One Life to Live Series Finale Recap & Photos: The Rainbow's End
The following contains spoilers from the series finale of ABC‘s One Life to Live.
Well that was different from a crazed J.R. chandler firing gunshots into a crowded room.
ABC’s One Life to Live — perhaps having learned a lesson from how its sister soap, All My Children, frustratingly sewed things up (having done so under the impression that life would go on online) — zagged where that show zigged and served up a bevy of heartwarming moments capped by, yes, one cliffhanger reveal, but nothing nearly as random as what went down in Pine Valley.
One of the biggest crowd-pleasers concerned the true, absolute and undeniable paternity of Jessica, who in recent years had been retconned as born of Mitch’s seed. Well, the retcon got retconned as Clint and Viki opened up new DNA test results that proved Jess is a blue-blooded Buke, tried-and-true. That reveal, in and of itself swelling with emotion, was only amplified by knock-out performances by Erika Slezak, Jerry ver Dorn, Bree Williamson and Melissa Archer, each of them undoubtedly assisted by streaming tears that were real.
As a kicker to that — not that it needed one — a reflective Clint got down on bended knee and proposed anew to Viki, with both Slezak and ver Dorn visibly moved by the moment as actors as much as characters.
Similar real-life waterworks were on joyous display when Bo and Nora, in the wake of Destiny giving birth to her and Matthew’s son, aptly and wonderfully named “Drew,” reaffirming their love for each other. One “I love you, Red” was all it took to cue up the VCR in our heads, which somewhat made up for a lack of on-screen flashbacks.
Elsewhere during the too-short hour: Brody stopped by to see Jessica, proving himself to be well and perhaps on his way back into the armed forces, and Cole showed up as Starr’s “bodyguard,” in part to report that his father, Patrick, was alive.
But such kiddie stuff took a big back seat to the Buchanans’ story, as well as the sort of scenes that Todd and Blair fans have waited far, far, far too long for. Together and alone at last, though not without a couple starts-and-stops, Todd eventually let himself fall into Blair’s arms, and they made (off-screen) love. As small comfort for TnBers, there was a prolonged afterglow moment complete with Roger Howarth shirtlessness (though those moments are conspicuously if not surprisingly missing from the ABC photos shared below).
Lest things end on too euphoric a note (did someone say “encore”?), John and the LPD came busting in on the lovers, to arrest Todd for the murder of Victor Lord Jr. However….
The finale closed with the hour’s narrator, Allison Perkins, throwing her script at the bound-and-gagged familiar face she had been reciting her “One Life to Live” tale to: Victor Lord Jr. himself, very much alive.
I may have missed a few notes; TVLine’s Meg Masters will be here later to fill any blanks. But for now, tell us what you thought of the finale. And how do you think Todd, Blair, John and Starr will migrate to General Hospital‘s Port Charles?
I preferred All My Children’s cliffhanger. Plus, AMC’s finale had more heart.
Ah yes. How lovely to end a show’s 41-year run with a violent shooting. Brilliant.
Yes, but that was all done to generate interest in the online version — otherwise they would have sewn things up. I wouldn’t put it past ABC to generate some false pretense that the shows would continue to muffle some of the viewer outcry of it’s cancellation and I truly believed that one life to live would be spared because of it’s ratings increases in the past few months.
will melissa archer be going to general hospital ?
I Love Nash Brenana Jarde Push Nash Thuorh a Skylight
I Was Cry So Hard I Watch Nash Video is One life to live
Let’s Makes Me Cry So Hard
At the end of OLTL Nash should if walked thru the door and into Jessika arms and Todds brother should of been found not just in captive and Todd accused of killing him…and besides the characters you brought to GH BTW why did they all get name and character changes but more of OLTL should of gone onto GH and stayed…..bring in people we know not unknown ones I too am 58 and the only cast change I loved on OLTL was Jessika’s…The new one was absolutely the greatest actress to take the place of one I free up with..make GH join up with OLTL make it one big best soap ever…2014…still miss OLTL :-(
They were both different but fitting for the shows they were.
I liked the AMC finale (upt till the shooting merely because we will never know who was shot)though I do wish that when it was taped and aired we didn’t still have the hope of going online so they could’ve more properly wrapped it by giving us that alternate version that supposedly ventures into the futures of the residents of Pine Valley. The week leading up to the AMC finale was great too because it paid tribute to the histories of the different families on the show and brought back a lot of characters that were sorely missed.
The OLTL finale was good (though the acting and writing made me appreciate AMC’s players and writers all the more)in the sense that they had a smaller loose end than AMC left us with. I did like the big reveal at the end being Victor Jr. because I think it would be him in the bed, but most of the rest of the show I felt was a little predictable for me even though I haven’t watched in a long time.
Skye could always re-appear on GH and reveal her brother JR shot himself (that’s my theory on the victim, anyway).
I wish the AMC writers could get together and write a book which would conclude their stories the way they would have if they hadn’t been given the false impression that they were going to continue online. I would buy it.
or a television movie would be nice too, then we get one more chance to see the characters we love so much!
Hi, Snappy
You are brilliant! That would be perfect. Good call.
I thought the combination of Thursday and Fridays show was a perfect ending under the circumstances (assuming that the PP show was a done deal). RIP Llanview. I will always love you.
This finale hit ALL the right notes for me, but I have to digress, because this may be the last day that I comment on anything soap related (and I go back to The Edge of Night), but I am most impressed by the grammar in this article. Yes, I’m a Big Bang Theory-type nerd when it comes to grammar.
Matt, I have to cite this section:
“Similar real-life waterworks were on joyous display when Bo and Nora, in the wake of Destiny giving birth to her and Matthew’s son, aptly and wonderfully named “Drew,” reaffirming their love for each other.”
“Her and Matthew’s son” may not ‘sound’ right, but it is, and then “their love for EACH OTHER” instead of “one another”, which the soap press loves (inexplicably) to use is also the correct usage. As I bid farewell to the soap world of blogdom, I will always remember that Matt Webb Mitovich ushered me out of this major part of my life with the proper usage of the language. Call me a nerd, but I thank you for that, Matt. You (and our mutual friend, Bruce Fretts, are sadly a dying breed of literate entertainment reporters, and I wanted to take this moment to thank you for that.
I am now watching the west coast feed of OLTL, because I need to drill it into my head that this is the end of an era for me…and for many of us. All in all, I’m satisfied with the way the show ended. Even though I watched AMC longer, my closer attachment has been with OLTL (since Skye passed through town on her way to Port Charles), and I’m going to miss this show most of all!
Gord, you may be a nerd, but you’re one of my favorite nerds. :-)
Hahaha! Thanks, Melinda! :-)
I loved the ending. Although I am now done with ABC. I refuse to watch this new crap. The Chew sucks and The Revolution is just a ridiculous idea. ABC HAS RUINED DAY TIME TV FOR ME. This is the daily line up. GMA, Kelly, The View, The Doctors, The Chew, The Revolution, General Hospital, Dr Phil then the news. Sounds pretty bad to me. Good luck with that crap :)
I will not watch ABC any more. The two that replaced All my Children and One Life to Live are dumb.
My feelings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I COMPLETELY AGREE, I loved the ending, but now I am stuck wanting more, and can’t have more. I have been a VERY LONG TIME FAITHFUL watcher of ONE LIFE TO LIVE, and I am SO UPSET that they cancelled it. I WILL NOT watch ABC anymore either. SOMEONE PLEASE.. start up a new channel, adopt ABC or kick off the reality / food / talk shows, and PLEASE put OLTL and AMC BACK ON THE AIR !!!
Put both ALL MY CHILDREN AND ONE LIFT TO LIVE back on PLEASE! I think it’s the worst thing you could have done for ABC TV.I’ve watched ABC soaps all of my life. My mother watched them so I’ve watched them since I was a little girl. Over the years when I worked days I taped them until soapnet came on. Then I watched them at night or on the weekend. These people became like part of your family after watching them so long. I’m 58 so I’ve watched them ever since they came to ABC. I don’t believe people will rush home to watch your new shows or set the DVR to record them. You just won’t get the long years of devoted followers as you did with these soaps.I say it was a very sad day for many of us followers and most of all,a sad for ABC. I’m sure you’ll be aware of this by your ratings soon if not already. A sad devoted ABC SOAP FAN,Connie Jackson :(
I agree 100%!! I have been watching OLTL since Vicki was married to Joe Riley the first time. I still have not gotten over Nash Brennan’s death!!!! Bring it back, let Jess and Nash be happy!!
It is now 8 months since the last oltl aired. I began to watch General Hospital but it does not have the heart , soul and humor of oltl. I thank the writers for referencing Viki, Natalie and Clint in the dialogue. It is a beautiful way to pay tribute to those who shared our lives for 30 plus years .
Like many, I avoid ABC other than GH. When hey canceled AMC and oltl hey took away something from millions of Americans. When a show runs for 40 years it is bigger than a sitcom that had 20 episodes. It was a shameful, sad act.
Still greiving in NY….pd
I can’t express my feelings over the loss of this show! However, I hate ABC even more for running an ad for The Revolution over the very final credits of OLTL. There should have been a montage type ending!!
Agreed!!!!
I agree as well. I had really hoped to see some flashbacks going as far back as they could.
“Cole showed up as Starr’s “bodyguard,” in part to report that his father, Patrick, was alive.”
We already found out Patrick was alive way back in June.
I am glad Todd’s last moment on OLTL was getting arrested for a “murder” he didn’t commit. Serves the rapist right.
Bite me! He gets to go to General Hospital, bet none of your favorites do! ;P
Mary, I bet you watch clips of Todd and Marty at the Spring Fling and get off to it, don’t ya.
I’m not going to defend anything Todd has done because he is clearly one of the show’s villains, but I do like him and I’m glad he’s going to General Hospital. I just wish Bree Williamson could come too.
The Mannings will only be on Gh for a few weeks I hear. I think its a dishonor of their characters and OLTL to have their worlds revolve around the Sunny show. I hope Todd at least shoots Sunny and makes him look like the wannabe gangster boy he is, then shotts everyone but sky and opens up a slot for oltl to show up. Anyways, just talking as a grieving fan. Its strongly rumored that Gh is scheduled to be canceled next april too. The only one protecting it was brian frons who was golf buddies with some of the crew. Abcs been so pathetic, i can see them replacing Gh with a show called “The Brew”.
I say we all get a group lawsuit and sue abc for lying about prospect park. They don’t exist, nor ever avertised other shows as well. I will continue to monitor the net to see if this website ever shows up with some kind of tv show, but i doubt it was ever real. They do not exist.
why didnt destinh have a baby girl one life to live only starr had a girl natelie and jessica have boys victor alive alliosn have him tied him how did he end up there, what happpen to clint end his crimes no mniosn back for him mattthew kille eddie ford why was truth relived big disppttomed ending what happent to cutter kim show what happen to patals why jack and shane make piece, becme friends, ending disapotened,or atleast shake hands with one another jack and shane.
This was painful to read. Jeez.
Is that even english?
Good lord. What?
For goodness sake please go back to school and learn how to speak and write english.
one life to live destiny shoould of have a baby gir, dispotend to the fans,
to whom this maybe conern destiny should of have a baby girl disapotined to the fans one life to live, had the baby in the hostipal no the buancan manion,one life to live ending disapotined
Your posts are leaving me dispotend. please stop.
I’m am dispotend that meliss/melica/melicss can’t seem to decide how her name is spelled.
Dispotend? Do you mean DISAPPOINTED? Otherwise, I have no idea what you’re saying.
lol Steven, good one
The entire last two weeks of One Life to Live were truly amazing. Reuniting star crossed lovers (Viki and Clint, John and Natalie), defeating old villains (Mitch Lawrence), highlighting the familial bonds which have always been the heart of the show. Fitting the show should end with the birth of Asa Buchanan’s last great-grandchild (in his living room of all places!). A true injustice that the show will not continue as planned.
I have mixed feelings about the migrating characters. I hope whatever storyline they step into it does justice to the individual character arcs and I hope they don’t completely take over as that would not be fair to General Hospital fans.
What a horrible fake Clint.
I am waiting to watch the glorious end of this landmark soap. Pleased to read some of the characters from OLTL will live on at GH. Hope they don’t cancel that one, but I’m fearful they will. I hate ABC for what they are doing to daytime TV and I won’t watch anything besides GH and only for the obvious reasons. I had hoped all along they could keep the soaps, but maybe just reduce the time to 30 minutes. This still could happen!
If the shows became 30 minutes, they’d be bringing in half the money from advertising, so they would still be losing money. It makes no sense from a business point of view.
To put simply by a long time viewer of one life to live and all my children, OLTL’s finale was perfect.
It was a bitter sweet ending to a very beloved soap we all watched over the yrs hope to continue seeing the land view families soon
I liked the finale until they showed victor lord jr. because that made me even more mad that the show is ending
It makes no sense to leave with a cliff hanger if the show is cancelled forever, ABC shouldn’t leave us with questions that they will never answer
I totally agree with you, regarding the ending cliffhanger.
Why have a cliffhanger to end the show’s finale?
I wish they would have had the actors say real goodbyes to the viewers.
I’ve watched One Life to Live from the very first show, and have great respect for the actors that have brought wonderful stories to life.
I don’t know what ABC is thinking. They will never have a show last as long as One Life to Live.
I started watching OLTL in the 90s, and while I’d given up soaps several years ago, I did watch the last half of today’s episode. I didn’t understand all that was going on or know who everyone was, but I knew enough. It was fun to see Jerry VerDoorn, the erstwhile Ross Marler from the late, lamented Guiding Light. I agree that it would have been nice to see some kind of nod to the show’s history and an acknowledgment of the fans. It’s very sad to see what looks like the end of an era.
Some of the stars got to say goodbye on today’s special OLTL tribute edition of The View.
The cliffhanger in the finale was due to the plan (at the time) to transition OLTL online via the Prospect Park deal.
The finale was taped in mid-November, and written before that. The Prospect Park deal was cancelled several days after taping the finale, and there was no time/budget to retape the finale to remove these cliffhangers.
I sooooooooooo agree that killed me!!! I love me some Victor Lord Jr.
How could Victor Lord Jr. still be alive? It doesn’t make any sense.
Being that its a soap, i speculate todd and victor were triplets. I was waiting for the day Margaret Cochran would actualy be alive somehow and rekidnap Victor Jr. Maybe Allison intervened on margarert’s plans before she had time to kidnap sam as well. maybe Margaret and Allison our sisters?
After my brain tumor I lost time (and still do), but I could sit down with my DVD of an old episode and remember and more important feel the memories I was living at that time of that episode. I feel very blessed to have had a trigger in my life for so many years that otherwise could have been lost forever, what sometimes was a fog can be clear just closing my eyes and listening to an episodes monologue. This show was not just a show, it was a path to memories from the past, it is my salvation… This has been a truly hard week watching this all come to a close.
ABC brilliance throwing out this for a cooking show folioed by a weight loss show is laughable. Good Bye ABC
Well said Jefferson. This show was always in the background growing up. I can remember the days I would get to stay home from school and could sit down and enjoy the program with my mom. It brings back such happy times watching it. I will miss it for the part it played in my childhood and connecting memories to a happier time…Somehow One Life to Live, may you live…
Hey , kids! Todd, Blair, Starr and John are all headed to Port Charles and will be on General Hospital before the end of the month!!!! Good News, No?
I think it is, but I completely understand why others don’t. It will all eventually depend upon how they blend them into GH, and is it short-term, and a long as they’re not shoved down anyone’s throats all the time, as that will truly upset the only-GH fans. So, there’s a lot dependent upon the writing and story-telling ….
Its just for a few weeks. Last time John was in port charles he sprouted fangs. Thats how i feel about this.
Is it Melissa? Please stop watching Soaps and instead, take an English class or basic spelling/grammar class. Also, just post once!
Yes it’s the end of an era and I,too, go back to “the Edge of Night.” Enough already of the cooking and lifestyle shows. Rachael Ray, Hoda and Kathy and Ravhael Ray are it for me. And of course the “Today” show. Prediction: soaps will see a resurgence -/ eventually.
I feel the same way, Paula.
Everything old is new again. Once all the reality shows and talk shows have run their course, soaps will come back in some capacity. They will be the greatest thing since sliced bread once again.
Besides, don’t they still have the Latin soaps called “telenovas?”
I didn’t care for All My Children’s ending scene. JR didn’t have to point the gun into a crowded room. He could of tripped or bumped into something and the gun could of just gone off and everyone in the crowded could have turned and looked in the direction of the gunfire. It still would of been a cliffhanger but it would of left us feeling satisfied that everyone (except JR) was safe. That would of been nice and if the online AMC went on as planned at that time, what happened to JR could of been revealed. And if the online AMC never happened, that would of been okay too. Left wondering forever if JR is dead or alive (sound familiar?) is a lot better than wondering forever who was shot in the finale of AMC, right? Especially after such a wonderful parting scene between Susan and Walt!!!
One Life to Live’s finale was almost perfect. John did not have to show up to arrest Todd. Todd and Blair should of just stayed in bed with their eyes closed and smiles on their faces. The show should of ended with Vicki and Clint holding hands at the front door of Llanfair, declaring their love for one another once more and Vicki closing the door saying “Goodnight Llanview”
The perfect ending. We all smile and feel satisfied. No cliffhangers needed.
Beautiful!!! I like your finale much better than what they left us with.
If you aren’t a writer, you should be. I like the way you think.
But at the time the finale was written and performed, the online venture was still happening. I was unsure about that succeeding, but after today’s episode I truly wish it would have worked out. I’ve been watching since ’78 and I will miss it more than I can say. It’s always been in the background of my life, through high school, college, career and finally through my stay at home mom years. Thanks for everything, Llanview. And thanks for nothing, ABC!
I’m not happy with the series finale. Yes, some things were good. Natalie & John getting back together. Clint & Viki. Jessica being Clint’s daughter, not Mitch’s. BUT, there were other things that were horrible. Jessica NEVER gets a happy ending. Nash died. Brody switched sisters. Ford died. Congratulations, she’s Clint’s biological daughter. But they treated her that way anyway! When I found out the series was coming to an end, I thought, “Great! Jessica can finally get her happy ending!” Guess I was wrong! Plus, Blair & Todd get their happy ending…all 30 seconds of it. I did not believe that Todd had killed Victor. But I don’t like the series ending with Blair getting disappointed again. I’m glad Victor is alive, even though I won’t get to see anything of how this end…though I hope that they will wrap up that storyline on GH, since Blair & Todd are swapping over. That would be nice to kind of know what happens. I also agree with the person who said AMC’s finale had more heart. It definitely did.
I knew this was going to happen with the Prospect Park deal was announced. I knew that both shows would botch their series finales because they were expecting to pickup online, and that it would end up not working out, and then the fans would get screwed. And that’s exactly what happened! Oh well! The fans lose out again.
The finale (and Thursday’s show leading up to it) were AMAZING! Viki’s speech about soap operas on Thursday’s show had me in tears and the cliffhanger ending of Victor Lord Jr being alive and well–had me applauding! What a great and amazing end to the best written soap on TV. It left me wanting more…and after being on the air for 43 years that is a pretty amazing accomplishment! I can’t wait to see what Frank and Ron do with GH! (Bring back Lucy Coe and the nurses ball!)