It seems like so many atrocious acts happen on soaps much like they do in real life, and like in real life, they fall under the category of Unforgivable Acts. I have to admit that it was very strange to say the least watching Michelle on that same bed that the D/D act took place. Okay, it was very eerie, because that D/D act is not something any of us can forget, because it happened. And, though it wasn't meant to become a huge story unto itself spurring a possible pregnancy, it still occurred. What I've discovered is that each person in real life understandably has his/her own lines of what's forgivable vs. what is not, and it is precisely those feelings of what we relate to that determine our reaction(s) to soaps and the stories they tell. The issue of fidelity can be a very heated issue much like the discussion of rape and abortion. All of them are painful and can hurt to the core.

Why am I bringing up such issues? Well, interestingly enough, it's not to get into those issues. Instead, it's to get into the time factor of soaps vs. real life. Just how much time should be allowed for forgiveness on soaps? Two weeks? A month? A year? Never?

One thing I've learned is that soaps go by their own timetable as does real life. However, there does seem to be a difference. In real life, it's determined by the people involved. In soaps, "forgiveness" seems more or less to really be dictated by the writers based on the direction the character is taking.

Since, Drew is forming "roots" in Springfield, despite the reasoning of the writers, she is clearly taking on a new direction on the canvas. To paraphrase someone from the Danny and Michelle folder, Drew has really turned her life around particularly now that she's found Selena and Max. And, based on that comment, I got the feeling that that person is accepting the writers' "new direction" of the character Drew.

Although that might be what the writers want us to do, the biggest problem is not accepting a "new Drew" per se as is there was no real credible transition from the "old Drew," thereby causing the problem for many viewers.

You know one thing I've noticed about Guiding Light is that this show likes to wrap up complicated situations or climactic stories in a matter of minutes or a few lines of dialogue. This is not always the case of course. But, it does happen.

I think that for GL, Michelle and Drew's brief conversation after Reva's wedding was suppose to be there way of beginning to close a door on the matter. And, then weeks and months of no contact b/w the characters is suppose to be the show's way of not necessarily making the situation "water under the bridge," for Michelle/Drew but more of a case of "time heals all wounds." However, that leads into whose wounds are we speaking of, and that's all on a case by case, meaning is it just the character's wounds or is it the viewer's wounds as well. Where is the line? Should a line even be drawn when it comes to the issue of forgiveness?

In the case of Michelle forgiving Drew, it has more to do with the writers thinking that the circumstances surrounding the D/D issue don't weigh as heavily as say some other issues. However, I think the viewers feel that it's a combination of things on top of the D/D issue that isn't being resolved.

I think that the writers in trying to make Drew sympathetic, likeable, or acceptable to the viewers are willing to sacrifice what's believable vs. unbelievable as far as what's enough time to forgive. Were the writers understanding of the pain that the D/D act caused regardless of the circumstances behind it? I'm not sure. But, it can't be swept under the rug or forgotten so easily in real life because fidelity/infidelity is a day to day real life problem and struggle for many real life relationships.

Airpoet