Is Laura one of the worst characters on Knots?

[thomaswak]

That's true. We never did find out exactly why she was so close to Ciji. Could Richard have been right? Laura did butch her long beautiful hair off for that ugly mullet. I've noticed in Hollywood the subject of "lesbians" was very popular around 1982-ish (Cagney and Lacey first impressions anyone?)

As a watcher, I didn't feel that the relation was sexual, but a bit more than simple friendship. A kind of platonic love maybe?
My memory is not good about this, but I think one writer, or producer, said a few time ago, that Ciji & Laura were never written as lovers. It was not intended. Obviously, some fans felt something else. But that's the beauty of interpretation in fiction.

 

[WeldonBallou]

As a watcher, I didn't feel that the relation was sexual, but a bit more than simple friendship. A kind of platonic love maybe?
My memory is not good about this, but I think one writer, or producer, said a few time ago, that Ciji & Laura were never written as lovers. It was not intended. Obviously, some fans felt something else. But that's the beauty of interpretation in fiction.

I was more or less getting at the fact that both Laura and Ciji were both becoming "dykey" looking at that particular point and this being Knots Landing with all those people sleeping with each other just made it seem that much more plausible a possibility

 

[thomaswak]

I was more or less getting at the fact that both Laura and Ciji were both becoming "dykey" looking at that particular point and this being Knots Landing with all those people sleeping with each other just made it seem that much more plausible a possibility

I think that many fans thought Ciji & Laura were doing it.
Maybe it was great chemistry and good acting. Weirdly enough, the writers tried to recreate that relation between Laura & Cathy (after Laura rejected her) but it was not the same.

 

[Seaviewer]

The role of Laura became less and less important towards the end and it seemed like a logical consequence to write her out of the series.

The way it was written, yeah. But I think there was greater scope than they explored in her role as the one character who was able to bridge both halves of the Knots community.

(Cagney and Lacey first impressions anyone?)

Some people did get that impression but I don't think anyone who actually watched the show would think so.

 

[cijimccashin]

The way it was written, yeah. But I think there was greater scope than they explored in her role as the one character who was able to bridge both halves of the Knots community.
Some people did get that impression but I don't think anyone who actually watched the show would think so.

this! Cause the possibilities were endless. Too bad they killed her off season 9 should have been a year of her being the lead.

 

[thomaswak]

I am rewatching KL season 5.
Laura is amazing this season.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Just like every other season.

 

[cijimccashin]

I am rewatching KL season 5.
Laura is amazing this season.

Yes, from the premiere alone I knew this was gonna be a great year for her.

 

[Billy Nolan]

What struck me: The friendship between Ciji and Laura had a completely different quality than that between Cathy and Laura. Somehow the "chemistry" between Cathy and Laura was missing. When I watched the series over the past two years, I noticed more than it did then. The friendship between the two seemed artificial, stiff and not real. Somehow "forced". Maybe it's because I found Lisa Hartman pretty weak as an actress in season 6. Don't get me wrong. Hartman is a great actress, and I like her a lot, but I don't think she did consistently well. Neither does Constance McCashin, in my opinion.

 

[Daniel Avery]

I also thought the friendship of Cathy/Laura was forced, as if the writers felt obligated to recreate all of "Ciji's Greatest Hits" (Gary falls for Cathy; Cathy sings in the Red Dress; Cathy forms friendship with Laura; etc.) simply because Hartman was back. But from a different point of view, perhaps the failure to 'recreate the magic' was a strategic plan all along, an effort to show the viewers that Cathy was a different person and her reactions to all who encountered her would be different. Ciji was more innocent and naive, while Cathy was more worldly (courtesy of a stint in jail) and willing to scam people (namely Gary). Just because she looked like Ciji did not mean she would automatically behave like her, as everyone eventually found out. Laura simply figured it out a lot quicker than some others.

 

[Billy Nolan]

Right. In an older interview Lisa Hartman described "Ciji" as an "angel-slut" and "Cathy" more "streetwise".

 

[Willie Oleson]

To me it felt as if Ciji was recast with the same actress, as if Ciji's death had never happened. What are the odds that Cathy would be a singer too?
Was that room service scene Knots Landing's answer to Dallas' shower scene?

Lisa Hartman described "Ciji" as an "angel-slut" and "Cathy" more "streetwise".

And yet it was Cathy who sang about Jehova.

 

[Billy Nolan]

To me it felt as if Ciji was recast with the same actress, as if Ciji's death had never happened. What are the odds that Cathy would be a singer too?
Was that room service scene Knots Landing's answer to Dallas' shower scene?

And yet it was Cathy who sang about Jehova.
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Lisa Hartman came back by popular demand.

 

[thomaswak]

I think my 2 favorite female characters on Knots were Laura, then Paige. Does that mean I am a Greg? (well, I wish...)

 

[thomaswak]

I also thought the friendship of Cathy/Laura was forced, as if the writers felt obligated to recreate all of "Ciji's Greatest Hits" (Gary falls for Cathy; Cathy sings in the Red Dress; Cathy forms friendship with Laura; etc.) simply because Hartman was back. But from a different point of view, perhaps the failure to 'recreate the magic' was a strategic plan all along, an effort to show the viewers that Cathy was a different person and her reactions to all who encountered her would be different. Ciji was more innocent and naive, while Cathy was more worldly (courtesy of a stint in jail) and willing to scam people (namely Gary). Just because she looked like Ciji did not mean she would automatically behave like her, as everyone eventually found out. Laura simply figured it out a lot quicker than some others.

I agree that it was maybe a strategic writing. Maybe that was the point : you can't recapture the magic .
Cathy was no Ciji... I really wanted to love Cathy as much as I loved Ciji, but it was never the same.

 

[thomaswak]

I need to say that I loved Cathy. But not a much as I loved Ciji.
I think the French version did not help, as they changed Lisa Hartman's voice for Cathy.

 

[Billy Nolan]

to say it straight away: I basically liked the character "Laura". Sometimes more sometimes less; as you feel with most of the characters in your favorite series. But: today you read about many fans who mourn the farewell to "Laura" afterwards. It was certainly a shock for many fans back then. But how was the way up to then? Was "Laura" such a hugely popular character when the series first aired? Or is it only memory and nostalgia that poetry here? I have some old talk show recordings from the 1980s that talked about Knots Landing and also interviewed some actresses. For example in the Phil Donahue Show 1984. Lisa Hartman, Donna Mills and Constance McCashin were able to answer questions from the audience. Most of the questions were directed to Donna Mills and Lisa Hartman. Constance McCashin played a rather subordinate role. Few questions were asked of her and she got involved with verbal contributions by also commenting on questions directed to Mills or Hartman .... So I believe that she is more of a "nostalgic popular" character and her writing out actually seems logical to me .

 

[thomaswak]

Actually, I was really a Laura "fan" then. I really liked Constance and her character was so different, so special. Maybe more human, and less dramatic. I loved her sense of humour, her cynicism.

Yet, I am aware she wasn't popular in France, and wasn't featuring magazine cover that much. It was always about Abby, Karen & Val.

 

[Billy Nolan]

Yes i agree I really liked her sarcastic manner and dry sense of humor!
In Germany, "Laura" (apparently like in France) was not one of the most popular characters either. But she wasn't unpopular either. During the 5th season in particular, she was often seen on screen caps in magazines.
I think she was very popular in the UK.
In this country, viewers particularly liked Ted Shackelford, Joan Van Ark, Donna Mills, Lisa Hartman and Nicollette Sheridan. Amazingly, Lar Park Lincoln also graced some German magazine covers.

 

[thomaswak]

It's just me, but I still think that season 5 is the best for her character. And I agree, she wasn't unpopular.
But I think most fans and medias just wanted the "Holy Knots Trinity" : Abby, Val & Karen.