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Let me join the rest in offering praise to the extraordinary Martha Byrne. As a long-time viewer, seeing her tap into such dimension of talent is a delight - and a revelation. She's been giving us her "Rose's Turn" with, quite literally, both barrels and we may be having as much fun watching it as she clearly is doing it. She's taken a highly implausible storyline (discovering a previously unknown twin image of still-undisclosed genetic connection) and a one-note stereotype (gum-snapping Jersey showgirl opposite) and made it something exciting to see. Her sure command of the two characters, her shadings and nuance, her poignancy - and great great humor - are nothing short of remarkable and has brought new life to the show. And, at the same, time to her long-suffering, often highly self-absorbed Lily. While I couldn't wait for Lily to get off that island - and Simon to hit the road for good - the terrific, multi-layered interplay between the two as of late is only one example of Martha's ability to remain consistent to a long-established character while at the same time bringing fresh, new and exciting depth to her Lily. (I still wonder how Lily miraculously transformed Rose's hair and perfectly matched its color in 20 minutes, just like I can't figure out how Simon was pushed out of a plane and survived the sea still apparently holding on to several disposable razors or how Lily found fabric, dug up a Singer sewing machine to whip together a fashionable island-lounging outfit - and find a supply of lip gloss- on a empty remote island.) And Simon's psycho sister is a hoot -- I only wish her murderous, psychopathic leanings wouldn't somehow mend their ways in order that she stay around Oakdale -- she adds crackling good life and good humor and is obviously well-armed with the ad-libs ("I want to get back to my children," wailed 'Lily' when attempted to crack open the jail door, 'Yeah, well, kids are vastly overrated," Cecelia retorted...that kind of thing, small or large, adds so much to the show and brings the other characters to life, too...) Maybe, like they've tried to pass off with Rose, there could be TWO Cecelia's....!! I hated Rose at first, but I'm now completely won over. Not only would I like her to stick around Oakdale, there are moments I actually root for her and almost condone and want her to take over Lily's life, woo Holden and even fake being mom to Lily's kids - that's the power of Martha's performance. The supremely gifted - and, at the moment, sinfully neglected - Liz Hubbard continues to add enormously to the storyline in her underplayed but highly effective display of conflicted concern, suspicion, distrust and deep caring. The inexplicably ignored element to this story: Lily may be forever be "with" Simon, Rose thinks, but how could not such a smart thinker - or even Mitzi? - consider the very real fact that Lily at some point will return to Oakdale, even to "divorce" Holden or see her children. What then, even if Holden falls for Rose as Lily and Rose bonds with Lily's family and friends? The fact that it's never been mentioned or considered is, to me, a glaring flaw. Finally, a few pleas: Make this bout with Craig the beginning of giving Lucinda a real, non-reactive storyline - the return of Liz is the smartest move the show has made (alongside the original return of Carly and putting Maura front and center) yet you continue to keep her on the back burner. She never seems to work any longer, only going from house to house, diner to diner, fretting and meddling in the lives of others. Let's have her work again...let's give her an affair... Where is the dynamic force of nature we love? And yes, yes, yes to Molly and Jake! Do I day say it, but is there room for the return one one gay character in all of Oakldale? Now that we've finally gotten more than one person of color in Oakdale past Jessica (and where is SHE lately??), could we extend the welcome wagon? And what about everybody changing careers at the drop of a hat and going back and forth from the old one to the new - and speaking of which, doesn't anybody put in any hours at any workplace? Lisa has a lot of free time for a lady with a newspaper, restaurant and Fashions; Lucinda loafs; Jake never seems to be at the paper; Julia is a reporter without a notebook or tape recorder and never seems to be in the newsroom to file, write or get a story. Denise works at WOAK, but she spends every breathing moment with Ben at the hospital, at the Hughes house or with Andy for doc appointments - where, by the way, she always happens to run into Ben outside somebody's room or in the hospital corridor - how busy is this top surgeon, anyway? When does Barbara ever design, much less sell, a dress? What happened to the John/Camille relationship? Or the kid who spent every day with his mentor Issac, drowned and almost died? He's never been mentioned since. And what happened to Sara Ruth? We had to hear her yap to Camille forever about how bad Ben and then Brad were forever. Later, when Camille brings shady Issac in her life, suddenly Sara Ruth is not only silent, she's written out! And I won't even begin to ask about what happened that stack of criminal charges that were supposed to be brought up against Carly and Molly for fraud, forging test results, accomplice to fugitive David Stenbeck. Still, I look forward to what the new ATWT regime will bring and hope this signals its rebirth - it's great to again spark to the show and, after quite a dry spell, again be excited, entertained and involved.
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