Post by Dallas on Dec 27, 2019 9:54:04 GMT -5
Best & Worst of 2019
As 2019 winds down, it is always nice to reflect back on the year and think about what worked well on my shows and what didn't go as planned. Here are some of my categories ... leave your thoughts about what you loved and didn't love below!
Best Story – Victoria's alter egos, ODaaT
This story worked on many levels in 2019. First, it was rooted in history as Victoria had suffered from DID in 2008 & 2009. The build up of the alters returning was also based on history as Victoria was close to snapping as Robbie continued to pressure her into getting back together. Then, she was almost raped, which caused Brandy to return. Once Brandy regained control, she created a lot of drama for various members of the cast including Craig, Shane, Barbara, Felicia and Lukas. The crowning moment, however, was after Helen's memorial service, a wicked Brandy revealed to the audience that she had in fact buried Helen alive! As 2019 winds down, Brandy is still on the loose, which means she could still create more hell in 2020.
Worst Story – Craig's "HIV", ODaaT
I know, this is a part of the best story, however, there were many loop holes in this story that, looking back, fell flat. Once Craig slept with Chip in Las Vegas and realized that it was unprotected, he became concerned. However, as a reader pointed out, Craig is a doctor, why wouldn't he be on Prep? Why wouldn't he know the types of drugs that Brandy was giving him or at least question why he was so ill afterwards? While this arch certainly had it's perks (Brandy creating chaos, Craig's illness pushing him and Lukas closer together), the background of the story felt lazy.
Best Couple – Cory & Natasha, ODaaT
What started as a reunion for Cory and Natasha in late 2018, moved into a full blown relationship in 2019. One of the original "super couples" of ODaaT, it was a treat to see them get back together. They were married, found out Natasha was having a miracle baby, and forged together during some family drama for Natasha. Considering how often Cory and Natasha have changed romantic pairings, it was nice that they survived an entire year together.
Worst Couple – Greg & Brooke, ODaaT
These two certainly had enough drama to keep them busy but the marriage of Greg and Brooke quickly became suspect as to why they were still together. It was revealed that Brooke already had an affair in the past and she hit the sheets with Robbie this year. Greg, meanwhile, flirted consistently with Kim all year. After Helen "died", Greg and Brooke agreed to make their marriage work but we were left wondering: Why bother?
Best Triangle – Lydia/Mac/Carmen, Chasing Diamonds
At the end of the 2018 Christmas episode, Mac returned to Kelsey Lake with a surprise: he had married Carmen Santos! This, of course, was at the same time that Lydia had ended her affair with the younger Noel and she had decided she wanted Mac back. Over the course of two mini-series and another Christmas special, it was Mac that was caught between the two women as Lydia tried to prove that Carmen was a gold digger and only after Mac's money. Add in a wicked scheme of Lucinda trying to gaslight Carmen, and this trio was one that kept us on our seats as we didn't know if or how Mac and Lydia would end up together again or not.
Worst Triangle – Celeste/Cole/Madison, Chasing Diamonds
Celeste seemed determined to reunite with Cole and on the last Christmas episode, she revealed to Cole that his new girlfriend was the daughter of his former fling, Vivian. When the action picked up with the Gold Diggers mini-series, Cole and Madison had seemingly moved on from the secret and were planning their wedding and Celeste was out in the cold, and seemingly cozying up to Mac again. What could have been a front burner, action packed, triangle really fizzled out.
Most Rejuvenated Character – Andy, ODaaT
Since the passing of his late husband Reese, Andy has mostly been a supporting player in Twin Peaks. Often backing his sister, Kim's drama, or getting involved in the saga of Lukas/Donovan/Craig, Andy was seen but had little of his own life. That all changed this year when Robin's half-brother, Nicholas, came to town. There was an instant attraction between the two men and they even shared a few stolen kisses. The kicker? Nicholas is a priest, of course. Whether or not this is true love or not, it is still nice to see Andy back in his own front burner story line.
Best Frienemies, Lydia & Lucinda, Chasing Diamonds
Considering the sorted history between these two, it was unexpected when Lydia and Lucinda seemingly teamed up together to try to break up Mac and Carmen. While married to Mac, Lydia never really got along with her mother in law and Lucinda, of course, never wanted Lydia anywhere near her son, to the point of faking her death and holding her hostage! But, when Mac came home married to Carmen, the two realized that they had a common goal and worked together. They continued to bicker with each other at every turn but they realized that they shared more in common than not.
As 2019 winds down, it is always nice to reflect back on the year and think about what worked well on my shows and what didn't go as planned. Here are some of my categories ... leave your thoughts about what you loved and didn't love below!
Best Story – Victoria's alter egos, ODaaT
This story worked on many levels in 2019. First, it was rooted in history as Victoria had suffered from DID in 2008 & 2009. The build up of the alters returning was also based on history as Victoria was close to snapping as Robbie continued to pressure her into getting back together. Then, she was almost raped, which caused Brandy to return. Once Brandy regained control, she created a lot of drama for various members of the cast including Craig, Shane, Barbara, Felicia and Lukas. The crowning moment, however, was after Helen's memorial service, a wicked Brandy revealed to the audience that she had in fact buried Helen alive! As 2019 winds down, Brandy is still on the loose, which means she could still create more hell in 2020.
Worst Story – Craig's "HIV", ODaaT
I know, this is a part of the best story, however, there were many loop holes in this story that, looking back, fell flat. Once Craig slept with Chip in Las Vegas and realized that it was unprotected, he became concerned. However, as a reader pointed out, Craig is a doctor, why wouldn't he be on Prep? Why wouldn't he know the types of drugs that Brandy was giving him or at least question why he was so ill afterwards? While this arch certainly had it's perks (Brandy creating chaos, Craig's illness pushing him and Lukas closer together), the background of the story felt lazy.
Best Couple – Cory & Natasha, ODaaT
What started as a reunion for Cory and Natasha in late 2018, moved into a full blown relationship in 2019. One of the original "super couples" of ODaaT, it was a treat to see them get back together. They were married, found out Natasha was having a miracle baby, and forged together during some family drama for Natasha. Considering how often Cory and Natasha have changed romantic pairings, it was nice that they survived an entire year together.
Worst Couple – Greg & Brooke, ODaaT
These two certainly had enough drama to keep them busy but the marriage of Greg and Brooke quickly became suspect as to why they were still together. It was revealed that Brooke already had an affair in the past and she hit the sheets with Robbie this year. Greg, meanwhile, flirted consistently with Kim all year. After Helen "died", Greg and Brooke agreed to make their marriage work but we were left wondering: Why bother?
Best Triangle – Lydia/Mac/Carmen, Chasing Diamonds
At the end of the 2018 Christmas episode, Mac returned to Kelsey Lake with a surprise: he had married Carmen Santos! This, of course, was at the same time that Lydia had ended her affair with the younger Noel and she had decided she wanted Mac back. Over the course of two mini-series and another Christmas special, it was Mac that was caught between the two women as Lydia tried to prove that Carmen was a gold digger and only after Mac's money. Add in a wicked scheme of Lucinda trying to gaslight Carmen, and this trio was one that kept us on our seats as we didn't know if or how Mac and Lydia would end up together again or not.
Worst Triangle – Celeste/Cole/Madison, Chasing Diamonds
Celeste seemed determined to reunite with Cole and on the last Christmas episode, she revealed to Cole that his new girlfriend was the daughter of his former fling, Vivian. When the action picked up with the Gold Diggers mini-series, Cole and Madison had seemingly moved on from the secret and were planning their wedding and Celeste was out in the cold, and seemingly cozying up to Mac again. What could have been a front burner, action packed, triangle really fizzled out.
Most Rejuvenated Character – Andy, ODaaT
Since the passing of his late husband Reese, Andy has mostly been a supporting player in Twin Peaks. Often backing his sister, Kim's drama, or getting involved in the saga of Lukas/Donovan/Craig, Andy was seen but had little of his own life. That all changed this year when Robin's half-brother, Nicholas, came to town. There was an instant attraction between the two men and they even shared a few stolen kisses. The kicker? Nicholas is a priest, of course. Whether or not this is true love or not, it is still nice to see Andy back in his own front burner story line.
Best Frienemies, Lydia & Lucinda, Chasing Diamonds
Considering the sorted history between these two, it was unexpected when Lydia and Lucinda seemingly teamed up together to try to break up Mac and Carmen. While married to Mac, Lydia never really got along with her mother in law and Lucinda, of course, never wanted Lydia anywhere near her son, to the point of faking her death and holding her hostage! But, when Mac came home married to Carmen, the two realized that they had a common goal and worked together. They continued to bicker with each other at every turn but they realized that they shared more in common than not.