For the past eight months, the best story GL has had has been Manny's complex, intricate, and true love story. It was full of more drama, passion, and intensity than anyone could envision. Plus, it had Paul Anthony Stewart and Joie Lenz, a winning combination if there ever was one, not to mention the bonus of Sandra Santiago to add to the excellence of it. As a matter of fact, Manny's story had much more than Josh and Reva's current story is having and, in my opinion, will have.

Manny's story involved a very real element of danger, as opposed to this unbelievable path into Reva Royalty. Please don't anyone get me wrong. This royalty story is very original, especially compared to other soap stories and characters these days. As a matter of fact, I would rate the idea of it probably pretty high. But, I would not rate it higher than the brilliance of the Santos story and the Manny romance by a long shot. The creation of Danny Santos, and Carmen as Mob boss, and Manny's romance has been what has excited so many for months now. The three characters of Danny, Michelle, and Carmen have been what has brought people literally racing home to sit in front of their TVs. Now that is power.

It is exactly that power which should be taking center stage during the summertime. Now, this leads into the issue that Danny and Michelle basically don't have a story. You know someone in the Danny and Michelle folder said that Manny needs conflict. And, when I saw that, it hit me. I realized that all that conflict truly represents is a story or drama. And, sadly for some reason, Manny's story is non-existent during their honeymoon. As a matter of fact, they are riding coattail on Josh and Reva's mess. Not to knock their story, but it should not override Manny's honeymoon in the slightest. Manny's happiness shouldn't be missing pivotal private love scenes to show the audience that these two will not be overshadowed by another less important story.

To me, Manny's honeymoon has not been about Manny facing their lives together, but rather more about helping Josh and Reva with their problems. Aside from the brilliance of Stewart and Lenz, I'm disheartened that GL won't at least give the viewers a couple of scenes to remind us and themselves that Danny and Michelle belong on the center stage. Whenever Manny is in the moment of built up passion, their scenes are cut short for a less important scene or story. That is precisely what is angering fans. If TPTB and writers could remedy that in the slightest, I think the Mannyacs would feel more content, because then we would know that Manny is being treated like the goldmine they are. We simply want to enjoy their passionate happiness, before we are thrown into their next passionate high drama.

I want so desperately for GL to utilize Stewart and Lenz's talents while they have them on this show. To diminish Manny's story in any way because the drama has temporarily mellowed for Manny by no way gives TPTB carte blanche to almost trivialize their essential significance. In other words, just because Manny are happy, albeit briefly, doesn't mean that they don't deserve as much heated airtime as Josh and Reva's umpteenth drama.

If it's a choice between what stories should take center stage on GL, Manny wins hand down for me, especially when they have more than earned this happiness! Their story is ongoing, because their characters are ongoing. Danny and Michelle are still passionate and complex characters who can't be hidden behind lesser stories.

Airpoet