Manny's Backwards Marriage

8 . 11 . 99

Well said, Analee!! Never been done is exactly right! I think that an interesting reason as to why they're still so interesting (beside the OBVIOUS chemistry of PAS/JL and their acting abilities) is the fact that Manny went kindof backwards.

Typical young soap couple in the world's smallest nutshell - they meet, there's either an instant attraction or an instant hatred, they go on for months sharing some kind of "look" and then one day, somehow, they kiss. Months later they say "i love you" and maybe around then or later (depending on variables) they have sex. Not until months and months after that and after the typical obstacles and rescues is marriage even contemplated, not even to mention children. Those are all the high points that viewers are supposed to anticipate and wait for, and usually in that kind of order.

But then there's Manny - backwards and perfect. They meet, they're not exactly enemies, but they're not really friends, viewers see attraction and chemistry, as does Danny, so he kisses her (twice!) somewhat surprisingly. No room for anticipation there, it just happened! Then, he has to kill her. Woah! Didn't see that coming! Then bang! zoom! They're married. Huh? What? Where's the dating?? Where's the angst of wanting to be together but something pesky getting in their way? Not there! They live together already. Woah! That's not supposed to happen for, like, ever! Mass confusion ensues! And then they fall in love? And then they have sex? Wait a minute!! And then a month later they're talking about children and birth control!?!? Hey!! You're throwing my little clean soap couple timeline out the window and down the street! Sounds a little out of order to me! :)

My point being that Manny has spun our lives "out of control" and has caused some long-term soap viewers (including myself) who used to be able to write a daytime romance with our eyes closed, to question what's coming next. They're not formulaic and they're not predictable. That's one of the reasons I love Manny so much. They're a breath of fresh air in an incredibly stale daytime medium. Thank you, GL! Thank you PAS! Thank you JL! And thank you Mr. Conforti! You've made daytime special again. :) Thanks for your post, Analee. I've been wanting to say that for a long time. *g*

Candy