The show started with Oliver still on duty, finishing up escorting Dorian to her cell. The evil Mitch Laurence (who happens to have once been married to Dorian) was in the jail's other holding cell and when Dorian wasted no time in making a veiled threat against him, Fish told Mitch that he hadn't heard a thing. Fish promised Dorian he'd try and get Laurence moved somewhere else and thanked her again for what she was doing for the cause.
Meanwhile, Nick and Amelia were still surrounded by the three homophobic louts in Angel Square. When Nick told the trio to leave them alone, the guys spouted the usual sort of crap about gays putting their trash in everyone else's face and men marrying dogs being the next step after men marrying men.
Amelia was ready with a quick retort, not being in the least willing to just stand there and take crap from the men.
Thug: You've got a smart mouth on you.
Amelia: Well, I talk for a living. I'm a human rights advocate and I fight for my rights.
Thug: Yeah, we got your position.
Nick: Let's go!
Amelia: Does this make you feel like real men?
Nick: Amelia, there's no point!
Amelia: You're right, because some people just can't be educated.
Thug: Yeah?
Amelia: Yeah. Because to convince people to change their minds, they actually have to have one.
Amelia: Well, I talk for a living. I'm a human rights advocate and I fight for my rights.
Thug: Yeah, we got your position.
Nick: Let's go!
Amelia: Does this make you feel like real men?
Nick: Amelia, there's no point!
Amelia: You're right, because some people just can't be educated.
Thug: Yeah?
Amelia: Yeah. Because to convince people to change their minds, they actually have to have one.
Nick and Amelia left after that, leaving one of the thugs to note to his friends that 'Tinkerbell' (Nick) was nervous and that 'those queers' needed a teaching moment.
I have to say, Amelia pretty much rocks! Of course, in real life it would probably be smarted to just do what Nick did, and get out of there as quickly and with as few words as possible, but I always love seeing LGBT characters standing up for themselves.
As all of this was going on, Kyle was at Ultra Violet leaving a message on Fish's phone to let him know that he'd got to the club early and was waiting at the bar. Oliver walked up behind him while he was talking and surprised him and the two shared a sweet kiss before Fish apologized, saying that he'd had to go home and change first and that Kyle wouldn't believe the crazy day he'd had, what with arresting the Mayor and all.
Fish brought his boyfriend a beer from the bar and Kyle was touched that Fish had remembered what he drank. Oliver explained that for years, every time he heard someone order that brand of beer, he'd instantly be back at the lake with Kyle, and then he'd have to order something stronger to help him forget. That's so sad!
In response, Kyle offered a toast to making new memories. Awww! Kim and Stacy (who is, lest we forget, secretly pregnant with Oliver's baby) were across the bar watching the guys and commenting on what a cute couple they made. Kim felt the credit for them finally getting together belonged to her and Stacy, since it was Stacy's seduction of him that lead to Oliver finally admitting to himself that he was gay.
Kyle hoped that Fish wouldn't be called back in to work that night and Oliver assured him that he was completely off duty. Kyle was glad, saying that he'd been looking forward to this night for a really long time.
They are so incredibly sweet together! This scene left me with a huge smile on my face. The way they were both grinning and looking at each other, it was just perfect.
Nick and Amelia, meanwhile, had gone to Rodi's to get something to drink after their encounter in Angel Square. Nick asked Gigi where everyone was, since the place was so quiet. She explained that they'd all gone to Ultra Violet to see the All American Rejects perform and Nick sadly told Amelia that Kyle and Fish were there, too, on their first date.
Amelia offered a toast to new love and Nick reluctantly joined in, just in time for our three homophobic thugs to join them at their table, asking when Rodi's had become a gay bar. Nick said that they didn't want any trouble and stood up, suggesting that he and Amelia leave.
Amelia insisted that she would not be run off and one of the thugs sneered that they now knew who the man in the group was. At that point, Nick's patience seemed to be running out.
One of the men wondered if Gigi was queer, too, and when she asked him what if she was, another of the guys grabbed her, saying that he could show her how to be a real woman. That's when Schuyler broke in, earning himself a punch in the face (after which one of the guys told Nick "You're next, Mary!"). The thugs then decided to go and find a bar with some 'real men and women' and left.
Gigi wanted to call the police, but Nick and Amelia asked her not to, saying that it was all over and that this wasn't the story they wanted to come out of the day's events. Gigi wondered if things like that happened a lot and Amelia told her they happened too much. Gigi was surprised, pointing out that Llanview was a nice town, and Amelia said it still happened. Gigi hoped that Dorian could change things as Mayor and Amelia told her that was their plan.
Nick suggested that Amelia go and visit her wife in jail and said that he was going to head home. Amelia assured him that things would get better and Nick offered her a ride, saying he was parked out back. Amelia said that wasn't necessary and as soon as Nick headed out alone, it was obvious what was going to happen.
Sure enough, Nick was jumped by the three thugs behind Rodi's and they quickly beat him to the ground and began kicking him. They paused long enough for one thug to ask his buddies "Should we?" which made me worry that this was going to be something even worse than a bashing, that we might be about to see daytime's first male/male rape.
The show ended with the All American Rejects playing at Ultra Violet as we saw a montage set to their song, mostly of happy couples (including Kyle and Fish), but also including scenes of Nick being beaten in the alley. It didn't appear there was any rape involved, though, which is a relief (though, at the same time, it could have made for a powerful storyline and is certainly something that hasn't been done yet on American soaps).
To add insult to injury, the guys dumped the contents of one of the garbage cans behind Rodi's over Nick after they were done beating him, leaving him crying and bloodied in the alley with half eaten food all over him.
For a long time it seemed as if there were only three stories anyone was willing to tell about gay characters, especially in Daytime: coming out, having AIDS, and getting bashed. Thankfully, that has changed, and because, as Kish and Nuke have demonstrated, there are now other stories being told about gay characters, it doesn't seem quite as cliched to have a gay character get bashed, especially since there's no denying that it does happen in real life far too often.
In the context of this story, with Dorian's campaign and her legalization of gay marriage, it does make sense that some insecure, homophobic people would want to lash out. That doesn't make it any easier to watch, however.
I'm glad that it didn't happen to Kyle or Oliver, but at the same time I hope that they didn't keep Nick around just to be bashed. Since they chose to write this story for him, I hope there's more coming for the character beyond just being bashed and the aftermath of that.
So, to sum up the episode, the Kyle and Oliver date scenes were beyond cute, I found Amelia to be pretty awesome in her response to harassment, and I felt terrible for poor Nick. I really want to see him overcome this and land a boyfriend of his own, someone who loves him the way Kyle loves Fish.
I have to say, Amelia pretty much rocks! Of course, in real life it would probably be smarted to just do what Nick did, and get out of there as quickly and with as few words as possible, but I always love seeing LGBT characters standing up for themselves.
As all of this was going on, Kyle was at Ultra Violet leaving a message on Fish's phone to let him know that he'd got to the club early and was waiting at the bar. Oliver walked up behind him while he was talking and surprised him and the two shared a sweet kiss before Fish apologized, saying that he'd had to go home and change first and that Kyle wouldn't believe the crazy day he'd had, what with arresting the Mayor and all.
Fish brought his boyfriend a beer from the bar and Kyle was touched that Fish had remembered what he drank. Oliver explained that for years, every time he heard someone order that brand of beer, he'd instantly be back at the lake with Kyle, and then he'd have to order something stronger to help him forget. That's so sad!
In response, Kyle offered a toast to making new memories. Awww! Kim and Stacy (who is, lest we forget, secretly pregnant with Oliver's baby) were across the bar watching the guys and commenting on what a cute couple they made. Kim felt the credit for them finally getting together belonged to her and Stacy, since it was Stacy's seduction of him that lead to Oliver finally admitting to himself that he was gay.
Kyle hoped that Fish wouldn't be called back in to work that night and Oliver assured him that he was completely off duty. Kyle was glad, saying that he'd been looking forward to this night for a really long time.
Kyle: I don't know if I've told you this, but uh, I love ya.
Fish: No, I know.
Kyle: Yeah?
Fish: I love you too.
Fish: No, I know.
Kyle: Yeah?
Fish: I love you too.
They are so incredibly sweet together! This scene left me with a huge smile on my face. The way they were both grinning and looking at each other, it was just perfect.
Nick and Amelia, meanwhile, had gone to Rodi's to get something to drink after their encounter in Angel Square. Nick asked Gigi where everyone was, since the place was so quiet. She explained that they'd all gone to Ultra Violet to see the All American Rejects perform and Nick sadly told Amelia that Kyle and Fish were there, too, on their first date.
Amelia offered a toast to new love and Nick reluctantly joined in, just in time for our three homophobic thugs to join them at their table, asking when Rodi's had become a gay bar. Nick said that they didn't want any trouble and stood up, suggesting that he and Amelia leave.
Amelia insisted that she would not be run off and one of the thugs sneered that they now knew who the man in the group was. At that point, Nick's patience seemed to be running out.
Gigi: Excuse me, can I help you?
Thug: Yeah, you serve anything but fruit salad?
Nick (finally getting angry): You know what, back off!
Thug: Or what, you gonna bitch slap me and risk your manicure?
Thug: Yeah, you serve anything but fruit salad?
Nick (finally getting angry): You know what, back off!
Thug: Or what, you gonna bitch slap me and risk your manicure?
One of the men wondered if Gigi was queer, too, and when she asked him what if she was, another of the guys grabbed her, saying that he could show her how to be a real woman. That's when Schuyler broke in, earning himself a punch in the face (after which one of the guys told Nick "You're next, Mary!"). The thugs then decided to go and find a bar with some 'real men and women' and left.
Gigi wanted to call the police, but Nick and Amelia asked her not to, saying that it was all over and that this wasn't the story they wanted to come out of the day's events. Gigi wondered if things like that happened a lot and Amelia told her they happened too much. Gigi was surprised, pointing out that Llanview was a nice town, and Amelia said it still happened. Gigi hoped that Dorian could change things as Mayor and Amelia told her that was their plan.
Nick suggested that Amelia go and visit her wife in jail and said that he was going to head home. Amelia assured him that things would get better and Nick offered her a ride, saying he was parked out back. Amelia said that wasn't necessary and as soon as Nick headed out alone, it was obvious what was going to happen.
Sure enough, Nick was jumped by the three thugs behind Rodi's and they quickly beat him to the ground and began kicking him. They paused long enough for one thug to ask his buddies "Should we?" which made me worry that this was going to be something even worse than a bashing, that we might be about to see daytime's first male/male rape.
The show ended with the All American Rejects playing at Ultra Violet as we saw a montage set to their song, mostly of happy couples (including Kyle and Fish), but also including scenes of Nick being beaten in the alley. It didn't appear there was any rape involved, though, which is a relief (though, at the same time, it could have made for a powerful storyline and is certainly something that hasn't been done yet on American soaps).
To add insult to injury, the guys dumped the contents of one of the garbage cans behind Rodi's over Nick after they were done beating him, leaving him crying and bloodied in the alley with half eaten food all over him.
For a long time it seemed as if there were only three stories anyone was willing to tell about gay characters, especially in Daytime: coming out, having AIDS, and getting bashed. Thankfully, that has changed, and because, as Kish and Nuke have demonstrated, there are now other stories being told about gay characters, it doesn't seem quite as cliched to have a gay character get bashed, especially since there's no denying that it does happen in real life far too often.
In the context of this story, with Dorian's campaign and her legalization of gay marriage, it does make sense that some insecure, homophobic people would want to lash out. That doesn't make it any easier to watch, however.
I'm glad that it didn't happen to Kyle or Oliver, but at the same time I hope that they didn't keep Nick around just to be bashed. Since they chose to write this story for him, I hope there's more coming for the character beyond just being bashed and the aftermath of that.
So, to sum up the episode, the Kyle and Oliver date scenes were beyond cute, I found Amelia to be pretty awesome in her response to harassment, and I felt terrible for poor Nick. I really want to see him overcome this and land a boyfriend of his own, someone who loves him the way Kyle loves Fish.
1 comment:
hey
just signed up and wanted to say hello while I read through the posts
hopefully this is just what im looking for looks like i have a lot to read.
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