PC in Review
by Isabelle M. Pitcher

Port Charles in 3D
Desire : Deception : Destiny

"Love is in the hands of fate in Port Charles. Every month a new chapter, every Friday a revelation, and every day an event. Port Charles: Fate--it was meant to be." Port Charles fans have seen this promotion for the soap's new format of telling stories in twelve-week story arcs, similar to the telenovella format of Latin soaps, for a few months now. Some like the new format; others don't. Some love the storyline; some don't. The end of "Fate"'s second chapter, "Deception," marked the sprint for the finish line, leaving every PC fan hoping their fated couples are coupled in the end. The storylines are quicker, the changes faster, and some of the details, well...are left to the imagination. Who'll end up with whom, what does fate really mean, and will a soap ever really put individuals together that belong together? All good questions. And PC fans, old and new, are none too shy with their opinions, as even the most loyal of fans are passionately posting their views on message boards and throughout chat rooms everywhere. But one thing's for sure: if controversy and passionate feelings are what Port Charles's producers are looking for, they've developed a superb formula.

Leading up to Port Charles: Fate's first chapter, "Desire," each of the PC characters had been gravitating toward the people, circumstances, and issues that deeply move each of them individually. With the pursuit of those passions, sometimes the ones they love are left behind or exchanged for those who share their passions. Where the relationships go and how they grow or part is the premise behind the "Fate" arc series sparked by the explosion of Ian's car at the Recovery Room.

Eve/Ian/Kevin/Lucy

After an exhaustive search, Kevin was finally forced to believe that it was indeed Eve who was in the car with Ian when it exploded, confirmed by Mac Scorpio's recovery of Eve's wedding ring from the remains. Kevin rightfully blamed himself for having neglected Eve over the past few months while he was concentrating on the Livvie and Rachel saga, which left him reeling from the fact that Livvie is his daughter. To top it all off, he kept pushing Eve away while secretly confiding in Lucy. In the eyes of any PC fan this was far from honorable, and honor is Kevin's mantra. He hadn't been a supportive husband; he encouraged her to forget her mystery pursuits, yet continued to cut her out of his escapades. He had created this indelible wedge between him and Eve, a wedge that appeared irreparable and now, with her untimely death, he couldn't make it up to her.

Kevin self-destructed, plagued by guilt over his behavior and the knowledge that Eve is gone forever, a knowledge confirmed by the altered DNA report courtesy of Lucy. Okay, okay, it would never be that easy to change a DNA report on a computer. They would transmit read-only files, right?! But it is a soap after all. So when Lucy saved him from himself and the Lighthouse fire, Kevin's feelings for Lucy re-surfaced--feelings he thought had gone away long ago. But they were there all along, as all astute PC fans knew. Kevin unsuccessfully tried to leave town for Denver, but Lucy planned a surprise Christmas Eve party with everyone invited to profess Doc's effect on their lives. No one could convince him to stay until Livvie told him she needs a father. Once more, Lucy's bizarre antics saved Doc and he decided to stay in PC. Kevin returned the favor and saved Lucy from a mental patient that took her hostage at GH. In talking the patient through, Kevin professed his kinship to Lucy and he saved the day yet again. Kevin and Lucy went on to spend the next month rekindling their destined love.

Thanks to Kevin's preoccupation with everyone but Eve, Eve had continued to partner with the ever charming Dr. Ian Thornhart in hopes of solving the mystery of the blue-dot markings on their patients who were consistently showing up dead followed by altered patient charts. The further Kevin distanced himself from Eve, the closer she got to Ian (of course who wouldn't work that for all it was worth, huh?). Unlike Kevin, Ian put Eve first, widening the cracks in Eve and Kevin's relationship. No matter how Eve tried fighting it, and goodness knows she tried, Ian kept demonstrating that he was there for her when, in most cases, Kevin was not. So when Ian decided to leave town without a word to Eve, it's no wonder she went chasing after him at the Recovery Room. Deep down she knew why, but she wanted to hear it from him. So she got into the ill-fated vehicle in hopes of hearing what she and all PC hoped was coming.

In Lucy's typical fashion, Kevin's business became her business. No matter what happens in their respective lives, Lucy and Kevin seem to always be working it through together. They are more than just friends, most would say. Lucy became pre-occupied with Doc's relationship, then subsequent paternity, since her secretive DNA test confirmed Kevin was indeed Livvie's father. From that moment on, her obsession grew as she became Kevin's confidante. Kevin and Lucy's bond, seemingly inevitable, kept strengthening. And now, it was more powerful than ever. All Lucy wanted was for Doc to be happy--that is, as long as she could be part of his life.

Needless to say, although she was saddened for Doc when Eve died in the explosion, she was secretly happy that Eve was out of the picture. Not in an evil way, just in Lucy's typical universe-meant-it-to-be-sorta way. Then, as the first to learn that Eve and Ian weren't the ones in the car, well, Lucy's mind ran amuck. How was she the first you may ask? Well, via interception of the DNA report, of course. In Lucy's world, she let herself be convinced that Ian and Eve ran away together and used this elaborate plot to blow up Ian's car, throwing in a couple of dead bodies to keep everyone off the scent, just so that Eve wouldn't have to tell Kevin that she's having an affair with Ian. She couldn't possibly let her Doc find out that Eve had left him. Heaven forbid. So, what else was she to do but alter the DNA report? It only took two days worth of scenes to communicate that point, not because she struggled with whether to do it or not, mind you...although she did pause for a moment or two...not long enough to think clearly, obviously.

Ian Thornhart blew into town a while back, not making many friends along the way. He'd started to grow on the staff, as they'd seen him selflessly help patients one after another, without the least regard for himself. He remains a little rough around the edges, but likeable nonetheless. His passions run deep, a love for medicine and helping patients--all the while struggling with a deepening love for Eve, a married woman. Initially pairing up to start up the GH Clinic, followed by working closely to solve the blue-dot murders, he couldn't escape from his feelings. Even when Eve made it abundantly clear that Kevin was her husband and she would make good on every promise she ever made to him, it couldn't extinguish the torch he had burning for her. As a principled man, he tried to forget her, the passionate kiss and intimate moments of triumph they'd shared. Then a daydream in the on-call room threw on a switch in his head...he could no longer be around Eve. He loved her, and she loved Kevin. He could no longer endure the torture of seeing her and, conversely, having her uncomfortable any time she saw him. He decided to leave town--no goodbyes, no confessions, simply a resignation. But he couldn't bring himself to leave without seeing Eve one last time. Seeing her love for Kevin through the Recovery Room window confirmed his need to leave. Only Eve wouldn't let him go that easily, and found herself with him as he mustered every ounce of self-restraint not to tell her why he was really leaving.

And that's when fate had different plans for Ian. And Eve...and Kevin...and Lucy. A love quadrangle where "Desire" runs deep.

Continue to Next Page of Review

Back to Front Page of Issue

Back to Top