Deep Soap: Worth The Wait

The Famous Jonathan Jackson

Jonathan Jackson’s highly anticipated return to General Hospital was like a reunion with a friend you have not seen since high school. It was great to see him, but it was weird to reconcile who he was in the 1990s with who he is today. It was especially strange to see Jackson playing a version of Greg Vaughn’s Lucky, since he inherited the storyline of Lucky The Boring Cuckold.

I’ll admit that I had butterflies in my stomach when his face appeared on the screen and he said in his distinctive voice, “Remember me?” There was Jackson looking only slightly older than he did at eighteen. I swear he looked more mature last year on The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The stubble he was sporting only served to emphasize his youthfulness in comparison to Greg Vaughn. Within thirty seconds, his chemistry with Rebecca Herbst was back. He looked at her like she was his angel and I was an L&L2 shipper again. This was the guy who wrote a song for Liz and exchanged church vows with her long before they married. This was not the the man that Liz was with out of a sense of obligation while lusting after his more exciting brother. Their connection made Liz’s affair with Nikolas even more ridiculous. It seems impossible that she would find that Nik fulfilled a need this Lucky could not.

This dialogue and episode structure subtly acknowledged Jackson’s return. For the first time in their underwritten semi-reconciliation, Lucky and Lizzie went out on an actual date. Lucky referenced their history, mentioning the months he spent sleeping on her floor. Lucky had a scene with Luke that was really just an excuse to put Jackson and Tony Geary in the same room. For the first time in years, Luke seemed like he actually loved his son. Maybe Geary will start making an effort to act rather than mug now that his favorite TV son has returned. Jackson did a good job of keeping Lucky wary about Luke. This Lucky will definitely have more of an edge.

Then Lucky and Liz actually got to have the beginnings of a love scene. I found them to be pretty hot together, though I have read some differing opinions. I realized that Jackson’s Lucky never consummated his relationship with Liz. By having her pull away, the show has managed to prolong the inevitable event and build up anticipation. Unfortunately, having Liz have a graphic fantasy about making out with a shirtless Nik, whose overdeveloped biceps are starting to make him look like a professional wrestler, made her seem like a skank. Jackson is playing up Lucky’s doubts about Lizzie’s feelings for him which makes the character seem smarter. Greg Vaughn’s Lucky definitely would not have been scripted making a phone call to Laura about his concerns about his relationship. The show didn’t care enough about his version of the character to focus on his point of view. I hope that the actor shift will lead to a story will Liz genuinely falls in love with Lucky again and must work to win him back. After one day, I give Jackson’s return a B+.

It’s A Nice Day For A Gay Wedding

I am burning with anticipation for One Life To Live’s Big Gay Wedding. Now there are allegedly going to be hundreds of couples participating — like it’s a cult. I am picturing the Steelerdome filled with couples who are not really in love but are determined to make a political statement all following Dorian’s orders to kiss on the count of three. It will be a rainbow of bad relationships. There is no way that it can possibly live up to my expectations.

It has gotten silly listening to every single character on the show proclaim their support of gay marriage given that this show takes place in small town Pennsylvania. Every time someone says that Dorian is wrong to pretend she’s a lesbian but adds that everyone should have the right to get married I mentally add, “Not that there’s anything wrong with it.” I actually wish someone in town other than Marko’s Dad, who is opposed to pretty much everything, would disagree with gay marriage just so there was some semblance of realism. Clint was homophobic during the Billy Douglas storyline, so it would be a plausible nod to character history if he thought anything beyond a Civil Union was wrong.

At the heart of all the madness is a really great love story. I was so proud of Fish when he got up the nerve to tell Kyle that he wanted him back. Yet Kyle had good reason for not running into his arms. Fish has rejected him dozens of times. The guy is barely out of the closet, while Nick is a realistically self-righteous gay rights activist. The stage is set for either a last minute counterproposal from Oliver or months of angst as Kyle tries to make a go of his non-binding marriage. I have never been so excited about an utterly meaningless symbolic gesture.

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