Peyton Place Peyton Place - some sort of general thoughts thread

[tommie]

They're sort of building up to Allison leaving right now and I have to say that I've enjoyed bratty amnesiac Allison. Also, the hot physiotherapist left after being punched by Elliot.

 

[Willie Oleson]

because I don't want these trial episodes to end

Don't worry, it's never-ending (but very good!)

Also, the wet fart of a character that is Claire is about to end. Good riddance

There'll be a few other weak characters but at least their storylines quickly develop into something great.
Whatever it was that was going on with Claire, it just didn't go anywhere. She only knew what she didn't want and then inflicted that vague and non-substantial suffering on everyone else.
I hate to admit that Peyton Place was flawed, but this was definitely the Big One (imho).

They're sort of building up to Allison leaving right now

We know why Mia Farrow decided to quit, but because it's so beautifully done it kind of feels as if it was meant to be.
It lingers on in my mind and in the story, but I don't think I wanted her to come back. I felt the same about Julia Cumson (one of my favourite FC characters) after she had "died" in the fire.

 

[tommie]

Oh wow, David Shuyster had some very strong parting words for Rodney.

And Betty, you silly goose, you won't learn and you cannot learn to love someone.

 

[tommie]

There'll be a few other weak characters but at least their storylines quickly develop into something great.
Whatever it was that was going on with Claire, it just didn't go anywhere. She only knew what she didn't want and then inflicted that vague and non-substantial suffering on everyone else.
I hate to admit that Peyton Place was flawed, but this was definitely the Big One (imho).

It's sort of interesting, but now that I think about it, I think Rodney's trial did sideline some storylines, notably Claire's and Leslie's supposed scheme to get the mill back (that one of solved by Martin just throwing it out there that he "knew" about it and of course wanted Rodney to move in with him as an exchange for the mill). It makes me wonder if there was some sort of mini creative revamp from early season 2 when they thought up Rodney's trial.

Spring is here again in Peyton Place and it starts with a wedding, which seems like an annual tradition. Only this time it seems like it has the potential to be the marriage from hell rather than one based on bliss.

 

[tommie]

So now we have mysterious blonde lady Ann Howard running around Peyton Place, who also works with children at the hospital, seems haunted by children, stalks Dr Rossi and seems fascinated with cliffs and raging waves.

I like how Betty is finally getting proper ambitions of her own - we haven't seen it since she proclaimed she was "Mrs Harrington" really - and Martin of course thinks she reminds him of Catherine (it all comes back to her, doesn't it?) and probably wants her to marry his grandson Rodney, instead of marrying his son Steven.

 

[tommie]

They're really heavy-handed on the exposition here - Ann has been in town for like two episodes and not only have they revealed all of the above, but the worker at Rodney's new garage has a kid brother who was pushed off the cliff at Elliot Carson's old cottage and got his optic nerves detached (aka he's blind). I'm sure these things do not tie together at all. Nopes, nope.

ETA: wild guess - Ann Howard pushed that mechanic's kid brother off the cliff and she's living with the guilt.

 

[tommie]

Plot twist: everyone accused Ann of pushing the kid off the cliff, but now she's here to clear her name - dun-dun-dUUUuuuun!

So maybe the brother did it.

 

[tommie]

Ann Colby's back... she's here! In Peyton Place!
God help us Hannah!

Ok, that was a twist I didn't see coming. What on earth does Martin and Hannah have to do with the Webber boys accident?

 

[Willie Oleson]

Enjoy the Webbers, it's going to be very, very good!

 

[tommie]

"Ann Howard... is... his... sister!!!!"

It's funny, when Hannah first entered Peyton Place she made no waves at all and I didn't really understand why @Alexis was so taken by her, but by the end of Rodney's trial she's stepped up as the #1 scheming neurotic nutcase.

 

[tommie]

omg the dance-off between Betty and Sandy in episode 227

 

[tommie]

Ok, I'm pretty convinced that Ann and Steven are the illegitimate children of Catherine (it always comes back to her, doesn't it? She's really that bitch, isn't she?) and Hannah was just forced to take care of Steven as her own child to spare Catherine the embarrassment of being a teen mother.

 

[Willie Oleson]

it always comes back to her, doesn't it?

Yep, she is that soap monster in the tradition of Jacqueline Perrault (this also could have worked for Constance Colby).

 

[tommie]

OMG ANN!!!!! Hannah, you witch.

 

[tommie]

Yep, she is that soap monster in the tradition of Jacqueline Perrault (this also could have worked for Constance Colby).

If I wasn't all about having Tori Spelling Crying.jpg as my avatar and signature I would totally change them to Catherine Peyton Harrington.

What an absolute icon to messing up everyone's lives beyond death. And yeah, I'm about 99% sure that she'll be revealed to be Steven and Ann (who didn't take the bus) 's mother.

 

[tommie]

Sooo... Allison just walked out. Supposedly. I'm finally done with season 2 and black and white Peyton Place. I'm a bit scared to enter it in technicolour though.

 

[tommie]

I'll have to admit that when they went "Peyton Place... in color" with the screen fading from the black and white to the wonderful world of technicolor I got a bit of a goosebump.

 

[tommie]

I'll have to say that I was surprised to see Hannah's hair so fiery red; the Peyton mansion living room also surprised me a bit - it's much more vibrant in colors than I expected it to be.

 

[tommie]

Dear TellyTalk, I'm a binging addict of Peyton Place and I just can't help myself...

Either way, I've now gotten to the point where I assume the "Allison replacement" aka Leigh Taylor-Young is introduced - Norman even proclaims when he first sees her legs that "it's Allison!". Very subtle, show.

Also, having started watching Dark Shadows (which started airing in June 1966) a bit I'm slightly amused with how some of the slightly gothic elements from that show seems to have been introduced into Peyton Place - first you had Ann, her fascination with the cliff and the water below which mirrors of course the suicide cliffs in Dark Shadows and now you have Rita and Norman exploring a creepy cottage only to find... the Allison replacement? I don't know for sure yet, but I think it must be Leigh Taylor-Young that's being introduced.

 

[tommie]

Peyton Place writers sure loves their hysterical women, don't they?