I am a child of the 80's "romantic soaps"--especially my favorites of the day, Days of Our Lives and Santa Barbara. During that decade, romance thrived on daytime. Couples were put through the ringer of drama-- including the lose of innocence, tortured, star-crossed love stories, physical trauma (blindness, paralysis,etc) and, of course, the long-lost child/spouse "back from the dead" obstacles. However, through of the trials, fans could be extremely confident that the love of their favorite couple would triumph. Call me a "sap" if you wish, but that is why I began watching soaps and it is the reason I still tune in--ROMANCE.
I am not a fan of the "mushy-ness" that sometimes accompanied the stories of the '80s--the infamous longing looks and the language often associated with Harlequin romance novels--but, I certainly do LONGGGGG for the "We can make it through anything" type of couples. I want to see couples FIGHT for their lovers--both physically and emotionally. I want to watch characters who aren't "emotionally assinated" for a "story beat" because it is easier to write than actions/behaviors that would stay true to the characters' personalities. I WANT angst; it is the "breath of soaps" and the stories would not be engaging without drama. However, my challenge to soap opera writers is to create drama that is character-driven and true to the characters involved. Soap opera couples are built through the development of the characters--the revelation of their "past", the introduction to their "present",their hopes and dreams for their "future" and their "fit" with another character. Once that "connection" has clicked, then stay true to that connection.
Sure, "true love" is not always meant to last. Couples "outgrow" each other. Love can change. I could accept such growth if these changes occurred through the evolution of the characters and not due to "storyline-dictated" decisions. When characters suddenly "switch gears" about their feelings for their once "love of my life", it cheapens the characters and betrays the devotion and belief I have in the couple.
I am not a fickle fan. When I "fall" for a couple, I fall completely, "head over heels" for the twosome. When a show has asked me to believe in a couple and I have opened my "soap heart" to that pairing, I will be devoted until the actor(s) leave. I want the same devotion from the writers.
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Oh, I remember Santa Barbara! I was a fan of that show and was sad when it ended. I also remember Another World! Loved that one too. Lol, I have to say that I still tune into soaps for the romance too. But unlike you, I like the mushy stuff, lol. But of course, I do read romance novels, lol. I also tune into the soaps for the other reasons you mentioned. And like you, I don't like it when they don't stay true to who the character is. It drives me crazy sometimes!
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