Episodes 1-20
It's taken me a little over a week to get through 20 episodes, not because I'm not enjoying the show, but because I've had so much going on.
I am thoroughly enjoying what I've watched so far. Honestly, with so much of the '80s soaps and daytime soaps in my head, I'm not really looking at PEYTON PLACE as a soap. As one reviewer once said: "It's like watching a long and satisfying book." I can now agree with that assessment.
Outside of knowing that book was very scandalous when it was new and that the movie went through multiple censorship changes to be made, I know next-to-nothing about the PEYTON PLACE series.
Despite Dorothy Malone receiving top billing as Constance Mackenzie, I'd argue that the real main character might be Ed Nelson as Dr. Michael Rossi. Constance has secrets I'm sure that are steadily going to roll out of her closet, and I am ready to see what they're going to be. Apparently she wasn't married when her daughter Allison was born some eighteen years ago, and she's kept that little tidbit of trivia about her past tucked away from the nosy busy bodies in Peyton Place. She's very protective over Allison, and she appears to have a history with this Elliott Carson (if that's the name) that supposedly murdered his wife. I'm not sure what's going to become of all of that, but I'm waiting to see it all unravel.
Dr. Rossi is fresh-off-the-train from New York, and he's settling in Peyton Place, where he's taken over the former town doctor's little practice. His nurse, Laura Brooks, just might be one of the most annoying characters on the show. She's just so whinny and so obviously trying to win Dr. Rossi over. In saying that, Dr. Rossi is definitely in the running for being one of my favorite characters thus far. A handsome guy with a level head, he seems to be genuinely concerned about his patients and wants to be a good doctor. He has a past with Constance, having been an orderly tending to her back when Allison was born, and he's set his eyes of wooing her now that he's in Peyton Place. I have a feeling, though, that Dr. Rossi and Constance's budding romance is going to hit the rocks, and sooner rather than later. But I might end up being wrong.
Allison, Constance's daughter, is another character I find a tad annoying. Now, Mia Farrow is wonderful in the role, I just find Allison a little too goody-goody for my tastes. She's been so sheltered by her mother, and she's allowed into her being, which I suppose isn't her fault. I have a feeling that, sooner or later, Allison's going to at least try to break free from Constance and insert her own independence and try to "rise above" Peyton Place.
The Anderson family is headed by George, an alcoholic wife-beater, whose married to Julie, whose convinced herself she's still in love with George. They have a daughter, Betty, who is madly in love with Rodney Harrington. Barbara Parkins is one of the strongest actors on the show, and Betty just might be my favorite character. She is so troubled, controlled, and I feel sorry for her. She gets pregnant by Rodney (although the word "pregnant" is seriously avoided), but the pregnancy ends in tragedy when she and Rodney have a wreck. Betty is talked into lying about still being pregnant by her dad, just so she can get into the Harrington household.
The Harringtons, as one might guess, are the wealthiest family in Peyton Place. Leslie is the father, the head-honcho of Peyton Mills, and he's had eyes for Julie Anderson, who was his secretary at the start of the show. That little subplot seems to have mostly fizzled out, even though Rodney caught them kissing. Leslie is a dictator, and he's married to the emotionally and physically fragile Catherine. They have two sons, bookworm Norman and athletic Rodney. The two brothers can't be more opposite than they are, but I like both of them as characters. Ryan O'Neal (before he met Farrah) was a handsome, good actor.
The younger brood of the show bring on the Method actor feel, while the older cast members fancy their Old Hollywood vibes. I like both styles, and it helps distinguish the generational gap between the older and younger characters.
As I've ended with Episode #20, Catherine Harrington has become the show's first fatality. She has died on the operating table, and I believe Dr. Rossi is going to take the fall for her demise, even though he did everything in his power to try and save her.
I'm ready to see where everything's going to go.
Ask me anything and I'll elaborate.
