Wednesday, November 14, 2007

As The World Turns: If at first you don't succeed...

Here’s a summary for Nuke episodes of As The World Turns, both for the weeks of October 31 and November 7 and 8. It seems as though we’re back to only once or twice a week. Ugh.

On the week of Halloween, Noah visits wheelchair-bound Luke at the Snyder farm, Luke is frustrated that he’s in the shape he’s in and that he can’t even do simple things for himself. For instance, he broke a glass and he was furious that he couldn’t clean it up. Despite all the frustration, Noah is doing his best to be there for him. He tries to help him get his mind off of things, for instance, getting him to close his eyes and imagine his favorite Halloween moment, no matter how lame it seems, and in the process, he‘s helping him exercise his legs. Noah suggests that they go in town to celebrate Halloween. They meet there, with Lily wheeling Luke there, but he sends her away because he doesn’t want to be seen being wheeled in by his mom; she understands, and runs into Dusty. Noah and Luke find a table, and Luke wants to get out of his chair and sit at one, and while he tries to get up, he falls. Looks like our brave trooper forgot to put the brake on. And Noah’s facial expression is of sheer horror. When Noah tries to help him, very scornfully he snaps “Don’t touch me!” Noah is crushed and Dusty is seen from behind and they go off and talk. I have to admit, it’s really nice seeing Dusty as the mentor. Luke is now back at the farm again with Lily. She tells him that Noah is just worried and that his reaction was understandable. Heck, he was just embarrassed is all and that Noah will probably know that if he says so. She tells him to call Noah. Luke knows he was wrong to yell at Noah and he thinks that he hates him for it. Noah comes back and Luke is still upset. Luke’s now upset because Noah’s not really telling him how he feels. And when Noah does (about how scared he was during the fall), Luke says that it’s not working and asks him to leave. Wow, didn’t expect a break-up. How interesting though. Now Luke thinks that after an unfortunate moment that Noah doesn’t want to be with him. My, how the tables have turned.

On the week of November 7th and 8th, Luke is frustrated that his physical therapy is not working out for him so far and he wants to give up, and he doesn‘t want to talk about it either. Luke thinks that Noah just pities him and nothing more. But with the help of Lily and Holden, Noah is brought back to the farm. Holden and Lily spar a bit, but Lily insists that they work together. When they find Noah, he’s afraid that Luke wouldn’t want to see him. Go, Lily. She’s not leaving until they talk to him. But Noah realizes that Luke must be worse off than him. When Noah sees Luke again, they talk and Noah says that maybe he needs someone who doesn’t want to fake anything. It’s not pity. Noah couldn’t get him out of his head in the beginning because of what a good guy he was, not because he can walk. Noah also tells him how much he helped him realize and deal with everything in the past and to be a man about it all, and now it’s time for Luke to do the same.

It was tough watching them have another rough period, but at the same time, angst is one of the best things about watching a soap couple. Jake and Van show how good they can act in a conflict scene. To be honest, I was a bit peeved initially by what sparked this whole argument, but looking back at the episodes to analyze them, I’m a bit more understanding of things. Luke is not just putting on a pretty face and just smiling his way through it all; it’s really getting hard and he has to deal with it.

Dialogue-wise, I was impressed with Noah’s speech about why he loves Luke. He still thinks that he’s strong. He appreciates and respects him for how honest he is, not because he’s a man with full use of his own two legs. Luke is living proof of how things can change for the better, despite the obstacles that come their way.

There’s one thing that I’m not getting now. It’s not established clearly where Noah is living. At first I thought he was probably staying at Fairwinds with Dusty’s help, or something like that, but it doesn’t seem that way. When he’s not at the Snyder farm, he’s at a park bench. That is not good. Hopefully he’s not living in a truck.

Interesting things coming soon, today looks to be a really good day for our couple, and next week, Daniel Hugh-Kelly will be returning and Luke will confront the Colonel. As much as I had fun praising Kelly’s acting and bashing the character, I do admit this part of the story still would have been better if he didn’t go on a wild murderous rampage, but, I’m sure the next time we see this fellow, he’ll be in jail where he belongs.

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