Telly updates: Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden
After a pretty good weekend, I finally caught up the programmes I've watched:
Good Times, Bad Times (Dutch) - Wow, I'm starting to like the current storyline (despite of some of the flaws in it), especially since Edwin came out and is having a relationship with Lucas. I'll cover the flaws and all.
First of all, the actions with Lucas and Edwin that started all this. Granted they're young and horny, but still--it made absolutely NO fucking sense to decide to have sex in Anton's office. Considering they had a tense rather tense dinner (and enhanced by Lucas' talk about gay promiscuity and public sex at the table, which was lewd and stupid on Lucas' part), one would think they'd go someplace else (like Edwin's room, like Lucas did suggest), especially since there needs to be some healing between Anton and Edwin. The act was just stupid and just so damn...common. That said, Anton beating the shit out of Lucas was just plain wrong.
"Is your hate against gays bigger than your love for your son?" That is something Sjoerd asked Anton, which really is a deep question. Anton is behaving like someone who was abused by a pedophile when he was young. His son is in a consensual relationship with Lucas, so whatever his motives might be, the bashing was a hate crime by law (especially Dutch law, I believe--correct me if I'm wrong here) and all good reasoning. Even Bianca had to bring that forward too, as she (his own WIFE!!) could barely look at him. Even Sjoerd had to talk some sense into him. Sjoerd may not like Edwin being gay, but he loves him despite all that. It was so sweet when Sjoerd said he would not be able to handle it if Edwin leaves.
As for Janine Sanders, I'm really liking her right now. She doesn't blame Edwin as some stunned mums would, but instead reassures and comforts him, as if he was her son. Also, Janine puts the blame exactly where it should be, on Anton. She shows concern for the effect it will have on Edwin without actually saying it. Janine also shows concern for her friend Bianca, despite her being married to the monster who attacked her son (even more complicated for Janine, as she was friends with Anton from their university years.) Caroline de Bruijn is in top form here as Janine.
Speaking of Bianca Bouwhuis, a nice phrase (well, as nice as it could be) would be, "That's a BAD BITCH". Behind every (emotionally crippled, homophobic) husband should be a good woman, willing to stand behind her man--while kicking him in the ASS to do so, which she truly does here. That she brought Anton an ultimatum REALLY showed her strong character. ("You're going to do two things: 1) You are going to apologise to Lucas and Edwin and, 2) You are going to the police and turning yourself in." Nice move.) IMO Bianca's story (and her point of view at this time) are much more interesting than Lucas and Edwin...it's not just a story about coming out, but also about how homophobia can even destroy a married woman's relationship, possibly even destroy a once close-knit family. I really think Cynthia Abma's doing a rather smashing job playing Bianca. She has done such a realistic job of coming to terms and dealing with her son's sexuality, her husband and his reactions to it, and her expressions and reactions are spot on.
Now with Edwin. A lot of fans think he's retreated back into the meek and timid kid, but I don't think that is the case here. Edwin's in shock, and is adjusting to the reality of his dad turning into a monster right before his own eyes. Edwin's been incredibly strong and brave in the face of his father's anger and homophobic taunts. He's only 18, and a newbie in his first real (gay) relationship. Imagine what he's going through. The intense confusing emotions, the angst going along with it. Even Lucas has dealt with this kind of homophobic hatred and violence before (like many gay folks.) Edwin is facing it for the first time, from his OWN father.
Honestly, I hope they don't fuck this storyline up somehow...
Click to viewGood Times, Bad Times (Dutch) - Wow, I'm starting to like the current storyline (despite of some of the flaws in it), especially since Edwin came out and is having a relationship with Lucas. I'll cover the flaws and all.
First of all, the actions with Lucas and Edwin that started all this. Granted they're young and horny, but still--it made absolutely NO fucking sense to decide to have sex in Anton's office. Considering they had a tense rather tense dinner (and enhanced by Lucas' talk about gay promiscuity and public sex at the table, which was lewd and stupid on Lucas' part), one would think they'd go someplace else (like Edwin's room, like Lucas did suggest), especially since there needs to be some healing between Anton and Edwin. The act was just stupid and just so damn...common. That said, Anton beating the shit out of Lucas was just plain wrong.
"Is your hate against gays bigger than your love for your son?" That is something Sjoerd asked Anton, which really is a deep question. Anton is behaving like someone who was abused by a pedophile when he was young. His son is in a consensual relationship with Lucas, so whatever his motives might be, the bashing was a hate crime by law (especially Dutch law, I believe--correct me if I'm wrong here) and all good reasoning. Even Bianca had to bring that forward too, as she (his own WIFE!!) could barely look at him. Even Sjoerd had to talk some sense into him. Sjoerd may not like Edwin being gay, but he loves him despite all that. It was so sweet when Sjoerd said he would not be able to handle it if Edwin leaves.
As for Janine Sanders, I'm really liking her right now. She doesn't blame Edwin as some stunned mums would, but instead reassures and comforts him, as if he was her son. Also, Janine puts the blame exactly where it should be, on Anton. She shows concern for the effect it will have on Edwin without actually saying it. Janine also shows concern for her friend Bianca, despite her being married to the monster who attacked her son (even more complicated for Janine, as she was friends with Anton from their university years.) Caroline de Bruijn is in top form here as Janine.
Speaking of Bianca Bouwhuis, a nice phrase (well, as nice as it could be) would be, "That's a BAD BITCH". Behind every (emotionally crippled, homophobic) husband should be a good woman, willing to stand behind her man--while kicking him in the ASS to do so, which she truly does here. That she brought Anton an ultimatum REALLY showed her strong character. ("You're going to do two things: 1) You are going to apologise to Lucas and Edwin and, 2) You are going to the police and turning yourself in." Nice move.) IMO Bianca's story (and her point of view at this time) are much more interesting than Lucas and Edwin...it's not just a story about coming out, but also about how homophobia can even destroy a married woman's relationship, possibly even destroy a once close-knit family. I really think Cynthia Abma's doing a rather smashing job playing Bianca. She has done such a realistic job of coming to terms and dealing with her son's sexuality, her husband and his reactions to it, and her expressions and reactions are spot on.
Now with Edwin. A lot of fans think he's retreated back into the meek and timid kid, but I don't think that is the case here. Edwin's in shock, and is adjusting to the reality of his dad turning into a monster right before his own eyes. Edwin's been incredibly strong and brave in the face of his father's anger and homophobic taunts. He's only 18, and a newbie in his first real (gay) relationship. Imagine what he's going through. The intense confusing emotions, the angst going along with it. Even Lucas has dealt with this kind of homophobic hatred and violence before (like many gay folks.) Edwin is facing it for the first time, from his OWN father.
Honestly, I hope they don't fuck this storyline up somehow...