What’s amazes me most about the shift in writing for GL is how good the writers are at making want things I didn’t even know I wanted. I’ve CELEBRATED the end of the Coop-Beth affair. I would have celebrated it no matter how it ended (Coop’s moving away, Coop’s dying, Beth moving away, Beth’s dying). I wasn’t picky about what it would take to end it.
So the big day arrives, Henry Cooper Bradshaw says his good-byes, he lets Beth off the hook for using him to feel ‘young’ or ‘free’, or some such bullshite!, and as I’m watching it dawns on me that I don’t WANT Coop to die! A good part of it was the writing, the rest of it was John Driscoll. Had the writers told a compelling storyline for this character, other than being the latest stooge in Beth’s plan to ‘feel something’, it would have been much clearer to the audience why this character matters. Driscoll gave one of the best performances I’ve seen in a long time – any character, any show. He was utterly amazing.
What else rocked?
1. Lizzie telling her mother how weak and starry-eyed she’s become, and that her choices have been miserable for everyone around her. RIGHT ON, Lizzie.. Beth has been a self-centered walking disaster. (More on the Lizzie-Beth angle at a later date).
2. Olivia turning to Bill, knowing it wasn’t Bill she was running to, but her feelings from Natalia that she was running from. Thank goodness the kiss never got beyond that. It was good to finally have Liv say what she needed and wanted to say, her feelings aren’t just about friendship, there’s more.
3. Natalia offering to visit Phillip with Olivia, and make sure she kept her strength up for whatever happened next. Thank goodness Phillip has come back the man he was. Unlike Alan, I think the writers will have Phillip embrace Otalia’s relationship and be happy that Emma is loved. Liv has done a better job putting Emma first than Beth has with ANY of her children.
4. Buzz Cooper. Justin Deas? He’s just a phenom. His portrayal of Buzz’s refusal to accept the fact that Coop was dying just broke my heart! Justin Deas has proven that nothing replaces sheer talent in daytime. You can’t buy the younger and cheaper pretty-but-pointless actors and expect to get the same powerful punch from a master performance like the one he delivered as Coop was passing on. It just doesn’t happen.
I wasn’t looking forward to the Coopers going after Alan. Afterall, Coop crashed of his own accord, racing on icy roads to stop Beth from marrying Alan. Now? GAME ON! I’ll be front and center!
Coffee At Cafe Russe 