Yesterday's episode of One Life to Live was all over the place with several storylines coming to a head all at once. Both Starr and Tess are in labor and Tina's dog David Vickers, who as it turns out is female, is also about to give birth. Quite frankly, the writers could have given Tina (Andrea Evans) who has finished her work at "One Life to Live" something more interesting to do at this point.
In the meantime, Natalie and Jared are still locked up in the secret room with nothing else to do but make love. Seriously, there's a ticking bomb about to go off in that room and these two are so self absorbed they elect to have a nooner. Wouldn't their time be better spent trying to plug up the toilet to cause a major plumbing problem in the house in order to attract someone's attention to the basement? They actually worried they might be embarrassed were they to be rescued in the middle of their love making session. Sigh.
Tess gets some help from Niki Smith as she delivers her baby and Jean Randall, another one of Viki's alters appears to her and hints that Tess took a cue from Niki Smith leading Viki to believe that Jared and Natalie might actually be a lot closer than she initially believed. Tess tries to get a hold of Tina to request she free Jared and Natalie, but since Tina is watching David Vickers the dog give birth to puppies, all Tess can do is reach her voice mail.
Starr's baby girl is born but Doctor Joplin announces there could be a problem with the child. Elsewhere, Tess delivers a baby girl as well but when Niki Smith wraps the child up in a blanket, we don't even hear a whimper.
Now, we get to the most difficult segment from yesterdays show. Todd tries to convince Marty that she doesn't want him and advises her to run for her life but Marty isn't going anywhere. She sings Todd's praises telling him he's a changed man and manages to convince him to follow her upstairs to the bedroom. Todd complies and follows the amnesia victim who has no recollection of the fact that he raped her years back and makes love to her. The fact that Todd was having flashbacks of the rape that nearly destroyed Marty back then made their scenes yesterday even more disturbing. It is totally unfathomable to me how the writers could go this far with this particular couple.
If Marty ends up pregnant, it will be the end of the road for me. Please let me know what you thought of the scenes between Todd and Marty on Thursday and what you thought about the fact that One Life to Live chose to end the show with a PSA about help for rape victims.
PHOTO: Susan Haskell's Official Web Site
Comments
I can't watch the scenes with Todd and Marty. I DV-R the show and fast forward through them. While I have no trouble believing that Todd would be that reprehensible, it's completely out of character that Marty, even with amnesia, wouldn't be more curious about her past, wouldn't want therapy or at least to search herself out on the Internet to learn more about who she was/is. (Ignoring, of course, the fact that amnesia of that kind is mostly a soap opera fantasy).
The fact that they ended the episode with a rape survivor PSA tells me that on some level they realize they've gone too far. Times have changed - what may have been acceptable in the 1970's is not today. Back then, romance novels frequently had the 'heroes' raping the heroines and then the couple finding love together. That doesn't fly today in fiction or in soap operas, and I think that's a good thing.
Hi Becky: Thanks for your take on this. I have found myself almost screaming at the television to urge Marty to wake up. I so wanted her to try to remember her past as opposed to walking away from it to start a "new" life with the very twisted Todd. I was also fascinated by the fact that she told him he was a changed man. She hasn't known him for too long since the amnesia struck and I can't help but wonder what she is basing that on.
As far as the PSA goes, I do agree that ABC was almost trying to redeem themselves after realizing they just took Todd and Marty too far. You are right about the times changing.
Part of me wanted to think that Marty may have had some sort of memory break through that we didn't see and that would mean she was just playing Todd. She would never sleep with him however, if that was the case. When she was raped by him years ago, she had the courage to go to court and testify against him. Maybe the writers should pay more attention to history. If Marty fought Todd then, certainly, she would be fighting for her memory now.
Thanks for the post and do come back.
hi stranger!! so nice to stumble upon u here! email me and let me know how u are doing!
Hi Susan:
Nice to see you here. I'll e-mail you. Thanks for visiting!
I LOVE TARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!
In my line of work, I know that rape victims often try to put their rape behind them, but that they NEVER forget the rape. In the case of Marty, with her amnesia, she has no recollection of this past crime, so it doesn't seem to bother her, even though she has been told that she was violently raped in the past.
She has fallen in love with her caregiver. The only male in her life right now. And she is so wanting to move forward in her life. I can understand her actions when it comes to wanting to be with Todd and to start a new life with him.
And as far as Todd is concerned. He has always thought of himself first and never give any thought to how his actions are going to affect others or even himself later. I think that Todd is truly having feelings for Marty. And if he could erase the past, he would. But he can't. With Marty's amnesia, he feels that the past has been magically erased for him and wants to believe that it will always be that way. (which we know that in SOAP LAND it's never that way).
I think that the writers want us to see the pain of the rape from the rapist point of view. A remorseful rapist. A rapist that wishes he could turn back the clock of time and do things differently. (haven't we all wished that we could do that at some point of time in our lives?)
Rape is a terrible, horrific crime. And it's never the victims fault. And I believe the rapist must pay for their crime. But who determines when the payment has been paid in full? Is there a time when the rapist is considered changed. A person who has learned from their past.
Todd isn't a repeater rapist. This rape happened in college when he was a young man. (we mostly all have "kids" in collage, and kids can make stupid choices) The stupid choice that Todd made, ( along with the other young men in this story ) was so very WRONG on so many different levels. And he, along with the others who do this type of crime, need to be held accountable for their actions.
Victims need to know where to go for help. And usually need long term help to deal with the pain that they endure because of this crime. I commend OLTL of addressing this issue in their storyline and then to give information on how to get help at the end of the episode. I wish that they would post it at the bottom of the screen every time they cover this story. It's important to get that information out there.
I'm sure that there are many out there who have an opinion on this subject. And I for one think that's wonderful, be it positive or negative. It shows that we all are concerned for the victims of rape and what they have to go through not only during the crime, but the year that they suffer afterward.
I pray for everyone who had to deal with this sort of trama.
Thanks for letting me post.
Kim
I'm no longer a fan of OLTL. This was a cheap gimmic for ratings. OLTL will try to play it off as being "controversal". I think its like watching Jerry Springer.
Hi Sara--I am interested to know what makes you like the Todd/Marty (Tarty) situation. I hope you visit again here so you can tell us why you are fine with this. Thanks for leaving your thoughts!
Hi Kim--You certainly took some time to get your thoughts out here. I am sure if you deal with rape victims as part of your job it is a painful subject for you seeing it through the eyes of the victims. While I might agree that Todd is not a repeater rapist, he still had the control thing going on knowing that Marty had no recollection that he was involved in the rape she suffered back when Todd was in college. I totally believe that any PSA advising silent victims is a good thing for any show to do. I just don't think OLTL should have used this couple to get that message out there.
Thanks so much for your thoughts. Your post was a great one.
Hi Mia--I wish I could turn this show off like you have chosen to do. I guess I just have to try to keep up on my Examiner topic. I know how you feel. I could barely bring myself to write about this. If you want me to e-mail you when Todd is arrested or something, let me know! Thanks for your thoughts. I think several OLTL fans are echoing your sentiments about now.
I see not a thing wrong with a Todd and Marty pairing as couple. Todd has changed and deserves a break and Marty is good for me. If Marty forgives Todd OLTL viewers should as well. I am a big Marty and Todd fan now.
I think you all are really overacting to Marty and Todd's relationship. The point is that people can change even Todd. Luke raped Laura on GH and they became a couple, married and had kids. Is one case of rape worse than another perhaps? It is OK for one soap but not OLTL? Yes, I want Marty and Todd as a couple. I am glued to the show because of that. I hope the writers keep going with it. And this is a soap opera and all things can happen.
Hi Keith: Thanks for your comments. Luke's rape of Laura wasn't okay at all. I think their situation was dramatically different however because they were both of sound mind when it happened. Marty willingly made love to Todd but he knew their past whereas she did not. Todd always had a fierce hatred of Marty as well. I also don't understand why you think Todd has changed and deserves a break. He may have changed his mind about taking his daughter's baby but it was all too late. I just can't trust the guy yet but I am glad you are enjoying the storyline and I respect your opinion.
I would actually love for her to be pregnant she is that glue that holds Todd together. Remember Luk and Laura! I see Todd changing into a better man.
Hi Mona - Thanks for stopping by. I don't believe Marty is the glue that holds Todd together. I don't want her to be carrying his child, but I guess anything can happen. People really need to change on their own before real change happens. Todd had a few brief moments where he was trying to do the right thing--and yes--and while that might have been because of Marty's influence it wasn't quite enough to indicate a pattern of change. He never told her she had a son even when she told him she had memories of a baby boy. That is not a changed guy in my book.
Sorry I like Tarty. The story is very compelling and the actors have chemistry
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!