As The World Turns Discussion Group -- The Ghost Storyline: Like It of Hate It?

As The World Turns Discussion Group

Topic: The Ghost Storyline: Like It of Hate It?

Topic Posted by: Rocky
Date Posted: Thu Nov 12 12:37:48 2009
Additional Comments:      Personally I hate it when soaps insist on using recently dead characters and making them ghosts so they can have a storyline. The Young and The Restless used that with Jerry Douglas when his John Abbott character was killed off. All My Children used this when Dixie was killed off when Cady McClain was there. Other soaps have used this plot device as well.

    I just think that ,even as soaps are on the endangered list, using the "ghost storyline" is near patheic and very dated. Having Brad come around and badger Henry is more like comedy than drama. It makes Henry even more patheic (If that were really possible) than TPTB already make him out to be. It makes him look stupid in front of Katie, makes him look stupid in front of already stupid Margo, and it brings an unsatisfying ending to Brad's death storyline since the ghost storyline looks like bad sitcom comedy, especially to the casual soap viewer.

     So I hate the Brad-is-a-ghost storyline. How do the rest of you feel about it?

Posted by: Sally
Date posted: Fri Nov 13 21:44:42 2009
Message:
I hate this GhostBrad storyline for the fact that almost none of Oakdale ,except for Henry, Katie, and Brad, are really a part of this. That is , I take it a lot of the cast of ATWT didn't like Austin Peck (Brad). Especially Michael Park (Jack). That is why Jack is out almost ready to shoot Craig, jumping off of rooftops in Philadelphia, and racing cars rather than deal with shooting his brother ,accidently, to death or really mourning for him. Without his family and friends (most of the show's cast) the storyline carries little weight. Especially now that seemingly the only people who will (Or can) work with Austin Peck are Trent Dawson (Henry, the show's comic relief), and Terri Coumbino. The show has it ,as such, that the cast (If the reports were true) can now ignore the cast member they didn't like in Austin Peck since his character is a ghost who can only commincate with lightweight Henry.

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We maybe never really know what exactly happened. But it would make perfect sense why Brad would haunt katie alone with the help of henry. KB shared a bond. Why hasn't brad been around his daughter? Its like brad forgotten he has one. According to what I read Mp was promised a Big SL by goutman months ago.

Posted by: Bertha
Date posted: Fri Nov 13 13:19:45 2009
Message:
To an extent but they need to move it along.

Posted by: Cupcake_
Date posted: Fri Nov 13 12:06:15 2009
Message:
One hand I hate the ghost storyline, poor boo bradley is reduced to spending his time watching tv, instead of haunting fluffy, I would have loved if they kept brad alive, and since kate put her unborn baby in danger, brad should have divorced her ass,(I use to love watching buffy fight, more chemistry ) fought for sole custody of jacob, fled oakdale with his son, illegally, and maybe in three years time, katy's baby could come back all grown up. I read online that brad wraps up end of this year.

Posted by: fee
Date posted: Fri Nov 13 10:24:20 2009
Message:

I hated St MeME's ghost! It was still all about MEME even when she was a ghost! (Ya'll remember her famous line? ''But HOW does that honor ME???'' And I know the Tammy ghost on GL was VERY unpopular, even for Tammy lovers! Ya know, I had an argument with someone the other day who believes Brad is STILL ON THE SHOW because of the ghost thing! Guess she thinks he will be like the John Abbott ghost!

Posted by: Mia
Date posted: Fri Nov 13 9:38:51 2009
Message:

This started off as a very compelling drama before Casper came along ... now it sits in the crapper.

Posted by: Mary Ellen
Date posted: Fri Nov 13 7:59:12 2009
Message:
I'm hoping it turns out to be a dream, ala *Dallas*......

Posted by: Reed
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 22:23:51 2009
Message:
I don't like the ghost storyline. You have a serious situation where you have character ,Brad, who was shot and killed by his brother Jack accidently. But instead of everyone involved in this tragic death be brought together ,you have Jack,going off on his own, fighting his own demons and not talking at all to Katie about the accident. The show has Brad show up as a ghost who can only be seen by Henry and now Brad the ghost can only converse with Henry and no one else. The result is Brad's death is being quickly forgotten by just about everyone in town, and Henry looks lamer and lamer by the minute trying to convince to Katie that he sees and talks to Brad's ghost. The storyline ,once serious, is now reduced to parody. and I wouldn't blame the casual soap opera viewer for seeing this as such.They made a tough hard storyline and made it cheesy with Brad and Henry arguing back and forth the way they are.

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Word!!

Posted by: maggimae
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 21:41:38 2009
Message:
I love Henry and I thin Trent is doing a great job as he does with any SL he is given.

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Anythig Henry does is great, IMO..he's really good !!**

I adore henry's, one lines, his nickname for brad

Posted by: Roxie
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 21:39:42 2009
Message:
I was hoping it would be more like the movie ''Ghost''. Now that would have been OK. But they've really overdone it with Henry trying to convince Katie, her not believing him, Brad scaring Henry, Henry looking stupid, etc. I am past ready for Brad to ''go into the light''. It's just boring now.

Posted by: dandyfop
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 20:52:30 2009
Message:

It seems like Katie has been wearing that headband and yelling at Henry for days.

Enough already.

Posted by: Oakdale Oldtimer
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 20:07:39 2009
Message:
I've enjoyed it, and no one is more surprised than I am about that. I'm not a big fan of dragging paranormal stuff into a show that is supposed to reflect reality--albeit a very warped reality. I'm fine with things like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Stephen King novels, because you go into those knowing that you have to buy the idea of a world where the supernatural exists. I expect soaps--with exceptions like Passions or Dark Shadows--to avoid the mythical and the mystical, and I usually hate it when they venture into that territory. But I like Ghost Brad and his interactions with Henry. The story is pretty funny and kinda sweet!

Posted by: daydreamer
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 19:19:30 2009
Message:

They blew it big time. ATWT gave us a great heartbreaking tale of Brad's death & aftermath of Katie preparing to take her baby home & cope without Brad. But the GhostBrad bit, while tugging at our tender heartstrings in the days following the funeral, have turned campy. Henry was ruined for me with Audrey and I think it's so tasteless & tacky to one moment confront us with seriousness of Brad's death then with the very same people have this cartoon storyline. I thought it was going to be romantic like in the film "Ghost". I'm sick of Henry,every other day, trying to convince Katie he can see Brad while she screams for him to get out.

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ICAM. TIIC could not hold the momentum of what was good drama. So now it has become a cartoon storyline featuring the 3 stooges. /mia

Posted by: TC2
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 17:39:10 2009
Message:
I hate it. Leave it to our writers to turn an emotional, powerhouse of a story into a silly mess. Poor Trent Dawson(Henry) he can never seem to catch a break. He moves from one inane story to another.

Posted by: Janie
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 16:33:56 2009
Message:
I dont' mind it. I never had strong feelings for Brad, one way or the other so, I could take it or leave it.

Posted by: Midwest Meredith
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 15:34:02 2009
Message:

I am not totally sure how I feel about it. I hated the idea of it and thought there was no way it would work and could possibly be very cheesy. I have enjoyed it much more than I believed that I would and imo, it is working.. at least better than I had anticipated. I have to admit though. that at least for me it has taken away some of the real emotion from Brad's death. Making Brad a ghost, kind of like Casper the friendly ghost, and having Henry be the only one who can see him, has changed the tone of the storyline from one of real trauma and emotion to more of a comedy. I am not saying that is such a bad thing but, for me Brad's death does not have the same punch it did.

If it drags on for too long it may get old really fast. Right now I am still undecided about it.

Posted by: lizzard
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 15:17:45 2009
Message:
I love the story line. I have always loved Henry and Brad together. I think it is funny and sad all at the same time. While I'm not a big fan of Katie, I am enjoying her scenes too. I think she is nailing the grieving widow. I believe in ghosts so it's easy for me to enjoy the story line. No one knows what happens when we die so I believe anything is possible. I think they are doing a good job with it so far. I know if I lost my soul mate, I would be devistated and I would give anything for just one more time.

Posted by: tweety
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 14:29:14 2009
Message:

I absolutely love it since its the only way I can keep seeing Brad. But I also like it because its different from the other ghost storylines. I like the fact that Henry can see him and Brad's searching for answers. I hope Katie will be able to see him soon.

Posted by: lifetimeviewer
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 14:26:12 2009
Message:

I don't like it. We've gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. The initial story of Brad's death and the subsequent fall out and grief were great. The acting was awesome and I for one could almost feel the anguish of those left behind.

Now we are subjected to this almost slap-stick like storyline of Brad's ghost. It is beyond insulting and a waste of talent.

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I feel this storyline would work if it was just about brad the ghost and katie, it could be very haunting and beautiful. Henry should be in his own Sl with barbara. -cupcake_

Posted by: Johnny
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 14:12:01 2009
Message:

I don't really care for the ghost storyline. They did the same thing on General Hospital with Allan Q. I do miss Brad and think they should NOT have fired him. I liked his character on the show.

Posted by: Patty
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 13:20:41 2009
Message:
I kind of like having Brad around even as a ghost. It has been nice to see him be able to see his son and it was miserable that he died too soon and never got a chance to have a family with Katie. I am one of those that didn't like that Brad was killed off and at least this is something that gives us a gradual parting of the ways with the character. We know he is dead, we know he is not coming back and when he finally goes to the great beyond it will be easier to say goodbye.

Posted by: Mandi
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 13:14:05 2009
Message:

First, I dislike the storyline as it's a frontburner storyline for Katie, who in my opinion, could stand a wee bit more time on the backburner. The show was so enjoyable, to me, while she was seen very little over the summer. That said, I don't care for the ghost storyline because it took away from the intense drama surrounding Brad's untimely death. The scenes featuring Brad, Jack, and Katie were powerful. That would have been a fitting send-off to a character. Instead, we're subjected to mediocre comedy resulting from Henry interacting with a character no one else sees.

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I agree, all the way.tj

I like it because it took away the seriousness and substituted comedy and I don't find it silly or anything.

Posted by: Allison
Date posted: Thu Nov 12 12:55:52 2009
Message:
I enjoyed the humor and surprise of the situation the first couple of days but now I'm ready for Brad to go to the great beyond. He's dead, I'm more interested in seeing what Katie is going to do next with her life.