Best Scene This Week:
After Tea knew that John suspected Todd to be Victor Jr.’s real killer instead of Tomas, she went straight to Blair only to find her in Todd’s arms. The scene that followed was tense and intimate. Previously, John had practically begged Tea not to tell Blair about their suspicions, and now Tea was seeing their suspicions play out before her very eyes. Tea could not tell Blair the truth because of Todd, but Tea looked right into Todd’s eyes and dropped heavy hints to indicate that she knew and that she wanted him to be concerned that she knew – without giving him any solid reason to doubt her. Tea was looking right into the eyes of the man she believed had killed her husband, the man she believed had killed the father of her unborn child, the man she had represented in court and put her faith in when he said he hadn’t killed Victor. Now she was sure he was guilty, and there was nothing she could do to stop events from unfolding without tipping him off.
Eye Roll of the Week:
A chipmunk tattoo? Why not a liger or ratel?
Character of the Week:
"Something needs to move on that soon because my daughter is really trying hard to be tough and she's pretending that it's okay that her uncle's a murderer and Blair is practically writing sonnets to Todd, okay? I'm gonna lose it if you don't arrest him soon, alright? 'Kay?"
Tea took us on an emotional journey from the week’s beginning to end. Her scene with Todd and Blair (above) was the crown jewel of her week, but she also had to face the fact that she was helpless and powerless to save her brother or put her husband’s killer behind bars until the police had more proof. She had to listen to Blair’s disappointment over Tomas and Dani’s questions without telling them they were wrong – all while carrying a baby and mourning her husband’s death. John became the only person she could confide in and the one person who could help her. Her stress even lead to cramps that left viewers worried that she might lose the baby, but in the end everything was alright – considering there is no way for her to avoid stress until Tomas is home and Victor’s murderer is behind bars.
Quote of the Week:
"Hi, Mom!" - Shawn to the cameras as he crashed Blanca’s show with Roxy and Destiny.
Honorable Mention: "You're usually so calm when you come in here." – John, to Tea, with sincere sarcasm.
Questions This Week:
Why isn’t Blair suspicious about how Todd always shows up at all the most “convenient” times?
Are John and Tea the new Llanview ultimate crime-fighting team?
Is Kim going to go after Viki to remove her from Clint’s affections?
Is Cutter going to be the next Schuyler?
Does anyone – especially any female – ever knock on John’s office door before entering?
Do Viki and Dorian have matching punch bowls?
You need more than a baby to put two people together? Did Natalie just say that?
David impregnated someone? Do we know his child? Do we know his child’s mother?
What ever happened to Echo and her commitment to getting even with Dorian?
And why is David disrespecting his wife on Blanca’s show? Are they on the outs again and just together for appearances?
Did Blanca just not even react when she heard Destiny mention Matthew Buchanan’s name?
Fail of the Week:
David’s scenes with his family and with the fans of Fraternity Row were endlessly entertaining, but unfortunately they were also underscored by something darker and even uncomfortable, leaving viewers wondering what, exactly, is happening with him. David used to have that dark, edgy, scheming side and that is what initially threw David and Dorian into the same orbit. More recently that scheming, edgy David has been replaced by a goofy, confused, scene-stealer. Now, with David’s secret revelation to Matthew and his remarks about his senator wife on television, it appears David is a combination of himself – dark, scheming, and silly. The fail lies in the fact that David’s purpose suddenly seems questionable, but this could easily turn into a huge success if David’s varying moods/personalities are successfully showcased and explained in a way that ends up being satisfying to viewers.
Success(es) of the Week:
The return to Paris, Texas was charming and sentimental. Viki was adorable when she was giddy about wearing her old uniform at the Bonjour Café and waiting tables again. She remarked that she had some of the best times of her life in that place – and the first customer she waited on was none other than Charlie Banks. Having already burned their bridges, Viki confided in Charlie and he offered her what wisdom and insight he had into her situation. Their conversation was grown-up and intelligent.
Despite the suspicion that Todd is Victor, Jr.’s murderer and the fact that he has conveniently made Tomas disappear, the Manning family scenes tickled the fancies of long-time Todd and Blair fans. Todd made it clear to Jack that he knew who had started the fire at The Sun, and Jack made sure to remind his family of Todd’s actions toward his sons when they were infants. When the family gathered around the Christmas tree with all their varying and distinct (and distinctly Manning) personalities, it was a throwback to the days when Blair and Todd were first together, and Starr and Jack were just tiny children (complete with sentimental flashbacks).
It was also refreshing to see One Life to Live recognize the width of their viewership with the petition that was being passed around to save Fraternity Row. Many people who signed the petition mentioned several others they knew who watched the show, and many of those mentioned were intelligent, working class people – like all the doctors and nurses at the hospital. It also served to remind that though only one TV might be playing the show, it might be reaching a much larger audience – especially in the places where people watch TV during the day, which isn’t necessarily at home.
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Read recaps or watch full episodes at One Life to Live's website.
One Life to Live airs on weekdays at 2et/1pt/c on ABC and weeknights at 9pm on SOAPnet.
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