True to form, this last week of DESIRE has been a marathon run in record time as the meandering, senseless plot that lost it way somewhere back in another lifetime suddenly awakened screaming, I’m here, I’m here. Okay I’ll bite (let it go okay). Aside from missteps here and there, DESIRE's final days have been exciting, interesting, bittersweet, poignant, shocking, bold and ballsy. Ironic isn’t it. Excellent performances from everyone, and I do mean everyone in that most of the current cast played a role in wrapping up storylines or situations created expressly for that purpose.  Why PORT CHARLES didn’t involve more of the cast on a regular basis this past year is a mystery that will never be solved, and sadly, doesn’t make a whole heck of a lot of difference anymore anyways.

Kicking off this race to the finish line, Karen’s death came as a complete surprise. Not a leak, not a murmur anywhere to be found until the very end when a soap magazine decided to scoop the story and ruin it for everyone. Still, it took guts to kill off a character with such a strong history and ties to General Hospital. Admittedly the character was going nowhere on Port Charles but to have the balls to eliminate her completely was more shocking than her actual death. Did it move the plot forward, absolutely. A necessary evil in soapland but it does beg the question of what was the point of Casey this time around then. Consistency is admirable on a show so lacking in it, and as in the last time we had angels in Port Charles, her purpose was a vehicle to help someone cross over. 

Karen’s death was handled beautifully, with dignity and respect to the characters and the audience. Kudos to Marie Wilson who gave the performance of her Port Charles career.  It couldn’t have been easy for her knowing it was her swan song as an actress on the show as well. It couldn’t have been easy for Jay Pickett either, his touching plea and brief soul search as to who he was and what he had become was honest and hit just the right note. Frank lost the love of his life and Jay Pickett lost his acting partner. I sat there crying in spite of myself. Granted, it was tears for the death of the show, for what was and what could have been, not just for Karen, as I gave in to the emotions and disappointment cancellation brought. Chris’s heartfelt and moving speech was a lovely reminder of just how good this show is, was and could be. I was even moved by Ricky, as once again an actor proved how effective he can be if given the material. 

I look forward to seeing more of Nolan North as the teasers for THE GIFT promise. Teaming up with Rebecca Staab could be tons of fun, two vulnerable, scheming losers condemned to bad choices and bad breaks, together.  Anyone paired with North is one lucky actor whose game can’t help but be raised. He’s that good. Rebecca Staab has already proved she’s great at comedy and banter, her best scenes were with Ian Buchanan as Elizabeth and Joshua sparred and sputtered and competed over Caleb. Since Liz has pretty much run through every man in town and none stuck, why not Chris, seems perfectly logical actually, they’re two peas in a pod. 

Who isn’t happy that Kiko Ellsworth finally gets to figure prominently in the next storyline. Jamal has been twisting in the wind as a character for so long he was barely recognizable as the streetwise thug with the good heart turned upstanding citizen by growing up and by a woman’s love, short-lived as it was.  Ellsworth is too fine of an actor, I had actually forgotten how fine until the last two weeks reminded me of just how much richness he added to the drama, just how subtle and nuanced he can be when given the material. A beautiful love interest with a twist, literally crashing into his life – it’s about time.

I was extremely surprised and supremely pleased with an exchange between Rafe and Livvie that was a long time in coming as they finally discussed their past. Not a drop of chemistry or fire has been lost between Brian Gaskill and Kelly Monaco. Anger mixed with humor, each acknowledging the other pushes their buttons like none other, a quick rush of satisfaction that was interrupted by Caleb but that made its point. For my money I would have loved for them to really hash it out once and for all, push the conflict even further but for now I’ll take what I can get, smug in the knowledge that they need each other whether they want to admit it or not.   

Great ploy using the Inside the Music expose to set up Joshua’s demise. The device addressed the status of the band, gave Michael Easton another go at his mesmerizing rock star persona while throwing Joshua completely off balance. In swoops the vampire and the slayer, each with his own agenda, to take Joshua out once and for all. Should have been explosive and thunderous. 

It wasn’t. 

The whole episode was a disjointed jumble of bad cuts and  unnecessary action that left me shaking my head and asking what the fuck? The focus should have been completely on the scenes of Rafe slaying Joshua, Caleb’s horror at not finding his ring, Alison’s surprise at seeing Rafe alive and her ensuing horror at what she’d done to him, Livvie’s insecurities and Lucy’s returning skills sensing that shift of power.  Period. The rest was fluff and took away from any satisfaction the viewers deserved after sticking with this story for so long. Was that smoke screen that so conveniently appeared designed to minimize the violence, remind us of Rafe walking out of the clouds reborn again, what? And to what? I assume it was supposed to have made some sort of impact. Sorry, it was all lost on me because none of the action was given its due, too much was rushed and compressed as if no one could wait to get this over with. 

Musing on to better things - the Slayer (notice the capital S) finally got the job done. Hallelujah. His “first” that we can actually confirm. The Vampire (notice the capital V) didn’t quite get what he wanted. But then again neither did the slayer. The deed is done but there’s no satisfaction in it for either of them. Rafe has been jerked around and tormented for so long from every side that the weariness of it all has taken its toll. He’s positively simmering with anger and resentment. Brian Gaskill has turned the power and edge back on - he’s a powder keg itching to ignite, you can see it in every movement, every facial expression, feel it in every breath he takes, every word he utters. And Michael Easton’s Caleb is not far behind, equally tormented and angry, using Livvie and her body as his outlet and release. How delicious to be treated to a glimpse of Brian Gaskill and Michael Easton’s  explosive chemistry as DESIRE came to a close – the kid gloves coming off, their true feelings for each other at the forefront once again. All that testosterone in one scene, I’m trying like hell to catch up.

How much more struggling can Rafe take to keep his convictions and his love intact. How can he possibly sustain it all in the face of such misery. Rafe and Alison are so far removed from those star crossed lovers that graced our screens yet damn it that magic is still there. When Rafe said “it may be our destiny to constantly struggle, so be it, but the path always lead to you”, sucked me right back in, against my better judgment I might add. Trials and tribulations such as theirs would undoubtedly be the death of any other soap couple, not to mention a serious lack of intimacy, but Port Charles stubbornly refuses to let these two give up. Unfortunately the whole thing reeks of familiarity, however what was interesting this go round is that it felt like we actually got a nod from the characters to keep the faith.  The constant tearing apart and coming back together of this couple has never been addressed in such a clear manner by the characters themselves. A last ditch effort to keep Rafe and Alison fans committed perhaps, but effective none the less.  I’m sure they’ll find a way to triumph, at least in the short term, until the next tragedy, obstacle or plot twist befalls them. Putting aside the sad fact that we only have three months left, at this point do Rafe and Alison really need any more conflict, dealing with the fallout of Rafe’s stabbing should be enough indeed.   

Segue into the next arc. Unwitting wishes upon a ring will indubitably throw a wrench into soulmateville, wrecking havoc on Rafe and Alison’s and Livvie and Caleb’s dreams and desires, of this I’m certain. A Kevin/Lucy/Ian triangle, a plausible one this time, seems to be in development. Which soul mate will Lucy end up with. The set up is clear – Livvie fears if she doesn’t find the ring Caleb will stop loving her and Alison’s guilt threatens to consume her, eating away at the one constant in her life, her confidence and faith in Rafe’s love.

Be careful what you wish for is the motto here. Because we all know Disney has blown their sacred “when you wish upon a star” motto sky high for all Port Charles fans. Rafe may be able to forgive Alison, Lucy may be able to forgive Kevin but will any of us ever forgive Disney?  

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