Rewatching Knots Landing

[Karin Schill]

Oh yeah he definitely was. One one hand he loved Val and he didn't want to move on since he'd feel like he'd be cheating on her (which was exactly what he ended up doing) and on the other hand he needed someone and Kate was there. He didn't want to take advantage of her but she wouldn't take no for an answer so he tried to convince himself that he could fall in love with her but it didn't work.

Despite the loopholes I am really glad that Val came back and Abby too. Although it was never really addressed what her role was in Val's kidnapping. Did she know about it?
Her partner apparently was behind it. So are we to believe he never said anything to Abby?

So tonight we reached the end of our Knots Landing re-watch with "Just Like Old Times Part II".
(or almost end since there is of course the reunions to watch)

Anyway I think this episode wrapped up things rather nicely and gave us an over all happy ending to the show that we've been following for so many years. So as a fan I was mostly happy with the way things ended.

Gary and Val were back together with their kids and Gary even said his old line "Give us a kiss". I love the scene where the twins are reunited with Val and how Betsy knew instinctively what it was even before Gary told them. So sweet.

I also love how Karen and Mack got into an argument about their relationship and then ended up kissing and making up since they are not an old married couple. It was so them that it made me laugh.

I think Kate got what she deserved when Gary told her Val was back. I couldn't feel sorry for her. It's also interesting how she told her mom she wishes Val had never returned and yet when she is faced with Val she tells her she is glad she is back. That conversation was so awkward. But I don't agree that Kate didn't get a good ending since she was going to go back to school. I think that would have been a good thing for her considering that she was still so young. So at this point it's easy to imagine that Kate has learnt her lesson from her relationship with Gary and will head back to school where she will meet someone new who will be the right man for her. Since obviously Gary wasn't it. She never would have gotten burnt if she hadn't been so pushy and she realized it herself. I like how she and Val exchanged polite words at the end though. There was no bitterness, no hostile feelings since they both wanted what was best for Gary and the kids.

I loved Abby coming back and trying to take over the Sumner group. It made sense that she was behind that one. I like how she tried to black mail Greg and he blackmailed her right back. I think the two of them were a perfect match in some ways.

Vanessa killed Treadwell to save Nick's life and got away with it since it was self-defense. Good riddance.

Anne and Nick was leaving together to go to Europe but Claudia showed up making it look more like a triangle than a happy ending for Anne and Nick.

Paige was going to marry Tom until Anne told her to follow her heart. *sigh* I remember the first time I watched this I was so annoyed that she ended up with Greg since he was not right for her. I wanted her to marry Tom. What sucks is we didn't even get to see the scene where she told Tom that she wouldn't marry him. There just was no scene between them at all this episode.

Then as for the final scene. I love it how a newlywed couple moves into Laura's house since the show has now come full circle, considering that in the first episode the newlyweds were Gary and Valene. Also Abby moving back into her old house. I loved Karen, Mack, Val and Gary's reactions. Val like walking up to her man showing Abby that "back off, he is mine and I am not going to make the same mistake again."

The show then close on Karen's face. I wonder who got the first scene of the show?
I can't seem to recall it right now.

But yeah the show got a happy ending and as a fan I am pleased. Now I just wish that Dallas would have gotten the same kind of closure. I think it's always better when long running shows know in advance that they won't be back so they are able to wrap up their storylines in a way that is satisfying to their loyal fans.

 

[Karin Schill]

Also since we've reached the end of season 14 here is my thoughts of it.

I loved:

- That Val didn't die and came back at the end.
I love that Gary and Val got their happy ending since they were the only couple who started out together that ended up together. So in many ways they were the couple of the show.

- That Abby came back for the end.
I have missed Donna. It was fun to see Abby up to her scheming ways.

- Tom Ryan coming back.
I do think he was the one who got away for Paige. I think the reason I think that is because Greg ruined their wedding. Otherwise they would have gotten married.

- Karen and Mack reconciliation
They belong together. Pure and simple as that.

I liked:

- Anne and Greg's marriage
The two of them were entertaining to watch together as they sort of deserved each other.

- Karen visiting Diana in New York
Diana seems to have grown up. It was nice to see Karen being on better terms with her after all this time.

- Anne and Nick
I always liked them.

- Claudia and Nick
They worked too as a couple. But I don't understand why she would want to be with him considering that she knew what a theif he was from the beginning. It wasn't even that she loved him. So it seemed rather dumb.

- Mary trying to get visitation rights to Meg
It provided an interesting plot for Karen and Mack. It didn't fit with what we knew about Laura previously but I buy this retcon since it added good drama.

- Mack being arrested for Mary's murder
This was also a good plot. I like how it alienated Karen and Mack and brought Tom back to the show.

- Paige, Claudia, Karen & Mack running the Sumner Group
This is an interesting set up. I just wish they had done more with it as the potentials for conflicts were great.

I disliked:

- Vanessa
The character overstayed her welcome. I thought we were rid of her early on but then she came back and she even managed to make Nick and Tom boring!

- Treadwell
Boring character, boring big bad.

- Gary moving on so fast with Kate after Val's "death"
I think I've already said everything that needs to be said about why I didn't like this pairing.

Over all I found this season a bit dull. I missed Val a lot as the show was not the same without her. I also think it was noticable that the show was suffering from budget cuts since the main cast took turns being in different episodes and ended up missing at certain times. They did their best to work around it but it was still noticable. So this was the worst season of Knots Landing IMHO and it was time to wrap it up and let go.

But the show have had a great run and I applaud David Jacobs for creating a "spin-off" that ended up running one season longer on TV than it's parent show. That is really an accomplishment.

 

[Karin Schill]

I just realized something else. In the scene where Gary and Valene are talking he tells her something along the lines of that he's never loved anyone like he loved Valene and that means that they have come full circle too since that's what Valene told him in "Reunion Part II" as they were saying goodbye.

 

[Daniel Avery]

The show then close on Karen's face. I wonder who got the first scene of the show?
I can't seem to recall it right now.

Sid was seen driving up into the cul-de-sac. He emerged from his car obviously sick with a cold/flu/something. Laura is in her yard and asks Sid if he's still feeling badly or something equally innocuous, and I believe he sneezed or something as if to answer her question. Laura said something to the effect that he should go inside and go to bed so Karen could make him some soup or something. I believe we saw Gary and Val's moving van/helpers moving stuff into the house but the Val/Gary/Bobby scenes came after the Laura/Sid scene. I may be remembering out of order, though.

 

[Karin Schill]

Okay so tonight I watched "The Block Party"...

I think it was an interesting documentary that is a product of it's time. It relied heavily on clips from the show and I guess if you have followed the show for 14 years and haven't watched those scenes in reruns since it is a great way to go down memory lane. But if you've rewatched the show recently in like 1 ½ years time you do remember all of the scenes well since you've just seen them and they don't have the same impact on you. Yet I will give them this, they chose excellent scenes to showcase the show. All of them were memorable.

I think it's touching somehow that a father had learnt from Knots Landing not to beat his son and told Kevin so. That's when TV can make an impact and change people's lives for the better.

It was great to see Constance, Lisa and Julie again.
Watching the actresses made me realize how much I have missed their characters since they left the show. Constance did let us know that it wasn't her choice to leave and that she wasn't prepared for it. I think it's sad that they let her and Julie go due to budget cuts. They did leave a whole in the show that couldn't be filled with any of the new characters.

I could tell that parts of the documentary was scripted since the actresses were obviously reading voice overs that would fit with the clips that they were showing.

On a couple of occasions I could hear airplanes going over the cul-de-sac in the background.

It was a nice touch to have the voices of the fans who had watched the show and some of their comments sprinkled in with the cast and clips. I wish we had gotten to see a bit more of the interviews though as it would have been interesting to hear more what the cast had to say about their experiences on the show. As it was now they just scratched the surface a little bit. But I guess there wasn't time for more.

Loved it how Jacobs wanted to do art and Filerman wanted to do trash. I guess Knots Landing is a bit of both!

Finally on a whole I think it shone through that the cast and also the producers were grateful for everything the show had given them and also sad that Knots Landing was going off the air since that meant they wouldn't get to see each other that often anymore and yes that's always sad when something that's been important in your life is coming to an end.

 

[Willie Oleson]

Over all I think the first half of the season was still good. But the second half really wasn't so this was when the show started to get bad...

That's how I feel about season 13, but I got the impression that most fans prefer the second half.

 

[Seaviewer]

Val's kidnapping. Did she know about it?
Her partner apparently was behind it. So are we to believe he never said anything to Abby?

I had the impression that Abby had left Treadwell in charge of certain projects while she was busy with other things. It seemed odd that he was suddenly fearful of her after all he had done but maybe she had something over him.

the twins are reunited with Val and how Betsy knew instinctively what it was even before Gary told them. S

I liked how Betsy always believed that her mother was alive the same way Val had believed the twins were alive when everyone told her they were dead.

I think Kate got what she deserved when Gary told her Val was back. I couldn't feel sorry for her. It's also interesting how she told her mom she wishes Val had never returned and yet when she is faced with Val she tells her she is glad she is back.

I think she was genuinely conflicted. If I remember rightly, she was ashamed that she wished that about Val. It's possible to feel that and still know that it's for the best.

Abby moving back into her old house.

It didn't occur to me that Abby was actually moving back. She calls it Claudia's house and remarks that it's for sale. I thought she was just teasing them until I saw the reunion.

But all in all, I still count it as the best series finale ever.

 

[Daniel Avery]

I liked how Betsy always believed that her mother was alive the same way Val had believed the twins were alive when everyone told her they were dead.

Imagine if Karen had not found the twins, and they remained with the Fishers--would Betsy have gone for all those years yelling "You're not my real mommy! I want my real mommy and daddy!" every day and night? THAT would have gotten annoying after a while.

 

[Karin Schill]

I am sure it would have. I am so glad that the twins were found though. They belonged with Val and Gary.

That's how I feel about season 13, but I got the impression that most fans prefer the second half.

Glad that I am not the only one who thought that about season 13. It really was better before the "re-tooling".

I liked how Betsy always believed that her mother was alive the same way Val had believed the twins were alive when everyone told her they were dead.

But all in all, I still count it as the best series finale ever.

Oh I agree. It definitely is one of the best ones I've ever seen!
Although I must say that Friends also had a really good ending.

You are right about Betsy and Val. I like it too how they wouldn't give up on each other.

Okay so tonight it was "Back to the Cul-de-sac part I"...

Loved the opening credits with the old clips. Yikes it's been 18 years since the show first came on the air and it shows. Even the kids looks older now.

Poor Peggy not getting paid for 5 weeks. It can't be easy working for Mack when he's having yet another mid-life crisis.
I've heard about the seven year itch before but not the 15 years one. I feel bad for Karen and Meg that he's left them again.

Poor Meg found out that Greg was her natural father the exact wrong way. I guess she's like 13 now. Also too bad they changed the actress. Meg always had Laura's red hair. Now she doesn't all of a sudden. Kind of like Bobby and Betsy went from being very blond to light brown hair.

I loved the anniversary party though and how everybody was there. It was nice to see Ginger, Michael, Olivia, Diana and Brian again. It makes sense that the kids would be there for the party.

I am not surprised that Paige left Greg because she wanted to have a child. Their relationship was clearly a dead-end-road.

It was sort of funny how Anne just came back and moved back in with Greg like if she'd never left. A psychic huh?

Val is getting to know the worst of Hollywood. That writer they paired her with was just awful. Drinking all the time, trying to seduce her and then taking credit for her work. Ugh. I don't know why but he reminded me of Danny. Or maybe I know why since he ended up the same way as Danny.

Then there is Kate with Molly who is four. Poor Val when the penny dropped. It was a complication she did not want or need. Actually Gary was not thrilled either. He told Kate he didn't want more kids. So his reaction was just "Damn!"
Luckily for Kate she's found herself a slightly younger man who does want her and her child. It is nice to see Brian again. Although he looks exactly like David in Beverly Hills 90210 in this one.

However I must say that the best part about this reunion so far is Abby. I love it how she owes back taxes and works with Gary and Karen but schemes with Greg behind their backs and also how she moved in with Karen and asked about the towels. It was just hilarious!

So well to sum up, seems like nothing's ever changes on Seaview Circle...

 

[Karin Schill]

Tonight it was "Back to the Cul-de-sac" Part II...

My favorite part of the episode was how Meg finally got her message from her dying mother. Laura's tape.
Only bad thing was, we didn't get to see it on the TV. Didn't Constance McCashin allow them to use the original tape?

Yet it was nice to see how Meg finally got to know that Laura was her mother. It was touching how she broke down and cried. I also liked how Greg told her that he had always loved her and that's why he wanted Karen and Mack to raise her. It was a touching moment and something that the viewer has waited to watch since Laura made the tape for Meg some 10 years ago. Also Greg rewatching his tape. He still misses Laura. She was the wife he married for love, unlike Abby and Anne.

Val and Gary had some problems too but worked them out on a scene that took place on the beach, where else?
Bobby was acting like a typical Ewing beating those kids at school. I can see a resemblance between him and his relatives in Dallas.

Anne and Greg's relationship puzzles me. Did she and Greg not finalize their divorce?
Because it was like she came back to the ranch and just moved in. Just like she never left and Carlos still referred to her as Mrs. Sumner.

Of course Abby's plan backfires on her but she still lands on her feet when Greg offered her to handle his business in Thailand.

The story with the guy who messed up when he was going to steal the document doesn't really fit with what we knew about Abby in college. I mean her story with Charles. Also Karen knew Abby in college. Oh well at least she hasn't lost her skills to mess with a car engine.

Karen and Mack kiss and make up too.

And then we reach the end where Kate is pregnant with Brian's child. Karen has about two minutes to gloat that Abby will be a grandma before Michael shows up and reveals that she is going to become a grandma too! Hilarious!

Gary and Val does a high five behind Brian's back. Yet in my mind I can't help but wondering if they aren't already grandparents at this point?
I guess it depends on if Lucy's had a child born in the 1990s. I think it's quite plausible that she has although it's something we don't know for sure as it was never addressed on the new Dallas if she had any kids.

Anyway I love that it once again end on a happy note.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Only bad thing was, we didn't get to see it on the TV. Didn't Constance McCashin allow them to use the original tape?

That whole situation left a mark on this TV-movie (some would say it left a "big, black dot"). Though Constance McCashin was compensated for her performance when "Laura" made those videos, the performances became the property of the producers. However....if the producers want to take a part of an episode (in this case, the videos Laura made) and use them to produce a new project (this TV-movie), they have to ask the permission of the actors involved, and if the actors need to be "convinced" to say yes, then the producers may negotiate some kind of payment. It was said at the time that they went to McCashin to ask permission and she said they could use the material--if they would foot the bill for her daughter's college. I'm still on the fence as to whether she was serious or if it was just her way of saying "Hell no" by making a ridiculously high demand. The producers in 1986-7 had really pulled the proverbial rug out from under her when they fired her while pregnant with said daughter, so maybe she wanted to remind them that firing her that way could have (maybe did--who knows?) adversely affected her pregnancy.

Short version: she'd made an offer the producers could apparently refuse. In most cases where an actor refuses permission, they simply do some script revisions and work around the "missing" material. For whatever reason, they didn't do that--they just put a giant dot over Constance's face when they showed Meg watching the tape, and had some woman who sounded nothing like Constance reading the script aloud. The night that aired, I was baffled by the big dot over her face, the kind of thing the evening news does to hide the identity of a witness in court. "Meg" seemed not to notice the dot, even as she watched the tape, which took me out of what should have been an important scene. This told me that perhaps they had the child actress watch and react to the "real" tape because they assumed they'd eventually come to a compromise with McCashin at some point. When they did not come to a deal, they sloppily (perhaps pissed-off-edly) gave her face the big black dot treatment.

 

[Karin Schill]

The way that they handled her exit is really sad. I think that letting Constance and also Julie go was a mistake as the show was never the same without them.

I never saw the big dot over Laura's face that you talked about though. The way the episode was edited when I watched it they never showed her face at all. We just heard the voice over and reacted to the fact that it sounded different.

 

[Mustard]

I originally thought that Douglas Sheehan's departure was linked to the Season 9 budget cuts too, but apparently he had to really be persuaded to stay on in Season 8, hence why Ben was suddenly given a dark past that season. I think Doug thought at the end of Season 7 that the Ben character had gone as far as he could. He did Season 8, and with the way that Ben left, one had the impression that Ben would definitely be back again, yet he never did come back, probably because of budget cuts. The cuts are clearly going deeper again in Season 12, and then again in Season 14.

 

[Seaviewer]

would Betsy have gone for all those years yelling "You're not my real mommy! I want my real mommy and daddy!" every day and night?

No doubt.

Mack when he's having yet another mid-life crisis.

Yes, I did think that was one too many.

Meg finally got her message from her dying mother. Laura's tape.

something that the viewer has waited to watch since Laura made the tape for Meg some 10 years ago.

Laura actually made a box full of tapes for Meg to watch at different stages of her life. It might have been better if they'd played one meant for her at this age. The new voice might not have been so jarring then either.

The night that aired, I was baffled by the big dot over her face,

The way the episode was edited when I watched it they never showed her face at all. We just heard the voice over and reacted to the fact that it sounded different.

I never saw a dot either. Only the back of the TV set.

 

[Daniel Avery]

I ought to drag out the VCR and rewatch this tape (if it is still in any condition to be watched after all this time). I taped it from the original broadcast* and I recall being scandalized by how poorly they handled this whole portion of the cul-de-sac (not just "notLaura," but how poorly cast I thought Meg was). I can't find the miniseries on YT at all, except for one or two short clips.

* I recall being in the middle of some heavy-duty studying and research projects in grad school around that time. I normally would have just watched it live and been happy, but I was so distracted that I watched it while also taping it, then went back and watched it again to pick up all the details I had been too distracted to notice.

 

[Karin Schill]

I ought to drag out the VCR and rewatch this tape (if it is still in any condition to be watched after all this time). I taped it from the original broadcast* and I recall being scandalized by how poorly they handled this whole portion of the cul-de-sac (not just "notLaura," but how poorly cast I thought Meg was).

Cool let us know if you find it. Also I agree with you about Meg. She was badly recasted.

I originally thought that Douglas Sheehan's departure was linked to the Season 9 budget cuts too, but apparently he had to really be persuaded to stay on in Season 8, hence why Ben was suddenly given a dark past that season.

I think they ruined Ben's character in season 8. The whole Jean Hackney thing was so annoying.
But yeah I also think he decided to leave the show rather than was being let go.

Laura actually made a box full of tapes for Meg to watch at different stages of her life. It might have been better if they'd played one meant for her at this age. The new voice might not have been so jarring then either.

Good point. If the other messages were ever filmed yes it would have made more sense to use one that was for age 12. But since I doubt they filmed the other messages they had to go with what we knew and since the audience was already familiar with that particular video tape message it does come full circle and add a sadness to it.

Okay so tonight we watched "Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again"...

I love this reunion. It's close to 90 minutes of Knots goodies and they even got Alec Baldwin, Julie Harris (then in her 80s) and Don Murray to participate.
Nicholette Sheridan participated too even though she was at the height of her Desperate Housewives (2004-2012) fame at the time which just shows that she never forgot where she came from and the show was important to her. My guess is that the reason she didn't appear with the others when they filmed the group footage was probably due to conflicts in schedules.

Anyway in this special we get to see Michele Lee, Joan van Ark, Ted Shackelford, Kevin Dobson, Donna Mills, William Devane, Lisa Hartman Black and Michelle Phillips get together and reminisce about their time on the show. We get to see Ted & Joan talk about Gary and Val, Michele & Kevin talk about Karen & Mack. Those two were by far the main couples on the show and I loved what they said about their characters and their relationships with each other.

William & Donna also talk a bit about Abby and Greg and being bad on the show. The ladies talk in two groups about fashions on the show and about friendships and being working moms on the show. Abby is credited with hitting that glass ceiling, meaning that she was a woman in a man's world and she made it, which is great. The only sad thing about it is how women in the 1980s were portrayed as using sex to make it. Like a woman (like Abby and Paige) can't make it in a man's world if she isn't sexy and sleeps around. I think in the #me too era that is just wrong on so many levels!

Don Murray's interview sheds some light on why he left the show. It is hinted at that he thought he had a movie career ahead of him. Mack was brought in by the producers to attract a male audience to the show. They needed a guy they could identify with.

I wish they had included a bit more of Julie Harris talking with the group, as although her surprise visit was nice and I loved the cast's reactions to seeing her as it is very clear that she was very much loved by her co-stars, it seems like it was slightly a waste to bring her in and then not let her say much. Especially since they kept this mystery guest for the very last. It was like the audience was waiting for her to show up and then when she finally did the show was already over.

I also think it was a bit sad that they never mentioned Kim Lankford and James Houghton, although their characters of Ginger and Kenny might not be all that memorable they were original cast members and it's like they never appeared on the show at all.

Moreover I really wish they could have gotten Constance McCashin to join them and John Pleshette. I missed those two more than Ginger and Kenny. Especially since Laura was on the show much longer.

Yet I do think this documentary has lots going for it. It reunites most of our favorite characters/cast from the show. We get to see them interact with each other on the cul-de-sac like if they'd never left. We learn some funny facts that we've never knew before like for instance how the network thought Abby was having an orgasm in the hot tub scene every time Richard touched her when Donna in reality was just shivering from the cold water.

We get to see some hilarious bloopers.

We get a music video collage of sorts with lots of hugs and sweet moments from the show towards the end. The song used is "Open Arms" which was the first song Lisa sang on the show. So cute.

The clips and conversations all match each other perfectly in a way that makes me actually wonder about the way this documentary was created. I mean when I first watched this back in 2005 I was totally excited about just seeing them all together again so I thought that the conversations were completely natural. However watching it now I am sure some of it was scripted too, only question is how much?

Obviously the pieces when they were presenting things were scripted then as for the conversation pieces my guess would be that they had gotten some topics that they were going to talk freely around. Like maybe some key scenes or something. But yes the scenes and the conversations about particular storyarcs match really well. I guess it's possible that they taped the conversations first and then dug up the clips to match them in the editing. But it's also possible they were instructed to talk about particular scenes. Either way it's really brilliantly done and I think it shows that the way documentaries are done has evolved since the 1993 one, as I think this one surpasses it.

In fact I love all three documentaries made by the same producers, the 2004 one about Dallas, this one and the Dynasty one from 2006. After those three I had expected them to make one about the final great prime time soap of the 1980s - Falcon Crest too but sadly they never did.

Anyway back to this Knots Landing documentary, to sum up. I think this is a great documentary that is a real treat for the fans to watch.
Only sad thing is it's the last thing on Knots Landing that's been made so now there's nothing more to watch and after 1 ½ years of revisiting the cul-de-sac I will miss watching one of my most favorite shows every day.

In fact next year it's the 40th Anniversary since Knots Landing first came on the air. So I think that would be a perfect time to bring it back on the screen.
I know for sure that I'd love to watch either an other documentary with the cast like this one or better yet a revival of the original show, not a reboot like the Dynasty one, but a continuation like the Dallas one!
But only if they get David Jacobs on board with it, since the key to a revivals' success is to get the original producers/writers on board too. I think that's why the new Dallas (2012-2014) didn't succeed with recapturing the success of the original, whereas the Fuller House one (2016 - ?) totally does and is still going strong after 3 ½ seasons.
So if anyone who works at some tv network in Hollywood would be happening to be reading this thread, (not likely I know but still), please do bring the show back on the air!

 

[Seaviewer]

I ought to drag out the VCR and rewatch this tape (if it is still in any condition to be watched after all this time). I taped it from the original broadcast*

I copied mine to DVD and haven't rewatched since I did that. I think it may be time for another look. It was only ever shown here once but not until more than two years after its US screening so it may well be a different edit.

I doubt they filmed the other messages

No it would have had to be new material but since Constance was not participating anyway they could have put any voiceover on that scene.

watching it now I am sure some of it was scripted

I'm sure you're right.

to sum up. I think this is a great documentary that is a real treat for the fans to watch.

This was never broadcast here but I've seen most of it on YouTube. Frankly, I prefer Block Party. I think they did a better job in half the time.

next year it's the 40th Anniversary since Knots Landing first came on the air. So I think that would be a perfect time to bring it back on the screen.

Can't help but agree with that.

 

[Stillwitty]

Mack and Greg have a great dynamic in Knots Landing. We have Mack who remains the incorruptible crusader, against Greg who has given up all that idealism to become the very corruptible arch-pragmatist. Are they friends or enemies? A certain affection for their old friendship never completely goes away, even when Mack is hating Greg.

The ultimate admiration will come much later when Sumner gives his child to Mack and Karen to raise with what he knows are the correct values even though he no longer adheres to them...

That's cool. I think that's one of the best things about discussion forums like this, that talking to other fans enables you to notice new details about your favorite shows that you might not have thought about before and it opens up new perspectives.

So tonight it was "A Piece of the pie..."

Greg stepped down as senator and took his rightful place as chairman of Galveston Industries. Poor Laura wasn't told before and was pissed off with him.

It was kind of funny to see everyone's shocked reactions to the new of Paul Galveston's death. I mean between Ben's gaping mouth to Mack rubbing his forehead and hiding his face to Gary's solemn face with concealed anger. Yep it was fun!

I guess William Devane must love riding. They've had several scenes of him on horseback by now and he seems good at it too.

Poor Cathy didn't even get a proposal but was just told on the air that she was going to marry Joshua!
Gosh that man gets more and more dominating for each episode that passes by. As a teenager I used to think he was cute. But now I can totally see what a controlling jerk he is!

Oh and Val's twins have been found but they don't know it yet...

Mr Devane is/was a big Polo fan - many scenes of him playing on the series...

Oh yeah I definitely agree with you both about Whitney. They could have done more with her character. But I guess it was all about proving a point and moving on...

Okay so tonight it was "The Long and Winding Road" which of course means that we've finished season six...

This episode was brilliant. From rewinding to the point where Ackerman shot his brains out up until the moment when Val sees her babies but they are still out of reach from her, it was all building up to that moment. The big pay off of the season.

The episode kept moving towards the climax of the season in a subtle way as we were moving closer and closer to the conclusion.

I remember being shocked when Ackerman blew his brains out the first time I saw it. His act seemed so horrible. Sure he was guilty and would have gone to jail but to kill himself?
I was also wondering how Karen would manage to find Val's babies now as she'd worked so hard to locate them and now all her work seemed to be for nothing.

Then Mack breaking into Ackerman's files. It was hilarous in a way how he had left his ID when he was arrested. He clearly didn't want to alert the press.

Ben playing a bagpipe?
I didn't know he was Irish. So that was new to me. Anyway this was one of the funniest scenes of the episode with Ben running away to bail out Mack from jail and not being able to tell Val what was at stake, just that she would be happy. Then Karen calling. Poor Val sure was confused. But yeah it was funny...

Oh and another funny scene. Greg tries to patch up his relationship with Laura and asks her to marry him. But she's already married she tells him. Then he turns around and the police gives him a ticket and tells him he has a nice car.

Then as we reach the end, Mack and Ben finally remembers that they visited the Fishers. That visit was so clearly a plantation for things to come. So they head off to find the babies and Karen brings Gary along. Meanwhile Abby finds Val at the beach and lies to her about how she find out the babies are alive. The strained car ride with Abby and Val when Val insists on listening to the country music on the radio and Abby sighs is so hilarious.

Not to mention Ben and Mack arguing about how to find the house and Mack quipping "You should have let me drive!"
Karen tells Gary "If it wasn't so serious it would be funny" It's like the writer's know they are having a bit of humor tossed in here and it totally works.

All the while you are left wondering who will arrive first at the house and if the Fishers will manage to escape. Eventually Mack, Ben, Karen and Gary gets there first and Karen and Mack goes to talk to Sheila. Gary tells Ben "If those were my kids..."
They keep throwing us lines like that and the audience knows it's Gary's kids and are just waiting for him to find out!

Then Val and Abby arrives on the scene and she tells Gary "Don't ask". Val finally spots her babies and then they drive away and we are left with that freezeframe!

The episode closes and a voice tells us it's the last episode of the season...

But they don't tell us when Knots Landing will be back and when the fall comes it's not back yet. So I write the TV station that broadcast it. No answer. Eventually someone sends in a question about it to a tv guide's Q & A section and it turns out that TV3 has not bought in any more episodes of Knots Landing. So this is it. If you live in Sweden this is most likely how much of Knots Landing that you have ever seen. Because no TV channel has ever broadcast more as far as I know. But if you are a fan like me you have found a way to watch the rest too...

Still imagine being stuck on this cliffhanger for three years?

That's how long it took until I could see more of the show!

Bagpipes are Scottish

Tonight it was "Noises Everywhere Part I & II"...

So Julie Harris left the show in the previous episode and this was Constance McCashin's last episode. I'm really gonna miss these two ladies and their characters of Lilimae and Laura. The show will never be the same without them. Both brilliant actresses.

Anyway now on to Laura's exit...

These episodes are hard to watch so I figured better watch them together as it's the grief episodes. At first everyone gathers at Greg's house to offer their condolances. Karen and Mack arrive first and are followed by Gary and Val who hug each other a long time before going in. Then there's Abby and Richard who also arrives and the seven of them spends time at Greg's to comfort him and help him through this. There is something almost claustrophobic about this episode.

The characters are all dealing with their grief in their own way. Mack gets drunk as a skunk and even lay down in one of the coffins at the funeral home that he went to with Greg to help him pick out a coffin for Laura. Greg handles his grief stoically. I think he is in shock since he didn't truly expect Laura to leave him. He had been living in denial that she would get better and come back home to him. So this is a hard blow to him but he doesn't show much of his emotions. There is a touching moment however when he helps Jason toss one of his toys into the pool. He doesn't scold the boy for throwing his toys. He understands that the boy is angry and offer him a brief moment of comfort. I think the most touching moment comes towards the end when he watches Laura's video message to him. That has me in tears since it's just heartbreaking how his grief finally comes out in the privacy of his own home.

Richard is blaming the others for letting Laura die alone. For letting her down. But I think the one he is really angry with is himself for letting Laura down. He left her. It eats him up inside that she died alone. He is also remembering their time together and he feels bad about being back in Knots Landing. He has moved on with his life and runs a new restaurant and has a new wife and will get to raise his and Laura's boys. He is in a good place.

Val is angry and hurt that Karen didn't tell her that Laura was dying. She feels like people try to shelter her because they think she will break. But she is stronger than they think. There is a rift between her and Karen that is mended towards the end of the episode. Val also cries a lot openly and is comforted by Gary who seems to be close to her all the time. The two of them share confidences and their grief. Gary tells Val that he wants to make a difference. He wants the world to have been a better place for him having been in it. A part of him still feels like a failure and he doesn't listen when Val tries to tell him that he is not. He thinks she is being polite. What he doesn't understand is that in Val's eyes he is not the failure he thinks he is. Because in Val's life he did make all the difference in the world.

Abby is being sarcastic and accidentally steps on Val's toes about Ben leaving her. She finds out that Ben is gone. She tells Val that she would have divorced Ben if that had happened to her. Abby also admires Laura for getting Greg to marry her.

Karen and Mack talk too. He is drunk and his longing to be a father comes out. He has missed out on raising Paige and Michael is Karen's son. He wants to be a father and is attached to baby Meg.

Karen tries to comfort Richard and be the strong one. The one the other turns to with their problems. But she has her own grief and break down crying at Laura's video message. She also spends a lot of time worrying about Mack who's fallen apart and even missed the funeral.

Jill steals Peter's ashes from Greg's coffee table and then spreads them. She confides in Val that she feels abandoned when her brother died. Oddly enough the women exchange a hug. Odd since they are sort of rivals for Gary's love. But I can understand Jill's anger at Paige and why she stole Peter's ashes. He was really her brother and not Greg's.

The show closes on Laura reading the good night story to Meg. The baby can hear her mother's voice but can't feel her presense. It must be confusing for the poor little girl and my heart break for her.

So well that was a wrap on Laura's story. I wish they had shown her actual funeral and the reaction of when people found out that she had died since it feels like we were missing out on that. But except for that it was a superb episode that really got underneath your skin. The grief was raw and very realistic. The actors did a great job and the director, David Jacobs too.

Finally I seem to recall reading an article in TV guide from way back where it said that the actors had been allowed to improvise and go into their characters for a weekend they'd spent together in a house and that a lot of the stuff that happened in this episode was inspired by that acting exercise...

Always wondered if Drunk Mack was part of the improve or not, since it seemed totally out of character.

I know memory can be tricky. I remembered seeing Val being kidnapped and taken into the car. But we never saw her at all. We just saw a blonde woman in a car who Gary thought was Val and then they used the wedding ring to identify the victim excuse again, just as they did with Fallon on Dynasty. Of course neither character were really dead but got a memorial service or a funeral anyway.

Ironically I think more time has been spent on Gary's funeral and Val's memorial service than on some characters that actually died such as Pat and Laura.

Also I am right there with you Daniel, I was thinking that if the woman really wanted to get to know her grandchildren she should have been just as interested in Jason and Daniel. But of course their father is not a millionaire so for some reason I don't see her knocking on Richard's door any time soon.

Last night it was "Love and Death".
So Val is gone and Gary is in grief. The scene where he told the twins was really emotional to watch as they were all in tears. Except maybe Bobby. Great acting on Ted's part!
The little girl who portrayed Betsy, I think her name is Emily, was also really good.

It's interesting how Gary deals with Val's death since he doesn't come apart. He is angry and therefore he tries to throw out her clothes way too early, which is actually a really realistic reaction. Yet if we compare it to early Gary, who tore the place apart and broke down in tears because Val might have cancer and he felt like he couldn't live without her and then called his mama for help, he has come a long way!
Maybe he is being this strong because of the children. He has Bobby and Betsy to think of and therefore he knows he can't come apart. After all he's promised Val a long time ago that if something ever happened to her he would take care of them. So it's time he steps up to the plate.

If I have one complaint with the way they handle Gary's grief though it's how Kate is right there and starts kissing him when he is trying to clean out Val's clothes. That is not being a friend it is moving in on someone who is vulnerable and it's just tacky and in your face. It's like the writer's are giving the middle finger to all the Val & Gary fans out there!

I really don't like Kate and Gary's "romance" so the countdown to the final two episodes when Val and Abby returns have already begun!

Also is it just me or is the show obsessed with older man/younger woman?

I mean there is Greg/Paige, Greg/Linda and now Gary/Kate and a few seasons ago the actress who portrayed Linda was considerd too young for Gary to be Sally's friend and now Kate who looks and acts even younger than Linda is paired up with Gary. Why? Because her innocense reminds him of how Valene used to be? Or what is the attraction?
I don't get it but I guess Gary is not much for being alone and neither is Val. The two of them constantly gets into new relationships when they are apart.

I did love Karen's speach about Val at the memorial service when she called her "the little engine that could". But I miss not being able to see Karen's first reaction to the news that Val was dead.

Oh and what else is there to enjoy this season?

Not much. Paige's new love interest was introduced yesterday and I rolled my eyes and sighed at his arrogance. I remember that I didn't like him much but he was an improvement over Pierce at least. But I still prefer Tom for Paige. He was the one who got away.

Anne confessed to Mack that she is not pregnant. It's too bad for Anne that Mack found Karen before Paige found him or else I think Anne and Mack might have ended up rekindling their relationship and getting married. He seems like her true love. Anyway Anne and Greg got married last night and they are not off to good start since she hasn't been able to tell him she's not pregnant. But oh well I actually do enjoy the pairing of Anne and Greg. Also Claudia with Nick was hilarious the other day when Karen showed up at the door and found Nick opening it in a towel while Claudia was singing in the shower!

But yeah season 14 is by far my least favorite season but at least I know it will end well.

Mack and Anne NEVER would have made it to the finish line - if they had married at 20 or 40. Their core values were far too different. He was a crusader, she was a hopeless narcissist and golddigger. He never could have supported her in the manner to which she was accustomed and would have ditched him for a more prosperous opportunity.

 

[Chase Gioberti]

Also since we've reached the end of season 14 here is my thoughts of it.

I loved:

- That Val didn't die and came back at the end.
I love that Gary and Val got their happy ending since they were the only couple who started out together that ended up together. So in many ways they were the couple of the show.

- That Abby came back for the end.
I have missed Donna. It was fun to see Abby up to her scheming ways.

- Tom Ryan coming back.
I do think he was the one who got away for Paige. I think the reason I think that is because Greg ruined their wedding. Otherwise they would have gotten married.

- Karen and Mack reconciliation
They belong together. Pure and simple as that.

I liked:

- Anne and Greg's marriage
The two of them were entertaining to watch together as they sort of deserved each other.

- Karen visiting Diana in New York
Diana seems to have grown up. It was nice to see Karen being on better terms with her after all this time.

- Anne and Nick
I always liked them.

- Claudia and Nick
They worked too as a couple. But I don't understand why she would want to be with him considering that she knew what a theif he was from the beginning. It wasn't even that she loved him. So it seemed rather dumb.

- Mary trying to get visitation rights to Meg
It provided an interesting plot for Karen and Mack. It didn't fit with what we knew about Laura previously but I buy this retcon since it added good drama.

- Mack being arrested for Mary's murder
This was also a good plot. I like how it alienated Karen and Mack and brought Tom back to the show.

- Paige, Claudia, Karen & Mack running the Sumner Group
This is an interesting set up. I just wish they had done more with it as the potentials for conflicts were great.

I disliked:

- Vanessa
The character overstayed her welcome. I thought we were rid of her early on but then she came back and she even managed to make Nick and Tom boring!

- Treadwell
Boring character, boring big bad.

- Gary moving on so fast with Kate after Val's "death"
I think I've already said everything that needs to be said about why I didn't like this pairing.

Over all I found this season a bit dull. I missed Val a lot as the show was not the same without her. I also think it was noticable that the show was suffering from budget cuts since the main cast took turns being in different episodes and ended up missing at certain times. They did their best to work around it but it was still noticable. So this was the worst season of Knots Landing IMHO and it was time to wrap it up and let go.

But the show have had a great run and I applaud David Jacobs for creating a "spin-off" that ended up running one season longer on TV than it's parent show. That is really an accomplishment.

I hated Vanessa with the fiery hot passion of a thousand suns. Her voice, her face, her acting, her role. Nothing good can be said about her.

 

[Stillwitty]

I hated Vanessa with the fiery hot passion of a thousand suns. Her voice, her face, her acting, her role. Nothing good can be said about her.

Agree about Vanessa. Also the conflict between Mack and Karen that had nothing to do with temptation or ANOTHER midlife crisis, but rather their basic contrast in communication styles and dealing with outside stress: Karen wanted to yell, scream, talk it out; Mack internalized everything and be the strong, silent man. But their basic perfect chemistry won out in the end, as it should...