One Life To Live Discussion Group

Topic: Do they really have to revisit this rape stuff again?

JMO-But I am so sick of this rape stuff. There are more things that identify Marty. Yes, we know rape exists. So why tell us about it again? Why do they have to dwell on how she was violently a victim of men? Why don't they focus on what Marty has done with her life instead?

I thought SH would be a very good actress over CC, but at least CC had a life besides  memories. Is this all SH is about?

Marty will have another story, but right now she is suffering from the relatively common affliction on soaps, amnesia.  Todd may have triggered her memory, and thus her dream, intentionally or not, but Marty's dreams are going to become rather active from now on, in my opinion.  She's already dreamed about John, and how long before she dreams about that little creep who is her son?  (Sorry, I just am not ready to cut him any slack.) 

I think in the case of rape, it is possible that it would color everything you ever did or thought for the rest of your life.  While you may be tired of hearing about it, it is a fact, and more or less, has been a common thread for the past 20 or so years.  To gloss over it now would be an insult to those of us who have memories that predate that.  I remember when Marty was not so nice, herself.  Maybe nothing she did is as bad as rape, but if they are working on a redemption story for Todd, perhaps she will actually come to terms with it and forgive Todd.  That is not to say that they should ever be more than nodding acquaintances, but maybe some sort of truce could be worked out.

While I really hate it that Todd is being so deliberate with what he tells her, or doesn't tell her. I actually like that this storyline is building to some wild conclusion.  And, on a soap, it can really go either way.

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She forgave him years ago, & then came back to go on the stand & tell everyone that she forgives Todd but she'll never forget. ...G

I really never saw that so much as 'forgiveness' as doing the right thing. I remember Marty was totally uncomfortable doing what she did, and I never believed she forgave him. eom/sea

Sea, she has told him she forgave him while they were stranded after the plane crash in 96? She was w/Patrick & she was trying to get Todd to forgive Blair for sleeping with Patrick. There is even a scene between Viki & Todd where Viki says to Todd 'I have forgiven you, Marty has forgiven you, it's time you forgave' & Todd breaks in & says..NO don't tell me to forgive myself. That was back somewhere in early 2001..This is just another writer coming in & redoing T&M's past....G

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Posted by: Miss.Bear
Date posted: Tue Aug 19 14:13:40 2008
Message:

I hate this storyline deeply. I hate seeing Marty and Todd in the same room. He raped her and that's it. There can NEVER be anything between the two of them.

I wish Marty would have a storyline other than a rape victim.

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I know I am a minority but I am still anxious to see where this storyline goes with Todd and Marty.

Well Miss B, it seems we now have two things in common..LOL> L.A.

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Posted by: Edward
Date posted: Tue Aug 19 11:54:20 2008
Message:
 I hate everything about this storyline. Every day I'm wondering what's the point of it. It just drags on and on, with Todd screwing with Marty's head over and over again. And I'm sure it's going to have an unsatisfying conclusion, like Marty understanding and forgiving Todd, and he doesn't go to prison. He needs to be beaten within an inch of his life for what he's doing.

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Posted by: ladfan
Date posted: Tue Aug 19 9:45:40 2008
Message:
All I want is for Marty to get out of that bed and leave that house.  But as long as she is held prisoner by Todd, the rape will be at the forefront.  Marty has a life outside of the rape, but she doesn't have anything else WITH Todd.  As long as Todd is involved, it will always be about the rape.

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Posted by: gemini
Date posted: Tue Aug 19 7:50:37 2008
Message:
I think SH is going to kick @ss when Marty finds out the truth about all the lies Todd's telling her. Ohh It's going to be fun.

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Posted by: Rosebud1
Date posted: Tue Aug 19 1:51:34 2008
Message:
You are confusing the actress w/the storyline.  The actors don't write the story, they just play the part they are hired to do.  It isn't about the individual actresses & whether they have lives, but the character of Marty, who DID have a life, but it was very influenced by the GANG RAPE that she lived through.  To NOT have her life impacted by such a violation would be even more insulting than the way the storyline is already playing out!

It trivializes the horrific aspect of rape to expect that her life wouldn't have a long legacy left by such a brutal violation.  For her to find out that the man who led that brutalization was responsible for keeping her from proper health care, her family & friends--not out of genuine concern but his own twisted logic, is only going to further damage her.  How can it not?!

This idea that rape survivors 'move on' & never revisit their rape experience is unrealistic.  It is always there, whether they consciously think about it or not.  Some are more damaged by it than others, but there are aspects of it that never leave them.

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This is a very interesting take on the character of Marty, given your feelings about which is the better version of Todd. If actors only play their parts as written, why do you believe TSJ has no integrity? eom/sea

That is selling rape victims short-to say that they will or refuse to ever recover. Are you saying that they are emotionally damaged and doomed forever, just because of the violent actions of another person? That is saying that the other person has control over their lives forever. That is what recovery is all about-to stop thinking like a victim. The reality is that for recovery, rape victims stop reliving their rape everyday. How else could they get on with their lives? It is unrealistic to assume that they are always stimagtized as a 'rape victim' just because they were raped. People do not become identified with the senseless act that has been perpetuated against them by someone else. -lj

Marty moved on a long time ago. She was shown to not have any problems confronting & being alone in a room with Todd. Todd was the one who was shown uncomfortable with her. Or am I dreaming all of the late 90's?LOL....G

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Posted by: L.A.
Date posted: Mon Aug 18 23:46:58 2008
Message:
I cannot pass up a chance to chime in how much I HATE this entire Todd/Marty SL. It is strictly FF or Mute material for me. I can't imagine how the writers think they can dig out of this stink hole. Except for maybe a 'Loraina Bobbit' ending.

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Ha! ! A Lorain Bobbit ending, Now that would be funny!

I thought you might appreciate that MB. I still think it's the best 'out' for this crap SL!! L.A.

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Posted by: Wanda Wolek
Date posted: Mon Aug 18 21:43:51 2008
Message:
It's not just memories of what some men violently did to her.  It's memories of what Todd - the man who is holding her, comforting her, taking care of her, and lying to her - did to her.  Yes, it's important to replay the rape.  It doesn't identify Marty as just a victim of rape.  It points out that Todd is still victimizing her.

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Yes, Wanda, but what I mean is-who cares? Move toward the future instead of to the past. -lj

I care. Wanda

Certainly there is more to Marty than the rape (IMO, she and Patrick's gloriously romantic love is what I remember Marty for most), but right now, she is alone and vulnerable and at Todd's mercy (or lack thereof), exactly as she was all those years ago. Under these circumstances, the rape must be acknowledged and dealt with. When Todd made the split-second decision to take Marty from the penthouse and keep her identity a secret from those she loves, he never for a moment imagined that he would find himself caring for her and forced -- through his own cruel and short-sighted machinations -- to relive what he put her though but this time in the painful guise of caring friend. I don't know how this will play out, but for now, I'm content to have Todd's nose rubbed in the the brutality and heedless cruelty of his past. Maybe this will wake him up somehow. Marty will survive this, once her memory returns. But will Todd? -- Rhonda eom

But the rape has been acknowledged by both years ago. He has also admitted that he regretted what he did & she forgave him along time ago. He has done many things to try to make up for what he did. We already know he cares for her. He never would have died in Ireland to help her & save Patrick. Plus, they already had the rape talk after the plane crash when he returned. Todd is just being Todd. It's all about revenge...G

G: The thing w/Todd is that he knows when he has done bad things, for the most part, but he can't help himself. He wants to do the right things, but he always screws up. Soap rapists usually do pay for their crime over yrs, even decades. They have lives & every so often something comes back to haunt them from their crime, as it should be. But Todd was hardly some misunderstood kid who was really good, down deep. Down deep, he is a very damaged, twisted individual who is more inclined to repeat his mistakes, no matter how 'remorseful' he may be afterwards. eom

Rosebud, Some feel it's Todd's redemption story, I don't see it that way. This is no different than when he kept Nora from Sam letting everyone think she was dead. This time he found Marty & decided she was a great way to get revenge. In his mind they(The McBain's) took away his kids so he'll keep Marty away from John, & keep Cole from Marty. It's typical Todd. I'm just saying this is NO redemption story for Todd. If it is, then I'll be very surprised...G

G: ABC has been trying to redeem Todd for yrs. RH left a couple of times because of it. TSJ doesn't have the commitment or integrity to stand on such principles. He will play whatever he is told to play & probably has no feelings one way or the other. It is pretty clear that this is 'just a job' for him. He certainly doesn't bring passion or emotion to his performances. ABC has done the redemption of a rapist story many times, this is just one of the worst examples of it. eom

The only way this story leads to one of redemption for Todd is if he finally gets therapy and doesn't just go through the motions. He has to understand that what he did is wrong and make some changes in his life. Not enough to turn him into a goody-goody, but at least enough that he doesn't constantly shoot himself in the foot. And Rosebud, aren't you the one who always says that this is just a paycheck to a lot of actors? Maybe that is what it is to TSJ. And while you don't see the emotion and passion, I do. Different people see different things. Wanda

Wanda: That may be true, but part of the job is being convincing in the role they are being paid to play. I've never bought TSJ as Todd, from day one. He doesn't convey believeable emotions or have any grasp of Todd. I've never seen him give a convincing performance that was worthy of any sort of payment. eom

And I never cared for RH's version of Todd -- he always seemed to be begging for pity -- TSJ doesn't play it that way, thankfully. He makes me understand Todd's motivations -- often bad, sometimes good, but misguided, but never demands my pity or asks to be excused for his rotten deeds. -- Rhonda eom

Rosebud, you are welcome to your opinion, but that's just what it s. You don't find TSJ believable as Todd. I do. You don't see any emotion. I do. As I said before, different things for different people. Wanda

Rhonda: I don't see that in this version of Todd at all! This version has no layers to him, no complexity or shades of gray. With the original writing of the character, he wanted to do the right thing but didn't know how & never got it right. This version has no real motivation or struggle w/himself. This version is all bad, not struggling w/much of anything because he thinks that everything he does is right. That isn't just about the actor, it is about how the character is being dumbed down & perceived by the decision makers who see this version of Todd as interesting, compelling & believeable. eom

Rosebud, by 'wanting to do the right thing' do you mean giving Jack away and telling Blair he was dead; punching Tea; terrorizing Nora when she was blind and helpless; pretending to have DID? I guess that is very descriptive of someone who wants to do the right thing. The fact of the matter, I believe, is that you just can't accept the fact that RH is gone. As far as 'integrity', some might think RH quit (squared) because he didn't get his own way. I believe integrity is doing the job that is put in front of you. It was my opinion that RH thought he was better than daytime and left to try his wings, which were sadly not as strong as he may have thought. I loved RH as Todd, but in my opinion, TSJ actually brings more humanity to the role. It is easier to see emotions with TSJ. eom/sea

Sea, you make great points. RH's Todd also did his share of bad things. I never saw him as someone who wanted to do the right thing, but couldn't. And the examples you mentioned illustrate that. Todd has always been a child who wanted to have his way and consequences be damned. As for why RH left, only the actor knows that. But I think it was to try his luck in primetime. When that didn't work out, he did return to OLTL. I loved his Todd, and I have also loved TSJ's Todd until recently. ladfan

sea, you stated what I see Todd as so much better than I could have. Wanda

Thank you, ladfan and Wanda. eom/sea

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