Loaded Gun

I mentioned in recent entry that Rita Bauer is a character that still comes up fairly often in online conversations between GUIDING LIGHT fans. Another such unforgettable figure who is still the subject of devotion and remembrance is Ben Warren, brother of Ross Marler.

A controversial storyline in 1998 found Blake almost completely unable to resist her powerful and growing attraction to her brother-in-law. Ben initially began his conquest of Blake out of a desire to punish Ross, but almost immediately developed real feelings for her. This set, Loaded Gun, focuses on the disastrous consequences that come when Ross walks in on the two after Blake has finally given in to her tortured lust.

Ross' accidental shooting of Blake came as a great surprise at the time, marred though it was by the heavy, overwrought style of Esensten and Harmon-Brown's writing. (Not for nothing, these two just this week slammed GUIDING LIGHT and rewrote history when they announced in Soap Opera Digest that their new appointment as headwriters of ALL MY CHILDREN was the first time they'd assumed control of a show "that wasn't on life support"-- a mighty brazen assertion, considering the shameful amount of damage they did to GL!)

This clipset also gives a good picture of the friendship between Ben and Beth as well as showing just how very snide, petty, and vicious Harley was when it came to Beth. It features a classic set-up of Phillip needing to maintain total control of Beth's life, Harley feeling threatened by Phillip's obvious feelings, and then attacking Beth for it. Also on display is a rapidly declining Holly as she sneaks secret nips from her flask and marches ever closer to her fateful "Nursery Rhyme Stalker" story.

All the characters collect at Cedars in the wake of the shooting and become involved another shocking confrontation as Ross, consumed with grief and rage, holds Ben, Beth, Holly, and Hart (Frank Grillo in his last months on the show) at gunpoint. I really enjoy group events like this that bring together a variety of characters, so this is my favorite part of the set. It's also the part that (I think) does the best job of ramping up the drama quotient without lurching too far into the land of hamfisted melodrama.

This really is a great set of clips and a good look at one of the more successful stories of this time period. With Hunt Block and Jerry verDorn front and center, it's nearly impossible to go wrong and this storyline really did make great use of them both, for the most part.

So, enjoy Loaded Gun

clip 1 , clip 2 , clip 3 , clip 4 , clip 5 , clip 6

clip 7 , clip 8 , clip 9 , clip 10 , clip 11 , clip 12

clip 13 , clip 14 , clip 15 , clip 16 , clip 17

******

For another look at the attraction between Ben and Blake, refer to the Irresistible blog entry.

Meanwhile, I'll see you all right here next week!

---ivnkplng