As The World Turns
Tragic Tuesday: Grieve Reid as ATWT's doc takes his last breath!
Photo Credit: JPI Studios
On-Air On-Soaps sincerely hopes you kept the kleenex nearby when you watched today’s heartbreaking episode of As the World Turns, as Dr. Reid Oliver (Eric Sheffer-Stevens) took his last breath as a result of the accident that took his life. In gut-wrenching and powerful performances by Van Hansis (Luke) who had to say goodbye to the man he loves, and is given power of attorney by Reid, as his dying wish to give his heart to save Chris Hughes life, Hansis pulled out all the stops with beautifully acted tender and emotionally raw moments. As for Eric Sheffer-Stevens, even while uttering his very few final words, and while laying there on a hospital gurney, his eyes revealed so much with just his look to Luke.
So, we ask you today, to share your thoughts here collectively, as we know fans of Sheffer-Stevens have been building up to this sad day, when this actor who brought such a refreshing kind of character and portrayal to daytime, is no longer on-screen, and that Reid’s ultimate demise facilitates a happy ending for the Chris and Katie love story. We also have heard from so many of you at how saddened you are and frustrated and angry, that this blossoming gay love story between the characters of Luke and Reid, brought to our television screens over the last nine months, has come to a complete halt, even though this duo had captivated audiences.
But Reid’s impact will be felt by many of the citizens of Oakdale that will change their lives and outlooks as the show goes off the air next week on September 17th. So let us know what you thought of today’s episode and Hansis and Sheffer-Stevens performances, and how you are dealing with the loss of Reid. You can watch today’s ATWT video recap below.
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As The World Turns
As the World Turns Castmates Mourn the Loss of Elizabeth Hubbard
UPDATED: Monday, the soap world was saddened by the loss of one of the most respected actress ever in the genre, when the news broke of the death of Daytime Emmy-winner, Elizabeth Hubbard.
This powerhouse performer who was best known for her work as Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors, and as Lucinda Walsh on As the World Turns, died this past Saturday at her home in Connecticut from cancer.
Throughout this afternoon, several of Hubbard’s former As the World Turns castmates took to social media to share their reactions on the passing of this beloved daytime icon. In addition, Retro TV, which has been airing vintage episodes of The Doctors, also paid tribute to Hubbard.
Photo: CBS
Martha Byrne (ex-Lily, ATWT) shared on her Instagram: As many of you are finding out this morning, Elizabeth Hubbard passed away. First and foremost I want everyone to know I made sure she was aware of how much everyone loved her. I would share your comments from social media, videos and your fond memories of her as Lucinda, Althea, every time I saw her. She loved the audience and fought like HELL to bring truth and honesty to her performances. On a personal level there aren’t words to describe how much she meant to me. Only feelings, which override words in so many cases when it comes to love. I will be sharing more so we can all grieve together but here are our last words together only just a few days ago. I said, “Liz, do you know how much you have done for me?” She said, “You can do more.” Because of what she has done for me over the last 38 years, the strength and fearless nature in how she lived her life, she is right, I can AND WILL do more. I look forward to sharing more about her life, which encompasses so much more than her INCREDIBLE career on daytime television. She also said to me when I told her how much the fans loved her…”I tried.” She more than tried. She left it all on the screen. I’ll miss her every day but grateful the universe gifted me with such a force of nature, of which the world will not see the likes of again. ❤️”
Michael Park (ex-Jack) shared via Twitter: “If Liz was involved in a scene I was lucky enough to be in, I could always count on learning a little something and laughing a whole lot. She was a ferocious talent in love with her craft. One of the greats that will certainly be missed.”
Photo: NBC
Mary Beth Evans (ex-Sierra, ATWT and now Kayla, DAYS) expressed: “I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Elizabeth Hubbard for six years on As the World Turns, where she played my mother. What an amazing powerhouse this woman was … always striving for spontaneity and keeping it real. My favorite times with her were riding in the car from Manhattan to Brooklyn — the stories she would tell were so much fun. Rest in peace, sweet lady. #RIPLIZ #ATWT
Photo: CBS
Peter Boynton (ex-Tonio, ATWT) added: “Rest in peace, Boss! Working with/for you at ‘Walsh Enterprises’ was a highlight of my NYC years! Your encouragement and respect meant the world to me. I’m raising a glass to you and feel so lucky to have worked with you in that great ‘ATWT’ community. On angels wings. – Peter ‘Tonio Reyes’ Boynton.”
Scott Bryce (ex-Craig, ATWT) said, “She was astonishing. Liz RIP. Love you woman.”
Retro TV expressed: “We are saddened to hear of soap-opera legend Elizabeth Hubbard’s passing at age 89. A force to be reckoned with, Hubbard stole our hearts with her portrayal of Althea Davis on The Doctors. Please share your favorite memories with us as we remember the beloved Elizabeth Hubbard.”
In addition, Alec Baldwin who played Billy Aldrich on The Doctors wrote: “I worked on The Doctors with the great Liz Hubbard. An amazing woman and remarkable actress.”
Michael Fairman TV will continue to update this post as reactions continue from Liz’s colleagues.
What do you think about the remembrances shared thus far from Martha Byrne, Michael Park, Mary Beth Evans and Peter Boynton on working with the great Elizabeth Hubbard? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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We are saddened to hear of soap-opera legend Elizabeth Hubbard’s passing at age 89. A force to be reckoned with, Hubbard stole our hearts with her portrayal of Althea Davis on The Doctors. Please share your favorite memories with us as we remember the beloved Elizabeth Hubbard. pic.twitter.com/Ctb020q6bw
— Watch The Doctors (@watch_doctors) April 10, 2023
As The World Turns
Daytime Icon Elizabeth Hubbard Passes Away at 89
One of daytime drama’s most beloved and revered actresses, Elizabeth Hubbard, has passed away. The legendary Daytime Emmy-winning star was best known for her performances as Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors and Lucinda Walsh on As the World Turns.
Elizabeth’s son, Jeremy Bennett, broke the heartbreaking news via his Facebook page, sharing, “I’m sorry to say with a broken heart mi mum passed over the weekend. Thank you for being an unmovable rock that guided me through life. I will try to honour your memory for as long as I live.”
Photo: NBC
Hubbard received 11 Daytime Emmy nominations throughout her career on the soaps. Of her 11 Daytime Emmy nods, Hubbard earned eight for her towering work as Lucinda Walsh on CBS’ As the World Turns, a role she played from 1984 till the the beloved soap went off the air in September of 2010.
However, Liz was the very first actress to win the Outstanding Lead Actress award in 1974 for her star-turn as Dr. Althea Davis on NBC’s The Doctors. She followed that two years later winning a Daytime Emmy for the TV movie, First Ladies Dairies: Edith Wilson.
Liz was born to be an actress and graduated from the distinguished Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England, She got her soap start with roles on Guiding Light, then Edge of Night, and eventually joined The Doctors as Althea. She played the role from 1964-1969, then again from 1970-1978 and one last time from 1981-1982. After The Doctors was cancelled, she went over to One Life to Live for a short run in the role of Estelle Chadwick.
Photo: JPI
Later, everything changed in Oakdale when As the World Turns wisely cast Hubbard as Lucinda Walsh, a defining role in her career. Lucinda was a tough-as-nails corporate business woman with a past, who guarded her heart, and carried on tumultuous relationships with her children and the men in her life.
Photo: JPI
Elizabeth’s final appearance on-screen was in the web series Anacostia in 2015 that reunited Hubbard with her ATWT on-screen adopted daughter, Lily, played by her dear friend, Martha Byrne.
We will continue to provide updates and reactions in the soap community on the death of Elizabeth Hubbard in the days ahead.
Share your condolences and remembrances for the great Elizabeth Hubbard vis the comment section. But first, we share the last times we had the opportunity to connect with Liz. One, on the red carpet at the Daytime Emmys along with Martha Bryne in 2018, and her participation as one of our ‘Doctors’ alums during our pandemic game show, ‘Soap-Opera-Know-It-All’, where she was gracious enough to be a part of the episode.
— Martha Byrne (@MarthaByrne10) April 10, 2023
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Van Hansis is truly the most amazing actor I had to watch on screen! When Van cries, I cry, and when Van smiles his adorable smile, I smile: that’s as simple as that. I can feel each one of Luke’s emotion because Van makes them so palpable and so real!Today, I wanted to hug Luke and to make him feel better. Today’s episode showed deeply amazing performances by Van Hansis. What an incredibly talented actor!
Yeah, he is. But I find impossible to deal with the loss of Reid
Van is the only actor who makes the show worth watching. Van topped it all!
Van is indeed fantastic. However, No amount of great acting can mask this truly horrific and tragic story. This has to be some of the worst writing ever.
Van is phenomenal!!! He is/was the best thing about ATWT, and I just can’t comprehend why they would kill Reid. I just wish another show would offer Van a job. He completely mesmerizes me when he is on screen. Maybe Luke could move to another town to move on after Reid’s tragic and unnecessary death.
Thank you, Michael, for providing this forum. Thank you also for your incredible support of our effort to turn this tragedy into triumph by making folks aware of our campaign in honor of ESS for DWB. It is something none of us will soon forget! Van was all kinds of amazing today but, then again, he always is. He not only spoke for Luke. He spoke for the fans. As much as I hate the end, I look forward to Van’s portrayal as our vessel to say goodbye to this “snarky bastard” we all fell in love with:-)
I have grown up with this show, watched all my life and never, never have I been more bitterly disappointed by it. I simply cannot understand purposefully adding more misery to an already miserable situation- loss of our beloved show- loss of our beloved Helen. Now the loss of the single best character ever introduced.. and for what. Yes, the performances by the actors were wonderful- but I would take sappy, happy endings for every single character over great drama any day in a situation like this- in a little over a week the world stops turning forever. That alone… Read more »
I have been watching ATWT for 30 years. Never did more than watch until LuRe. I had spent the better part of the last 8 months campaigning, sending letters, postcards, calling the hotline to get more airtime and LuRe endgame. Instead what I got was a slap in the face. I will never regret watching Eric & Van as they lit up the screen anytime they were on. I have made many new friends through this whole experience including those I went to Vermont, Paley in NYC & Boston with. It still did not lessen the blow of the last… Read more »
I am truly devastated. Reid Oliver is the best thing that has happened to Oakdale in a long time and the only reason this watcher of 28 years continued to watch in 2010. As Luke stated today, they were only getting started. What a love story it would have and should have been. I hope that Oakdale will remember this man who gave his life for a friend. Tears have been flowing snce last week. I will truly miss Eric and Van gracing our homes in the afternoon and letting us into their lives.
I agree!!!! Luke and Reid should have been able to have the fairy tale love story… They just started out and should have the chance to finish the story! I have been watching ATWT for 20 years since I was a kids watching with my mom and Reid brought the show back to life… Not looking forward to this week, because i know it is coming to an end. I am hoping that the show is saved and all of this devastation was just a dream….. I love this show became a huge part of my daily life…
Yeah- that storyline SUCKS! Chris was self-serving, spoiled and did everything he could to cause his demise… I say, let him go!
Much as I love Van Hansis acting – and I really hope he’ll garner an Emmy finally next year – I think today’s episode’s saving grace is Eric. Even though his scenes were painfully, inadequately short, and even though the writing around him was painfully, inadequately rushed, it was his understated and nuanced performance that hit me the hardest. I know it probably won’t be the kind of acting that will gain the actor awards, but it’s what will stay with fans the most. I am very disappointed with the show’s treatment of this amazing character, whose spunk, sexual maturity,… Read more »
I disagree. Van’s performances are the most memorable from this show. No other actor did what he did. Emotions were all writen in his eyes, in his faces, in his gestures, in his posture… Van Hansis is truly the most amazing actor. Eric didn’t have a lot to do, except for watching Luke being totally devastated. Everybody should recognize Van Hansis’ brilliant work.
I beg to differ. Eric may not have had a lot to do but what he did trumped every other person. His eyes spoke volumes.
To the Producers and Writers of ATWT: As a LGBT fan of As the World Turns, I am devastated by the direction you chose to take for the ending of your show. The choices you made felt like a blatant homophobic attack on LGBT fans and fans of the gay characters you have depicted on your show. This was so puzzling to me, because you took the effort to create fully realized gay characters, highlight them within the show and include them in the ending, rather than bringing them on as a plot device and then shipping them off to… Read more »
That was so well stated, Rebecca. I am a heterosexual woman who has watched ATWT for well over 30 years, and I absolutely agree that this ending sends a horrible message. (intended or not) I am seriously disappointed in the choice the writers/ producers made in ending this show. Maybe it was done in order to allow the actors to really show their talents with a wide range of emotions. That could have been done with a near death experience or in many other ways. It is so sad that this show that has been such a part of my… Read more »
I completely 100% agree with you Rebecca. I don’t think anyone has yet to say what you said with such clarity and execution. Thank you for putting into words what many people are feeling. I hope your brilliant writing does not fall on deaf ears.
As yet another LGBT fan, I agree with you wholeheartedly. That’s just wrong on so many levels.
I agree with you 100%. This storyline sucks… we just had Luke and Reid at the beginning of their journey and now, they are killing him for the benefit of Chris and of course for their own agenda.
I’m so devastated by this and so angry, I will never ever root for another couple. I’m burned for life. It was unecessary to kill Reid. Noah and Luke were over, why not let Noah move on and let Luke be happy with Reid.
I hate this show, you have no idea.
As another LGBT fan, I agree 100% I am so angry by this ending. Luke deserves a happy ending. He finally has a mature relationship with Reid. Luke learned how to stand up for himself. He found a man that loves him for who he is and doesn’t want to change him. A man that will stand by him through good times and bad. One that takes responsibility for his own actions and not blame Luke because something goes wrong. These two characters have a love that will last a lifetime and should have been allowed to end the show… Read more »
I totally agree with you Rebecca! I had invested so much of my time into this couple and ATWT that I am truly heartbroken that the only gay couple on the show could not have a happy ending. I will never become so fascinated with another couple like I have Luke and Reid again on any show in order to save my self from this type of heartbreak. ATWT knew that Luke and Reid had a large following too and they let us down. The character Chris Hughes compromised his own health and should have suffered the consequences. Now we… Read more »
Today was indeed a very very sad day as we had to say goodbye to our beloved Dr. Reid Oliver. Its almost unreal that we saw the final episode for an actor and character who brought so much life to this show. Eric Sheffer-Stevens will forever be remembered for his portrayal of Reid and we will be forever grateful he was brought to our screens 9 months ago. Van Hansis proved again today that he is blessed with a gift and is one of the most talented, amazing and breathtaking actors I have ever watched. His performance today (and I’m… Read more »
I am so saddened and sickened over this brutal ending to a fabulous character who had given so much and saved so many lives. I am equally disturbed that Luke, a legacy character who happens to be gay, is the only character left devastated and grieving. I do not understand the rationale that these writers used in coming up with this ending for Luke and Reid. They had just found each other and had just planned a life together which was cut short by a ridiculous train accident contrived by the writers to give their “sweetheart” her 6th love of… Read more »
For some reason I cannot leave a reply directly to this entry, so I’ll just leave it here. Van Hansis, as usual, was amazing today. He broke my heart with his performance. And Luke, oh, Luke! I feel devastated for him, and I am so angry with the entire Hughes family for how they were so dismissive of Luke’s grief, how they circled him like vultures. I cannot believe how *alone* Luke was today. Why didn’t anyone call his parents? Why didn’t his friends seem to care that Luke was at the absolute lowest point of his life and barely… Read more »
Frustrated and Angry are definitely two words I would use. I am not angry that Reid died [well, I am, but I’ve learned to deal with that anger in the past few weeks] as much as I am angry with how underwhelming today’s episode was. Reid and Luke got five minutes to say goodbye before the Hughes family was circling like vultures just waiting to push Luke aside and take Reid’s heart. They wouldn’t give him a moment to grieve, even before Bob and John knew that Reid wanted to give his heart to Chris. Bob didn’t seem upset at… Read more »
To ATWT writers you have made the worst decision ever you ruined everthing. Luke and Reid lovestory was beautiful written everything was so perfect they started off hating each other but it later changed in love.Reid coming 9months ago to this soap changed everything for the bettter he changed so much because of Luke.And Luke actually grew up matured to a great man.Luke found love again and he looked damn happy again.For the writers do this to kill of Reid was such a big mistake i hope they live to regret it.Luke is alone with no Reid no love nothing… Read more »
I loved the scenes between Reid and Luke – both actors just BROUGHT IT completely and utterly. On the other hand, the rest of the ep basically was horrid – badly written and rushed. Who was in charge of writing it I’d like to know. The entire Chris needs to be saved arc just trashed so much of LuRe’s storyline and to me screamed of homophobia and also just a general misunderstanding of the character of the great Dr. Reid Oliver. At least we will always have YT to go back and watch so many of the great, dynamic scenes… Read more »
Thank you for your sympathetic article on Reid and Luke. What started out as an epic love story with such promise has ended in disappointment for so many ATWT’s fans. The actors — both Eric Sheffer Stevens and Van Hansis did an amazing job portraying Reid and Luke. Their talent lit up the screen. We will be following their careers and watching their performances for years to come.
Wow what can one say, Eric and Van once again brought us BRILLIANT performances.
It’s been an incredible 9 month journey, and my “happily ever after” is knowing that something positive came from this tragic ending, DWB.
Luke gave us the best line today “this is about saving somebody’s life”, well no better way to honour Eric than to save somebody’s life for real. Thank you for all your support.
I certainly know that a reason this storyline was so incredibly memorable is because of Eric Sheffer Stevens and what he brought to the role. No one would’ve been able to carry it off by him and he should certainly be recognized for his work. Van Hansis was an even better actor for playing off of someone who absolutely recognized/acknowledged/acted the hell out of the character that he was playing. To see all of that come together in such a horrible display of character disregard and storyline progression is incredibly disheartening. I’m upset that the one character in the entire… Read more »
My heart is breakin first of all. Reid was someone i became to love. His snarkyness was who he was and i loved every moment. I’m furius with the writers for killin him off. I was lookin forward to seein his relationship with Luke progress. Van & Eric did awesome work. They are some of the best actors we have. Thank u Michael for lettin us talk
What a nightmare! The writing totally sucked. It was all rushed and cold. And made me feel like and idiot myself for watching this show as long as I have. I knew that they would kill off one of the gay actors for this storyline. Because they didn’t care about what the fans wanted and needed for closure at the end. Why did anyone have to die? They all deserved happy endings so they could live happily ever after in our hearts and minds. I would love to see Luke wake up next week and this to have all been… Read more »
I was thinking the same thing….if only this was a dream!!!!!! Killing the character of Reid was one of the biggest mistakes in soap history. What an amazing love story…and Eric and Van hit the ball out of the park with every scene that they were ever in. In my opinion they are the two best actors working in the industry today and that goes for daytime, primetime and films. I am so insulted that all of the straight characters get a happy ending and the really nice gay guys have nothing but death and despair. I love ATWT and… Read more »
I am heart broken that ATWT chose to kill off the best character introduced on this show in over a decade. The Lure story line, started out so beautifully, then we had to deal with way too little air time to make room for Chuckles and Blackie. Still I am grateful to have had the opportunity to have been introduced to the wonderful ESS. And one last comment: I feel so ripped off that there are 7 episodes left and ESS will not be in them.
Thank you for this comment. Just the fact that they wasted time on Chuckles and Barbara and Blackie with Saint Janet says it all to me.
Shame on you ATWT!!!!
after 9 months watching, I would never imagined ths is how reid and Luke will be treated in the end! I still can’t understand WHY???? I’ve been crying since CG did that doomed interview! I’ve never been sad and angry in my life like I’ve been this past month. I caved in today and watched! and the funny thing I maybe teared up over some lines… for the rest of it I felt numb with a WTF expression on my face! the episode was awful even Van and Eric couldn’t save it for me! the editing, the writing, the choice… Read more »
Well, that completely blew chunks. I got my crying out of the way watching the recap, but the actual ep lacked power. It was cold, clinical, and rushed. Van was great, but to be honest, I liked his acting better the night of Noah’s surgery. He didn’t have enough time to let anything build in today’s show. Eric was the only completely believable person – he played dying very well. I did enjoy Kim’s regrets over Reid. But seemed like no one really gave a damn except Luke. Katie’s reaction wasn’t even that devastated. All in all, it’s very easy… Read more »
I am gutted. I have never been so pissed off at the writers of a soap. I HATE that they killed my REID. He was the best damn thing about the show and he made me watch after years of not watching. All this for Chris and Katie, who have no chemistry and were just thrown together. I am resentful of them and will not watch them at all. My poor poor Reid. I love Eric’s portrayal of Reid and i thought he was the best thing about the show today and I loved LuRe together and this is how… Read more »
Van and Eric did magnificent jons today and only they did. It doesn’t help alleveiate the pain of such a horrific ending. What would have been so terrible if ATWT let Reid and Luke ride into the sunset and have a beautiful life together. No excuse for such a shamefule ending. Not only tragedy is entertaining. A beautiful ending for Luke and Reid coulsd have sent this 54 year old soap out on an uplifitng cloud of glory. Instead, after 45 years watching the show, it’s end has brought me great sorrow and will not miss the show at all.… Read more »
The only thing that was worth watching about today’s episode was VAN HANSIS he is a wonderful actor everything else was crap and pointless and everybody else were heartless.I don’t know if I could have imagined a worse ending for the Luke/Reid.
Reid who? I am going to mourn Nancy instead since she a historical character. It is so shameful that Nancy’s death is overshadowed by some newbie character that showed up about 7 months ago. LAME.
Bye Reid, I won’t miss you.
I love Reid. This ending was definitly unecssary. Like you said Nancy died a week ago! we should mourn her not Reid!
I miss Nancy too, but she died in real life and they had to write that in last minute. However, Reid was an amazing character deftly portrayed by Eric Sheffer Stevens. He played off every actor or actress he worked with perfectly. He started out as smug and obnoxious and you grew to love him and his beautiful relationship with Luke. You are in a very small minority Carrie, who wished Reid to be gone. Maybe you should deal with your homophobia.
I loved the character of Reid and was upset by his death but as a long time viewer I can see Carrie’s point about the loss of a long time character versus one who had been on the canvas a short time. I also can see Paul’s point about the big impact Reid had in a relatively short time. I disagree strongly, however, with his assertion that just because she did not like the character that she is homophobic. Heck, for all we know she could have simply preferred Luke with Noah. To call her a homophobe is a little… Read more »
I think the actors did a great job with the crap they got for a script. I can’t remember a show that had worse writing than today’s.
I am still so frustrated. I keep telling myself it is only a show, I got on Facebook and Twitter and tried to steel myself and now I am just in shock. I am dissapointed in the actions of all of the people in the eposide outside of Luke and Reid. Could they have been any colder. Katie redeemed herself in the end but where were Lily and Holden, no one called them right away. It was just Chris, Chris, Chris. And I don’t know why the writers didn’t give us a good Chris to root for instead of one… Read more »
Amen, amen and Amen!!!
CG and JP never cared for the fans… today, they show it again 🙁
I totally agree. They showed this in the past but really stuck it to us with this ending. Rethinking why I have been loyal fan for the last 30 years… So sad.
I agree that Van and Eric were amazing today. Honestly, when weren’t they during this love story in the making? I can’t say the same about the supporting cast today. Not that the acting wasn’t good. I happen to think ATWT had one of the best ensemble casts of any TV show. I just thought the material given to the others today was horrifically appalling. I can’t even say that I like Luke’s bedside talk about guilt for bringing Reid to Oakdale sounded real. I think it was too soon to think about guilt while he’s still in shock. This… Read more »
The writers probably thought that it was a good ending… You know JP lives in her bubble for so many times, it doesn’t surprise me at all…
Powerful and touching performance, had me crying and so upset. Outstanding Performance!! I truly wish that this soap opera would not be taken off the air. (:
I’m honestly a little torn by this episode, both Van Hansis and Eric Sheffer-Stevens were so unbelievably powerful and amazing and yet the writing left me deeply underwhelmed. I understand that the show wanted Reid to have a tragic hero ending but I didn’t feel that at all while watching this. Was I meant to watch Chris for the last few weeks and feel nothing but contempt? I didn’t feel at all that Reid’s death saved the life of a worthy man or was even meaningful in any way. I felt like it was a waste of an amazingly created… Read more »
I agree with everything that you say. We’ve really been duped out of some great storytelling.
Very sad!!! Loved Reid! Great with Luke!!
Great acting!!!
I’m really just sad more than anything. Sad that the show chose to end Luke’s story on such a sad note by killing the man he’s in love with. Sad that after we’ve seen Reid grow SO much & learn to love & be loved in return, that he meets such an awful fate for a character that did absolutely nothing to make me root for him. Reid cared more about Chris’s health than Chris himself did, so all I have to say is that Chris better be grateful to him & realize what an awesome friend Reid really was!… Read more »
Van Hansis was phenomenal just as I expected, every scene he was in had me crying to bawling during the scene with Katie. As well as Eric, he was incredible and so realistic. Truthfully their performances were what made the episode. Because the writing was atrocious and the heartlessness of the other characters was revolting, they had no sympathy for Luke whatsoever. I know they had to work fast for Chris’ sake but they were practically forcing Luke to sign over Reids heart. They were ready to cut Reid open right then and there in front of Luke. And Reids… Read more »
I am very upset by the death of reid. i cried during the entire episode. I dont think its fair that they killed him off the air. I have love the character of Dr. Reid Oliver from the very beginning and not just because eric sheffer-stevens is hot but because he brought a character that was so conceited and over confident that one couldnt help but fall for him and grow to love him and become curious about what made him the way he was and how his time in oakdale with luke would change him. i realize the irony… Read more »
The writing was atrocious, and the heartlessness of the other characters was revolting. They practically forced Luke to sign over Reids heart. I know they had to work fast for Chris’ sake but they were ready to cut Reid open right there in front of Luke. This characters death deserved to be so much more than a device in the Chris/Katie story, specifically for Chris, that uncharismatic prick. Vans performance was phenomenal, just as I expected. All of Lukes scenes had me crying to bawlin during the Luke/Katie scene. As well as Eric he was incredible, the few lines he… Read more »
Could not agree more.
Amen for that!! LuRe forever <3
Long time viewers watched Luke be born. We watched him grow up. He was a loving, caring character in a medium which is filled with ethically-challenged characters. He suffered homophobia, kidnappings, a kidney transplant, etc.,. He watched him be a big brother to his siblings, a loving son, a caring grandson, etc.,. Many of us truly care about this character deeply. To watch his happiness be destroyed at the end of the show is heart-wrenching. Every other long term character [including attempted murderers, baby-swappers, embezzlers, thieves, adulterers etc.,] get happy endings. Reid was a truly original character in a medium… Read more »
Ditto. 🙁
I also agree with your comments.
I want to add though that while Katie may be the show’s sweetheart, I’d like to cast my feelings that Luke is also the show’s sweetheart. He is the least ethically-challenged character on this show and has had so much to grieve for already in his young.
I remember Luke being born and I liked all the actors that portrayed him over the years. Van, of course, being my favourite of all.
I won’t miss Reid one bit. Chris Hughes is part of the FIRST FAMILY of ATWT. He’s a lot more important than some arrogant, insulting doctor that only lived in Oakdale less than a year. The heart-broken Reid fans need to realize that and get over it.
Van Hansis’ acting was stellar as always. Can’t wait to see Noah (played by Jake Silbermann) comfort Luke. Noah could have been a jerk and said “so what” but he’s going to be there for Luke because he loves him.
I completely agree that Chris as a Hughes should be important, but unfortunately Chris since re-arriving in Oakdale has been unbearable. He’s selfish and unkind to a degree that made Reid initially appear more flattering–and then, when Reid actually started to care about other people and fall in love, it made it even clearer that Chris did not deserve any of the viewers’ sympathy. I am devastated by the loss of Reid today, but as a fan of the show, I am also upset that besmirched the character of Bob and Kim’s son.
Sad to say this is nothing new. Chris has always been this way. He is completely within character. Never could stand him.
Was he not stalking Katie at one point years ago? They must have been passing the pipe thinking Katie and Chris would make a good couple.
See? Everything, for Jake fans, is about Noah (Jake), not Luke. So typical, yet so stunning: they really are heartless, even if it’s Reid who has no heart now. Seriously, how could anyone care so little about Luke to prefer to see him destroyed in order to be “available” for Noah is beyond my imagination. I guess Noah’s selfish attitude reflects his immature fans attitude in real life. Grow up, kids. Reid was self-conscious of his skills in medicine and unapologetic in his life as a gay man: it might be incomprehensible for you since you love a self-absorbed, indecisive… Read more »
I guess I must be missing something. I just simply do not understand how people can take pleasure in the heartbreak of a 22 year old who has had so much suffering in his life. I thought that Nuke was a name that celebrated Luke and Noah. I must have been wrong. You would rather see Luke heartbroken and defeated while every other character on the show rides off into the sunset just so Noah appears. I guess I will never understand how tragic loss can be a good thing.
well guess what….Luke doesn’t love him.How could Luke ever go back to Noah when he had the best…and Reid was his soul mate.Luke and Reid had so much chemistry that i thought my TV might explode.Imagine if they had been able to really make love…OMG, that would have been the explosion heard around the world.I loved Luke and Reid and i feel the writers had no clue as to what the fans wanted.Or maybe like some people have stated, maybe they just didn’t care!
It’s hard to put into words how I am feeling about today’s ATWT episode. One thing I do know is that Van Hansis is an amazing actor. His performance was emotional, realistic, heartfelt and dare I say Emmy worthy. Even with the less than stellar writing and rushed storyline he managed to deliver a memorable performance, one that should make him proud. I know I am proud for him.
I’m not sure if Luke and Reid’s ending was intentional, conscious homophobia on the writers part but if not then at the very least it shows that they are extremely ignorant about past portrayals and cliches about gay characters and have misjudged their audience. I’m straight and I know that this sort of ending is one of the biggest, if not the biggest overused gay cliche’s out there. If you are going to write for a minorty character, especially a minority that you are not apart of, then be aware of the cliche’s and stereotypes that those types of characters… Read more »
Michael – thanks for letting us have this forum to express our feelings and thoughts on the show today. I for one, have been watching this show for almost 40 years. I have never been so invested in a character, or a pairing, as I was in Reid Oliver and LuRe. I am appalled at the way that this couple was treated in the end. Everyone else on this show gets a happy ending except for the gay characters? They didn’t even get to consummate their relationship! While Katie and Chris, a couple that has no chemistry and isn’t believable… Read more »
Me, I couldn’t sleep well last night… I was crying so much…:(
I am sick and upset and pissed they killed off Reid to save Chris and boring Katie. Luke was heartbroken and all they did was hurry him to sign to give selfish, boring no fun Chris Reid’s heart. Chris did this to himself and it was awful the writers ruined LuRe for Katie and Chris.
Luke and Reid had off the charts chemistry and the writers ruined it. Shame on them. Eric and Van were amazing and Luke and Reid will always be number 1.
I was sad it was going off, but after this I could care less now
I guess I’m in the minority here because I thought Van did a lot of scenery chewing. For my money Bob and Kim were the characters who got me choked up. The only scene that Van did that got to me was his silent reaction to Katie coming into the waiting area and going on and on about how Reid had saved Chris’ life. (Sorry to be mixing characters’ and actors’ names)
Bob? Bob did nothing to choke me up. He didn’t even seem to care that Reid was dead.
And you are definitely in the minority with the rest of your thoughts.
You must not have been watching the same show I was.Van was marvelous as he was begging his love not to die.Even Eric was a wonder as he conveyed his love for Luke just by the way he looked at him.These two actors were so brilliant that i feel cheated that they never got to have a future together.This was a love story like no other…two men who became so much better because of each other.How unfair that they couldn’t end happily ever after.And everything is so rushed…the writers knew this show was ending so they could have given Reid… Read more »
I am gutted and heartbroken and disgusted by ATWT’s treatment of this couple. I’d never watched a daytime drama until Reid Oliver came on the scene, and I certainly never will again. My 9 month investment in this storyline, being led down the garden path by promises of intimacy that never arrived, ended in a death that was wrong on so many levels. To reduce this comic outsider, this snarky genius, this sexy and unapologetic gay man to death-by-locomotive is simply disgusting. The love story they built between Luke and Reid came to nothing because they didn’t have the courage… Read more »
I actually have quite a bit to say about this, most of which I actually expressed in an email to CBS earlier today, so I’m not going to repeat it all here. I’ll post the link: http://community.livejournal.com/lure_atwt/935205.html What I didn’t mention was my frustration that the Chris heart-sickness-secret bit was dragged on for months while they could hardly give Reid a half hour to die today. That saddened me to no end. But Van’s performance was through the roof and I absolutely adored it. It was the only thing in this episode that brought me to tears. Even ESS hit… Read more »
I was more angry than sad today, mostly at the Hughes family! I cannot believe the level of nonchalance at the fact that a fellow colleague and human being had just past away in an attempt to save the life of one of their family members. John Dixon’s question “No donour heart?” caused my chin to drop to the floor. He had just been adviced on Reid’s accident and all he could think about was the fact that Reid couldn’t get the donor heart for Chris’ surgery. How heartless can you be….literaly! Just as Reid was on his death bed,… Read more »
I so took that scene of them coming to the room completely different than you did. I took it as them coming to pay their respects to Reid for saving Chris.
How am I “dealing” with the loss of Reid? Noisemakers and confetti.
How unkind. Thankfully, judging by the rest of the comments on this board, you are one of a few.
i feel sorry for you for feeling this way about a wonderful character who had more heart & soul & passion in his little finger than the character you loved had in his whole body.
none of the fans of Luke & Reid would of had “confetti & noisemakers” for Noah even getting hurt, let alone die. it just show the difference between the maturity of the fans for each couple.
I was so impressed with the portrayal of Luke and Reid today. I cried and cried some more. I believe that were ATWT not going off the air, Reid would never have been killed off. VanHansen won an emmy today and much deserved at that. I’m sad to see ATWT go as I have watched for nearly 30 yrs. Meg Ryan as “Betsy” was the best. Good luck to all the cast and crew you have given us an amazing ride.
I don’t know that I have the right words for what I felt about today’s episode. You said it so well yourself. The things that Eric did with just his eyes. Van was beyond Emmy worthy. It was a strangely edited episode and I felt that Reid’s death came too quickly. Having said that it was the small moments that crushed my heart. When Reid looked at Luke and said “who knew I had one to give” speaking of his heart, and that followed with Luke saying they had “so many more stupid arguments to have and days to spend… Read more »
I tried very hard to give ATWT some credit. After all, they gave us the great characters of Luke Snyder, Noah Mayer, Dr. Reid Oliver, Barbara Ryan, Kim Hughes, Simon Fraser, Rose D’Angelo and so many more that I have adored over the years. The biggest part of me, though, really believes deep down that this was all some kind of twisted revenge fantasy. “You want train wreck of a show? I’ll GIVE YOU train wreck of a show!” the laid off writers chanted. There was certainly nothing in the history of the show to support what happened here. A… Read more »
Van Hansis and EES brought amazing raw emotion to the “Reid’s Death” episode, and just want to thank them for bringing these characters to “life” for us. I have been a huge fan of Van Hansis since discovering his storyline several years ago. I know fans are sad and frustrated by this tragic ending, as am I, but ATWT’s had the courage to bring Luke/Noah/Reid to the screen for us to enjoy and care so much about. I will truly miss this cast and show.