Tuesday my heart was torn from my chest and tossed into the wood chipper by Crystal Chappell’s performance of Olivia Spencer’s tormented confession of her undying love for Natalia. Today I am unsuccessfully trying to recover from Wednesday’s episode, which picked up right where we left off Tuesday with Olivia and Natalia in the cemetery. Olivia once again professes her deep undying love for Natalia.
At this point Olivia is determined to finally speak the truth, finally say what has tormented and consumed her for so long. She realizes that once she verbalizes what she truly feels that she can never take it back, something that Natalia tries to remind her of and something Olivia is painfully aware of but needs to say it because this could be her last chance to, in her words, “set the record straight.” She’s not sure exactly when things changed but they most certainly did. They started out as rivals, became friends, hell, Natalia gave Olivia her dead husband’s heart! Somewhere between roommates and best friends they turned into a family. Natalia is Emma’s (Olivia’s daughter) other mommy. She and Olivia know each other so well they finish each other’s sentences. They love each other and in that moment you undoubtedly know it, you feel it, you believe it.
Natalia tries to express to Olivia the feelings that have raged inside of her, feelings that she has spend countless hours praying over asking God for his guidance. Jessica Leccia brings her A Game to this scene. You feel Natalia’s torment. She’s trying to tell Olivia that she feels the same and that she is prepared to fight whatever trouble comes their way. Unfortunately, in a surprising turn of events, Olivia stops Natalia from baring her soul. She realizes that the life that Frank can give Natalia is the easier choice, one of security and love and a home for her and Rafe. Olivia admits that she too could give Natalia a home but at what cost. They would all be subject to snide comments of small-minded people, people who would whisper behind their backs and break play dates with Emma or harass Rafe when he’s just about to start this new life. She doesn’t want that for Natalia. She couldn’t live with the pain it would cause Natalia…she lover her but “I don’t know what offering my love will do to you.” In this one statement I now have solid proof that in fact, Guiding Light is trying to kill me!
Just when you think you can’t take one more excruciating moment that your heart wouldn’t or couldn’t break any greater than it already has; the writers at Guiding Light decide to go for broke. Jill Lorie Hurst, what did I ever do to you? But I digress. Olivia and Natalia are standing there Olivia with her hands on Natalia’s tear drenched face, leaning in towards each other consumed by their mutual love and understanding that marrying Frank is the right thing to do for everyone involved. Olivia foolishly but with great self sacrifice and truest intentions tells Natalia “You know where you need to be and who you need to be with…we have a wedding to get to.” After that I blacked out which is a bad thing because I was reading the play-by-play at my desk at work and when you go limp and you hit the floor people tend to notice and make a big deal about it. It’s a little embarrassing but I guess since Guiding Light is actively trying to kill me, a little embarrassment isn’t such a big deal. Once the smelling salts kicked in and I got an ice pack for the giant lump growing on my head I went back to my desk and continued to read the play-by-play and subjected myself to further misery, pain, and sweet, sweet soap opera torturous angst that is Otalia, that is Guiding Light.
The show as a whole was on fire today. There were other scenes at church with Doris at the helm about to officiate since Father Ray backed out at the last minute and a touching scene between Rafe and Natalia where he tells her he lit a candle asking God to give his mother all that her heart desires which I loved. The rest is a little fuzzy, blacking out will do that, but I’m sure it was brilliant.
Now even though I suffered a mild concussion and once again feel the heartache and pain as if I had personally gone through a break up with the love of my life, I would do it again, black out and all, to experience the beauty and the love and the angst that only a group of gifted and talented artists like the group ofwriters, directors, actors, stagehands, Kraft services people and security guards, yes Moose, I’m talking to you, over at Guiding Light.
For a full play-by-play of the show, visit the Big Purple Dreams fan forum at 10 am EDT daily. For full episodes and more information about the show visit CBS.com and click on Guiding Light.
Final Grade: A+
Great article! I love the shout out to Moose…he deserves it…he is a big fan!
another great article, tiffany. JLH, too, did me in with the lines delivered by both natalia and olivia yesterday. hurst started the death march with natalia saying "i've handled trouble before" like a child who is being told that she can't have the one thing she wants more than anything in the world. and then i was finished off, killed and kicked around by olivia saying "i love you, but i don't know what offering my love will do to you. it'll ask you to change who you are and what you believe. and then that would make this whole thing a lie, wouldn't it? " i too blacked out. which is a good thing, because i don't think my otalia beaten heart could have handled the face caressing and forehead touching. kudos to guiding light. i've never been more excited to cry my eyes out in my whole life.
What a wonderful article, Tiffany. You put into words how I'm feeling right now. They are trying to kill us, but ya know what…it’s the best way to go!!! LOL
Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia are powerhouses and we are so lucky!!!
Terrific article, you really know how to explain what we're feeling! Dead I tell you! CC and JL are slamming it into our hearts with their acting and emoting… it's extraordinary to say the least. One second I'm laughing, crying, smiling, hurting, crying ah what an amazing Otalia rollercoaster!
"Jill Lorie Hurst – what did I ever do to you?" LOL It may be masochistic, but I thank her (and the other folks responsible) for this sweet torture everyday.
I've never seen a truer, more heartfelt and honest depiction of love between 2 women on TV. Period.
They are SO trying to kill all of us and they aren't even hiding it. We, like Olivia (and apparently Dinah now), are gluttons for punishment and keep coming back for more. This show is going to leave me emotionally stunted and I don't even care. Jill Lorie Hurst: Thank you ma'am, may I have another?!
"Jill Lorie Hurst, what did I ever do to you? " You know, I was thinking the exact same thing after the graveyard scene. But it is such a sweet, sweet agony that I can't really blame the woman for putting me through it. *sigh* Wonderful article, BTW. 🙂
Great piece, Tiffany. GL may be trying to kill us but what a way to go, huh? Seriously, Ellen Wheeler, Jill Lorie Hurst, Crystal and Jessica are doing extraordinary work. They keep raising the proverbial bar and going over it time and time again. We are witnessing something very special here and I sincerely hope that some network out there is paying attention and realizes what a gem and goldmine they could have with GL on their roster.
you know the light was the only soap i would watch,now with olivia and natalia story line i just cant look at this mess anymore and to hurt frank like that a good man . too hell with this show.
OMG, that was freakin' hilarious!!! You've got a point there, I bet somehow GL has taken out life insurance policies on all the BPD fans (they have our demographics and addresses from writing in) so they can collect big time money when we all drop dead on Friday when all is REVEALED!! Well, perhaps the insurance money will help with the budget! and the next generation of fans can benefit from our sacrifice!
thanks for the article!!!
That was fantastic. Heavens to Merg is right! I have been wondering why they seem intent on killing us with angst but it's so very, very good. This is classic soap opera at it's hair pulling, ulcer inducing, heart palpitating best. I can't remember the last time any soap, or any show for that matter, told a love story so well.
Thanks for making me laugh through the tears.
Thanks for the great article. GL has been on fire lately, especially with the otalia storyline. I'm absolutely addicted; and I'm not a regular soap fan.
This week has been a testament to the talents of Guiding Light: JLH, EW, CC, and JL if they can make the audience act that strongly. Thank you for the recount of the beautiful angst that we've all been going through.
Moose!! We all heart you Moose. This show kills me all over again and I can't stop rewatching every scene to enjoy every single nuanced moment.
Wonderful article Tiffany! Agree with everything word for word. Both CC and JL just outdid themselves. I was shaking, sobbing, whimpering and loving every minute of it! The writers and actors really are trying to kill us ded but you really can't complain because this is television at it's finest. Thank you JLH and EW for having the courage and talent to write a story like this. Thank you CC and JL for making us literally feel the raw emotions and vulnerability inherent in this most beautiful of love stories. Lastly, thank you Tiffany for writing great articles like this that show everyone how much this storyline is appreciated! GODDESSES.
Thanks for the article – so greatful i have found GL and Otalia all the same… I love that there is writing like this on shows… The build up as been amazing, and now it is here I can't get enough… The Otalia family of fans are some great people, and so are people who write article like these…
I think the show has been overall right on track- the storyline has been very real, slow building and overall fantastic. Yes, there is lots of angst, but then again, what soap is not with it's angst? Jill Lorie Hurst should be commended for the way this story has been written- very well. And of course, all the actors and actresses involved (especially Crystal Chappell, Jessica Leccia, and Orlagh Cassidy) have done a fantastic job, and i know have moved viewers to tears. This storyline and everything involved are one of the main reasons I returned to watching soap operas.
Great article, thank you for writing it and expressing the feelings that we, as Otalia fans, are trying to share. Whether you are gay or straight or indifferent, a rational thinking, intelligent person can't help but see the beautiful love story that is being told here. I am a Xena; Warrior Princess fan also, and have been for a while, and anyone who watched that series knows that it also was a well written love story with no labels. The Otalia storyline is up there with that one. I think the Xenaverse has a new love story to believe in. I think that almost any person with feelings and emotions can believe in this love story. Please GL, all we ask is that you keep telling it honestly. Thank you Crystal and Jessica, amazing performances once again. Shine on!
great article! i firmly believe that GL is trying to kill me, too… but man, what a way to go!
wow, you otter the words of so many " otaliates" I have read so many comments from various websites that just said " i'm dead" because the performances and words were so powerful. It makes you wonder what kind of voodoo the people at the "Light" is practicing becasue we are all so hooked on this story. I mean people who would never even watch soaps are breaken their neck not to mention risking their job by watching the show for a glimpses of this awesome couple. God, I have not been this excited about a lesbian storyline since bette and tina on the L word. I think that the "otalia" storyline is helping the show because I came to see "otalia" but I also stay to watch the other storyline as well. I love dinah and shayne storyline as well. so i hope that TPTB are listening and going to the many different forms to read what people are saying about this couple and the show. Otalia is bringing new fans to the show.
DON'T CANCEL CBS!!!
Great article…….I will also agree that GL is trying to kill us all. Kudos to JLH, EW, CC and JL…these ladies are knocking us out everyday. This hs been an incredible story from the start and just keeps getting better everyday.
*2 THUMBS-UP* for this well-written article!
Guiding Light killed me.
This is my second-life already.
=^_^=
All I can say is WOW! Reading your article, I just relived the past few days of Otalia watching. I do not know whether to thank you or offer you an ice pack and a aspirin. My soap opera watching has always consisted of finding old clips on you tube ( usually from countries outside the US) and watching them from beginning to end in one or two settings. Now, I am rushing home from work to watch this, planning extracurricular around its air time, and googling for spoilers or soap magazines, just to make sure I am in the KNOW. This storyline is by far the best thing to hit U.S airtime. I am at the stage now that Natalia has me praying to God not to forsake me by canceling this show. Thank you very much for such a brilliant and humorous article.
Thank you!!! Thank you for reminding us that we're not alone – yes, my heart's been ripped out for days. One of the most stunning moments of television ever. Everything from the incredible use language to how each episode has been editted to perfection and then of course the incomparable CC & JL. I still can't believe this week is happening and unfolding as it is. Its all been so amazing, and yes, I'm still in shock.
I honestly can't remember ever being THIS emotionally invested to a TV storyline…like…ever. The writers and the actors have hit the nail on the head with every step of this couple's journey, and I am dedicated beyond belief. It happens so rarely that a story is told that resonates on as deep a personal level for so many as this one has. And I can't wait to see what they have in store for us, although I am thankful for my BPD support group. Without them I would have fallen on the floor, never to get up again.
I simply have no words for this episode. I was rendered speechless then, and again after reading your expertly crafted rundown. Thanks again for the great article! We simply must keep the Light shining! A story this phenomenal is just screaming to continue!