MovieChat Forums > Knots Landing (1979) Discussion > What Is The Greatest Storyline in KL His...

What Is The Greatest Storyline in KL History?

posted 12 years ago by Mark_Graisons_Moustache
26 replies | jump to latest

The more I think about it, the more I realize that Season 6 was probably the best of the entire series and pretty much every single storyline was amazing and showed a series at the height of its quality. And I think I might have to say that the entire Baldwin/Hartman romance and all its repercussions might be my all time fave story on the show. I've been watching the clip of Cathy singing "Jehovah" while Joshua sits and glares at her in the corner and thinking of what amazing television this was.

So, if you could only pick one storyline from the whole show, what would it be and why?

Abby: "Olivia, something terrible has happened."

Olivia: "What, did you run out of eye makeup?"

[–] rdavies23 12 years ago

For me it was the introduction of Paige, with the 1960s flashback scenes and the initial confusion over her identity/paternity. I enjoyed its unpredictability; I thought that she was an imposter - wrong - and then I thought that she was going to be Sumner's child - again, wrong. As a viewer I felt as if I were being kept on my toes. I also enjoyed Michael's infatuation with this beautiful newcomer, and Karen's insecurity around Anne - both were so well written and acted.

[–] radrobd 12 years ago

I think the best storyline was the kidnapping of Val's twins. Val and Gary were like the Bobby and Pam of Knots Landing. We rooted for them to get back together. When Gary got Val pregnant, we thought it was a matter of time before they reunited. Then wham, Val's twins stolen at birth and Val's told she's dead. No one believes Val and think she's crazy. It was a good storyline that kept me hooked all season. Although it's a storyline that happens on almost every daytime soap today, it was novel for a prime-time series at the time. Plus, it came to involve almost every character on the show. Even Greg Sumner and his mother got involved.

Next to Val's twins, I liked the Wolfbridge storyline of season 5.

[–] paulhreynoldsiii 12 years ago

wow...so many to choose from...I would say the Twins storyline was good. Olivia's drug problem was a good one also.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Skylightmovies 11 years ago

Yep , that one really stays with me,I had lost a child round the I saw it. I cried through the whole story and practically dissolved when the door opens and she comes running down the stairs with wet hair and is given her babies after so long.

[–] rdavies23 12 years ago

Yes Wolfbridge was my favourite "business" storyline. I thought that Mark Sinclair was very convincing as a little grey man, an understated, insipid, corporate baddie.

[–] engle_james 12 years ago

Sorry, you're all wrong. Just kidding. I guess for me, the second season was probably my favorite storyline, with Gary and Abby selling stolen auto parts. I admit, it doesn't sound terribly exciting in terms of business, but it all came together so well, with Abby getting J.R. involved, her flirtation with both J.R. and Gary, Karen suspecting something was up when she couldn't find the blueprints for Sid's experimental engine, and upon investigating with Richard realizing the truth. And then of course the ramifications, with Sid believing Abby over Karen, Val being furious with Gary, Richard actually being the good guy for once, and then the big cliffhanger with Sid driving off the cliff when his brake line was cut, leading to his death. I love nearly all the storylines, but that one to me has the most emotion behind it, and certainly no one expected Sid, the main character, to be killed off.

[–] laurelataylor 12 years ago

I agree. I love that storyline. I also think that Roy and Frank were really interesting supporting characters that season. Also, I love the storyline because J.R. comes on the show and gets involved with Gary and Abby through a financial bailout and attempts to get Sid to go into business with him. My two favorite episodes of the season are the ones in which J.R. appears, A Family Matter and Designs.

I guess I also love the storyline because Sid is still alive and on the show that season. Sid has always been one of my favorite characters. The last episode, Squeezeplay, was such a great cliffhanger but was so hard to watch because it showed Sid's car going over the cliff.

[–] Skylightmovies 11 years ago

Auto parts........ok......:):)

[–] michaelsmith30 12 years ago

Kidnapping of Val's babies and Jill/Val suicide and Greg's daughter Mary Francis getting shot were pretty good.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] antonio8885 12 years ago

(1) Definitely the kidnapping of Val's twins! This storyline was superbly delivered on every level as the entire cast became embroiled in the mystery during the course of the entire 30-episode(!) 1984-85 season! No explanation necessary!

(2) A close second was definitely Olivia's cocaine addiction circa 1987, a truly bold storyline which was way ahead of its time, showcasing Emmy-worthy acting by the truly underrated Donna Mills and Tonya Crowe in powerhouse scenes that revealed Abby's Achilles Heel and vulnerability despite her numerous affairs and shady business/political dealings (I can't remember any other soap since going that far with a teen drug dependency story arc...its all about boozing, cruising and prescription abuse now!) That same season, Olivia faced depression, suicide attempts, and the ambiguous sexual advances of Abby's lover Peter Hollister (Hunt Block showing great restraint and eventual compassion when he could have played the role as a lecherous pervert), and his subsequent murder sealed the deal for the multiple aspects of that season's best ongoing story centering around Abby/Olivia's volatile though mesmerizing relationship!

(3) Ciji Dunne's murder mystery in 1983 which encompassed the entire cast and solidified KNOTS as a major prime time soap contender with their new serialized format, hitting its stride with personal stories and emotional cliffhangers (Karen realizing that Chip murdered Ciji while Diana vanished from Knots Landing with him, Gary remaining in prison for Ciji's murder while rivals Val & Abby remained devastated over Gary's false imprisonment in that superb ongoing triangle, shady suspect Richard vanished from the cul-de-sac...while forerunners of the genre like Dallas & Dynasty already peaked, KNOTS was riding high that year!

(4) I also loved Greg Sumner's paternity reveal, his interactions with his ruthless parents played by casting coups Howard Duff and the great Ava Gardner...and his creation of the Sumner Group via his inheritance, followed by Laura's death (another stunner with long-lasting effects for several characters like Greg, Paige, Abby, Mack, Karen, Nick/Anne/Claudia.)

(5) Jill's murderous plot against Val, whom she forced to commit suicide-by-overdose after gaslighting her into thinking that her missing husband Ben was still alive in 1988's suspenseful, Hitchcockian cliffhanger in order to eliminate her from Gary's life; then in 1989, Val's survival/recovery led to Jill's final scheme to frame Gary for her disappearance-turned murder which led to another great whodunit!

[–] Skylightmovies 11 years ago

A true fan.

[–] jason_tasch 11 years ago

For me, it'd have to be the storyline of Olivia's drug problem. What made is so well done is the way is sneaked into the show slowly, before it became a full plotline. But once it did, Donna Mills had some of the best performances of her career as the mother doing everything she knew how to take control of the situation. Tonya Crowe was also brilliant as the troubled Olivia during all of this. Also, watch for a very young Brian Austin Green as Brian Cunningham, caught in the middle with almost tragic results.

[–] moosefeathers 11 years ago

the one story line i didn't like was in 13/14? The girl who played Mary Francis crushing on Gary was just nauseating.

Other than that asided from Season 2-14 were pretty good. (One was not as bold as the rest of the show)

Devane as the Hughes like Sumner added an extra depth to the story and he seemed to reach out over all of the people in the story one way or another.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] antonio8885 11 years ago

^^^MOOSEFEATHERS, I totally agree with your disdain for the Gary/Kate hookup! Paige was also single that last season & would have been a better match for the black sheep Ewing bro!

[–] missbea4 11 years ago

Over the years I have loved many story lines...Val's twins, the killing of CG, Paige's paternity etc. However, the one that has stayed most clearly in my mind, because it was so sad, is Laura's death. The reading of her will, via the video, and everyone's reaction still gives me the shivers! I think it was the first time I ever cried at a television show.

[–] Zhow 11 years ago

I think the kidnapping of Val's twins must be the iconic storyline of KL. It's not my personal favorite but I must admit that the wholse season was absolutely captivating and very well wriiten. The acting, the production and the plot survived the passing of time (as opposed to some comparable soaps from the 80's which have become incredibly cheesy - although I still love most of them).

I was very impressed by Peter Hollister's death and how they managed to keep the mistery for so long with such a simple and yet complex device. Very well done. I also liked the Murikame storyline which led to Abby's departure - a very decent and intelligent exit for such a good character. I will always be very grateful to KL writers for being able to write such good plots and trusting their characters' intelligence.
______________________________________
The higher you fly, the faster you fall.

[–] Twilightnight 11 years ago

Seasons 4-8 for me were almost faultless, the cast was at its best, the guest actors were well cast and the writing was superb.

Val's Babies, involved the whole cast who were all on top of their game.

The Wolfbridge Group/Mark Sinclair storyline was also beautifully written and acted.

The scenes with Joshua and Lilimae on the roof were incredible and showcased just how good Julie Harris and Alec Baldwin were/are.

Karen being kidnapped was also a great storyline and credit to Louis Giambalvo for a great piece of acting.

[–] b73142 10 years ago

Loved Val & the twins story line. So eventful & sad at the same time.

Joshua abusing Cathy & his end wow! I felt so bad for Cathy b/c she tried to be a good wife to him & Lily Mae tried to be a good mother, but Joshua was just too far gone.

Olivia's drug abuse had me crying. When poor David got beaten up & Abby said "Look what happened to your brother because of you" and Olivia ran and gave the drugs to her and cried saying that she was sorry. I never paid attention to Abby's parenting until that time. In this story, she was a very good mother!

Also when Greg married Abby. Everybody was in shock including Paige.

[–] radrobd 10 years ago

"Olivia's drug abuse had me crying. When poor David got beaten up & Abby said "Look what happened to your brother because of you" and Olivia ran and gave the drugs to her and cried saying that she was sorry. I never paid attention to Abby's parenting until that time. In this story, she was a very good mother! "

You mean when poor Brian got beaten up. Brian Austin Green played Abby's son Brian on Knots Landing. He played David on Beverly Hills, 90210.

[–] b73142 10 years ago

LOL! Sorry wrong name. Yeah, it was Brian. Thank you!

[–] mptnla 10 years ago

Hmmm...I would say:

Sadly, Laura preparing to die. What a tear jerker!

Val's twins

Jill's suicide

Abby/Olivia/Paige and Peter's death

Karen's spinal cord injury

Twitter - Allowing you to publicly put your foot in your mouth since 2006.