MovieChat Forums > Knots Landing (1979) Discussion > The Worst Thing That Abby Ever Did

The Worst Thing That Abby Ever Did

posted 9 years ago by Daisies5060
7 replies | jump to latest

Abby did a lot of "questionable" things during her tenure on Knots, but what do you think was the worst thing that she ever did? For me, it was putting the cocaine in Harold's locker.

I get that she was trying to keep Harold away from Olivia. However, by that point, Harold had already proven himself to be not such a "bad" guy. Couldn't she have just let the relationship run its course? She could have put a mark on his record and/or ruined his life, and why? Because he was dating her daughter? For her to screw over her business contacts is one thing. But for her to screw over Harold, just as he was turning his life around, really took it too far.

I'm surprised that Olivia was willing to overlook this and simply use her knowledge to blackmail her mother. If I were in Olivia's situation, I wouldn't let Abby get off that easy. Plus, where the hell did Abby get the cocaine? She claimed that part of her reason for wanting to bring down Manny and his goons was to stop them from getting young people hooked on cocaine, the way Olivia was hooked. And then, immediately after, she went out and supported the cocaine business.

She did a lot of things that were more devastating to the show as a whole, but I think that this was the lowest, most desperate thing she ever did. And it backfired.

(FYI: Abby is my second favorite character on the show. I love every mean-spirited, questionable thing she ever did. I just thought she took it too far here.)

[–] Rajesh_pimp06 9 years ago

LOL Compared to Claudia Abby wasn't that bad. The thing that annoyed me the most was the coming between Gary and Val. Not saying that was the worst thing she did, just the thing that bothered me the most. Abby was a great character no doubt.



[–] MacBook-Pro 9 years ago

Telling that shifty Lawyer Scott Easton that she wished Val's babies were "gone" -- she didn't tell him to steal them but the fact that she was the one that put the scheme into motion made her an Accessory after the fact

[–] radrobd 9 years ago

she didn't tell him to steal them but the fact that she was the one that put the scheme into motion made her an Accessory after the fact

Legally no. The writers had originally planned for Abby to flat out plot to steal Val's kids, but Donna Mills put her foot down saying the audience would never forgive Abby and she'd have to leave the show. Abby wishing something doesn't make her an accessory. She did nothing after the fact to further the crime. She had knowledge but no proof. She tried all seasons to find the babies and did and brought Val to the kids.

I think one of the worst things Abby did was develop Lotus Point behind Karen's back. Originally, Karen and Abby jointly owned an apartment building on the beach. Abby had it torn down to build Lotus Point, but continued to send rent checks to Karen every month, letting her believe the building was still there. Then she got involved with the Wolfbridge Group to get variances to build Lotus Point, not realizing they were the mob and would expect something in return (namely a part of Lotus Point). He shenanigans almost got Gary and Karen killed and got herself kidnapped.

[–] rosemei 9 years ago

Legally no. The writers had originally planned for Abby to flat out plot to steal Val's kids, but Donna Mills put her foot down saying the audience would never forgive Abby and she'd have to leave the show. Abby wishing something doesn't make her an accessory. She did nothing after the fact to further the crime. She had knowledge but no proof. She tried all seasons to find the babies and did and brought Val to the kids.

I think Donna Mills actually said Abby would never steal another woman's children after her ex-husband had disappeared with Brian & Olivia and it took her month's to track them down.
And yes, she did help Val to get her children back, but she could have gotten it done quicker if she had told Gary or Mac right after the phone call. But she would have had to admit to knowing Gary was the twins father.

[–] radrobd 9 years ago

And yes, she did help Val to get her children back, but she could have gotten it done quicker if she had told Gary or Mac right after the phone call. But she would have had to admit to knowing Gary was the twins father.

Possibly. Maybe Mack could have investigated or Gary could have hired a P.I., but it's all speculation. Legally, it wasn't a crime not to say anything.

[–] WeatherViolet 8 years ago

Yes, trouble always seems to follow that Abby wherever she may go.

Well, these are all very good answers, but what about the time when she buries Peter beneath the cement at the park construction site? Nobody knows whodunit, but Abby suspects an innocent and tries to protect she who suspects Abby, who sneaks off to the airport in sunglasses and babushka to dispose of the paper filer murder weapon.

Now, how could our petite little Abby in her designer dress and imported Italian pumps have dragged the body to the Park, but nevertheless.

So, it takes Gary, the one with a bit of intelligence in the family, to figure out that the innocents are not guilty, and then the guilty one is somehow acquitted because of contacts with corrupt Knots Landing Police Officials.

Therefore, Abby, although trying to top her list of Worst Things ever Done by Abby, is actually topped by Worse Things Others Do to Make Abby Look Bad Worse Worst--which, of course, draws in the viewers.

If Sheridan were here, he'd be appalled.

[–] engle_james 8 years ago

The one, probably true 'evil' thing Abby did was let Ted Melcher know that Paige suspected him of killing the actor who played the Japanese businessman involved with Murakame. I say 'evil' because she knew telling Ted that would put Paige's life in danger, and she did it anyway. Usually when Abby did something bad, she could justify it, but not in this particular example. She was already leaving for Japan, so it was only out of spite that she put Paige in danger like that.