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| Carly Corinthos Jacks is the BEST. And she knows it. |
General Hospital, hands down, does this the best. Both writers and actors are able craft and shape the most realistic storylines they can, given the medium. This means that while a 17-year-old boy can wake up from a year long coma (after being shot in the head when he was what, 12? riiight) with his memory and speech and mobility all in tact, at least we don't have witches and wizards and monkeys running around the place....I'm looking at you Passions.
My all-time favorite character on GH is Caroline “Carly” Benson-Quartermaine-Corinthos-Alcazar-Jacks. The top two reasons I love the character: #1 She’s a bad girl. She knows what she wants, and has been known to do whatever it takes to get it. You mad? This one is always with a secret, or a scheme, and she's never afraid to shout in a bitch’s face, or in some instances pull out a gun on an ex-husband. Love it. #2 She is loyal. Carly may keep a secret here and there. She’ll even lie under oath if she has to. She will hire your new boyfriend’s childhood friend to seduce him and break you two up because you betrayed her. So she’s super-protective of her family and friends, is that such a terrible trait?
Given a set of extenuating circumstances Carly will always take the course of action most likely to keep everyone safe and protected. Outside of the more extreme situations where she’s in protective mode, she’s in full-on beast mode in a second if you step to her. Not to say Carly's the throw-down type. But you really don't wanna get too close and/or put your hand in her face. She'll make you regret it, or spend thirteen weeks trying...
The 2012 NYE party scene is one of my favorites because it shows how tough-as-nails Carly can be. She's torn up that her son is mad at her, and hurting, but she's not about to cower and back down just because Sonny and everyone else wants to flip their lids. I love it when people come at Carly like there's a possible chance in hell their morality compass could make her feel bad. It's funny to me how Sonny's old/new/old/new girlfriend, Kate, is trying to be his mouth piece. She thinks she's so big and bad, but Carly isn't impressed.
This scene is also one of my favorite things about soap operas - period. In real life people shy away from confrontation. No one has the balls to really say what they really mean to anyone's face. And trust me, it's not because we are some super altruistic fucks who don't wanna hurt anyone else's feelings. For the most part, people shy from confrontation and "drama" because they're afraid that the truth will hurt their own feelings. Bitches can't handle real, it's bad for their egos. That's why soaps are great. Whether or not you love and agree with the character(s) they are ready to go all the time. Love it!
Last year Carly’s husband, Jacks, sort of faked his own death. But it's not like she knew he was going to do it, and helped him. Everyone thought Jacks was dead, and even though she had a feeling he might not be, Carly didn't exactly have all the proof. At her NYE party Carly’s brain-damaged, ungrateful, and bratty wretch of a son, Michael, told everyone that Jacks was alive and that Carly knew it and didn't tell anyone. Michael is Carly’s son with AJ. He was adopted by her second husband, Sonny (who’s out for Jacks’ blood because they’ve been beefing over the same girl since 1994 or 95). Meanwhile Carly’s child with Sonny (Morgan) was adopted by Jacks a few years ago.
Now, everyone at this party is going ape on Carly for keeping the secret. Jacks’ best friend, Alexis, is all bent outta shape. Sonny’s pissed as hell, and his bird, Kate is up in Carly’s grill because she wants to prove she'll stand by Sonny no matter what. But what no one's willing to acknowledge, even for one second, was that Carly’s technically still married to Jacks. And even though they’re kind of separated, the woman took some vows. She has to honor them and her husband, so if he's trying to be dead then who is she to blow up his spot? Especially considering she can't actually confirm anything... The other thing no one's willing to budge on was the fact that Sonny (mob boss murderer extraordinaire) was legit looking to kill Jacks himself. Sonny was all 17 shades of berserk when they thought Jacks had died. Not because he missed him or anything, but because Jacks had helped Sonny’s new wife, Brenda (the broad they’ve been beefing over for 16+ years) disappear.
Even though Carly was protecting Jacks from Sonny - and her children from having to pick sides - nobody wants to give her even that much. But do you think she's fazed? Do you think she's all torn up because a room full of hacks who she pretty much chooses to tolerate are yelling at her? No. Carly couldn't give less of a fuck. She's about her family and doing what's best for them. What an inspiration! Carly's the type who knows where the lines are drawn. You're either on her team, or not, and she's gonna do what she's got to do regardless. Stay mad.
