When Quality Doesn't Matter
I'm an unusual soap watcher; I never stop analyzing. It has been that way since I was very little, but I'm definitely in the minority. There are very few people that watch soaps who can't shut their brain off and enjoy it. Ever since the adventure era of the 80s, soaps have been much more escapism than reality based drama and fans have gone along for the ride. Don't understand about Days' Mayan Codices that Stefano was trying to get his hands on? Doesn't matter when it is revealed John isn't really Roman. Guiding Light's Rick Bauer was in medical school less than four years after he graduated high school? Why bother about details like that when young Rick is addicted to drugs while his old lover messes with his test scores? Confused as to how As the World Turns' Tom is old enough to go to Vietnam when he was just born eight years before? Eh who cares when he comes back to town with a different face and a drug addiction? This isn't new, soaps have often thrown out the window details like age and plausibility and fans let many, many things slide, always have. I may not be like that, but that's fine, it happens once and awhile.
This also happens when it comes to a couple. Many, many, many, many soap couples have come together through ridiculous circumstances, horrid writing, and implausible storylines. Yes, instant couples are a more recent trend, but poor pairings are as old as soaps. But what it often really comes down to is chemistry. General Hospital's Luke and Laura had chemistry so it didn't matter that he raped her. One Life to Live's Todd had chemistry with Tea and Blair so who cares that he's a serial rapist? GL's Reva sleeping with every member of Josh's family did not stop people for rooting for the pairing.
Since I'm a very critical soap viewer I naturally attract readers who like to hold a magnifying glass to their favorite shows. People write to me about their beef with the industry or a storyline because they know I do the same. This however means I rarely have a chance to listen to people happy with their soap or a storyline I've attacked. Once and awhile, however, devoted fans speak loudly. Take for example when I ranted about Port Charles' book Torn. The fans who complained that I was completely wrong about Rafe and Alison's romance, the book format, the show's new tone, and the actors' talents are the kind of fans I rarely hear from. This lack of balance often leads me to believe that more often than not, when there is poor writing and acting fans will tune out.
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