laurisa

America's Sweetheart Attack

Rating: 3 votes, 1.00 average.
6 Comments
by
laurisa
, 03-02-2013 at 09:47 AM (2583 Views)


Horton- you have a problem. A severe problem. And while I’m positive that Melissa Reeve’s real-life drama hasn’t helped the situation, the one I’m focusing on today is the audience’s complete about-face on the character of Jennifer Rose.

There are a lot of characters that audiences are supposed to hate. Stefano, Kate, Sami, Chelsea, Nick, Lucas, E.J., etc. have all had their turn steering the Imperial Star Destroyer. But, Jennifer is not one of those characters. Not even close. She’s basically every Meg Ryan character, rolled into a ball, and covered in glitter. I’ve never felt more comfortable speaking for the DAYS than I do with the following sentence: Viewers are not supposed to hate Jennifer Horton. I can’t believe that any writer ever threw out the idea, “Hey, you know what? Let’s do a storyline that will completely alienate Jennifer from the fans!”

But I think what did happen is that TPTB underestimated how careful they needed to be with Jack’s return. Like most reformed rapists, Jack is a complex character. It’s easy to write him as somewhat of a cartoonish character since Matt Ashford is so gifted at physical comedy. But Jack is genuinely so much more than that. More so, Jack and Jennifer were so much more than that.

Instead, someone realized what an acting get that they have in Shawn Christian (which, they do) and decided to make Daniel the conquering hero. The backlash to Danifer Part 2 was almost instantaneous. Personally, I don’t find them terribly insulting, and that probably makes me their biggest, most passionate supporter. But I can certainly see why a massive number of fans would rather get chickenpox than watch Daniel and Jennifer fall in love.

So now, there is an angry mob forming both in Salem and in the real world that would like to see Jennifer Horton ran out of town. There are things working (?) right now that would never work before and that is indicative of a dark spot on an otherwise bright DAYS landscape right now!

The Proof:
1. The character of Anne

This never-before-seen character is super pissed that a (in her mind) truancy-prone Jennifer was given the cush job that Anne wanted.

Okay, two things: 1) If Anne can leave work to rush over and babysit Parker, then Jennifer has every right to take a vacation day to watch her nephew spawn almost get married. 2) We’re talking about a world where Kate’s main job duties as head of one of Titan’s most profitable subsidiaries is to stroll through Common Grounds and make horribly unappetizing Rafe/coffee metaphors. This is hardly a show where work ethic is valued in any way.In no other case would Anne’s Bitter Betty attitude fly. But this is different. Anne throws her hate bomb at Jennifer. So she’s likable...I guess.

2. The references to Jack are just the worst.


And, I mean that on both sides. Every time Jennifer opens her mouth to talk about how much she loved
and misses Jack, I frantically start searching my pockets for my BS card. Yes, once upon a time the J&J Love Factory was open for business. Yet, Jennifer’s mentions of their happiness now is kind of like when I see that one dress hanging in my closet that used to absolutely rock when I was 22, but none of my adult friends would recognize it now, especially since they’ve all witnessed my hot and heavy new relationship with yoga pants. So, as unfortunate as it is, it’s just flat out hard to sell Jack and Jennifer to fans that came to the show since 2000.

And then Chloe decided to chime in and “defend” Jack’s memory. Truth is, she was doing nothing of the sort. According to the “Soap Beeyotch Playbook” she was saying blatantly outrageous things in hopes that Abigail would cracks and blurt out some important intel. The second part happened- Abigail flipped her lid and told Chloe that Jennifer requested that Daniel banish Chloe from his life. But Chloe's assertion that Jack would be upset that Jennifer moved on so fast is absolutely wrong. I mean, Jack basically shoved Jen and Frankie on a love boat last time he “died” because Jack was so adamant that Jen be taken care of after he’s gone. Jack would have no problem with Jennifer moving on with Dainel. The fans, sure. But Jack, nope. Not at all.

The fix:

1. Focus on Jennifer and Abigail


Jennifer is the essential gal pal – just ask Billie, Carly, Hope, or, heck, even Kristen. So, it makes sense that her most pleasing scenes are with her adult daughter, Abigail. I dig the idea of these two single ladies trying to navigate the dating waters together. Besides, it’s very nice to see a mother-child combo where both are equals, especially after watching Marlena and Sami’s strained relationship or even Marlena and Carrie’s “I’m perfect, no you’re perfect!” relationship.

Additionally, mentions of Jack won’t seem so opportunistic when they happen in dialogue between Jen and Abigail. Both ladies and a special, yet unique relationship with Jack, and it would be a neat way to celebrate his memory if these two shared their memories of him with each other.


2. Pair Jennifer with Rafe.

Despite the genuinely fun rom-com chemistry between Melissa Reeves and Shawn Christian, there’s too much ill will surrounding Jennifer and Daniel at this point. They have a little too much of the Charles and Camilla thing going for them right now. They’ve got to be split up.But, Jennifer is still too young and too great of a catch to become the female Roman. (For the record, Roman shouldn’t be the “male Roman” either!)

Personally, I find Rafe to be delightful when paired with a “nice girl” whom he doesn’t constantly feel the need to yank by the choke chain every other episode. But , fear not Safe fans, Jennifer even has a few sprinkles of spunk in her as well. This was the lady who schemed her way into the prison system to spy on that organ-selling warden. I think that Rafe’s PI skills would mesh very nicely with Jen’s investigative reporting background.

And best of all, Rafe has very, very little to do with Jack.So, it wouldn’t seem so disrespectful to Jack’s memory.

So, what says you? Jennifer off the show isn’t an option.We need more Hortons on DAYS and Jennifer is one of the best. So, how would you fix her storyline right now?

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Updated 03-03-2013 at 07:15 PM by laurisa

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Comments

  1. Lee H's Avatar
    I disagree that Jack would have wanted Jen not to grieve for him. He asked Frankie to look after her because he didn't want her with Patrick, he was protecting her and the children. Personally I think the only way to redeem her is for Jack to return and she does some serious grovelling. To say J & J haven't been a real couple since 2000 is rubbish. There were great scenes after they reunited in 2002 and in Melaswen as well as in 2007. Their cave reunion before they left for London was all sorts of soapy goodness. Truthfully I find Jen boring without Jack and I actually don't think she's that necessary. It was the Jack and Jen story which made her America's sweetheart but for many of us, the main attraction was Jack. If the writers are determined not to bring back Jack then i would rather see Hope have a bigger Horton presence and they can always bring back Melissa or Sarah. If Jen has to stay, then he most important thing is to finish off Dannifer. This idea of trying to make them the new Tom and Alice is never going to work. I dont know about the Rafe idea. the problem with jennifer is she's a fairly boring character (and fickle, shallow and cold) and she needs a complex man to make her interesting. She and Jack worked because they were the perfect foil for each other. Rafe is fairly bland and also needs a strong partner. I don't think Jennifer fits the bill. I would love it if she had a mental breakdown though. that could be good and a rest off screen would be a blessed relief.
  2. Grace52373's Avatar
    I have to agree with you on some things, and disagree on others. I disagree that Dannifer have any chemistry! I also don't like her with any of the men on canvas! I am biased, because she was best with Jack and sucked with her other pairings! If they really want to redeem Jen, here is what they need to do:
    1) Get her the hell away from Daniel, since they have no chemistry, she acts like a sick teenager around him for no reason, and it angers an overwhelming majority of fans! I am sorry but a few dates and a stupid booty call does not erase the great story she had with Jack!
    2) Bring Matthew Ashford back as Jack, but with amnesia so that Jenn has to fight for him, and chase him for a change! This could also help redeem Abby too! She needs to do some major apologizing to her father!
    3) Stop writing Jen ooc! This pod person hardly resembles the Jennifer we have all come to know and love!
    4) If the stupid writers are not willing to do any of the above, write her off, and have her find out Jack is alive, and search for him. Maybe the mysterious person Jen thought was following her at Halloween kidnapped Jack. If it can't be done onscreen, than do it off screen!
    I don't want to see #4 happen, but I refuse to watch a show that treats its actors and its history terribly! Matthew Ashford was the acting gem they had,not Shawn Christensen and they should have bent over backwards for him, not fire the man who won them their first writing emmy! I think Jack and Jen deserve to be together for good. They earned it. It doesn't have to be boring, since both are so adventurous, they could be involved in every storyline. Leave the angst to the younger set!
  3. jayde's Avatar
    For me, the reason I really dislike Jennifer is because Jack was killed just so they could put her back with Daniel. This was wrong on so many levels and apart from rehiring Matt Ashford, there is no easy fix. Fans are angry that once again the writers have chosen to kill Jack rather than just move him out of Jen's orbit. When they broke up Safe to make Ejami did they kill off Rafe? Did they kill Nicole for Dannifer? Did Roman get killed for Jarlena, or Stefano for Rate? Why, if they really wanted to break up Jack/Jen couldn't Jack get another love interest?
    I also think TPTB underestimate how many Jack and Jen fans (or now just Jack fans) are out there. We feel cheated that we were promised 2 years of Jack and got less than one year, most of it off-screen. Of course we resent smug, shallow Jen running around tlling everyone how much she loves Dan and that she went back to Jack out of pity. This is not what we saw or were told and we resent the history of Jack and Jen being undermined to prop Dannifer. I don't think I would accept any pairing for Jen unless Jack was brought back and given his own story. Then I wouldn't care if they paired Jen with every man on canvas. Unless she redeems herself by proving she loves Jack again she will never be the Jennifer Rose I adored and I really would rather she was gone altogether. At the moment she's like salt in a wound.
    Updated 03-04-2013 at 03:57 AM by jayde
  4. laurisa's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Lee H
    I disagree that Jack would have wanted Jen not to grieve for him. He asked Frankie to look after her because he didn't want her with Patrick, he was protecting her and the children. Personally I think the only way to redeem her is for Jack to return and she does some serious grovelling. To say J & J haven't been a real couple since 2000 is rubbish. There were great scenes after they reunited in 2002 and in Melaswen as well as in 2007. Their cave reunion before they left for London was all sorts of soapy goodness. Truthfully I find Jen boring without Jack and I actually don't think she's that necessary. It was the Jack and Jen story which made her America's sweetheart but for many of us, the main attraction was Jack. If the writers are determined not to bring back Jack then i would rather see Hope have a bigger Horton presence and they can always bring back Melissa or Sarah. If Jen has to stay, then he most important thing is to finish off Dannifer. This idea of trying to make them the new Tom and Alice is never going to work. I dont know about the Rafe idea. the problem with jennifer is she's a fairly boring character (and fickle, shallow and cold) and she needs a complex man to make her interesting. She and Jack worked because they were the perfect foil for each other. Rafe is fairly bland and also needs a strong partner. I don't think Jennifer fits the bill. I would love it if she had a mental breakdown though. that could be good and a rest off screen would be a blessed relief.
    First, I never said that Jack wouldn't have wanted Jen to grieve for him. If I implied that, it was not my intent.

    Second, about the Frankie sitch, Jack thought that he was dying and wanted to make sure that Jennifer had someone to look after her and the family when he was dead. Sure, Patrick had a lot to do with whom Jack selected. But the point is that Jack was not against having Jen move on right away.

    So, Chloe was saying that Abigail was "stomping on [her] father's grave" by supporting Jennifer dating Daniel "two or three months" after Jack's death was incredibly inaccurate. We know that Jack would have no problem with Jennifer moving on right away because he himself set up a suitor in the waiting for Jen the last time Jack "died'.

    I certainly was a weird and unconventional move, but that's kind of vintage Jack! Chloe didn't know what she was talking about.

    Finally, I didn't say that J&J weren't a real couple since 2000. I said that J&J haven't been shown to be a real couple much since 2000. We're starting the 13th year, and they've been on about 4 of those years together. Without the benefit of all of the past J&J magic, they fall very much into the Steve/Kayla category of great couples who were brought back and then relied on nostalgia instead of actual storyline to win over new fans. I hope that makes sense. It's a observation of the writing for J&J, not their status as a legitimate couple within the landscape of the overall show.
    Updated 03-04-2013 at 08:53 AM by laurisa
  5. laurisa's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by jayde
    For me, the reason I really dislike Jennifer is because Jack was killed just so they could put her back with Daniel. This was wrong on so many levels and apart from rehiring Matt Ashford, there is no easy fix. Fans are angry that once again the writers have chosen to kill Jack rather than just move him out of Jen's orbit. When they broke up Safe to make Ejami did they kill off Rafe? Did they kill Nicole for Dannifer? Did Roman get killed for Jarlena, or Stefano for Rate? Why, if they really wanted to break up Jack/Jen couldn't Jack get another love interest?
    I also think TPTB underestimate how many Jack and Jen fans (or now just Jack fans) are out there. We feel cheated that we were promised 2 years of Jack and got less than one year, most of it off-screen. Of course we resent smug, shallow Jen running around tlling everyone how much she loves Dan and that she went back to Jack out of pity. This is not what we saw or were told and we resent the history of Jack and Jen being undermined to prop Dannifer. I don't think I would accept any pairing for Jen unless Jack was brought back and given his own story. Then I wouldn't care if they paired Jen with every man on canvas. Unless she redeems herself by proving she loves Jack again she will never be the Jennifer Rose I adored and I really would rather she was gone altogether. At the moment she's like salt in a wound.
    I agree with you that Jen is paying the price for how TPTB treated Matt Ashford. I think that a lot of viewers feel this way.
  6. laurisa's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Grace52373
    I have to agree with you on some things, and disagree on others. I disagree that Dannifer have any chemistry! I also don't like her with any of the men on canvas! I am biased, because she was best with Jack and sucked with her other pairings! If they really want to redeem Jen, here is what they need to do:
    1) Get her the hell away from Daniel, since they have no chemistry, she acts like a sick teenager around him for no reason, and it angers an overwhelming majority of fans! I am sorry but a few dates and a stupid booty call does not erase the great story she had with Jack!
    2) Bring Matthew Ashford back as Jack, but with amnesia so that Jenn has to fight for him, and chase him for a change! This could also help redeem Abby too! She needs to do some major apologizing to her father!
    3) Stop writing Jen ooc! This pod person hardly resembles the Jennifer we have all come to know and love!
    4) If the stupid writers are not willing to do any of the above, write her off, and have her find out Jack is alive, and search for him. Maybe the mysterious person Jen thought was following her at Halloween kidnapped Jack. If it can't be done onscreen, than do it off screen!
    I don't want to see #4 happen, but I refuse to watch a show that treats its actors and its history terribly! Matthew Ashford was the acting gem they had,not Shawn Christensen and they should have bent over backwards for him, not fire the man who won them their first writing emmy! I think Jack and Jen deserve to be together for good. They earned it. It doesn't have to be boring, since both are so adventurous, they could be involved in every storyline. Leave the angst to the younger set!
    Chemistry is a very subjective thing, so I can certainly see how some viewers like Danifer and some don't.

    But, I don't think that Abigail needs to be redeemed at all. She's doing exactly what Jack would have wanted her to do - support her mother.
    Updated 03-04-2013 at 08:55 AM by laurisa