The Diner of Love
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Llanview, PA  

"Nothin' Could Be Finer Than Some Lovin' In the Diner"
"There ain't no lovin' like some diner lovin', hey ho"

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I just love the Voice of the Night. We have this special connection.

PSYCHOLOGY 101

Sigmund's Room 1

The Weight of Gabrielle

For a lot of years Al and Gabrielle were very close.  Now he's grown up and found love with someone who is not her first choice.  How will her attitude impact on Marcie & Al's relationship?

It's a significant couples' moment. Al drapes his arm around Marcie's shoulders and proudly announces to his parents that he and Marcie are dating. Max smiles knowingly and is obviously pleased. But, wait a minute, what's the matter with Gabby? Why she's practically brimming over with stunned disappointment.

Thud! Back to reality.

Here we've all grown to love and cherish Marcie and to see her the way Al sees her. So naturally it's quite jarring when someone doesn't see Marcie as being the perfect match for him.

A nerve was pinched today, and the anti-Gabby backlash has begun. But that's the beauty of this storyline. It touches on a very sensitive issue - our looks-obsessed culture and the unfair judgments against people who don't match some idealized image. A lot of people DO have silly or downright cruel attitudes (e.g., Brad) about the "un-thin", and in order for this storyline to stay grounded in realism those attitudes are going to have to be addressed.

This could quite possibly turn into a delicious obstacle, one that will make Al and Marcie's coming together even sweeter. I can't wait to see how Gabby interacts with Marcie now. Will there be some aloofness, some distance? Will Marcie suspect that she's not Gabby's ideal for Al? Will Al?

If Gabby's the kind of person I think she is, she'll come to love Marcie as we do. Her son has become a man because of her. He's no longer the pouty little boy who didn't get the shiny toy he thought he wanted. All she has to do is look at his face, at his eyes, and she'll know that he's made the best possible match. --alishajackson

I love what you said and how you said it. As KB told SOD in her online interview, she has been a size 6 and she has been a size 16 but she is happy in her own skin. I know these are issue that will have to be faced as many of us face them each day, Al and Marcie will face them. Gabby's discomfort was totally unexpected because she obviously likes Marcie for Marcie but she has issue's about them dating. It will be good to see her work through them and build a relationship with Marcie. She would make a great Mother figure for Marcie when she sees in Marcie what Al sees. --gottahavemarcal

Yeah. I just don't want to see Marcie hurt. I mean she could careless about Brad and his opinion, but I don't know, I think Gabby being Al's mom that would have to hurt.  And here Marcie is being nothing but good to Al and he surely needs it. Al has been the one kicked in the teeth by women (esp. that brat Jen) for so long.  But hopefully soon Gabby will realize that her issues with Marcie are NOT real issues at all! I guess I am like Al--just too darn protective of Marcie. And yeah she can handle herself, but ... Well, I don't want to ex-out Gabby's name from the wedding invitations (Ha Ha) so she better get herself together quick. --Ladybrin

Okay, here’s my sick somewhat psychological spin on things. First, I will admit that I was surprised about Gabs reaction but for a different reason than most of us. I thought the show was heading in the direction of having Gabs instantly become Marcie’s cheerleader and have her also instantly supportive of the romance between Al and Marcie. Although I didn’t have a problem with that, I did think it was somewhat unrealistic to think that Gabs, Ms Style Editor, wouldn’t be somewhat disappointed in Al’s choice. Sure Gabs would adore and cherish Marcie as Al’s true-blue friend and sidekick, but as the love of his life? I didn’t think so. For one thing, Gabs (who I like, BTW) is too much about appearances and surface values not to be somewhat taken aback by Al’s decision to go for substance. (Okay, here’s the sick part JMO). For another thing, it seems that for the years before they returned to Llanview Al actually played the role of surrogate partner to Gabs. He was the protector and provider; the strong male she could lean on. So Gabs may expect the girl Al falls in love with to validate her—to be all of the things she believes she represents to him, such as glamour, beauty, sophistication and so on. IOW, Gabs could expect the girl to be her surrogate. This could explain why she would have no problem with Marcie as Al’s friend but have a real problem with Marcie as Al’s girlfriend. Marcie would not validate Gabs as the most important woman in Al’s life.

Side Note: I really like Gabs & Bo together but I am pulling for Bo & Nora to reunite. Matthew, of course, is one reason. Another reason is I think Bo & Nora were torn apart and destroyed at someone’s whim and I’ve always resented that. But the main reason is that, as much as I like Gabs & Bo, their relationship, IMO, is about stability and moderation (great in real life; nothing is better in my opinion but those same qualities can or may undermine a soap couple). Bo calmed Gabs down considerably and Gabs pulled Bo back to life and, despite Gabs insecurities, as a couple they pretty much cruise along unfettered in the middle-zone. On the other hand, Gabs & Max and Bo& Nora both represent couples that can potentially cover the full emotional range—highest highs to the lowest lows. Not that I want to see those extremes acted out with any frequency but, IMO, just having the potential makes some relationships seem more dynamic and filled to the brim with possibilities. And I think that’s true for Gabs & Max and Bo & Nora.

Now I said all of that to say that I don’t think the Gabs we’ve seen with Bo is the typical Gabs and her reaction to Marcie may actually be truer to Gabs pre-Bo and possibly post-Bo than a happy acceptance of the relationship would have been. And that actually makes me happy. My point is (yes, I do have one) is that I thought her reaction yesterday was consistent with Gabs’ character. I also think her reaction could be a realistic trigger for the “body issues” that supposedly will arise between Al and Marcie. The self-confident, comfortable-in-her-own-skin Marcie we saw yesterday (6-5) does not seem to be a likely candidate for “romance issues” UNLESS there’s a snake in the Garden of Eden. Looks like that snake might be Gabs.

And, IMO, that’s not a bad thing because a controlled and reasonable amount of conflict can keep things interesting. One of the things I hated most about Al with Jen was that he didn’t come across as a MAN in charge of his own life. With Marcie he is growing up and stepping up to the plate and I love that about their relationship. So watching Al stand up to Gabs, someone he adores unlike what he feels for say Jen or Brad, could be great stuff because it would represent a significant turning point for him and would only cement his relationship with Marcie even further.

What I don’t want to see is “Carlotta, The Remake.” Carlotta as a stumbling block for Cris and Nat IMO grew old VERY quickly because the writers never explored what was going on with Carlotta. So her dislike of Natalie just seemed contrived and artificial. On the other hand, Gabs as a conflict for Marcie & Al could work if Gabs is allowed to grow as much as Al. IF Gabs’ feelings for Max are reawakened, then the Marcie situation could serve as a trigger for her own insecurities about Luna and the notion that so many people think Luna was the love of Max’s life (substance versus appearance theme again). So this could be an interesting journey for Gabs as well as Al, IF that’s the direction the writers decide to explore. I, for one, would find that really interesting.

Of course, the other possibility is that all of this might just be a tempest in a teapot. Gabs may have expressed her misgivings yesterday and that might just be the end of it. --Tessarae87

Tessarae, I think your analysis of Al-Gabby dynamic is not sick but makes a lot of sense. What's weirder even is that part of the reason he didn't have the type of life she sees for him is because he was working three jobs to support them during high school (causing bad grades and only getting into college with connections) and having to miss out on a lot of the social life that goes with high school. Plus, as I recall, he was stigmatized wherever they were living by her convict status (which in most circles would be more of a minus than a girl from a blue-color family) and was always having to defend her. And then her bitterness poisoned the relationship between him and Max to where it took a long time to resolve. So, I can see her needing the validation of Al choosing someone like her.

I wonder if it even goes a little farther...Al has been turning his life around without her help, Marcie has become his best friend, and now they are dating and falling in love. So although she may be at a point where she wants more of a parent/child relationship, he is wanting it less. You could tell the way he cringed about her suggestion that he move back home (and I don't think it was just because of Bo), and left her out of his sting-planning with Marcie, that he is moving into adulthood. --Nancy Ge

Really good point, Nancy! What made me start thinking about what was driving Gabs psychologically in the first place was that I was working on a scene for Azure and thinking about Al’s relationship with Gabs and remembered the stories about what happened before they returned to Llanview and, like you pointed out, realized that their relationship was not a typical parent-child relationship. So this must feel like a double-edged sword for Gabs. Al is growing up and becoming a man right at a point where Gabs is more willing and able to be a typical parent. Plus, he’s becoming more independent and shifting his focus to another woman, which I’m sure is difficult enough for most mothers, but more difficult for Gabs because he’s growing with someone that is so unlike her. --Tessarae87

I don't think its sick thinking, T. Actually the point you made here makes total sense, especially about him being the protector and the provider.
So by your reasoning (and I'm just asking a question here): Its like the old saying you marry the girl your dad married sort of thing? Like all men are looking for their mother in their partners? --Whlwtcher

See, I think it’s not only that men use their mothers as a model of the woman they look for but also that they are more likely (not a definite “will” but a more likely) to marry her as well because she’s the one his mother (his family) is most likely to approve and be supportive of, which can make life easier. So Gabs may be acting out a time-honored script here. She expects Al to marry a version of herself and she would be more than willing to do whatever she could to make their life together blissful, but Al’s selection of a girl that is so different from her implies to Gabs that something is wrong in her relationship with Al and she is not going to take that lying down, so she is going to go into denial about her role in all of this and may come out swinging and Marcie is the most likely target for her frustration. --Tessarae87

I also think that Max and Al have only begun to become close to the point where Al doesn't hate him any more...if Gabby really is a obstacle in his relationship with Marcie it is going to bring Max and Al closer to that father/son relationship that Max has always wanted. Al is so happy right now, he's practically on overflow from happiness and when he realizes that Gabs isn't as happy for him as she should be that will bring him crashing back to reality. And I think it will hurt him... he's close to his mom... he's supported her and now she can't support him when he needs too. So the situation is gonna be reversed with Max being the supportive parent and I can see it causing a rift between Gabs and Al...Gabs and Max and Gabs and Marcie...There are a lot of balls here that they can really explore. And KB, NM, FH, JdP all are excellent actors that can really flesh it all out and bring it to life. I'm looking forward to see where take this.--SnappyDaze

I liked how it was addressed.  I thought it was interesting that it was Gabby (who might have had some sympathy as a fellow woman about trying to maintain that "perfect societal ideal") who had the problem with Marcie being "not glamorous and sophisticated" enough for her boy. After all, Max is the renown womanizer. It is nice that Max likes Marcie....maybe he sees the Luna connection like we do. I also liked that Marcie told Al "look, I'm never gonna look like these skinny chicks running around here"....she is realistic about herself. She has "weight issues", but they don't rule her life. --Ladyday

Great point: "I also liked that Marcie told Al "look, I'm never gonna look like these skinny chicks running around here"....she is realistic about herself. She has "weight issues", but they don't rule her life." However, I do think Marcie's self-image is an issue for her. It's easy to dismiss someone like a Brad when they say something hurtful because you don't value their opinion. And Marcie is realistic that she's "not one of those skinny girls in their bikinis" but I don't believe that doesn't bother her. I may be projecting some of my own experiences here, but when you struggle with your weight, it's always nagging in the back of your mind - no matter how successful you are - it doesn't rule your life, but it's always there. Very few people are that secure that it doesn't bother them (and huge kudos to KB for being one of those people). But I think Marcie struggles with this, as evidenced by her interaction with Jen when she said something about "someone who liked you couldn't like someone like me." Again, not ruling her life, and while she is obviously secure in Al's feelings for her, I think they are doing an excellent job of addressing that small voice inside that makes you doubt. So I think Gabby makes the perfect "foil" for this issue and relationship in that she genuinely likes Marcie, but like many people, falls victim to image vs. substance, as many of you eloquently elaborated on. I would actually think that Al and Marcie's relationship would have taken longer - he would have seen her as his best friend for a while before realizing he had romantic feelings for her and struggling with that. I'm so happy that didn't happen (because they are just so cute together), but if they want to be realistic and address her image, I think it makes perfect sense that it be Gabby and eventually she'll come to understand just how wrong she was (ideally we'll get to see her go through this process). --Riley03

And no matter how secure you are, when someone who matters to you systematically sets out to throw punches at your weak spots it is almost impossible not to be wounded by that. Like you said, Riley03, this is not Brad or Jen who comparatively could be dismissed fairly easily but Gabs, a woman Marcie likes and respects and assumes likes her, AND she is Al's mother, who he adores. It would take a bullet-proof Teflon shield not to be affected by Gabs disapproval. And I also think Gabs represents a realistic foil.  The writers can do this part of the storyline without turning it into what is essentially a PSA, as you noted, Ladyday, which is one of the things I like best about it. In the end, I believe that Al and Marcie will work this through and only come out stronger and more in love than ever. Sweet payoff. --Tessarae87

SIGMUND
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MARCAL
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