"But by divine Providence, or Fate, or just plain luck, we were thrown together."

I think the key to being a star-crossed lover (in the soap sense) is that there is a divine Providence or Fate that guides your relationship, that something is "written in the stars," something other worldly that you have little control over, though circumstances test Providence and Fate. I don't think Rauch intended anything harmful by using the term, it's just another one, along the lines of "supercouple."

I think it's years of watching soaps, for many viewers that prejudice them against the literal term "star crossed lovers." But by and large having the Executive Producer of your soap declare your favorite couple "classic star-crossed lovers" is a coup, that some fans of couples could only dream about (notice we're not discussing Michelle and Jesse or Drew and Jesse as the star-crossed couple). So barring the negative implications of what being "star-crossed" or more likely at cross purposes with mixed communication more often than not, means, there are some positive aspects of being labeled with this term.

1. In one single sentence Manny has just been declared Guiding Light's long term story. So despite anything in between, we now know with certainity that all stories involving Manny are ultimately destined to strengthen Manny, and to give them story to play off. I think it's safe to say that Manny will endure long after TWV is officially declared braindead and Drew screeches her way to popping a lung out over such a tragedy.

2. Sort of tied with the first thing, but now we know that no matter how sad or particularly aggravating some unfortunate "tests" of their relationship will be, ultimately Manny will prosper and survive and ultimately Manny are still working toward the common goal of being in love and being happy. It's easier thought about in the abstract, than it is in dealing with reality of sucky storylines, at times, but at least we know which couple we should be rooting for.

3. We've had little hints all along about just how seriously invested in Manny, TPTB are. We've seen them have a beautiful wedding covered by a national magazine, at great expense to production costs and publicity. We've seen them given their own theme music, which tells us just how much thought, time and creativity has gone into creating a tone for Manny, something we can hear and automatically just feel what Manny is about. We've seen Michelle and Jesse scenes rationed off until they were almost non-existant, and now only serve as a plot device for Manny. We've seen them hire actors to portray the Santos family in order to establish them as a major new force in Springfield, giving Danny some much needed history and background (which Michelle already had).

We've seen sets built, that aren't communal, but for Manny and Manny alone, again at great expense. We've seen covers of magazines, photo shoots, general magazine publicity, etc. --- all of which led up to the final declaration of the "star-crossed lovers." We weren't imagining it all along, there really was a sense of building something beautiful in this couple, with writing, acting, story, money, music, set decoration. Now tell me what we got for Drew and Danny, Michelle and Jesse or Drew and Jesse that could even compare to a scintilla of what Manny got. Now we don't have to wonder if we just imagined it all. It really was happening.

4. Star-crossed lovers are popular couples, period. They're not studio manufactured couples that TPTB want you to like, they're couples who have the backing necessary for all the fuss made over them. Polls schmolls, Michelle and Jesse fans, who cares, sudden Drew and Danny fans even more laughable. Manny is popular enough on their own to warrant the star-crossed lovers label. Not even Michelle's mother's heart beating in TWV's chest, can compare the Providence and Fate of one singular act of defense that led to Manny.

5. Planets are forever, stars crossed are pretty much set in stone as well. Long though it may be, painful though it may be, aggravating though it may be, the conclusion is still the same when it's written in the stars. And that's a very good thing indeed.

So by divine Providence or Fate, Manny has become "star crossed," be it for good or for bad. I guess I'll just choose the good and try to block out the bad.

Tracee