Season 2: Does Melissa even know what she wants?

[willie oleson]

She still likes Cole, she fights with Lance and doesn't really want him as a husband.
But sometimes she insists he acts like a husband and complains to Carlo and Angela about his bad behaviour eventhough she doesn't care at all. Then why the puppet show?
She's also plotting with her father to gain control over Falcon Crest but in order to do so she has to stay married to Lance (at least long enough to get what she wants) but she keeps jeopardizing her position because she's always stirring things up, either at Falcon Crest or her father's house.
Even in those early years the writing was a bit incoherent I think.

So, what are you Melissa? A devious schemer or just a pain in the ass? (which is equally fun to watch btw).

[Julia's Gun]

I think she was just badly written. The show was so focused on plot, they forgot about developing characters or making their motives plausible. I remember the opening few episodes of S3 when she is either riding away on horses or shrieking at Lance in the bedroom. That's all the writers gave her to do. I think they saw her a bit like an hysterical Cathy, with Falcon Crest as her Wuthering Heights.

[willie oleson]

And then at some point she and Lance join forces in a scheme against Angela!
It was a wicked, wicked family. A little bit "I, Claudius" don't you think?
Or Wuthering Crest/Falcon Heights - I like that too

[adora]

i always felt so sorry for her. i think she had to marry lance to please her father and because she was pregnant and this would have infuriated her father especially if he found out about cole being the dad. i think there was a moment where she could have made the right decision and told cole about the baby but he was so wrapped up in his own problems at the time she couldn't talk to him. there was so much pressure and the easiest sollution was to marry lance. her father died and she became obsessed with forfilling his expectations of her which lead to her eventual ruin. but i don't think it necessarily needed to be like that. she is a very tragic figure and i would have loved if they have found some peace of mind for her or even if she had found some measure of happiness rather than just killing her off.

[Jock Og]

Melissa like the majority of the characters was 3D, within the confines of the plot. In many ways she was like a young Angela. If the truth be known and you analysed the character in detail then Mrs. Channing may have been overshadowed in the power hungry stakes, by her. Despite her moments of nerves Melissa was a great character, good looking, liked her men and stood up to Angela, when it suited her. IMHO a schemer yes but not a pain in the ass.


Things are getting very heated in the ‘New Globe’. Melissa is mad that Richard printed the identity of her baby’s father, (a scene from season 2, 1982-‘83):

Melissa: “I’m here to see Richard!”

Diana: “Mr. Channing is busy.”

Melissa: “Scraping the dirt of his nails, I’m sure. How could you do this to me?”

Richard: “Oh easily!”

Melissa: “I won’t let you ruin the life of an innocent child!”

Richard: “He has his mother to thank for his reputation.”

Melissa: “You’re nothing but scum!”

Richard: “Well. Well my article has hit home! I like that gut reaction from our readers. That’s what sells newspapers.”

Melissa: “I demand that you print a retraction to this article.”

Richard: “No! I’m afraid that would violate my journalistic principles.”

Melissa: “Then I’ll sue you for libel.”

Richard: “Good! Splendid idea! A high profile law suit will give us even more knowledge, in the story.”

[willie oleson]

Melissa was never far away from trouble but IMO she wasn't as determined as Angela.
She could lose interest very easily and certainly didn't want to work for anything.
She was unpredictable, blasé and nasty and it seemed to me she wanted everyone to be as unhappy as she was.
Angela wanted To Have And To Rule.
Melissa tried a lot of things but I don't think there was anything that could have made her happy.
For some people it just doesn't work.

[abbyisfc]

I like Melissa. Bad girl yes but very important for FC's ratings.

[Chloe-Fusco]

Complex is the word to describe Melissa. She had these strong feelings for rivals Lance and Cole. Most of the time one of them dangled for her, when they hadn’t another interest. Melissa was a spoiled vixen who tried to get her way, at all times and I agree about her importance, to the show. Look what happened in season 8.

Carly Fixx has arrived at Falcon Crest. FC’s grape granny greets the newcomer. Falcon Crest 1988:

Carly: “Is this place for real? It’s like right out of Psycho. How many bodies do you have buried in the basement?”
Angela: “Frankly my dear I’ve lost count.”