Post by Dallas on Feb 29, 2020 9:15:25 GMT -5
The Demise of Bob Calimo
Every soap opera has characters that die; this is nothing new. The death of a major, front burner, family patriarch, however is far less common on soaps (unless the actor passes away in real life, soaps will write the death into the story). So, I knew that killing Bob Calimo was a bold move and potentially a risky one.
When I was plotting the 2020 season of ODaaT, we were at the peak of the truth about the fire at the boutique about to come out. Of course, Kim did start the fire and Bob helped her cover it up, to the point where they brainwashed Felicia into believing that she started the fire and sending her to a loony bin for the better part of a year. Keeping all of this in mind, I knew that they would have to pay some type of consequences, mostly likely jail time. The thought of either Kim or Bob in jail, however, really didn't sit well with me. But, i was struggling to come up with a concept of how one, or both, would get away with this.
Then, I had this idea of really tearing the Calimo family apart. So often the storylines of these characters are regarding their romantic love lives; Natasha and Robbie have been in their share of triangles, quaderangles, marriages/divorces, affairs, to name a few, to last a life time. I thought if Bob passed away, it could really turn this into an epic family story of grieving the loss of Bob and trying to do what they felt is right for the family moving forward.
To make this happen, of course, many things had to fall into place, the first being Bob learning that Kim and Greg had kissed a few times while she was trying to get information about Felicia. Considering their own history with affairs (namely hers with Tyler), it makes sense that Bob would question her loyalty. Having Robbie spy another close moment between Greg and Kim at Robin & Adam's engagement party last year was the next step as he, and in turn Natasha, would believe Kim was sleeping with Greg. The tension between the Calimo children and Kim has been very present at the hospital after Bob's car accident, which is the perfect set up for the next phase of the story. They blame Kim for Bob's accident/death and Kim is trying to save herself and Bob from jail time.
This is then when I had the idea to kill off Bob. I get the importance of his character and presence, but I also often prefer when soaps can set up an epic death of a character vs. waiting for them to pass in real life, as those stories often fall flat. In this case, I don't have to worry about any "real life" death, so I just set up the fall out which will be epic. You will still have Robbie and Natasha believe that Kim caused Bob' death while Kim will maintain her innocence. Of course, there will be the reading of the will which create even more drama and fall out. In turn, sometimes killing a character really pushes characters, and stories, forward.
Kim, for example, is much younger than Bob but she has been tied to him for 8 (!) years. Their relationship had really seen almost every type of obstacle possible. By removing Bob from the canvas, we will not get to see Kim in a new light; the grieving widow. She's young enough to have other men, possibility many other men, in her life, which will create new dynamics for her. Right out of the gate, however, it will really create some dynamic drama for the Calimo family.
I am sad to see the character of Bob go as he has been one of my original characters; a very strong presence on the show. But, for the purpose of the storyline, I am excited to see what happens in Twin Peaks next, without his strong profile around.
What are your thoughts on the death of Bob Calimo? Sound off below!
Until next time
D
Every soap opera has characters that die; this is nothing new. The death of a major, front burner, family patriarch, however is far less common on soaps (unless the actor passes away in real life, soaps will write the death into the story). So, I knew that killing Bob Calimo was a bold move and potentially a risky one.
When I was plotting the 2020 season of ODaaT, we were at the peak of the truth about the fire at the boutique about to come out. Of course, Kim did start the fire and Bob helped her cover it up, to the point where they brainwashed Felicia into believing that she started the fire and sending her to a loony bin for the better part of a year. Keeping all of this in mind, I knew that they would have to pay some type of consequences, mostly likely jail time. The thought of either Kim or Bob in jail, however, really didn't sit well with me. But, i was struggling to come up with a concept of how one, or both, would get away with this.
Then, I had this idea of really tearing the Calimo family apart. So often the storylines of these characters are regarding their romantic love lives; Natasha and Robbie have been in their share of triangles, quaderangles, marriages/divorces, affairs, to name a few, to last a life time. I thought if Bob passed away, it could really turn this into an epic family story of grieving the loss of Bob and trying to do what they felt is right for the family moving forward.
To make this happen, of course, many things had to fall into place, the first being Bob learning that Kim and Greg had kissed a few times while she was trying to get information about Felicia. Considering their own history with affairs (namely hers with Tyler), it makes sense that Bob would question her loyalty. Having Robbie spy another close moment between Greg and Kim at Robin & Adam's engagement party last year was the next step as he, and in turn Natasha, would believe Kim was sleeping with Greg. The tension between the Calimo children and Kim has been very present at the hospital after Bob's car accident, which is the perfect set up for the next phase of the story. They blame Kim for Bob's accident/death and Kim is trying to save herself and Bob from jail time.
This is then when I had the idea to kill off Bob. I get the importance of his character and presence, but I also often prefer when soaps can set up an epic death of a character vs. waiting for them to pass in real life, as those stories often fall flat. In this case, I don't have to worry about any "real life" death, so I just set up the fall out which will be epic. You will still have Robbie and Natasha believe that Kim caused Bob' death while Kim will maintain her innocence. Of course, there will be the reading of the will which create even more drama and fall out. In turn, sometimes killing a character really pushes characters, and stories, forward.
Kim, for example, is much younger than Bob but she has been tied to him for 8 (!) years. Their relationship had really seen almost every type of obstacle possible. By removing Bob from the canvas, we will not get to see Kim in a new light; the grieving widow. She's young enough to have other men, possibility many other men, in her life, which will create new dynamics for her. Right out of the gate, however, it will really create some dynamic drama for the Calimo family.
I am sad to see the character of Bob go as he has been one of my original characters; a very strong presence on the show. But, for the purpose of the storyline, I am excited to see what happens in Twin Peaks next, without his strong profile around.
What are your thoughts on the death of Bob Calimo? Sound off below!
Until next time
D