What a sick, twisted bit or irony it is.
Just on the heels of As The World Turns' shocking cancellation announcement, the show puts out the most heart-wrenching, wonderful, flawless episode of the year, and possible the best in the show's recent memory.
A month or so ago, ATWT made the shocking, stupid decision to kill off the delightfully funny Brad Synder (played by Austin Peck), just as his wife Katie gave birth to their son Jacob. Since then, he has been wandering around as a ghost, accessible only to Henry, watching as the lives of his loved ones were falling apart.
On Christmas Eve, he finally got a chance to help, with some guidance from jolly old Saint Nick.
Brad was finally able to help the people he left behind move on with their lives. He spoke to his daughter Liberty, his ex-girlfriend/Liberty's mother Janet, his despondent brother Jack, and of course his devastated wife Katie. Just as he was about to put the star on the top of their Christmas tree, Santa arrived to inform him that their time was up. With plenty of tears, hugs, and kisses, the best couple on the show said goodbye and Brad finally ascended to heaven.
All I can say to As The World Turns is well done. OK, I can say more. This episode was absolutely devastating to watch. For a show on its way out (unless someone saves it), it is comforting to know they aren't decreasing their output. In fact, it appears they are increasing it, since this is the best episode I have seen since Carly and Jack's breakup way back in 2006. Even though Brad's death is something I utterly disagree with, they give an astonishingly great send-off. Everything about this episode was perfect. The acting, however, was where the money was. Terri Colombino (Katie) and Michael Park (Jack), who have been delivering Emmy-worthy performances since November, were excellent, although the biggest performance came from Austin Peck. As The World Turns proved to be the best thing to happen to him acting-wise, because he couldn't have delivered such a powerful performance as the idiot Austin Reed on Days of our Lives. With this episode, Peck's hair model status can be officially declared null and void as he steps into the ring for the 2010 Daytime Emmys.
All My Children and all other soaps who have the luck to not be canceled, take note: this how a soap is supposed to be run.
Here is Brad and Katie's final scene, below:
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