I am mesmerized by this storyline. The death of Mickey Horton is one of the most well crafted storylines I’ve seen any soap offer in some time – at least as it relates to a character’s death. Some death scenes are gimmicky (as with Ann Douglas dying on a bed on the beach with her daughters at her side, on the Bold and the Beautiful). Some are not worth mentioning – but when you kill off major characters, they deserve to be remembered well, and you know who you are you guilty soapgods!!!!
Just when you think that Suzanne Rogers has touched on every form and level of grief possible, she amazes you and hits yet another pitch perfect note:
I’ve been drained watching DAYS this week (uh, these last few days – it hasn’t been a week yet). I almost feel guilty, as if I’m peeking in, uninvited, on a family’s private moment of pain. Ms. Roger’s gives Mickey’s death such realism that I can hardly believe that it’s possible for her to lose an Emmy, in any category she chooses to be nominated in. This last set of episodes are good enough for DAYS to be considered the coming year’s ‘Best Drama’, in my book. Unfortunately, I don’t get to hand out the Emmys. Damn!
Despite the brilliance of her work this moment has to be bittersweet for Ms. Rogers. John Clarke was her acting partner for decades prior to his retirement in 2004. While Mickey returned, as portrayed by several notable and laudable actors – including General Hospital’s John Ingle, it was never the same. No one was ever able to replace Mickey, as the fans knew and loved him. It had to have been one hell of a task for Ms. Rogers to first have to say good bye to her long time friend, on set, and to then have to voice Maggie saying good bye to her long time love, on screen. She’s risen to the challenge admirably!
Watching Maggie’s scenes with Lucas was especially heartbreaking since Bryan Dattilo will soon vacate the role of Lucas Roberts. Lucas is a Horton, by birth, and given Mickey’s death and Alice’s absence, it would be redemptive of the writers to allow DAYS fans to watch Maggie, Hope, and Lucas rebuild the Horton clan. Lucas Roberts Horton. It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Without Lucas and the others, it feels like the death of an era. Given the loss of two soaps in one year, I’d love for daytime’s soapgods to give us MORE of our core families and core characters on the remaining daytime serials. Soap fans, I think, need the consistency. If the old adage is true, let’s hope that ‘every good-bye ain’t gone’, and that Lucas (portrayed by Dattilo) will return soon! Aunt Maggie needs him!
Coffee At Cafe Russe 