Ah, spring and there’s even more signs that PORT CHARLES is a hotbed of good and evil. Lust, idle time (doesn’t anyone have to work anymore), obsession, breaking and entering, lovers torn apart, hidden agendas, Joshua Temple.

Port Charles’ newest megalomaniac. The vapid, cold expressions, the lackey biding his time, the absolute belief in his convictions that somehow he’s been severely wronged and now deserves to rule the world. How perfectly, deliciously evil. It has been a very, very long time, since D.V. Bordisso perhaps, that a character has been drawn in such classic villainous soap terms, a la Nicos Cassadine anyone? (Coggie could set us straight on this one)  Bordering just a tad on the comical, especially at the start, I confess I found myself imagining him twirling a handle bar moustache and chuckling dastardly to himself at his handy work, maybe even tying Penelope to the railroad tracks, but don’t worry,  it was fleeting, and no matter, it’s fun, a change of pace and getting more sinister by the second. 

Joshua casts a giant, dark shadow.  Much darker and more dangerous than Caleb’s ever was.  The only thing Joshua cares about is Joshua. The depth of his venom and hatred towards his former master is shocking to say the least. While his abject jealousy was always magnified in their relationship I was taken aback at the intensity of his true anger and resentment, I just never got that vibe from the character to this degree before. Makes it all the more chilling (hey I’ve learned to just go with the flow on PORT CHARLES anyways). And it works incredibly well, both for the character (s) and the plot line. The tables have been turned, Joshua taunting Caleb more viciously than Caleb ever could him. Curiously though, you get the sense that Caleb isn’t one bit surprised, even resigned to it. Lordy, he seems to have found hope. Well, well, well. 

The difference between Joshua and Caleb – heart and soul. Joshua was cold hearted and soulless as mortal and he’s even more so as king bat. His evil is insidious and cerebral. Caleb’s core may have been, and probably still is, evil, but love and desire, his need to connect to another being whether living or dead, his need for acceptance and validation made him a bat with human flaws, flaws that proved to be his undoing. Caleb’s obsessions won’t get in Joshua’s way, or so he says. On the contrary, his utter disdain and distaste for what he views as Caleb’s ultimate weakness, will never allow him to follow in Caleb’s footsteps. So he says. All that posturing about Caleb’s Achilles’ heel - love and passion, Joshua is so very pleased with himself, like a little boy who’s gone potty for the first time all by himself. He’s reveling in provocation for provocation’s sake just now. And reveling in thinking he’s so much better at Caleb’s own game.

Is that so? And are obsessions, more evil and threatening than Caleb’s ever were, not part of his winged persona too?  Of course they are and will most likely prove to be his undoing as well.  Joshua’s ultimate obsession is power, greed, control, revenge – over everything and everyone PORT CHARLES. He thinks he has finally taken his rightful place in the world. He’s quietly crawled and climbed and slithered to get where he is so far and he’ll obviously stop at nothing to keep moving forward, indulging himself along the way - going after Alison to destroy Rafe, after Livvie to humiliate Caleb and possess his vampire ring (and the power it implies) - in short, after the whole town turning Port Charles into his very own playground. 

I have to admit, this was a pretty decent way to add life to an old story. The vampires worked for PC for a long time but for most viewers, it had finally approached the end of its effectiveness, just take a gander at the numerous PC devoted message boards out there. Joshua keeps the vampire tales going, but in a new direction, with a new twist, and perhaps ultimately, with an end in sight?

I am assuming Caleb remains human, at least I hope he does. I loved him as a vampire, no question, but too many great possibilities to this mortal twist, (and I don’t mean just being tied up in those ridiculous drapes). I can’t imagine the scribes, in all their wisdom (no laughing) turning him again without at least making a dent in the character’s potential conflicts with Rafe and Livvie. 

Which leaves it all up to Joshua.

The character is disposable, dispensable as eventually all soap megalomaniacs are. His one-dimensional evil personality, no distractions like heart and soul to sway him from his goals, no emotional investments in any other characters just about guarantees his grand standing on the show will be over eventually. But not before he causes major havoc for Rafe, Alison, Livvie, Caleb, Ian, Frank and who knows who else. Not before he forces surprising plot twists and alliances, maybe even ending with a vampire/slayer showdown after all. Rafe seems to have found his slayer cohones in a big way again, its up to him to bring Joshua down isn’t it, help or no help, so there is hope for that showdown I so lust after isn’t there (sorry, I never miss an opportunity on this).

Joshua just seems to be having such a helluva good time with all this and so am I. I can’t imagine anyone not getting a huge kick out of the seasoned, wonderful Ian Buchanan.  He looks great in those severe dark suits, a nod to the traditional portrayal of the continental vampire who cloaks his treacherous nature in elegance. Buchanan certainly knows how to use his talents to the character’s best advantage, manipulating his marvelously silky voice and Scottish brogue to an even more menacing and ominous tone than ever before (trust me, I understand how to manipulate accents – when I really want to be holier than thou, or someone has completely pissed me off I can still revert back to my snooty, clipped Canadian accent!).

Joshua’s shenanigans will put the strength and resiliency of Port Charles to test against his expanding madness for power. Direct relationship challenges will keep that front interesting in the process, recycled though that route may be. Caleb and Livvie are already separated by circumstance. Evening the score, separating Rafe and Alison, yet again, gives Rafe and Caleb a reason to bond. Joshua is threatening them both with their common vulnerability, the women they love, setting up what might prove to be the most interesting plot line of the lot, the emerging union of slayers, vampires, ex-vampires, and the I don’t wanna be a vampire. 

In true megalomaniac fashion, Joshua can’t see past his own desires and unrequited wants. There will be no reasoning with him, no compromise, no co-existence.  It’s quite apparent that as he steps up his twisted campaign of revenge and seeks to control the town his days will be numbered. 

Too bad. Villains come and go. Some leave lasting impressions, some don’t. Ian Buchanan makes one of the best villains Port Charles has ever seen.  In Joshua’s case, it’s good to be the king. 

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The Readers Fantasy is on its way.  My thanks to Lainey for coming up with this idea and being good enough to suggest it. Thanks to everyone who has sent in their unique fantasies so far, keep em coming!  Next week I’ll devote my whole column to YOU. 

For now, here’s a little teaser of what’s to come. 

My fantasy would be a Charlie's Angel spoof featuring Livvie, Alison and Casey as the angels. Alison's the pretty one, Livvie's the smart one and Casey's the tough one. Victor as Bosley and Ed as the voice of Charlie. Their mission would be to go up against Caleb and his vamps and save PC. Their rewards would be to save the guys they love, Rafe, Jack and Ricky respectively. Lucy, Karen and Eve would be in there as the older Angels training the new young ones.

                                  Cheap21

...until we muse again Port Charles Fans

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Time to have some fun.  Welcome to the first ever Soaptown USA PORT CHARLES Readers Fantasy.  Since PORT CHARLES couldn’t be a part of ABC’s Fan Fantasy we decided to hold our own for you, the readers and fans.  Here’s your chance to conjure up your own fantasy scene, episode, storyline, whatever YOU want. And remember we’re not bound by censors and rules so be ah, as creative and unbridled as you like.  Each week I’ll post a Reader’s Fantasy or two in my PC Musings column.  Your feedback will determine the top fantasies and Soaptown USA will hold a poll to pick your favorite.  Who knows, it might even make its way over to ABC.