The Whys and Wherefores
This is how I've always worried storyboard meetings go: "Okay we need to have a love triangle? Any ideas?" "How about this couple we just got back together?" "Sure, who do we have get in the middle of them?" "How about this character that's been gone for ages?" "Okay, do it." No questions as to why the couple is in danger or why this old character is getting in the middle, just taking A, B, and C, and trying to make something out of it. I'm seriously beginning to think this is how soap writers plot their stories because it happening around the dial. Why did Billie come back to Salem? Did the writers know when they asked for Lisa Rinna to the return or did they just try to make it appear like they knew why by having Billie constantly make mysterious phone calls? Why did Lorie come back to Genoa City? Did she really want Victor back? She after all, was the one to dump him, leaving the path open for Nikki in the first place. Neither has clearly been answered which makes the viewing difficult for many. And there are so many other whys we could be asking. Why is ATWT's Alison so angry and vengeful? Why is GL's Alan so enamored with Olivia? Why does OLTL's Blair giving a flying fig about Troy? Heck, why does Nora give a flying fig about Troy? When, how, where, and why did PC's Ian and Kate become friends?
I think we all agree that stories are better when they are character motivated, when we can get involved with what the characters are feeling, whether we agree or disagree. When we know how they are feeling and where they are going, you can go along for the ride. But simply put if you don't do that, no one cares. For example, contrast Y&R's Phyllis being desperate enough to go to Larry to talk about murder for hire regarding Diane to OLTL's Blair weak attempt to seduce Troy. The viewers don't have to fill in the blanks in order to justify Phyllis' request; we've seen her pushed to her limits. We have not seen that in the case of Blair. She had just been betrayed by Todd and her strongest connection to Troy was his relationship with Starr, but she just suddenly decides she should have him and should seduce him? Did the writers ever successfully explain that one or was it just chalked up to character stupidity like nearly everything else in Llanview?
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