Has the world gotten to jaded for Soap Operas?
Today I was watching Jack and Jennifer clips from the early 90's when their story was starting and I was swept away by the carefully crafted way the writers wrote them. I tried to think of a recent couple that had as slow a build, as strong a bond, as much quirky fun, as much sweetness as they did and really came up short. I think the couple that comes the closest for me has been Spinelli and Maxie from General Hospital. This could be because I can see so many similarities between the two couples, but even Spixie doesn't quite capture the magic that Jack and Jennifer had. It's not that they couldn't, the actors have the chemistry- the characters have the vulnerability, but I think the reason they don't is because soaps are too jaded, we are too jaded for the work that goes into crafting a story like that.
Jack and Jennifer, and soaps in general, had a lot more freedom when they started. Every generation remembers "a simpler time", a time when people were much more calm, liked to take the slow road - so to speak, for me that time was when I was younger. I can still remember snapshots from the soaps from when I was eight. I remember the nervous excitement of seeing Reva meet her son, Dylan, before her wedding to Josh on Guiding Light. I remember when Nina finally figured out that David was taking her for a ride, was going to kill her and her son and the big payoff of the story when she shot him then in calm shock called to check up on her baby, Philip on Young and The Restless. I remember Cricket and Danny getting married on the beach of Hawaii on the same show. I can clearly see Brenda grabbing onto Sonny's leg to prevent him from leaving her after he found out she wore a wire for the FBI on General Hospital. These were stories that built and had huge payoffs. Twists and turns, moments when the whole world held it's breath and watched completely enthralled.
It's not like that anymore. Now it's get to the end as quick as possible. It's spoilers weeks before the moment happens so there is no surprise when it does. (This is a habit I admit to being addicted to) It's about sex, oversexed characters and quickies that might be used for a moment of angst or an insta-relationship. Couples are formed one week and two months later don't talk. Story-lines are re-done a half a dozen times in the span of a couple years, to the point where the end is as stale as the beginning. Characters are pushed into out-of-character situations to fit a story, but hardly any story is character driven anymore.
The thing I noticed the most while watching the Jack and Jennifer story was everything was paced. Nothing was forced. All the elements worked in conjunction with each other. Jack had friends, a story, a past outside of Jennifer and the same was true for her. He had a darkness, he was a rapist after all, that was never forgotten. It was never brushed under the rug. His actions always simmered right there under the surface. He wasn't given a free pass. He had to work to feel like he deserved forgiveness and even then he took it carefully, always waiting for the moment it would be snatched back. Jennifer had to fight to be seen as a woman. She was independent and smart. Never dumbed down to make the "man" the savior. Both Jack and Jennifer saved each other. They had humor, romance, adventures and angst. They had friendship and frustration. It was beautiful and pulled you in.
It's not like soaps don't have opportunities to return to the stories of old with an updated take. Kyle and Oliver were on the right track...even if I think they might have gotten together really quick. They had angst, love and friendship. Maxie and Spinelli have it. Coop and Ashlee from Guiding Light had it before the writers messed with them. John and Natalie from One Life To Live,most definitely have the tortured soul-mates part down. But real honest to goodness heart and soul tales...
Where can you find that now and days? I can name countless stories that start but have no end. There are moments when I can see the soap writing from the past, only to be reminded in the next scene that it isn't even close. The only reason I can think of is the world has just gotten too jaded for soaps. For love. No one looks and waits for a story to form. For characters to develop. Its quick. Its all or nothing, with no chance for bonds to take root. Like I said there are flashes of that, but it's rare at best. I guess I can understand why soaps are dying, but watching old clips of couples that made soaps great, makes me wish for a time machine so I could enjoy all the grandeur again before it leaves us forever.