WTF soap opera writers?

[xie_xie_xie]

Ummm, I don't watch the show so I have no idea if this makes some kind of sense I'm missing, but someone just told me they are killing off one of the gay characters on As the World Turns just as it goes off the air?

Is this true? Is there some way in which that's not just a load of homophobic cliched crap?

Comments

[lit-writergirl.livejournal.com]

Okay, maybe I'm incredibly naive, but as an unabashed soap fan I feel as though it is a possibility that they are simply trying to write a classic soap story here. Of course they are failing miserably, and I HATE this ending, but I'm not entirely sure it is a homophobic decision in nature. Once of the most celebrated soap storylines of all time is the B.J/Maxie hear transplant story on GH in the 90's. Little Maxie needed a heart, and her cousin BJ was in a bus crash etc, you get the idea. It was actually beautifully well done and the after effects played out for years. Of course as I said, ATWT is giving us an AWFUL ending. Not only is this an awful way to end the show, but it is a cop-out and copied as well! I wonder if the writers simply want Luke and Noah back together and also wanted to "go out with a bang"?

It also reminds me of an occurrence on Another World shortly before it went off the air, where they dedicated an entire hour to the stalking, strangulation, and murder of a PSYCHIC and much beloved character (Frankie). It was absurd, and disgusting. The outrage was enormous, but as with this, the damage was already done.

Or I could be completely off base and this is pure homophobia at work!

[altsunthinkable.livejournal.com]

I respect that you are trying to see this from a broader angle and trying not to jump to conclusions, but have you watched any of the storylines on As the World Turns in the last year? It's an honest question, not trying to be snarky. The quality of the writing has been from simply mind-numbingly bad to agonizingly horrible. I can give them no benefit of the doubt.

Also, this story was not written to get Luke and Noah back together for the end because the do not reunite. Noah has professed his love for Luke but Luke was falling for Reid and now is mourning for him. So Noah leaves Oakdale and the only home, family, and friends he has ever known and moves by himself to LA. He and Luke both end the show completely heartbroken and miserable. This is not a happy ending for anyone -- except the straigth guy who gets Reid's heart and makes plans to marry Katie and live happily ever after and coach Little League, etc.

It may be unintentional homophobia but there's little doubt in my mind that it is homophobia nonetheless.

[pghbekka.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't say that. I'm clinging to the hope that this is the sort of revenge!fic that us sane fans hide in our communities.

A mentally unhinged Noah fan (rejected by all of the other Nuke/Noah fans) wrote this and tomorrow Luke and Noah are going to be bouncing around WOAK singing ding dong the dr's dead.

Cause that is a much preferable answer than anything else I've come up with

[snowmore.livejournal.com]

It's comforting to see a Luke and Noah fan showing their disdain for this dreck. I know some fans are quite thrilled with Reid's deaths. I'm not sure who those people are really fans of.

I feel so bad for Nuke fans as well. The promise of a soapy triangle never materialized. I feel TPTB played with both the Nuke and Lure fans. Thankfully, each group has some good memories to draw on. :)

[lit-writergirl.livejournal.com]

"So Noah leaves Oakdale and the only home, family, and friends he has ever known and moves by himself to LA. He and Luke both end the show completely heartbroken and miserable. "

Oh, man! I didn't know that! Okay then. That does put a new spin on things. Oh, and I completely agree with you regarding the horrifyingly bad storylines of the past year. I guess since the entire genre has taken such a downward spiral in recent years I'm getting used to it. It all stinks no matter how you look at it.

[connorblond.livejournal.com]

Especially as the straight guy who gets the heart is an asshole of major proportions. One should not forget that!

[xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com]

Well, since same-sex couples have been perennially cheated out of a happy ending, and there is a lengthy history of gay characters dying in film, TV, and literature, I'd say that regardless of whether they meant this just to be a typical soapy ending or not, you can't examine that decision or intent outside of the greater context. So whether it's intentional or ignorant, it's still homophobic.

[lit-writergirl.livejournal.com]

Great points, Xie. For me, since so many of my soap couples have been cheated out of happy endings for various idiotic story choices I guess I've been thinking about it in pure soap context, and have been utterly miserable over that. I've seen couples I've watched for many years end up alone, one having died some utterly pointless tragic death, so that's where my focus has been. But, the context you bring up does make me consider this whole other aspect that I just hadn't come to on my own.

I especially appreciate your point as to wether it is intentional or not, it is still homophobic.

[lit-writergirl.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to let you know that I'm still thinking about your comments today, so thanks for making me truly think about this.

[xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you for letting me know!