Did her friends and neighbors respect Valene?

[Jimmy Todd]

Do you think the denizens of Seaview Circle and external settings respect Valene? Greg, who had minimal interaction with her referred to her as a "Duffy blonde" and the "most interesting dame on the block " Laura didn't confide in Valene about her tumor and did not want to tell her, even though they were close in the early seasons.
It seems with all Valene had been through in her life yet still survived and thrived, there would be a modicum.of respect for her. Did Gary, Karen, Mack, Lillimae and the rest really respect her?

 

[Daniel Avery]

It's just my take, but I think Laura did not want to tell Val about her illness because she didn't want to participate in Val's more emotive way of dealing with devastating news. Different people have different ways of coping with bad news, and Val's could get kind of...dramatic? while Karen and Laura were more reserved. I have this image of Val in floods of tears with Laura having to console her despite Laura being the one about to die. I also think Laura knew deep down that Meg was going to end up being adopted by the Mackenzies, so "letting Karen in" on what was happening would later be seen as Laura giving a "seal of approval" she did not give anyone else.

 

[Jimmy Todd]

I remember Valene responding very emotionally to situations, but she was always in such extreme circumstances her reaction seemed understandable. Was there a time when she exhibited unwarranted histrionics?

 

[Daniel Avery]

Laura was the type who didn't want them whether they were warranted or not, especially when she was having so much trouble keeping it together as it was. I probably should have added that everyone has different ways of dealing with bad news and no one way is better than any other. I think Laura likely was raised not to show her emotions openly and just wanted to avoid falling apart in front of anyone (even though some falling apart might have done her a world of good).

 

[Laura Avery-Sumner]

I think Laura didn't tell Val because she couldn't keep a secret, even in her coffeepot. She caught Laura coming out of a maternity shop and the very next scene was Val telling Karen. While the three of them were close, Val was out of line that time. I still feel very cheated that there was no scene between Laura and Val at the end but I think the video made up for a lot of that. not really a matter of trust as much as IMO she had a list of things to do and dealing with Val's drama was not in the cards. In the end, Laura did tell her that meeting Val changed Laura's life completely. I think she knew she had to do something to "close the circle" between Val and Karen in case there was tension over not telling Val and this was the only way to do that for Laura.

 

[Monzo]

I'm rewatching season 12, and Valene is right in the middle of her next crisis. Sometimes I get the impression that even Karen has little respect for Valene. Gary is very worried about Valene, and although we see Karen with Valene occasionally and she does seem concerned, she simultaneously gives me this "Here we go again" feeling, as if Valene is going through another one of her phases. Karen doesn't really have much to do in the middle of season 12 and is mostly observing other storylines (Mack wants to help Jason, Michael and Linda got engaged), so it surprises me that Karen isn't more involved in Valene's story and portrayed as a very good friend who respects and helps her. Instead, she leaves the problem to Gary.

 

[Seaviewer]

Respect is an interesting word. I think most people who knew her held her in high affection (Abby being the notable exception) but she's probably not the first person they would turn to for help in a crisis.

 

[Daniel Avery]

I'm really having trouble coming up with an answer to this question!

If pressed, I guess I'd have to say "no" in the traditional definition of the word. Most everyone seemed to admire her for the things she had overcome, which is in the same ballpark. Karen created that whole "little engine that could" meme about Val in an effort to explain how she felt about her friend. But I don't recall anyone around Val expressing the opinion that Val could take care of whatever crisis had befallen her, an "aaay, you go this!" pep talk or whatever. They felt as if they needed to rush in to "save" her or at least spend a lot of time worrying about what she will do, which overall is a sign that they did not think she could fend for herself. Perhaps JvA sensed this lack of self-reliance in Val's writing, which led to her infamous "I can make the coffee just as well as you" scene at Laura's wake. That sequence gave all the actors a chance to improvise scenes they wanted to have, and Val did nail Karen over her compulsion to "take care of" Val whether she needed it or not.

I really hope someone can come along and change my mind on this because I don't like how this realization makes me feel.

 

[Jimmy Todd]

I don't remember any character saying something along the lines of, "Val, has taken a lot on the chin in life, but she's still standing," or "Val's a lot stronger than she may seem." I would have loved a scene after everyone believes Val tried to kill herself in which Abby says to Gary or Karen, "I don't believe it. After all Val has been through and she's kept fighting. She's too strong to do that and would never leave her kids." This comment would get Karen and/or Gary to begin to question Jill's alibi. It would be appropriate because Valene deserves it and Abby's comments pushed Jill into plotting against Val. It would be fitting if her comment was the catalyst that led to the unraveling of Jill's scheme.