Guiding Light: "Otalia"

[Gatito Grande]

I'm kinda surprised this doesn't already have a thread (I even looked for a general Soaps thread to post on!). In the Lesbian 'Ship on TV category, it's all the rage!

"Otalia", for those of you who haven't heard, is the slowly growing f/f relationship between Olivia and Natalia (Are there a lot of Paisans in this town? ) on the soap, Guiding Light.

Now, Yours Truly would get another hole in mon head, before watching a soap opera (I, too, went through a brief All My Children phase in college . . . before Bianca was even conceived, I think! ), but there are---Praise the Internet Gods!---ways to follow the 'ship, w/o gluing one's arse to the couch in the afternoon (or TiVoing it).

Here's the sight I use, to keep up: http://www.youtube.com/user/Otaliafan. Enjoy!

GG ...and let the obsessing begin! "Dyke Drama"-O-Rama! Out

[tarawhipped]

Guiding Light Canceled

I'm sure it's just a coincidence, right? Heh heh.

-Cameron

ETA: Unless that story's an April Fool's joke, but I assume CNN doesn't have enough wit for that.

[xita]

I know, I was suspicious of them bringing in the storyline with this possible cancellation out there. Anyway, still catching it to see how they are doing. The storyline seems stagnant to me right now. I am not sure they have the courage to really let them kiss and stuff.

[Rocktoddy]

Another Otalia-holic reporting in!

Yes, I too have fallen for this amazing couple. Today's episode was heartbreaking, with Olivia finally confessing her love... sigh.

Sometimes, soaps can be good *gasp*

But you know, just for the sake of discussion, I find that I'm not that heavily emotionally invested in Otalia as I was with W/T. Yet. Maybe it's the format or the genre, I don't know... I guess getting burned by TPTB will do that to ya . Having said that, I do love all this drama-y angst . I know it will make the pay-off all the sweeter! ('cause even though CBS cancelled GL, I'm still keeping faith P&G will find a way to keep the show alive.)

And I'm not all that worried about the (amount of) physical stuff they will or will not show between Olivia and Natalia. In this case (meaning, in soapland) it's all about the journey anyway, never about the destination. The minute Otalia's officially a couple, expect bad things to be thrown their way. Just the rules of the game I guess, so I'll just kick back and enjoy the ride!

[the hero factor]

('cause even though CBS cancelled GL, I'm still keeping faith P&G will find a way to keep the show alive.)

The minute Otalia's officially a couple, expect bad things to be thrown their way.

So, am I the only one kinda happy about the cancellation?

I'd been resisting letting myself get into Otalia. 'Cause it's a soap, and knowing soaps, once the two of them got together, they would ultamitely have to be ripped apart in stupid, OMGTHEDRAMA, soap opera-y ways. No thanks, I'll pass.

But I figure, if the show's ending soon, then maybe TPTB will have enough time to get them together, but not tear them apart. I figure, the cancellation probably increases their chances of a happy ending by, like, 75%.

So, once I heard about the cancellation, I decided to give Otalia a shot.

Perhaps not the best attitude to have, but too much getting burned will do that to ya, I guess.

[xita]

Oh no, you are not the only one with that thought. But, it's hard to get invested again after you've been burned as bad as kittens were. I enjoy these type of things because I can be detached. So much better that way.

[Rocktoddy]

My fellow Kittens. I am a goner. Yes, this past week has sucked me into the Otalia storyline even further than it already had, which makes me dare say that this is one of the best love stories I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing. It pains me to say it because I would never have even thought to say it (and all that for a freakin' soap opera no less!), but... It might even surpass my love for W/T and J/7. It's just THAT good.

Now for all of you who are still wondering about getting invested in this story, remember that this has been in the making since Jan last year (and goes even farther back than that, CC said in yesterday's chat that she and one of the Head writers have been discussing this for 7 years now) and that every step of the way that this story has gone has been meticulously thought out.

Everything, and when I say everything, I mean everything, *FITS*.

Please, do yourself a favour and get caught up with this most beautiful of love stories. You WON'T regret it. (... trust me, I'z got me some insiders information, ssshhhh! )

P.s.: Oh and I also think to really *get* Otalia you need to know ALL of their backstory, or at least, as much as possible, where it all began etc. willowtarafan1:p has a YT-playlist with earlier clips of the Otalia-saga that's not on the "Official" Otaliafan channel .

[narrativeflow]

Thx for the link, it's making the rounds--in the Otalia crack den, IF (the fanfic site), on TWoP, etc.... they're a bunch of ferrets when it comes to finding older clips, which seems to be an ongoing project. Every little bit helps.

I'm not watching this soap. I'm just doing it for Research. Really.

[Rocktoddy]

You are abso-frakkin'-lutely welcome! Anything to spread the Otalia-love! The usual Otalia hang-outs got my back .

Found another YT-er with some more older vids pertaining to the different people Olivia and Natalia were before they found each other. Some of those are really hilarious (like Olivia fantasizing about marrying Gus in the Gazebo of Love *snort* AS IF!).

Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/user/OtaliaNut

[Rocktoddy]

Okay first off, I know I'm double-posting, but I doubt that anyone would mind .

Second, I may be going to sound like a broken record, but anyone who visits the Kitten and is not rabidly searching for this thread to talk about Otalia needs to be informed. Stat!

It can be a little bit daunting to set foot in the fictional town of Springfield, especially if you've never seen the show before in your entire life (I know, I've been there). The relevant clips are provided in the posts above, so if you want to find out about The Greatest Love Story relatively unspoiled, you can do so now.

Others who need a little bit more convincing, here are some links to articles which have been posted earlier this past week. They are spoilery for new Otalians, but it's the only way I can point out the geniality of Otalia.

Not only Otalia, the whole show gets credit too, but... Otalia kinda pwns all:
http://daytimeconfidential.com/2009/04/otalia-the-art-of-the-matter

This one talks about The Children's Hour and The Celluloid Closet (and how Otalia is rewriting their canon):
http://1000worlds.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/purple-postscript/

There's also this really smart and funny blog, written by someone who aptly calls herself an OTALIA widow!
http://mindschmootz.net/2009/03/ode-to-an-otalia-widow%E2%80%A6well-almost/

and another blogpost later, where she's getting sucked into the story herself:
http://mindschmootz.net/2009/04/confessions-of-an-otalia-widow/

If you have found yourself liking the show and loving the couple, there's a wonderful place called the Big Purple Dreams board, http://z8.invisionfree.com/otaliafans/ where you can show your support for all things Otalia!

[Gatito Grande]

Lovin' your links, Rocktoddy!

Just to let y'all know: I've drunk the Kool-Aid, climbed on (or under) the Purple Bus. "My name is GG, and I'm an Otalia-fanatic" (butt on the couch at 3PM no less---making my unemployment work for me! )

GG Forever let it be known: I started this thread! Out

And Otalia is certainly helping me cope w/ yesterday's horrible "No Xena Movie (w/ LL&ROC), Ever" news...

[Rocktoddy]

Hey, you're welcome GG! These insightful and intelligent articles and sharp-witted blogs are worthy of being read by pretty much anyone who's ever loved a TV same-sex couple.

You know, I've been thinking about what I said in a previous post (and what many many have been saying before me on other places on the net) about once soap couples get together, they HAVE to break them up again (like the hero factor said: "ripped apart in stupid, OMGTHEDRAMA, soap opera-y ways.")

I realize that that is a tired old soap plot device, one you use when you have ABSOLUTELY no idea anymore what to do with a story and its characters and are desperate to have SOMETHING even remotely "interesting" happen to them. It's a boring plot-device I tell you and one that's indicative of non-caring on the writers part. I believe (and it is already proven to me in the full with this current s/l) that GL is not going to go down that road, but is doing something ENTIRELY different in this regard. They're not going to break up Otalia (once they REALLY get together) any time soon, for a long time (if pray God GL may find home on another network), they're not stupid gits.

Otalia could be facing so many obstacles, so many more stories are there to tell, WITHOUT having to let inane outside forces break them up. I can see them having to deal with individual issues, while still being together as a couple, as business partners, as a family. And because of the rich and fleshed-out backgrounds Natalia and especially Olivia have, I would be interested seeing them do ANYTHING (again, this has been proven with all the laundry folding they've been doing ha!).

And I think the writers see that this works best when they're together. Sure, they can fight fight fight, HELL have them fight as much as you want, and break them up for a bit, let them come back together; they're a freaking supercouple for yegad's sake, they won't last long without one another. This entire s/l has the world at its feet, because this has simply NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE ON SUCH A GOOD, HIGH-QUALITY LEVEL. They won't have to compete with the boring s/ls of old, there is no "oh were have we seen this before, oh right, EVERYWHERE!", no, with Otalia, they have soap gold in their hands.

Superb writing for maturely developed characters, majorly gifted actors, one of the most loyal fanbases you could get in the entire world; the LGBT-fans. And you know what? I wouldn't even care if down the line (meaning; after YEARS) they do decide to break them up. As long as it's realistically done and after many years of compellingly good storytelling of happy times and of sad times. Basically, I just want Otalia to be one damn fine good supercouple with rich and full lives. That's all I'm asking. And somehow I don't have a single doubt in my mind that the writers (meaning Ellen Wheeler and Jill Lorie Hurst) would hesitate, not even for a split second, in giving us this.

[Kendahl897]

My understanding is that the Otalia website BIG PURPLE DREAMS has 3,000 members now in just 4 months and are adding more at a rate of 5-100 a day. That's pretty damn impressive, and just goes to show how worldwide and big thsi fanbase is. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like it.

[Rocktoddy]

Amazing how one week can make all the difference. Man, Friday's ep was just made of all kinds of sweet, fluffy, squee-worthy, aww-moments. We SO needed to see Teh Cute with these two! It's been a long time coming!! I watched the ep a couple of times and must've watched and re-watched the Otalia "First Impromptu Date" moments at least a dozen of times over. And OMG, the doorsex! Argh! They must be trying to kill all Otalians with this electrifying tension.

Sigh.

And Emma... oh dear Jellybean. Team Love Glue really is stepping it up this week. How cute was she? "This is fun. Just like this." and "Why aren't you two holding hands? Come on!" The writers are so awesome with these little ambiguous scenes. Reminded me a little of the secret Olivia-Sister Ann meeting hehe. And Jackie Tsirkin is getting better and better with each scene (who wouldn't with Crystal Chappell as their mentor? ).

[Gatito Grande]

Shameless plug: one of the great things about the Otalia storyline, is that it's the first time I'm aware of, where a broadcast same-sex relationship, has occurred in the context of a character's Christian faith.

With that in mind, I made a blog post about Otalia (to a readership, predominantly, of other Christians known to myself---many of them LGBT), here.

GG Natch, I'd love imput from y'all. Out

[Rocktoddy]

Oh boy, I'm re-watching some of the older clips and I'm reading Natalia in a whole new light (also in thanks to Destini's special edition podcast with JL). Everything Nat has said previously which could be read as ambiguously vague and insecure and guilt-ridden, just made me realize how long and how much she indeed has loved Olivia when seen in hindsight 20/20. Jessica Leccia has done internal quiet struggle SO FREAKING WELL. So subtle, so great. Those Dimples have me whipped like nobody else.

Sigh.

This show is good y'all.

And CC? I love your signs of the times. No need for artificial rejuvenation in my most humblest of opinions, oh great Goddess you. Older women are hot! Just sayin' . (Plz don't smite me down!)

Over to my impressions of this week, which consisted of only one Otalia day (which I get, GL's starting to spread 'm a little thin, 'cause of JL's "little Dimple in the oven" I believe ).

I know some people out there are really REALLY getting frustrated with the ever so slow and gradual pacing of this pair, but if they stop and thought about it, they'd find that it's still true to the heart and realism of Otalia. Sure, the 'Door-of-Love' scene was filled to the brim with sexual repressed tension and we ALL lapped it up like the parched fangirls that we are, and I guess some of us expected to see that followed up again this week.

But the reality is, that people are just NOT high-strung all the time. It's an ebb and flow. This was a new day, libidos have calmed down and Otalia is trying to get in sync again with each other, attempting to somewhat get comfortable in this mutual attraction. It's still great storytelling IMO without falling prey to the pitfalls of soap cliches.

I love how we get to see Natalia's point of view now (and her journey of courting Olivia). The practiced phone call was so adorable! Who hasn't done that? Teehee! And a banana-peanut butter sandwich shall never be the same ever again... hot darn!

Previews for next week... The much speculated about romantic weekend getaway... "Just the one room?" Hellz to the Yeah, Nat! You know you want it!

And GG: I totally agree, the faith and religion angle in this storyline is truly one of many revolutionary aspects about Otalia. I'm looking forward to more of your insights about this (here or on your personal blog). I myself have been raised in a Bethel Evangelical church/family, but have since long fallen off the organized religion bandwagon. Otalia however, is giving me a renewed sense of faith. This has indeed never been done, and the fact that Guiding Light is doing it, can only be nothing but commended! It's also tickling me hella funny that by doing this, they're basically shutting all those fundamental right-winged religious groups the hell up.

Oh and don't get me started on GL's brilliant (re)definition of Family for the uneducated straight masses. Olivia, Natalia, Jellybean (and Rafe)... true family.

Otalia. So awesome on all levels...

[TheOriginalLostSoul]

Now, for those who can watch it...

I highly recommend catching the final few months of "Guiding Light" because, it's gonna be very Otalia intense.

[Gatito Grande]

the final few months of "Guiding Light"

With all the efforts being made to save it (on another network)? Oh ye of little faith, TOLS!

How effin' awesome was that JL podcast? (So glad I downloaded it on my slow-poke dial-up overnight!)

Rocktoddy: as I have, unlike you, barely been able to resist signing-up for the Big Purple Crackhouse (where they put the anal in analysis, I'm sure ), maybe you can comment on this. JL said she'd like to see an (ahem) "celebration" (public) of Liv&Nat's relationship at some point. When pressed further, she DID finally utter the "W" word (wedding! ). So, here's my question for you: did anyone else notice something "handy" at the Doorway-of-Love? (4/24) Both Olivia and Natalia are right-handed . . . and that's the hand one usually shakes hands with...

...AND YET, I couldn't help but notice that Olivia used her left hand, to take Natalia's left hand, also (I think Natalia brought up her right hand at the end, also).

GG Hmmm, left hands: what are left hands {cough} fourth finger thereon {cough} known for? Foreshadowing maybe? Out

ETA: Ooops, as I'm asking you this, Rocktoddy, I just noticed you're from (or at least in) The Netherlands, so let me clarify. In the USA, the fourth finger of the left hand is where one wears a wedding ring (I know that in Germany, and perhaps other places, it's on the right hand). HTH.

[TheOriginalLostSoul]

the final few months of "Guiding Light"

With all the efforts being made to save it (on another network)? Oh ye of little faith, TOLS!

Not little faith, just past experience...

[Rocktoddy]

the final few months of "Guiding Light"

With all the efforts being made to save it (on another network)? Oh ye of little faith, TOLS!

Not little faith, just past experience...

My faith on this one is just like Natalia's. BIG! It's gonna get picked up. The only concern I could possibly have with the show right now is that the writers may succumb to letting the fans steer the wheel (as in "falling in love with the fandom" and giving us whatever we want ... don't think that's going to help the s/l... we have fanfic for those "Team Just Get It On!" quibbles ). So I hope EW and JLH are going to stick to their own classic soapy supercouple vision, they've certainly done a great job so far.

Hmm GG, no I wasn't familiar with the symbolism of the left-hand vs. right-hand when it comes to wedding rings. I looked it up on Wiki and in The Netherlands it usually comes down to if a person is Catholic or not do they wear the wedding band on the left-hand. Otherwise, we usually wear them on our right-hand.

I haven't seen your point raised elsewhere yet GG, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it indeed was a bit of foreshadowing. The way they held hands in the doorway could easily have been the same hand-holding one does when standing in front of the altar, before speaking the vows .

Btw, I love JL being discrete on the podcast, basically calling out the W-word, without doing so overtly (or maybe she was just restraining herself on giving away too much spoilery goodness ). With the aftermath of prop 8 still out there, it feels kind of refreshing to hear someone say that Otalia might be slated for a public celebration of their love of some kind. Call it this, call it that, it's still what it is. Otalia showing the world they love each other and that they are family. It fits in perfectly with the 'label-free'-ness of this story (transcending the restrictions a label can put upon a story, thus becoming something so much bigger than focusing on the label itself could ever hope to do).

IMO, it does help the marriage-equality cause better by showing their love, instead of telling the masses this is love (like how they have handled the whole PR-thing with so much dignity before now... that this wasn't "just" a Lesbian S/L, this is a Love Story). It is so Writing 101; Show, don't tell!

And if the writers do take input from us fans in consideration... I'd like to see Olivia in a dashing wedding tux... ow yeah. Bask in that image y'all!

[Kendahl897]

Otalia is the best thing on TV right now. And I don't the writers will succumb. They did a pretty good job of keeping it slow when others wanted to spped it up. Good thing its EW's and JLH's "baby"..
(Though I certainly wouldn't mind a kiss..XOXOX)

[Gatito Grande]

I'd like to see Olivia in a dashing wedding tux... ow yeah

Heh: I have seen that one (wish) before. Can't see a tux exactly . . . but perhaps a creamy-white vested (cuz CC rocks a vest so well!) pants-suit w/ tuxxy overtones?

Though I certainly wouldn't mind a kiss..XOXOX

With the caveat that I'm as unspoiled as I can be, Kendahl: I honestly believe, that if they're fighting today (which they were), kissing will come SOON!

GG The hair-color isn't right, but this is still a nice image. Out

[Kendahl897]

Hmm,
I tend to think they're going to make us wait for a little bit. We'll all be as frustrated as Olivia at that point and then the kiss will happen when you least expect it, and my guess, it will just flow naturally out of the moment. That's the beauty of these writers. LOL

[Gatito Grande]

I understand that, Kendahl---and I have every reason to TRUST these writers who've been building this story for close to two years ---but Good GOD today's ep was frustrating!

In 6 minutes, 15 seconds of Otalia (less, if you only count to Jellybean's arrival) there was at 3 times I was frickin' SCREAMING at Olivia, "Kiss her! Dammit, KISS HER or I will!"

GG ...who must remember, in the immortal words of Callisto, "Patience is a Virtue" Out

[Rocktoddy]

I'd like to see Olivia in a dashing wedding tux... ow yeah

Heh: I have seen that one (wish) before. Can't see a tux exactly . . . but perhaps a creamy-white vested (cuz CC rocks a vest so well!) pants-suit w/ tuxxy overtones?

Oooh that would be nice too. Kinda like the look Ellen was rocking on her wedding day, only a bit more edgier? Yum.

I'm so psyched for today by the way. I'm secretly hoping for the much-awaited Mutual Kiss, if only 'cause of CC's Special Podcast timing and because so far we've had yet another full Otalia week... hmmm ... yeah, I'm reading some strong signals here teehee!

Tuesday's massage scene had me squee'ing y'all. So cute and adorable! The sex-eyed looks! The dimply smiles! The naked shoulders! Even with mind-melded Blankus Interruptus in the room, ha!

The fighting? Hot hawt hotter. Sexual tension FTMFW! I especially get a kick out of Nat in those scenes. Laughed my frakkin' ass off when she so snarkily imitated Liv's "Well maybe next time we should go to a religious retreat..." ROFL. JL killed me with that face. And Olivia's throwing of the clothes?! Priceless! Hahaha! Those two can be so much fun. Oh God.

Yesterday's outdoor hiking scenes: DAYUM. CC... She looked SO good and the pulling of Natalia's lapel jacket? 'nother shot of Hotness, thank you please. Would NOT have minded if there had been a little peck there. Sigh. Sizzling.

Oh and little Jellybean. No one can get mad at her, can they? I know I can't. She is just too precious, even if she did interrupt Mommy Weekend haha.

ETA: Well GG that's soaps for ya . Frustrating as all hell, but I kinda am loving it, every little baby step of the way. Once they do kiss though?

Ded. On. The. Floor. aTwitchin'.

And that's all I have to say about that .

[Gatito Grande]

Kinda like the look Ellen was rocking on her wedding day, only a bit more edgier? Yum.

Curvier, anyway.

GG Like the way you think, RT---but DO let's keep this thread unspoiled, shall we? Out

Heh: as the Grande PooBah Thread Creator, I declare: Speculation, Oui, Spoilerage, Non (unless it's EXTREMELY general, per what Yours Truly already posted from that JL pod. Yup, I'm makin' it up as I go along! )

[Gatito Grande]

And speaking of (Cheesy! Cheesier! Cheesiest!) speculation :

It's no secret that Jessica Leccia (Natalia) will soon be leaving for a month-long maternity leave. Crystal Chappell added (in her Big Purple Podcast last week) that this means that Natalia, too, will be "leaving Springfield".

The obvious question(s): Why? Under what circumstances?

Ergo, Speculation Time!

Here's GG's spoiler-free spec:

As has been hinted, there will be more trouble w/ Badboy Rafe, when he gets out of his halfway-house (I hope his trouble is merely a "misunderstanding" for his sake, but no matter). Natalia, w/ her Uber Motherlove, will go after him (w/ the intention of saving him somehow). I'm guessing that, at the same time, there may be trouble w/ Emma? (That would prevent Liv from accompanying Nat on her journey).

My personal fantasy: since this story has been full of so much Ol' Time Romance, I'd love to see a train-station departure scene. Hopefully by then, we'll see a Real Clinch (w/ Natalia begging off Olivia following her by saying "Take care of our daughter" ).

GG And then to explain why Natalia's out of contact? How 'bout make it that Rafe ran off somewhere exotic? (Heck, if Shayne and Dinah go to "Bosnia", for heaven's sake. ) Out

Like maybe Central America (cuz Rafe is Latino, after all)? Did EJ ______ (Rafe) go to Orlando w/ the cast&crew? If they did an establishing shot under a palm tree...

Now, WTF does Olivia do in Springfield w/o Natalia? That's spec for another time!

[Rocktoddy]

My personal fantasy: since this story has been full of so much Ol' Time Romance, I'd love to see a train-station departure scene. Hopefully by then, we'll see a Real Clinch (w/ Natalia begging off Olivia following her by saying "Take care of our daughter" ).

Happy sigh. Oh that would be sooo romantic. Nice fantasy!

GG And then to explain why Natalia's out of contact? How 'bout make it that Rafe ran off somewhere exotic? (Heck, if Shayne and Dinah go to "Bosnia", for heaven's sake. ) Out

ROFL! Those random establishing shots do crack me up. The one with Rafe standing in a corn field comes to mind, hehe... so subtle yeah .

Well, as you've noticed last week, I too, suck at spec! My prospects for why Nat has to leave Springfield (induced by JL's mat leave...) hmm... well, like others who have expressed their wishes for more of Nat's background (All spec, no spoilers, don't worry GG ), I too am hoping Nat's absence will have to do something with her past and/or friends/(distant) relatives back in Chicago (or like you said GG, they could even explore some of the Rivera's Latin roots, that would be cool too!). A s/l which can be explored even after Nat comes back to Springfield. It seems to me like the perfect opportunity to flesh out the character of Natalia some more. What that would entail exactly, I have no idea.

Monday's ep was so sweet... loved how they told each other why they loved one another. It was torture of the sweetest kind. Srsly, I squee'd and aww'd like a little girl again. They're so smitten like a couple of crushed teenagers! I can so relate ! Plus, Olivia's slicked back hair and the Blue Dress of Love didn't hurt my eyes either.

Yesterday my heart broke for Natalia. But I guess at the same time it's also a good thing that Nat has to face these impending consequences by herself. Brings her a step closer to physically wanting Olivia and yay, that's a-okay in my book!

Emma, keep working on that Love Glue and you'll have both your mommies at the FoL again in no time!

[xita]

Willow/Tara fans certainly learned patience as we had to wait almost a year for a kiss and that was after they were officially a couple. I don't mind the waiting, but it doesn't quite make sense with any kind of story, unfortunately. W/T were theoretically kissing off camera. I don't know how long I'll have to suspend disbelief with these two. Nice and convenient to have Olivia out of town this week since that buys another week without any progress in the physical department.

I still haven't decided if I prefer the show to end or go on. Either way, out of my hands. Still, they were adorable on Monday, adorable.

[Kendahl897]

I'm loving this storyline and I don't mind the wait. This is all so new and different for them both. It's definitely baby steps, but they do move forward each week. Natalia is now to the point where she is much more at ease around Olivia, expressing herself more physically. Some of the tension was eased. I have no doubt (mainly bc CC said so) that the rest will come later. (And seriously, JL is pretty big, there are limitations).