Jason73
Telly Talk Enthusiast
I've been enjoying watching episodes of Another World from 1980 so much that I decided why not just fully immerse myself in 80's soap heaven and started watching episodes of Santa Barbara as well. I started with the first episode of the show, circa 1984.
I've never seen the first year or so of the soap. I started watching in 85, I think, after it had been on for about a year. I then watched it until it's cancellation. It's fun seeing these episodes for the first time.
Some first impressions:
Five episodes in and so far there is no Eden, Cruz, Lionel, Julia or Gina. I think that Cruz is the first of those key characters to turn up. I didn't realize Eden wasn't in it from the very beginning.
The current C.C. is the first of three. We are two recasts away from Jed Allen--the quintessential C.C. I'm not liking the original C.C. and hope he gets recast soon.
The original Santana is way more glamorous than the Gina Gallego version that I am used to from my first watch. I'm liking this original version so far, though I prefer Gallego's pill popping, Eden hating, Cruz loving, train wreck version that is to come. Santana has been featured a lot so far. The majority of the plot in these early episodes revolves around the fact that Capwell golden boy, Channing, was supposedly murdered by Joe Perkins. Santana had a secret baby with Channing that C.C. convinced her to give up for adoption and now she's regretting that. I know that Santana's son is actually with Gina who ends up marrying C.C. I can't wait for Gina to turn up. The original version of Gina is played by Linda Gibboney and while Robin Mattson owns the role, I really enjoyed Gibboney's take too.
The teen storyline with Ted Capwell, Santana's brother Danny and Lockridge daughter Laken is the worst part of the show so far. Their story revolves around trying to get a job in Hollywood. It's just dull. I'd forgotten that Missy Reeves was on SB as Jade Perkins, right before she joined Days. I think Jade ends up accidentally making a porno or something like that.
I love Lane Davies and Mason right out of the gate. He was always a favorite of mine. He's currently involved in some sort of cat and mouse game with Santana but I'm not really sure why.
My favorite storyline so far is the star crossed romance featuring Joe Perkins and Kelly Capwell. Joe has been in jail (wrongfully, he insists) for murdering Channing Capwell. His former girlfriend, Kelly, was the one who discovered him standing over the body and testified against him. Joe is released from prison and returns to Santa Barbara determined to find Channing's real murderer and win back Kelly. Dane Witherspoon (Joe) is BEAUTIFUL and also a great actor and Robin Wright (not Penn yet) is luminous and a wonderful actress right from the start. So far it's been a lot of Kelly feeling conflicted about her feelings for Joe and remembering the good times they had, and Joe trying to meet up with Kelly and remembering the good times they had. There's lots of longing stares and 80's power ballads and it's sucked me right in. Kelly is currently engaged to Peter Flint, who hasn't turned into the Carnation Killer yet. Joe is being aided in his quest to find Channing's real killer by the shadowy Dominick---who is going to turn out to be Sophia Capwell in disguise, the presumed dead mother of Ted, Kelly and Eden and C.C.'s ex-wife. (I also think Sophia is Channing's real killer, so I'm not really sure why she's helping Joe . . .)
I'm not sure how far into the series these episodes go. I know there are at least the first 100 episodes. I'd love it if was able to rewatch the storyline that got me hooked on the show: Gina (married to C.C.) disguising herself as Eden and framing Eden for pulling the plug on a comatose C.C.'s life support machines.
I've never seen the first year or so of the soap. I started watching in 85, I think, after it had been on for about a year. I then watched it until it's cancellation. It's fun seeing these episodes for the first time.
Some first impressions:
Five episodes in and so far there is no Eden, Cruz, Lionel, Julia or Gina. I think that Cruz is the first of those key characters to turn up. I didn't realize Eden wasn't in it from the very beginning.
The current C.C. is the first of three. We are two recasts away from Jed Allen--the quintessential C.C. I'm not liking the original C.C. and hope he gets recast soon.
The original Santana is way more glamorous than the Gina Gallego version that I am used to from my first watch. I'm liking this original version so far, though I prefer Gallego's pill popping, Eden hating, Cruz loving, train wreck version that is to come. Santana has been featured a lot so far. The majority of the plot in these early episodes revolves around the fact that Capwell golden boy, Channing, was supposedly murdered by Joe Perkins. Santana had a secret baby with Channing that C.C. convinced her to give up for adoption and now she's regretting that. I know that Santana's son is actually with Gina who ends up marrying C.C. I can't wait for Gina to turn up. The original version of Gina is played by Linda Gibboney and while Robin Mattson owns the role, I really enjoyed Gibboney's take too.
The teen storyline with Ted Capwell, Santana's brother Danny and Lockridge daughter Laken is the worst part of the show so far. Their story revolves around trying to get a job in Hollywood. It's just dull. I'd forgotten that Missy Reeves was on SB as Jade Perkins, right before she joined Days. I think Jade ends up accidentally making a porno or something like that.
I love Lane Davies and Mason right out of the gate. He was always a favorite of mine. He's currently involved in some sort of cat and mouse game with Santana but I'm not really sure why.
My favorite storyline so far is the star crossed romance featuring Joe Perkins and Kelly Capwell. Joe has been in jail (wrongfully, he insists) for murdering Channing Capwell. His former girlfriend, Kelly, was the one who discovered him standing over the body and testified against him. Joe is released from prison and returns to Santa Barbara determined to find Channing's real murderer and win back Kelly. Dane Witherspoon (Joe) is BEAUTIFUL and also a great actor and Robin Wright (not Penn yet) is luminous and a wonderful actress right from the start. So far it's been a lot of Kelly feeling conflicted about her feelings for Joe and remembering the good times they had, and Joe trying to meet up with Kelly and remembering the good times they had. There's lots of longing stares and 80's power ballads and it's sucked me right in. Kelly is currently engaged to Peter Flint, who hasn't turned into the Carnation Killer yet. Joe is being aided in his quest to find Channing's real killer by the shadowy Dominick---who is going to turn out to be Sophia Capwell in disguise, the presumed dead mother of Ted, Kelly and Eden and C.C.'s ex-wife. (I also think Sophia is Channing's real killer, so I'm not really sure why she's helping Joe . . .)
I'm not sure how far into the series these episodes go. I know there are at least the first 100 episodes. I'd love it if was able to rewatch the storyline that got me hooked on the show: Gina (married to C.C.) disguising herself as Eden and framing Eden for pulling the plug on a comatose C.C.'s life support machines.
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