It has been almost two weeks since Tamara Braun took over the role of Taylor Walker, replacing Natalia Livingston who had inhabited the role since late January. I never really understood the need for this sudden casting change, but being a fan of both actresses I kept an open mind. Sometimes these types of changes take a while to get used to, particularly when they are as ill-timed as this one, or as ill-timed as the switch from new Lucky to original Lucky on GH, or from Drew Garrett to Chad Duell in the role of Michael, but I digress.
DOOL used the standard excuse of taking the character in a different direction to explain the Taylor casting change. To be perfectly honest I have never really understood this explanation. Soaps use it all the time and it never makes much sense. Actors act - if a show decides to take a character in a different direction the actor should, by definition, be able to act accordingly. If there is a chemistry problem between the actors and it is inhibiting the natural progression of the storyline, soaps should just say that. However in the case of this particular casting change, chemistry does not seem to have been the issue since Natalia and James Scott, at least from my perspective, had chemistry. So far I'm just not seeing that same spark since Tamara took over the role. Perhaps it's because this casting change was, as I said, so ill-timed, coming months after seeing Natalia's Taylor onscreen nearly everyday. Therefore maybe I just haven't given myself enough time to process this change. Typically though when two actors share a natural chemistry viewers notice it right away. In this case I didn't. Maybe DOOL should have kept Natalia in the role of Taylor and created a different role for Tamara because I don't think this casting decision is doing anyone any favors, least of all Tamara. Taking this part seems like as big a step back for her as it does for this storyline.
DOOL used the standard excuse of taking the character in a different direction to explain the Taylor casting change. To be perfectly honest I have never really understood this explanation. Soaps use it all the time and it never makes much sense. Actors act - if a show decides to take a character in a different direction the actor should, by definition, be able to act accordingly. If there is a chemistry problem between the actors and it is inhibiting the natural progression of the storyline, soaps should just say that. However in the case of this particular casting change, chemistry does not seem to have been the issue since Natalia and James Scott, at least from my perspective, had chemistry. So far I'm just not seeing that same spark since Tamara took over the role. Perhaps it's because this casting change was, as I said, so ill-timed, coming months after seeing Natalia's Taylor onscreen nearly everyday. Therefore maybe I just haven't given myself enough time to process this change. Typically though when two actors share a natural chemistry viewers notice it right away. In this case I didn't. Maybe DOOL should have kept Natalia in the role of Taylor and created a different role for Tamara because I don't think this casting decision is doing anyone any favors, least of all Tamara. Taking this part seems like as big a step back for her as it does for this storyline.
Oh great Blogger just ate my comment which is always so much fun. I'm not sure who to blame Blogger or Herbie for acting up so much this week.
ReplyDeleteThis recasting was absolutely horrible. It was just strange because Natalia was only seen in a few episodes before I heard the news about the recasting. Sometimes they are great at recasting like with Eric as Brady and Lindsay as Ari and striking gold with Matt who was the third Jack but the third time wasn't the charm here or when Julie Pinson played Billie since I hated her in that role although I did like her on Port Charles.
Tamara doesn't even have chemistry with James. Now I've hated his character from day one and hate him so much I have a death list for EJ but even I could see that he at least had chemistry with Natalia. I thought they were going the route of Taylor supposedly turning EJ into a human being even though I don't think that's possible. But now it looks like they are just going to turn Taylor into a bitch. This chick just isn't right for the role. I don't know what they were smoking.
Hi Bard Girl!
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting.I'm so sorry that blogger ate your first comment though. Be sure you're logged in before trying to comment, sometimes that causes a problem.
I'm so glad you agree. I thought maybe it was just me. I really thought DOOL was going to use this Taylor/EJ pairing as a way to redeem EJ. I'm not even invested anymore though. There is no chemistry and we've lost all those months of history. Seems like such a waste.
Paula