and Jessica are all involved either directly or indirectly. All have a history with Todd and/or Marty, whether it’s friendship, familial, or rivalry.
Worst Use of History
One Life to Live gets this one too. While the points above are why they received best use of history, the terribly written and acted Mendorra storyline, as well as the 1969 storyline that spun off from One Life to Live’s Anniversary episodes and the return of Tess was disappointing to say the least. Rex goes back in time with Bo for what reason? Bo feels like he understands Asa better? Rex learns he is Shane’s father? Apparently the most important thing is Rex & Gigi’s love transcends time and space. We’re sorry but that just doesn’t fly. Yes we like Rex and Gigi but making it so their love is so all encompassing was a real turn off.
Then there’s Mendorra, a perfect example of something good on paper not translating on-screen. Ron Carlivati’s obsession with the past got the best of him in this instance. Thom Christopher (Carlo) is a treat to watch anytime, but his last few returns (dating back to Dena Higley) have been terrible. Wallpaper character Talia got a back-story (yay she’s Carlo’s daughter…now what?), Sarah was forced to go over the falls like her mother (in what had to be some of the most poorly acted, written and directed scenes since well…anything on Passions), the Vegas got to be heroes and viewers were treated to weeks of dreck.
Carlivati also took a fun, devious character in Tess and turned her into a campy, over the top caricature. The writing simply was lacking in regards to this storyline. Here was another attempt of Ron Carlivati attempting to re-hash history in his own special way, only for it to fall flat. Everyone in town turned into idiots when it came to Tess. There was only 2 people who suspected Tess returned, one being Todd and the other Jared. Tess locking Natalie (and later Jared) in the secret room was her way of getting revenge. We don’t know if the former writing Passions suddenly set up shop at One Life, but the camp meter was turned up 10x the normal. Tess plans on blowing Natalie and Jared up with dynamite? Dynamite that was conveniently left upstairs by Rebecca, we mean Aunt Tina. Dynamite that was going to be used to blow up a safe that was storing the crown jewels of Mendorra…
Oh, and let’s pull another story from the record books and have Jessica develop another alter, one who is the “cleaner” and has to fix everything for Jessica. Meet Bess everyone!
Memo to Carlivati, don’t ever do that again.
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