She had to be pretty strong in those days, both intellectually and physically to deal with and outwit the little monster.
I agree. I think Alexandra's best work was done during the B&W episodes. Unfortunately, by the time DS went to color, Vicki was already well on her way to becoming DS' #1 doormat/victim - and clueless to boot! She was neither during most of the show's first year. She stood her ground against everyone.
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Now comes the dumbing down of Maggie as she transforms into a Vicki clone.
(Hmmm - I wonder if like in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the "real" Vicki and Maggie weren't actually in a field somewhere on the Collinwood estate, having the life drained out of them by those extraterrestrial plants, while their clueless clones took their places?
Now THAT might make some sense...)