Kish: Incredible Love Scenes

I was completely blown away by the Kish love scenes in today's episode of One Life to Live. Daytime TV has never seen anything like it for a gay couple and I honestly think that even in primetime you'd be hard pressed to find any show that treated a gay couple's love scenes in exactly the same way they'd treat a straight love scene.

I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. The show started with Kyle and Fish returning to Kyle's place after their date at Ultra Violet. Oliver was clearly feeling nervous and Kyle quickly assured him that they didn't have to do anything, and that they'd already had a pretty great first date, just finally being able to walk around in public holding hands like any other couple.

Kyle told Fish that it would feel right if it ended up being the night they made love for the first time, but only if Oliver was ready. Fish responded with a kiss and the two headed for the bed, holding hands. Oliver spotted a gift waiting on Kyle's bed and asked if it was for him. Kyle had never seen it before but it turned out to be from Roxy, along with a note telling him to 'have fun with Trout' and be safe.

Fish couldn't believe that Kyle had told Roxy about their night, but Kyle explained that Roxy is his best friend (awww!) and that he and Fish might not even be together if it weren't for her, since she was the one who'd kept encouraging Kyle not to give up on Oliver.

The present was a box of condoms, of course, which seemed to make Fish nervous all over again.

Fish: ...I'm just not used to this. I just came out and, you know, we never... (gestures towards the bed) we never did this.

Kyle: Okay, I know. But you don't have to be embarrassed Oliver. I love you. And you love me.

Fish: True. That is true.

Kyle thought some mood lighting would make Fish feel better and after he'd lit some candles and they'd adorably toasted to a happy first date, the love scene truly got under way. It was complete with a romantic song playing (anyone know what it was?!), and all the lingering looks, slow undressing of each other, tender caresses, and kisses that you'd expect to find in any love scene on a soap when a popular couple is about to make love for the very first time.

This scene was too beautiful to just describe, so do yourself a favor and check it out here. I'm not ashamed to say that this scene made me cry, in a good way! It was just so amazing to see this at long last, not just for Kyle and Fish, but as a groundbreaking moment in daytime TV.

A gay couple had never before had the kind of romantic, sexy love scene on daytime TV that is standard for mixed gender couples. Luke and Noah certainly never got a first time scene like this (or, for that matter, any love scene like this, period! They were too busy jumping up and down on the bed like five year olds!) but One Life to Live fully delivered, living up to all my expectations.

Here's the thing, though: they didn't actually make love! They've already had the best gay love scene in daytime history, and it turns out we're not even to the big moment yet! Just imagine what that will be like!

I was surprised to find out that the two had never actually made love in college, though. It always sounded as if they had, but I guess they must have stopped short of that, which makes this all the more special since it truly is going to be Oliver's first time with another man.

The reason they didn't get to have their first time today was that the badly beaten Nick had managed to get himself to the hospital, where he promptly collapsed in front of Dr. Marty Saybrooke. Marty, even though she's a psychiatrist and not an emergency room doctor, sprang into action to help Nick and when she asked him if he knew who'd beaten him up and why, Nick told her it was because he was gay.

Marty called her boyfriend, Detective John McBain, and reported a hate crime and then asked Nick if there was anyone he'd like her to call.

That's when Fish and Kyle's evening was interrupted by dueling cell phone calls: John calling Fish to tell him that a guy he knew had been gay bashed and Marty calling Kyle on Nick's behalf.

Kyle and Fish rushed to the E.R., where Marty told them that Nick had two broken ribs and a concussion and that they were still waiting for test results to see if there were any internal injuries (there weren't). John arrived shortly after that and Fish told him that he wanted in on the case.

Nick told John (and everyone else) what had happened, how it had started in Angel Square and how he and Amelia had been followed to Rodi's and then he'd been jumped in the alley. Nick assured John that he'd be able to identify them and Fish remembered seeing the three guys at the swearing in and said that he'd definitely recognize them if he saw them again.

Fish and John left to try and find the guys, while Kyle stayed behind with Nick, who apologized for ruining his big date with Oliver. Kyle assured him that Fish understood and Nick told Kyle that he just hadn't wanted to be alone. Kyle assure him that he wasn't.

John and Fish made quick work of finding the bashers, who were apparently drinking in the park. They'd barely made it into the police station before Oliver lost his cool and slammed the ring leader up against the wall.

Fish: You beat a guy up for being gay! You kicked the hell out of him just because he's different than you?

Basher: You think we'd touch a queer?

Fish: Yeah, well, you're touching one now!

Basher (affecting a lisp): Oh, stop it, you're scaring me sweetheart!

Fish was about to punch the guy when John intervened, saying the basher wasn't worth it. McBain sent the three down to the holding cells and ordered the cop on duty to 'put the big mouth in with Mitch Laurence'! That little comment, just tossed out in the middle of an otherwise dramatic scene, made me laugh so hard!

McBain: You okay? It's gotta be hard to see something like that happen to a friend of yours.

Fish: Yeah, I grew up with it.

McBain: I'm sorry.

Fish (visibly upset): I felt just like them, except it was me that I hated. The same way that they hate me, and Nick, and Kyle, and Amelia, and everybody like us.

McBain: It's not going to be like this forever.

Fish: Yeah, you know, I'm not so optimistic. I don't think it will ever change.

McBain: There was a time when nobody even knew anyone who was gay.

Fish: Yeah, or they thought they didn't. I should have come out a long time ago.

I liked the message behind this scene, that each person's coming out, while deeply personal, helps bring about real change for all of us. With every single person who comes out, the perceptions and preconceived notions of everyone in their lives are being changed, or at the very least challenged. I thought it was a great way to deliver such a point without really forcing the issue.

I also think that there may well be people watching the show who've never known anyone gay in their personal lives (or realized that they did) and who may be seeing things in a new light now because of Kyle and Fish. That's a pretty amazing thing.

Oliver headed to the hospital to let Nick and Kyle know that the bashers had been caught. After they'd both thanked Fish, Kyle went back to tending to Nick and Oliver went out in the hall alone and looked plaintively at the door. Hmmm. Was the look because Kyle was with Nick, or because Fish was still feeling shaken over the bashing?

That was all for today. I still can't get over how amazing the love scene was, prior to interruption! It certainly helped build the anticipation for their actual first time to a fever pitch! These two are hands down the hottest couple on daytime TV, gay or straight!