It looks like Lifetime has chosen the worst way possible to help Army Wive’s Pamela (Brigid Brannagh) make one of the biggest decisions of her life — and it all comes down to the almighty dollar.
While Pamela struggles to decide whether or not to leave her husband Chase, Lifetime and the creators of Army Wives are in the early stages of developing a spin-off of their hit series. The premise? A newly divorced Pamela settles back into her old life, re-joining the Charleston, South Carolina police department.
What?
Forget for a moment that without Pamela, Roxy will spin off the edge of the Earth into space. Because, as far-removed as Pamela is from Denise and Claudia Joy, Roxy is just not their speed. Sure the show wouldn’t remove her from the group, but can you imagine Roxy leaning on Claudia Joy for carpooling or babysitting? No.
But that’s besides the point. Is that seriously the way to drive such a significant plot through the fourth season of this show? There’s money in the wings for a new show, so end Pamela’s ability to live on-base, thereby cutting her out of the show and our lives? Are you kidding me?
Pamela happens to be one of my favorite characters on Army Wives, so in a vacuum I’d be thrilled about a series revolving around her. But what happens back on base? Is the group going to feel lacking, thus forcing the creators to inorganically insert someone into their midst? And how about Chase? Does no Pamela mean that he’d disappear too? The other great thing about the Chase/Pamela marriage is the potential to learn about Chase, and what makes him who he is. So Pamela gets her own show … do we get screwed and lose out on someone with as much potential for growth as Chase?
I’m also not convinced that I want to see a working, stressed-out Pamela. I don’t need her stuck at home and in the kitchen, but her being an aggressive person has made for some interesting TV, as she pushed against the bureaucracy that is life in the Army. Do you remember how great her radio show was? Or her fight for better housing? As opposed to Claudia Joy — who is the mother — Pamela would make for a great Army family father, always pushing the envelope to get people the treatment that they deserve. Her absence would reverberate around the show, and it would also short-circuit countless potential directions for Pamela to go in once she resolves her marriage.
Even if she were to divorce Chase, move off-base and get a job, she could still be on the show. In fact, it would give us an interesting perspective on life for someone who was once embraced by the Army, and now finds themselves looking in from the outside. Especially someone like Pamela, who’s so fiercely independent — she’s the last person I’d expect to see flounder after being cut loose. I’m sure this is an area that would be explored on a spin-off as well, but would it be the same without Roxy, Denise, Claudia Joy, and Roland to give her support? Or are the other actors going to be doing double duty, like Vance on NCIS?
Talk about disappointing news … and a poor decision to put money before the three million of us who hung in there through the low days of season three. So much for “My” Lifetime.
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on May 10, 2010 @ 15:00 EST5EDT
I don’t watch the show, but can never turn down a picture of Brigid Brannagh :)
Again, I really don’t understand your posts. Pamela would make a great army family father? WTF is that supposed to mean? That women cannot be head of the household? That her strength would have more meaning if she were a man? Don’t understand your perspective on women at all.
It would make for a great show, watching Pamela return to civilian life. She most likely would NOT keep the others as long term friends, as so much of what brought them together is their life on base and the experience they share in having spouses in the army. The reality is that army couples to split up. Sure, Chase had room for growth, but showing his struggle with her leaving would also make good story. Not that he’s ever home.
*POST AUTHOR*
Now I think you’re just coming into this having decided that I have a problem with strong woman. I was juxtaposing Pamela, who’s a much more proactive, forceful (in a positive way) person, to Claudia Joy, who’s more behind-the-scenes and quiet. And I was using the stereotypical mother/father figures to make my point, in saying that I think Pamela is a key component of the makeup of the show, and could be used as the strong hand leading the way much in the same way that Claudia Joy is the subtle hand leading the way.
Like I said, I’d enjoy a show that focused on her a lot, but that doesn’t mean I want to see Pamela leave Army Wives.
I am really sad about pam and chase divorcing. I really do hope there can be a reconciliation