Season 3 – Rumour & Speculation

By Gemma Jacob

Since Season 2 ended back in July, with every ABM fan gasping in shock or screaming in horror – sometimes both, we have watched with baited breath for any news about Season 3. Last week we finally received the news we have all been waiting for, S3 is due to commence shooting at the end of February! Yes. The ABMers will reunite to film the much anticipated first episodes of the season that the fans helped to raise funds for.

Hot off their nomination for a Writers Guild nomination, as well as eleven Indie Soap Award nominations, Susan Miller and Tina Cesa Ward are as usual keeping everything very hush hush. Even the cast of ABM have been kept in the dark until the scripts are sent out and the rehearsal process begins. The upcoming plotlines are being guarded more tightly than the ‘Who Killed JR?’ storyline that dominated the 80s.

Part of me hopes that they may take a similar route and Vivian will wake up realising that the end of S2 was all some horrible dream. However, I think I may be the one dreaming there. We would never be let off so easily and neither Susan nor Tina would ever employ that sort of storytelling device. No, the dastardly duo have a plan, of that I am sure. Whilst they would never confirm or deny any upcoming storylines, it’s always fun to let your imagination run away with you…

Of course, there is big speculation around the Vivian-Aster-Sophie storyline. Six months ago that ending drew a line and made every ABM fan choose a side – Team VivSter or Team Sophian? Team Vivian, Team Aster, or Team Sophie? The months have done nothing to quell their anger, many still fervently supporting their chosen side.

I am not going to give any ideas to ABM’s writers, they are apt enough at breaking my heart all on their own. No one knows what will happen in this triangle, I can hope that the screams of thousands around the world were enough to still the lunacy and we will once again see Vivian and Aster where they belong – together. I have little faith in this though, they are young after all and as much as I hate to entertain the notion, there’s a reason Vivian held on to Sophie as she kissed her. There is also the Jamie issue, she has earned a steady following and many would like to see what happens there – whether with Sophie (my personal preference) or Aster (who should only be kissing Vivian next season, in my humble opinion).

They are not the only ones tangled up in this storyline. Watching from the sidelines are Jonathan and Sterns. If there was any doubt whether Jonathan still had feelings for Sophie I think his video to her more than made his feelings clear. We didn’t see his reaction to the Sophie-Vivian kiss, and we have no idea what happened in the rehearsal after Aster stormed out. Will he think that something has been going on between them ever since Vivian’s return and this is the real reason why Sophie split up with him? Sterns seemed undeterred by the knowledge that Vivian has a girlfriend; in the aftermath of the catastrophic events he may think that he has some hope.

And Archibald and Elisabeth, these two are simply heartbreaking. Their relationship as every bit tumultuous as that of Aster and Vivian’s, and just as dramatic. With Archibald’s tendency to keep things to himself and Elisabeth’s neurosis it is surprising that these two ever managed to get together. Their relationship has the tentative sweetness of any beginning. Let’s hope that there is still a beginning and that Archibald doesn’t in a moment of anger report Elisabeth to Principal Dennis for being part of some illicit high school drug ring! With Vivian’s heart broken, she and Arch will need each other more than ever, after all, even though Batman could always escape on his own, it didn’t hurt to have Robin around sometimes.

What of Aunt Jodie and Gabe? There had always been an undercurrent there and the hope that Gabe would realise that Jodie harboured a crush in their youth has remained. However, not being told about Vivian may have put a strain on the parental partnership they had formed. In conversations with Barbara Pitts and Jessy Hodges we have speculated at Jodie’s back-story and the possible introduction of Vivian’s mother as well as a more scandalous storyline involving the “someone older” in Sophie’s life. Gabe is still trying to figure out who he is and hasn’t had any success on the job front yet. I’m still hoping he’ll open a private detective agency, although I’m not sure how much call there is for that in Westchester. With both of them going on random blind dates should any of their relationships develop it might throw their dynamic off even more.

We are not even sure which characters will return. If Aster and Vivian are taking a break, then there is no reason for her to visit Westchester so often. Will this see the return of Breck? Aster needs as many good people around her as possible, and I am all for those people to be ones who talked her out of doing something stupid and reminding her of what she and Vivian have. It would be unfair to put such a burden on Breck’s shoulders alone, which hopefully means the return of Dr. Glass. Her parent’s separation and her issues with Vivian, and a tendency for some potentially very destructive behaviour, Aster needs someone who can talk sense to her and who she can confide in. With a newborn (both for Dr. Glass and Liza Weil) I am not sure there is enough room in the Dr.’s head for Aster’s issues anymore.

The writers could go any number of ways as we do not even know where S3 will pick up, right after the kiss, during the summer vacation, when school starts again. We have no choice but to wait and see. With no news of whether there will be more than five episodes there is an abundance of story to be told. The audience are crying out for some media-savvy executive-type to realise the potential market they have from such a devoted and loyal fan base. We can only hope that someone out there with the means to do so realises that there is a very good reason fans around the world are screaming, ‘We want our ABM!’ Or the lottery machine could finally pick my numbers; that works too.

Let us know what your hopes are for S3 and what you would like to see over at the ABMFans’ Forum.