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The past week as kicked off a new storyline for Guiding Light, the infamous cloning of Reva. Unlike most, I have looked forward to this storyline with anticipation, from the time we figured out what the "Never before done on Daytime" story would be. And I have not been disappointed. First and foremost, Robert Newman's portrayal of Josh, caught in the grips of overwhelming grief over the lost of his heart and soul, Reva, has reduced me to tears. This man, who has given consistently quality performances over the course of his Guiding Light years, and who is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated actors on daytime, has outdone himself. And then there is Michael. This character has been at a total standstill, leaving not a good impression, not a bad impression, but worse, almost no impression on me. The day he walked into Josh's house, that changed. The moment he tentatively began to explain how he could help Josh, what his research has truly been about, he captured my attention, and he has not let go of that grip. Finally, there are the writers. Even with the incredible performances of the above mentioned actors, I could have been sorely disappointed with this story. But each day's scripts have been of such quality, the culmination of writing, acting and human emotion has brought me into this story completely. They have made me understand, in this particular situation, why Michael would suggest such a possibility, why Josh would consider agreeing to such a possibility, and the mixed feelings both men bring to the situation. The writers have portrayed Michael's excitement over the next state of his research, as well as his sincere desire to help Josh lessen his and his family's pain. They have portrayed Josh's revulsion at the thought of cloning his beloved Reva, his moral turmoil with the issue, and ultimately, his inablility to devastate his children with the death of their mother, and love of his life. Please note above the word understand, not agree with, or disagree with. I do not look at this storyline as a moral statement. I do not feel that making moral statements is the function of Guiding Light, or any other daytime show on the air. Their function is to entertain. If they can enlighten at the same time, that is a bonus. And I truly believe that, if a viewer were loyal enough, open minded enough, to follow this story, and the show, through to the end, they will see that all the moral issues will be addressed. And they will be entertained. Have an open mind, Guiding Light viewers. Expand your comfort zones. Let the writers, and the actors, take you on this journey into uncharted areas of daytime. Show the cast, crew and staff of Guiding Light that after over 50 years of excellent daytime drama, you are still willing to be led into storytelling of unparallelled quality. It will be worth your while. |
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