Let's play a game

Liz , 7/31/2023, 2:29PM(291 days ago) @Dreamgirl
edited by unknown, 7/31/2023, 2:34PM

Let's try to defend Liam without bringing up Tom. We know what Tom has done. Yes he's a villain. Yes he's not redeemable. Yes Hope is nuts to fall for him.

But in a post about Liam, can we try to talk about Liam without bringing up Tom? Can Liam be defended on a stand alone basis or is it that the only way to make Liam look good is to bring up someone worse than him? If so then it just proves the point that Liam is really not a very good person if he stands alone without any comparisons. Bringing up Tom does not magically make Liam a saint.

Just my two cents.

Well, here's my two cents for what it's worth.

For the most part, Liam falls under the heading of the "good" guy. Why? Because he tries to do the right thing. Unfortunately, in trying to do the right thing, he makes a complete mess of things. It's seldom intentional, it's simply an act now in the moment mentality. Seeing the big picture is not Liam's forte. He's what you would call short-sighted. But, his heart is usually in the right place.

Liam is protective to the max, most likely because he was the one who had to take care of his mom when she was dying. That experience most likely resulted in a "rescuing people to his detriment" kind of cycle. When he was with Hope and thought he had gotten Amber pregnant, he tried to do the right thing by sticking by Amber. When he saved Steffy from drowning, he was caught up in preventing his dad from hurting Katie. When he fought with his dad over Bill's treatment of Sally, he was trying to right the wrongs he perceived were unjustly aimed at Sally. When he married Ivy to keep her from being deported, he prioritized Ivy's needs ahead of his own. Liam unconsciously forms a white knight kind of attachment to people that he can't seem to break and that comes at a cost. He stays with Amber, Hope is hurt. He feels bad for Steffy because of what happened with his dad, Hope is hurt. He fights for Sally, Steffy is hurt. He marries Ivy, Steffy is hurt. Liam's history is littered with choices that make one person happy at the expense of another but in that moment when the choice is made it's all about the person standing in front of him. Again, he has no thought about the hurt that may result. He only thinks of the happiness he can provide in the moment. The rescuer tends not to see beyond the moment.

Liam's behaviour and actions after Beth's death really demonstrated the type of person Liam is. Despite is pain and suffering, he put Hope's needs ahead of his own. His love for Hope was never more apparent than during that time. His sole focus was Hope. And, even though Hope put him through hell, he didn't waver from their connection as a couple. '

Now, the weird thing about Liam is how intuitive he can be. Obviously, it is situation specific, but he can read a room like no other. He has an uncanny ability to sense that something is off. He knew something was off about Beth's death and he fought tooth and nail to find the answer. He knew that Thomas was up to no good and he went the extra mile to save Hope. He saw through Bill in the Sheila situation so much so that Bill nearly confided in him. Knew something was up with Hope. Knew something was up with Finn.

Liam has a big heart and it shows in his interactions with Douglas in particular. I am a sucker for a dad and son moment and no matter how bratty or difficult that kid can be, Liam loves him like he's his own. Without a doubt, Liam has loved that boy and done more for that boy and than any other male in Douglas' life.

IMO, Liam suffers from a bad wrap. Doesn't matter how many times Liam has apologized and owned his mistakes, and he has countless times, and it doesn't matter the years of his prolonged loyalty to people, I find the expectations placed on this character are far greater than any other character on the show. He is expected to demonstrate unwavering allegiance. He is not allowed to show weakness. When he makes a decision and stands by it, he is admonished for being selfish and unyielding and unforgiving. It's always a lose/lose for Liam. No matter what he does, it's wrong.

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