THE LOVE ISSUE

COVER STORY

Would they do ANYTHING for LOVE?

A good story has many layers of the most powerful of emotions: LOVE. People love their families and friends, they love their children and pets, they love their work, heck a person can even love a good grilled cheese when the weather strikes! 

We show and give love in different ways and to different degrees based on what the subject of our love means to us. And in the fictional world of Web-Serials and Soaps all this mishegoss about love is heightened to the gods. These people feel their emotions on high alert. When a soap character suffers from a broken heart it may truly feel like the word is ending! When they meet that special person it may make them act and react in a whole host of wild ways. At the end of the day, soap opera love is potent and a passion filled mood ruler that can change life itself... and in some cases it can be obsessive, strange and very very dangerous! 

I chose three characters for the LOVE issue for one reason: each one has a very complicated and sorted history with the power and fury of Love. They find it in the people they romance, in the children they raise and in their ability to use it to their advantage and get ahead. 

The three faces of love are Abby | Jacqueline | Rosie 

Let's dive in!

ABBY -- One Day at A Time

Abby Lawson is a fiery woman who stands up for herself and pulls no punches, but she also gets herself into trouble all for the sake of love. Her attraction for Dominick Robertson led them into a May/December relationship that raised eyebrows all over Twin Peaks but ambition somewhat trumped love when she began to want more of a footing in the family business. Scandal followed when she began to drug Dominick by orders of the devilish Fredrick to keep him away from Dom's back from the dead ex-wife Eva. Things went from bad to worse when Dominick fell into a coma, Abby's affections spilled over to Ethan (again!) and they made love. When Dom came-to, he and Abby planned to remarry but as fate would have it, Ethan came clean about his affair and Abby's pregnancy and the wedding was off. You see, Abby loves hard and she loves for real, but she often forgets to check herself when things get hot and heavy in life. Now she finds herself pregnant with her estranged husband's grandson's child and fighting for the return of her first child she believed dead! Happy (?) New year Abby! 

JACQUELINE -- To Benight & Beguile 

What's a witch do to when she's in love with a vampire who just can't give himself to her because he's still in love with his first wife? Bury her alive obviously! This is the case for obsessive love and Jacqueline Gray. She and Sebastian Lord had a brief and somewhat happy relationship but when he discovered her hand in his son's hearing loss (a spell gone wrong), all bets were off. Her destructive nature soon took over and she plotted to bury her romantic rival Evie Jordan-Lord -- alive! Jacqueline's obsession with Sebastian has led her into a very dark place. To make matters worse, she forced herself into a marriage of convivence with Johnathon DeViana hoping his powerful connections would be a good cover for her bewitching past. But it didn't change her affections for her main squeeze Sebastian and in the finale of Book6 she snatched him away and hid him somewhere out of sight just when his family needs him most. Now that Benight is on hiatus there are many unanswered questions: where the hell is Sebastian and what does Jacqueline's crazy mind have planned next? 

ROSIE -- Footprints 

Love of family is strong but the love of a mother for a child is virtually unbreakable. This is the case for Rosie Jimenez-Fisher who was left heartbroken over the revelation that her adopted child Gabrielle was biologically that of Molly and Brent Fisher, the same child the diabolical Loretta Regan secretly stole from them. This reveal has sent Rosie's life into somewhat of a tailspin. Mothers have been known to go to the ends of the world for their children, even pick up heavy cars to free them in an accident; one-part adrenaline one-part motherly power. After little Gabrielle's very painful and very bitter custody trial it was clear that Rosie had these qualities too -- and after recent events in King's Bay-- maybe one more: MURDER! You see after the trail Rosie hasn't been in the best frame of mind, a difficult family battle will do that to even the best person! She's now back from a quick trip out of town for some much-needed alone time, but very suspiciously after Loretta's sudden death by poison! And the suspect (so far) is a woman with coincidently the same color red hair as Elly Vanderbilt, the lawyer who argued against Rosie and Travis in Gabrielle's custody case. Keep in mind Phixies, this is NOT spoiler but my very, very curious reader's theory. So, could the love and pain of a scorned mother have led to murder!?!? We'll find out soon enough! 

THE PHIX SIX

As the world of Web-Serials continues to grow, a fantastic animated series has been spreading it's wings for close to two years now! Over on YouTube, creative new way of telling soapy stories has bloomed! It's a space where you can watch your favorite characters lives in love and turmoil all in a colorful palate of animated wonder in the span of just 9-minute episodes! We've NEVER seen anything like it so the PHIX FILES just had to get in contact with writer/creator Gomer Joseph to get the low down on his series IN TIMES LIKE THESE!

THE PHIX: Hi Gomer! Thank you so much for taking some time to chat with me. Your series is incredibly unique among all that are out there. We've seen so many text based and audio dramas, but I have never personally seen an animated soap before and it's such a fun and fresh idea, What was your inspiration?

GOMER JOSEPH: After I finished working on my Christian suspense book series Never As It Seems, I was about to work on another book series, until so many story and character ideas started flooding my brain, which drew me to create In Times Like These. This time around, since I knew that YouTube was becoming a new way of watching TV, I felt like that was the way to help revitalize the daytime soap opera format and possibly introduce the genre to a new generation.

PHIX: How Long does it take you to write, edit, record and animated each episode?

GJ: Writing, producing, and animating episodes takes HOURS (almost feels like a full-time job). Thankfully the series has a loyal viewership and it's growing, which keeps me going and Lord willing I'll be able to get monetized with the amount of work that I've put into the series for almost 2 full years.

PHIX: While we now have so many ways to consume serialized dramas, I feel like there is always room to grow our little endeavors into new more innovating ways like you have, do you feel there is anything else lacking in the web-soap world? 

GJ: I don't think there's anything really lacking in the web soap world at all. In fact, I think it's growing. As for my series, I feel like I offer a different perspective since I am a born-again Christian, but I've made it a mission not to make In Times Like These preachy or corny, to showcase different characters with so many different beliefs in an honest way.

PHIX: I for sure don't see it as preachy or corny! That being said, using your animation is such a great way to tell the story of In Times Like These. Soaps are a visual medium and coming from a text-based serial myself I have used images to help set scenes. What's something you wish you could do more of on In Times Like These visually? 

GJ: As the series grows, I'd truly like to hire someone to design and revamp the sets/background images that are already shown. Since I use Vyond, I would really hope that the software updates where characters can increase in movement and even emotion.

PHIX: Your series tackles a lot of stories. Especially family connections, but there was also a very big story involving the younger cast and a school shooting which is so current and important, and I'd even say difficult to tell in a way that is sensitive and respectful. Is there a type of storyline you'd never do?

GJ: There is one storyline I'd absolutely never do, not just because of my beliefs, but because I don't really see how it brings drama to any forum. Throuples is something I'll absolutely never do. Soaps are known for love triangles and the point is that one individual has to choose one person over the other. They can't be in love with two people and have both.

PHIX: Now it's time for the fun stuff, thank you again for letting us into your world! What can you tell us to watch out for in the months to come on "In Times Like These"? 

GJ: Like you already mentioned, the teens and their families have been affected by the school shooting, and they still have yet to face Kieve Burke for what he did. Again, his father was revealed to be alive after Kieve shot him, but the characters are unaware of Finnegan's condition or location. So it's truly a ticking time bomb.

Another ticking time bomb is Yvette's pregnancy. She hasn't revealed to anyone that Zeke is the father of her baby. Nachelle already forgave Zeke for cheating before. Unfortunately, he cheated again and had a BABY behind Nachelle's back! After Nachelle lost her sister Yulissa in the shooting, Zeke betraying her like this isn't something she'd be willing to forgive.

In an attempt to mirror the unfortunate political climate/division that the nation is facing, Heidi and Owen are going against each other for district attorney, and like real life, it will split Valley Park into two in the coming months. 

On top of that, Owen is seducing Wanda, and it seems like he won't stop until he has her, which would destroy her marriage to Udell. But for the sake of her daughter Yvette, Wanda is trying to hold on to her marriage with Udell with everything she's got.

Viewers have already discovered that Sean Apinya murdered 14 year old Dani Clark. But after this revelation, this storyline will be even more deadly, which will bring in even more twists and turns.

Lorenzo Russo's illegitimate daughter Vivian will have to fight with all of her might to remain as CEO since the Russos are circling around her to take her off of her throne.

Speaking of the Russos, Esidor Russo has rekindled his affair with Isabel Torres, but he doesn't want to lose her and will do whatever it takes to keep it a secret that he blackmailed Dr. Terri Murphy for the assisted suicide of Esidor's grandfather. Because the viewers and specific characters know that if Terri was arrested, Kieve wouldn't have existed, which means that Isabel's daughter Yulissa could still be alive to this day.

PHIX: Thank you again Gomer! Keep up all the great work, AND drama!

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GREATEST SOAP LOVES

Super-couples need a lot of things to be truly Super. They need a antagonist who'll always be sure to throw a wrench in their connection. They need adventure to sustain their passion. They'll need danger, fun and tragedy and a whole lot of fans to keep coming back for more. 

But at most of all they need LOVE. 

These couples, are my favorite Soap Couples of all time and to me show us how chemistry between actors on TV can really make & bring the romance to life on your screens. There aint nothin' like them!

Bo & Hope -- DAYS OF OUR LIVES

From Teen loves to Super couple rockstars they've been through it all! Love triangles, hot tub electrocutions, cruises of deception explosions, a wicked princess, big fancy weddings, horrible death of a child and so many Stefano DiMera twists and turns its too hard to count. Lately, and unfortunately, Hope has been at Comatose Bo's bedside off screen. Hopefully they'll return for a big juicy family reunion! 

John & Marlena -- DAYS OF OUR LIVES

There is no other couple like them in daytime. Their storied history is filled with iconic tales of identity switches, love affairs, crisscrossing the globe to find each other in capers and kidnapping after kidnapping after kidnapping to the tunnels of Paris & Stefano’s hidden island of Aremid. Nothing, absolutely nothing could break their love, not even the Devil himself. Literally! Alas, the time has come to say goodbye to #JARLENA as his irreplaceable portrayer Drake Hogestyn has passed away. So perhaps will John. But we'll always and forever have THAT SCENE on the docks when Marlena returns in 1991. Its romantic. Its gorgeous. It’s true LOVE! 

 Bobby & Pamela -- DALLAS 

Speaking of Gorgeous, does it get any more gorgeous and sexier than these two Lone Star state lovers? This romance was a Romeo & Juliet style affair. He from the prominent Ewing oil dynasty, she from their down and out bitter rival clan Barnes. But somehow, even pushing through all of Bobby's evil brother JR's schemes and cons they made it. Until, well, they didn't, and Pamala burns up in car. (but she didn't and that's a whole different story)

Cruz & Eden -- SANTA BARBARA 

Talk about making through a lot, The Ewings have nothing on Eden and Cruz of Santa Barbara! Yes, The Soap God's made these two unlikely paramours suffer SOOOO much! So much so it felt like maybe Helena Cassadine of General Hospital took a trip to California and dropped a curse on them too. Their romantic and very turbulent relationship that survived many, Many, MANY obstacles came to a terrible end when Eden suffered a mental breakdown as she slowly begins to recall the details of her brother’s murder, the event that changed her family’s life when the show began. Eden falls off a cliff into the Pacific to her supposed death shocking everyone in town and everyone watching through Tv! Eden & Cruz seemed invincible. She returns in several disguises and alter egos, but nothing is ever the same in Santa Barbara soapland. 

Adam & Carolyn -- Dark Shadows

Alright so they're not exactly the best example of mutual love -- at first, anyway. Adam would do just about anything for Carolyn including save her life on many occasions from mortal and magical beings alike. And in turn, she'd do the same when she hid him away in her family's mansion when he was accused of a murder that was actually an accidental death. This proved to be where they'd finally see each other for what they truly were: She a hopeless romantic heiress with a slight case of reverse Stockholm Syndrome and he... well, he was a Frankenstein style monster with a bit of an anger problem that didn't know his own strength. Alas, even Carolyn knew that this love would not survive, and, in the end, they parted in ways only Dark Shadows could do.  

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