General GL discussion thread #1 (was: "Guiding Light - Otalia....")

OH. MY. EFFING. GOD.

I don't even watch GL but, I've been watching Otalia (esp. since I love me some C.C.). And, I am so beyond excited and happy with this storyline. It's delicate and thoughtout and just... perfect. I can't wait for Monday. I really hope GL is going there because it certainly seems like they are. This could be epic. And, for some reason I still have faith despite AMC trying to beat all hope out of me.

 

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~It means pride.~

ya I know I've been waiting for this. It's crazy

1. we have bianca & Maggie in AMC

2. Olivia / Natalia (Maybe) In GL

3.Debbie / Jasmine In emmerdale

4. Sarah / Zoe In hollyoaks

5.a gay cop in Home and Away

6. Nuke On ATWT

7. gay guy on coronation street

8. Gay guy on Eastenders

9. Gay guy on emmerdale

What's going on ?? this is awesome

and those are just the ones I watch and know about

A rich and well-written love story is being built between the characters Olivia and Natalia.  It's been in the making for over an year, and an important milestone will occur this week. Oh, I can't wait!!

Crystal Chappell is an amazing actress.  I think she is enjoying some improv acting with her non-verbal communication and humor, and she is making this show rock!  She stares at Natalia for that little extra second and she makes me totally melt.  And she is putting sexy back in GL and I am so hooked now.  I commend CC for taking on this role with Jessica Leccia.  If GL has the balls (no pun intended) to go there with this storyline, the ripple affect on Springfield will be worth watching.  The GL writers have provided depth and amazing attributes in this storyline.  It is worth a watch or at least a DVR recording to check it out.  All I can say is hot, hot, hot, and sexy, sexy, and sexy.

Its been so long since Guiding light has had a great story line that makes me want to run home from work every day and watch it! but lately, I am LOVING the Otalia storyline. It has had a slow build up for months now, but I actually enjoy the slow build up. its much more realistic. The writers have done a great job with this so far...i really hope they continue to pursue this amazing story!

Get on that feedback line...e-mail them today...let them know you liked what you saw and want more. Tell them we are watching because of this storyline...viewer response is critical. They need to hear the positive far out number the rest.

 Guiding Light- 866 - 695 - 1859 (You don't have to leave your name)

E- Mail: audsvcs@cbs.com

Letter Rip: gl@cbs.com

What's their backstory? Why does the little girl have 2 mommies if they arent' gay? I've never watched Guiding Light. I've been an ABC soap girl my whole life.

Here is a video I found that shows what is happening this week - including the "My Two Mommies" presentation:

Otalia

The backstory, as I have garnered from youtube is as follows:

Natalia was married to a man named Gus. The love of her life (though I seem to recall him as being with Harley... anyway)... he died in a motorcycle accident.

Olivia was Natalia's enemy (they are day and night... Olivia is a rich bitch, ambitious, etc and Natalia is a simple, down to earth, sweet but bland sort ... or was), but Olivia needed a heart transplant.

Natalia gave Gus' heart to her "enemy." From there the relationship developed. Olivia tried to hire Natalia as her assistant, and both came to realize that Olivia truly needed Natalia, and came to trust her as she did no one else. Natalia nursed Olivia to health, took her into her farmhouse home (Olivia and her daughter lived in a posh hotel, like all rich bitches on GL), and gave them both a home.

What I like in what I have seen is the way these two act as partners. The chemistry between Olivia and the original Buffy Bot's doppelganger (sorry, I think she looks like the robot from Buffy, though it does not appear she was, per imdb.com) is very good.

Maybe someone who has watched more can fill in more gaps.

http://www.youtube.com/otaliafans

http://z8.invisionfree.com/otaliafans/index.php?

You can find all the info and back story at those two links.

I really am confused by the "relationship"...

Why do they refer to each other as both mommies, if they are not in a relationship?

Just a quick thought..

because Emma sees them that way. They have formed a family and it works for them. I think they are falling in love and have been but without a name to put to the feelings. They have that now, or at least Liv does at the moment, so it's time for the self-reflection to begin.

I Tivo'd the show and I saw some youtube clips today. Can you not say "Lesbian" on Guiding Light? The kiss seemed overboard to make a point, but that's classic soap logic. I don't get The Gay from their interactions. They're really close and they have chemistry but I just don't think it's lover chemistry, but I'm not particularly invested nor have I seen  them from the beginning so what do I know.

I'm just so tired of all the coming out angst on television and movies;however, Guiding Light will get my Tivo support, but I don't think I'll actually watch it. I can already see The Gay Panic phase starting and I'm just going to skip that. Ya'll let me know when something interesting happens.

There really is no chemistry, it is a roomate situation.  There was no need to even bring up the second mommie thing.  I would have loved to see some Harley & Olivia action.  THe chemistry would be overwhelmingly amazing.

My two cents..

There's been chemistry from the beginning. But, of course, should we define "chemistry"? Perhaps it is a standard with no bright-line rule. In the eye of the beholder.

IMO, maybe Harley twenty years ago, but not the sqwawky worn-out mother/wife she became before she left.

Natalia gives as good as she gets from Olivia. That says a lot because Olivia is a force of nature!

Just finished watching the youtube clips and while i have no illusions about where this couple is headed, I am nevertheless captivated by them. I used to watch AMC and saw that unravel. Have not been back since Bianca flew off to France.

But this has been a joyride. The actresses do indeed have chem and much credit goes to the writers. Nice slow but progressive build up.

 I must say CC KO'd me with her consistant performance. Fascinating. I remember seeing her some years ago in a clip or two from GL and was struck by her physical resemblance to Mariska Hargitay.  Thought she was hot.  Still do. She reminds me a lot of Nancy Grahn in her Santa Barbara/GH heyday. Riveting.

The actress playing Natalia is good. I found myself caring about her almost immediately.

Don't think they'll go much further with this couple but even if they do "straighten'' them out I hope they keep their friendship in tact. Maybe make them the "Kenlee" of Springfield. But without all the histrionics. It worked on AMC but Otalia needs the balance. Natalia the straight man, so to speak, to Olivia's punch line. 

BTW, "Emma' is just too adorable for words.

  

 Maybe Spoiler

The Olivia character is feeling something more. Today's ep pretty much confirmed to me that nothing would happen, but it also showed that Olivia wants something to happen. Loved the end when she is eating dinner alone.

je suis tombee amoureux de moi meme et j'ai une liaison avec toi chaque jour.

Be sure to be visible!

Vote for Otalia here:

http://www.soapoperadigest.com/snap-poll/

Today's episode illustrates that this storyline is NOT just going to go away.  The writers have been building something here and we are coming up on sweeps, a time for all couples not just lesbians to consumate relationships. 

Vote Vote Vote.  And tell a friend. 

 

(avi by smartyshortie)

Its either a tease which will result in them saying that they are just close enough to do that with out it meaning anything (DOOL). or one of them is crazy and will try to kill the other, but not before being killed herself by a crazy trans person with abandonment issues (Passions). I'm mostly joking but I do hope it works out in a not so sloppy way that will be beleivable and fun to watch.

I must not get invested in this couple.

I must not get invested in this couple.

I must not get invested in this couple.

 

I'm repeating this because I just can't get optimistic here people. I'm not a big follower of soaps, but from what I've seen of this storyline on youtube, it's fantastically organic and refreshing, and real. Alot more than I would expect from a daytime soap. And wow, the actress who plays Olivia is freakin' amazing. 

But I just don't see the stars alining on this one. From what I've heard, GL could be canceled any day, the actress who plays Natalia is preggers and due in June (of course she is), and well.... I've just been burned too many times with possible lesbian storylines to get my hopes up anymore. 

 

 

 

It's really a brilliant move for GL to have the couple dealing with the homophobic reactions and lashing out from townspeople and family alike even before they are a couple. It forces both Olivia and Natalia, as well as the audience members, to deal with their issues when the issues don't even apply.

By the time they actually become a couple it won't be a big deal..for anyone. I can't applaud the GL writers enough for this development. After they allowed the audience to view Otalia through Emma's innocent eyes they are now forcing people to see them through the filter of homophobia and how silly it all is.

"It's a loving home." Olivia said to Alan as he railed against the environment his grand daughter was being raised in. "Even Emma is mature enough to recognize that." Yes, it is.

In a recent interview, Crystal Chappell said she loved the way the story was being told because it was allowing the audience, without even realizing it, to become invested; not forcing them to work too hard, just watch and enjoy. It's a beautiful, emotional, organic journey; one that has never been told quite this way on any show, daytime or primetime. I can't wait to see where it leads.

I think it is hard to be optimistic when we've been burned so many times when it comes to lesbian stories, but nothing about this has been a conventional "gay" story. There are surprising twists and turns all the time along the way, and the twist of them dealing with the town's reaction before anything even happens is brilliant as bleedingroseca said and very unusual. 

The writers have been incredibly committed to these two for over a year now, and I don't think they will back out now. And watching Crystal Chappell (Olivia) portray all those conflicted emotions is amazing. I think it will be a fantastic ride for however long it lasts and at the end, I think they will be a true supercouple.

Oh, yes, Otalia are a supercouple in the making. Get on board the Otalia train! This story is gonna be the love story of daytime! All the critics love it. The fanbase is growing. Catch up on the story with youtube Otalia channel while partying on the Otalia train. It's getting crowded in here!

I've been tivoing the episodes but haven't seen them in the last three episodes.  What happened?

OMG, Olivia is so in love with Natalia and she knows it! She's totally lovesick. It's good stuff. Crystal Chappell is a goddess!!! Natalia is not far behind, but she doesn't know it. I mean who could resist Olivia?

Like some of the other posters above, I am impressed by how GL has handled this storyline. 

I was especially impressed yesterday with the story involving Springfield's mayor. She's clearly using Emma's report for her own political gain, even saying "it's not personal, I have gay friends." Who does that sound like? (I'm thinking of Rick Warren, the most recent offender).

This is one of the things that soaps do best: they can explore the nuances and ramifications of "social issue" storylines more than prime time because they have more episodes to do it in.

I'll take the advice above and write to GL about how great I think they're doing. 

I wondered how the Doris press conference thing would play.  It sounded so over the top - a PRESS CONFERENCE for godssake!  But it actually worked in context.  Doris was totally grasping at straws trying to find SOMETHING to stir the pot and get her recognition.  This was purely a "look at me" ploy on her part. 

 

But the tone off CC's voice yesterday when Nat tells Liv "I like our living arrangement."  CC's Liv replies "Me too."  And the ice cream in both their hands melts from the heat.

Wow. This is one hell of a storyline here folks.

You can get caught up at OtaliaFan's channel on YouTube.

AE should be covering this couple extensively.

Gosh, I just love this storyline. The two actresses are amazing. The chemistry between them is so intense. Yesterday's episode felt so real. I love it, I love it, I love it:)

When I first caught up with them I watched all the scenes I could find of them and forgot everything I was supposed to do on that day. It is really highly addictive. So be careful!

Thanks to Crystal Chappell and Jessica Leccia for the fantastic work and thanks to the writers at Guiding Light for the wonderful slow build-up of this story. I can't wait to see what you have next in store for Olivia and Natalia!

Please, AE can you cover them more!? Thanks.

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It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new life. And I'm feeling good.

I think my favorite moment from last week was actually between Natalia and Frank.  Well, Frank was just a prop, the moment was all Natalia.  Two things happened, she was waxing poetic about all things "nice" regarding Frank and was about to say he was the only one that stood by her and then, boom, Olivia popped into her head and she had to stop.  She knew it wasn't true. 

Once, Olivia was on her mind the entire conversation changed for just a brief moment, where Natalia was being the most honest with herself that she has been thus far.  She told Frank that she hoped he would continue to stand by her in the future and that he wouldn't regret it.  He immediately thought of Rafe (and her role of mother which she uses to asexualize herself.) BUT, the kicker was the way she said looking him square in the eye, (something like), "I'm not talking about that." 

You have to see it to really appreciate it, because like SO much of this storyline its being told in the non-verbals.  They talk about not being a couple and about their kiss not "counting", but that is not what their non-verbals say.

 

(avi by smartyshortie)

And she touched her lips at the thought....

ah, but it was too much for poor Nat to bear. She is not ready yet, but she is on the verge. This is so nicely played.

The kiss "not counting..." oh that was so tragic wasn't it? You could feel the hurt as Olivia (who couldn't face Nat as she said it) said "so? you kissed me too!" And when Nat said it didn't count... oh, my heart broke for Liv.

Tomorrow and Friday our girls will be on - and it is going to be very good! I hope everyone tunes in to see this - it is just such a well-crafted story. The performances are excellent.

When Liv snarked, "you kissed me too."  My jaw hit the floor.  That's like a line out of fan fiction.  I still can't believe they actually gave her that line to deliver.  Somewhat makes me wonder if CC ad libbed on that one and they kept it in.   

(avi by smartyshortie)

They won't be on again til tomorrow. But it looks like it will be good!

I don't think CC adlibbed the line, but I do think that she and JL are doing an excellent job in adding some more non-verbal cues as to the impending couplehood.

Liv cannot look at Nat without checking out her lips!

And CC has dropped a few smaller bombs in interviews. She clearly has an idea as to where the couple is headed, though she may say otherwise in interviews. She has plainly stated that it is a love story, but her interview on CBS, she teasingly made comments about ANOTHER female co-star's kissing ability. She knows her audience, and I think she is doing more than pandering. CC seems to like where things are going.

Loved the last ep!! I've said it before & I'll say it again...Crystal Chappell is a Goddess! Is Monday here yet!?