MovieChat Forums > Knots Landing (1979) Discussion > Watching season 4

Watching season 4

posted 8 years ago by sjbradford
4 replies | jump to latest

Some observations:

1. The Valene/Gary/Abby situation is just as frustrating as ever. Why was Val such a DOORMAT? Abby is really nasty to her: "I can have him any time I want him". And later, Gary is desperately trying to reconcile. If I had been her, I would have taken him back just long enough to laugh at Abby, and then dumped him, right in front of her. "You can have my sloppy seconds now, Abby. I'M his first choice. You're just a cheap, gold-digging tramp."

2. The Karen/Mack romance happens a little too quickly. The writers deserve credit for keeping Karen single for a whole season (contrast this with Pam Ewing, who jumped into bed with Mark Graison about 30 seconds after Bobby "died"). But I felt they could have had a little more buildup to their relationship. Instead, they are dating one episode after he is introduced.

3. The Richard/Karen friendship is very sweet, and something you don't often get to see on the soaps - a platonic friendship between a man and a woman.

4. Was Lisa Hartman really a big enough name to commandeer so much screen/singing time on the show? Every time she showed up, she's getting a 4-min scene to do a complete song.

5. Not sure why Kenny and Ginger weren't dropped a year earlier than they were. They have nothing to do, and are completely boring.

[–] rosemei 8 years ago

Why did Gary let Abby have any say in what he did with his inheritance from Jock? They aren't married, in fact he's still married to Val at this point. He let her talk him out of buying a horse ranch, although he did wind up buying one in Season 5. He loans Richard money to start up his restaurant, telling him to pay it back when ever he wants. Then Abby goes behind his back and makes Richard sign a note saying if he misses a payment, they can foreclose on the restaurant. Who the heck does she think she is? And he doesn't kick her out when he finds out about her double-dealing, he just starts drinking. And once he sobers up in season 5, he still doesn't dump the skank, he marries her. It takes another two seasons of her deceit and cheating, both financially and sexually before he finally dumps her for good.

[–] engle_james 8 years ago

The scene you mention between Val and Abby, one of their most iconic, happened in season three. As for Val being a doormat, I kind of agree and kind of don't. Val was rightfully angry with Gary, because he was the one who promised to be faithful "til death do you part," not Abby. Although I was also frustrated Val didn't get back at Abby at some point, in a way she did because she had Gary's babies and a successful career.

But oh, how cool it would have been if, when Val had her frontal lobe injury in season 12, she had gone after Abby then! That would have been awesome. Who knows, maybe she did confront Abby offscreen, as there was an episode or two during that storyline where Val left town.

[–] Mark_Graisons_Moustache 8 years ago

My blog is currently up to season four in my episode-by-episode breakdown of the series. In my opinion, this is the season that KL turned from Good to GREAT. I have put up the first two eps and I will be putting up my thoughts on ENCOUNTERS (Ciji's first appearance) tomorrow morning.

Please support my blog about all things KNOTS LANDING!
http://www.knotsblogging.com/

[–] dancingcoop 8 years ago

I don't believe Val became a doormat until like season 7. Before that she stood up for herself very well in my opinion. She just choose her battles wisely. And you forgot to mention she slapped Abby after nasty season 3 comment.

Totally agree about Karen and Mac. They got married in like the 13th episode of that season. Very unbelievable coming from Karen plus sneaking off to marry. That's something only Laura would do.

I'm pretty sure Lisa Hartman's agent secured her a spot on the soap in hopes it would increase her popularity after the release of her album the summer before.

If my memory is correct. The CiJi plot was Kenny story everybody us just upstaged him. To be honest, the story would have been much juicier with him having the Chip role in all of this, leaving us a single Ginger(she didn't deserve to leave, kenny brought her down) for season 5.

Why am I so good at playing bitches? I think it’s because I’m not a bitch.-Bette Davis