I don’t know about you Port Charles fans, but I’m having a wee bit of trouble committing to the drama this week.  Admittedly, it’s been a more hectic week than most for me and I’ve found myself somewhat distracted in my PC viewing but still, overall very little struck me as fresh and exciting. Oh it had its moments but something’s missing and I just can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it was reading all those wonderful fantasies you sent in, opening up so many possibilities and scenarios for your favorite characters – hold on cause next week one in particular will blow you away. Or maybe I’m as weary of the all consuming vampire scene as the rest of you. 

DESIRE has indeed proved to be fast moving so far, thanks in part to the appearance of more characters – Victor, Karen, Frank, Caz, Reese even Gail and gasp, Chris checked in, so that’s not it. It’s not the actors; from the moment this arc began they’ve been turning in performance after performance showcasing their renewed dedication to the even darker fantasy.  Ian Buchanan continues to upstage everyone as the perfect villain, Rebecca Staab continues to be a hoot, Elizabeth inheriting some of Lucy’s zanyness that has been lost of late, Kelly Monaco continues to shine, and Brian Gaskill continues to give his all to Rafe even though his slayer character is, shall we say, less than credibly written at times. And yes we certainly are moving right along as our slayers, vampires, ex-vampires and the men and women who love them, or don’t as the case may be, try to figure it all out. In fortified cells, out of fortified cells, stabbed with glass coffee table tchochkes, powers, no powers, hunger, no hunger, misplaced compassion, false compassion, genuine compassion - its all very well thought out and paced, but still, the shocks and revelations of actions that could take the dynamics of so many really interesting situations and developing relationships to the next level are just not there. Not yet anyways.  The characters just keep getting lost in recycled plot lines and regurgitated devices.  Maybe it’s me.   

Rafe and Livvie locked in one cell, Caleb and Alison in the other, powerful chemistry swirling around the four actors, squaring off at each other behind wire walls was one terrific opportunity for some really explosive drama. Instead we got Rafe and Caleb mildly trading insults, an expected double cross, Alison whining incessantly, Livvie going through some sort of withdrawal that Caleb finally quenched, after two days of yelling at my TV do it man, what are you waiting for. Would have been a lot more attention-grabbing if Rafe had helped her with his ah, unique gifts, setting up even more conflict between the four of them, but I guess that line was just too wide to cross.   

Once more familiar obstacles are thrown in the way of love for our two couples who’d do anything to be together, and have told us so about a zillion times, for all the good that does them. End result? Alison doubting Rafe yet again because of Caleb, Rafe having no choice but to follow her, regardless of his better judgment, forced to come up with an agenda on his own. Haven’t we been here at least five times already?

Caleb and Livvie trading places presents a bit of tasty irony and is at least slightly fresher than Rafe and Alison’s constant barriers to happiness. It’s getting harder and harder to support this couple if the audience hardly ever gets any payoff in return. For two characters whose “soulmate” status was so carefully crafted and so successfully established to be so disconnected romantically isn’t sitting well with their huge fan base.

Granted Rafe and Alison haven’t exactly had a whole lot of time for love these days, nasty evil distractions and all, but Ian and Lucy have been able to find the time no matter what binds they find themselves in. No confusing Caleb and Livvies’ urgency for each other. Michael Easton and Kelly Monaco’s commanding chemistry can turn any situation to their advantage.  Their huge fan base may be frustrated that Caleb and Livvie were together for all of 10 minutes before their love story entered the land of the twisted and turned, but at least the characters are still desperate for each other.  Their intensity hasn’t waned through all the crap thrown at them.

The difference is; Ian and Lucy and Caleb and Livvie still have that unmistakable connection to each other, over acting and over exposure aside. The characters have a genuine bond that remains strong, valid and clearly evident to us. Rafe and Alison seem to have outwardly lost that bond. Try as I may its hard to identify it anymore. It’s still there but something is missing.  In all the turmoil tearing apart their world their relationship is detached, eroding, overshadowed by an endless array of problems with no sign of letting up.  Fans of the couple are being asked again and again to just accept the “magic” of Rafe and Alison and get caught up in their torn apart lives. Television is a visual medium gang, give us some visuals. Make us continue to believe in their undying love and connection to each other. Or break them apart.  The plot is driving the show now more than ever, we need a dose of these two characters’ personalities, inner needs, desires and vulnerabilities for each other to remain swept along with that plot while still invested in them as a couple. 

Frank’s Avatar dark side was loads of fun, insert the word vampire and here we go again, Karen trotting around after him, worried and perplexed at his behavior and odd personality turns.  One minute he’s addicted to gambling, the next poof, he’s cured, with a little help from Joshua of course. I’m still trying to figure out why Casey is left hanging around and hoping that the little band lovefest will tie in somewhere, somehow to a storyline, any storyline.  As much as I like Reese, and much to my surprise, Reese and Jack together, either develop her character or have her go on tour, though perhaps not as lead singer. The matter of Alison’s sibling seems to have paled next to Joshua’s quest for power and revenge, so all the hinting and foreshadowing pointing to Reese as that sibling doesn’t really matter now anyways. One thing PC is still excellent at, creating holes, and this one is no exception, just one more crater waiting to be paved over.   

Lucy’s lost her powers.  It couldn’t be more obvious than if they dressed her in a sandwich board and paraded her around the main square. She must have felt it the minute she came out of that pool. Rafe should have felt it too.  What happened to their telepathic connection that was used so effectively in uhm, past lives?  Must have been her current universe playing a cruel joke on her.  Why does it seem so surprising and shocking to everyone, most of all Lucy herself. 

Which brings my less than upbeat musings (and you all know how much I try to stay upbeat, I do after all love this show, warts and all) to what turned out to be one of the brightest spots of the week.  Kevin.  Jon Lindstrom, the consummate professional, has certainly taken to his scruffy new role.  Kevin has hit bottom, emotionally, physically and intellectually. He’s lost his faith in the world and allowed his dark side to take over.  So much of the characters’ actions were written less than credibly (see above reference to Rafe) but finally, finally we’ve been given a glimpse into his private despair and utter disillusionment. Jon Lindstrom was wonderful, showing us Kevin’s feelings and tortured psyche.  Through his artistic talents Kevin has pretty much summed up the state of affairs in Port Charles. Being turned into an instrument for Joshua’s twisted delusions of grandeur is the final mockery for the Kevin we once knew, the prototypical control freak.   

Sometimes the writers do surprise don’t they?  Not nearly often enough, but PORT CHARLES is a “work in progress” as Kevin muttered.  “Aren’t we all” Joshua shot back.

You got that right. 

...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.