Dear Folks, Thank you all for your thoughtful replies. I appreciate each and every well-thought-out comment, especially kuanyin's insightful post. I agree with most of you that the Liz/think-of-death curse was too drawn out.
Yet, I feel that I have to clarify my original purpose for starting this thread. I was attempting to point out that Liz is at the peak of her irrational, irritating behavior and that it was ironic that in trying to bring comfort, she was making Julia's deathbed experience all the more painful (perhaps subconsciously as revenge for all those sedatives that Julia gave her). Not that Liz can't be (or shouldn't be) pitied. But, with all due respect, this is a TV show and I watch it now, as I did then, for escape. I have enough (truly) mentally ill people around me in real life. To be able to vent any pent up real life frustration towards a fictional character (while still loving the character, as I said I did) is a luxury that I feel I can derive from this, the best TV show ever!
I accept most of the blame as, being a newbie, you all are not familiar with my sense of humor. I had hoped that my post would bring out the comedy rather than the commiseration. Thom "got" it, I think.
Anyhoo, please don't hate me for being newbie-ful!
You have certainly articulated your opinion on Liz's current frame of mind and her "candid" extemporaneous comments quite eloquently and convincingly. I agree that she could employ a great deal more tact and kindness in her dealings with the seriously afflicted Julia.
Dear Bob, Thanks for your thoughts. In my short time here, I have been impressed with your well written, informative and articulate posts. You are obviously an intelligent and, as evidenced by this post, a compassionate person!
However, I'm reminded of something that Fr. John Keating told us back in theology class many years ago: "Ladies and gentlemen, whenever you deal with an exceedingly unpleasant person, just remember, he's more to be pitied than scorned!"
Yes, but did the good Fr. Keating understand the therapeutic value of a good BITCH-SLAP?!! ?!? Evidently, this was taught in Julia Hoffman's school of higher learning, as evidenced by Julia's slapping of Cassandra (self-therapeutic for Julia, of course) and her soon-to-come slap of an hysterical Joe Haskell (therapeutic, but too late, for Joe).
Or you could just get 'em drunk.
Yes, Mark. Julia also learned this therapy in her school. Rather than booze, she uses sedatives for speed and convenience.
You guys crack me about poor Liz. But we had one of the best bloopers of all time today..the camera in the Foyer trailing Liz as Julia went out the front door! Hilarious! Was Julia working on a video documentary of Collinwood along with her books on Lang and the Collins family history? And you have to admit that scene of Liz in the graveyard with Tom in the background was creepy..I recall seeing it as a 7 year old when it originally aired and it spooked me. Somehow Tom was a scarier vampire than Barnabas.
Thom! That is a classic blooper! And I like the one that almost immediately follows when Liz finds Julia in the mausoleum and descends the stairs and asks "Whose coffin is this? Is it mine?" When she brushes against one of the mausoleum pillars, it wobbles back and forth.
I don't want to get into spoilers, but, while I don't particularly care for this "buried alive" plot, something that happens afterwards, after this part has run its course, a scene that will eventually conclude the issue is really good and it's almost worth going through all of this in order to have that. Hopefully those who are familiar with it will be able to decipher my vagueness! And presumably there was no harm to newcomers!!
Josette, I know exactly WHAT you are talking about and I agree, the excitement of THAT scene makes up for most of the irritating scenes that led up to it. A true "best of" moment from DS! Look for it, Perankh!