The relationship with Dorian and Clint is changing in it's direction. With the way Dorian and Clint have been written of late--with Dorian seeming to suddenly back off from Clint's serious interest in her, why are the writers having Clint proclaim his love for her, now?

Because he does love her and it's time to tell her. Dorian's acting like they are having fling (not needing to check in or really being considerate of Clint's feelings) and he wants her to know that he's serious - he wants their relationship (and that's what they are in, no matter how much she now claims to dislike that word) to move forward. Honestly, Dorian's reaction to Clint's saying "I love you" was out of character. She loves him too, and even if she isn't ready to say it, she is very happy that he is saying it to her.

How do you see it as out of character?

Because she's in this relationship for real. She didn't fight this hard for Clint because she wanted to stick it to Viki. She wants to be with a man who is her equal. She had an affair with Clint when he first came to Llanview--she cared about him then and cares about him now. Yes, there was a lot of bad blood between them over the years but it was mostly based on her relationship with Viki.

It was also out of character because when Dorian cares this much for a man she is happy when he says he loves her. When Mel finally (and I emphasize "finally") told her, she couldn't wait to tell Blair about it the next day. One of the reasons she was so happy to share it with Blair is because Dorian saw it as a sign that Mel wouldn't leave her. That he would stick with her no matter what. It should be the same with Clint now. She wants to be with him. If he loves her, he will make more of an effort to continue to love all her quirks.

clap.gif You put my thoughts into words. I agree with your post and couldn't have put it better. IMO, Clint is her equal. I hope he doesn't give up on the relationship. I was just curious about it all. I wasn't expecting to hear Clint say those words. I wonder what other unpredictable actions Carlivati has in store. I am getting the feeling that he wants to throw in some surprises.

Some are already predicting Clint and Nora will be romantically involved. The fact that it would be the obvious makes it predictable and not what it would seem to be on the surface, IMO--based on Carlivati's style thus far. He does not seem to like to lead the viewer in an expected manner--even as some lobby and push him to go in a direction that is favorable for a character they most like. Carlivati seems to follow his instincts. So, I'm not really sure where he is headed. He is throwing many variables out there and mixing it up in an attempt to stir up viewer interests while he goes about telling his story using as many characters as possible.

From Dorian's current actions, I can see how Clint would feel unwanted. I just happen to think that is far from the truth when it comes to Dorian's intentions based on what we have witnessed overall in their relationship. In other words, this latest bend is a plot device. And we still have not gotten much on Dorian's feelings. Until that is dealt with, there is unfinished business between these two no matter what else is tossed in the kitchen sink. Dorian struggles with the ILY's. I believe she loves Clint.

Up until the moment Clint walked into the kitchen and Dorian was not playing into his attitude, we had no reason to believe that Dorian didn't want this relationship with Clint to go the distance (i.e., marriage). Those scenes in the kitchen were a total turnaround IMO. Dorian cares deeply for Clint. Most of her waking thoughts seemed to be centered on Clint - what he was doing, feeling, how what she was doing would affect him. And then she tells him that she's shocked by his declaration of love and that they really haven't talked about where their relationship was going. It made no sense to me.

I've read all the rumors and speculation about D/C breaking up to pave the way for Clint and Nora. I think it's a big mistake. Putting Clint and Nora together in a romantic way makes less sense than D/C. Clint and Nora should be friends, good friends. But that's all.

Why now? Well, story-wise, Clint has finally reached this place where he wants to say it, and he was thinking Dorian was in the same place too with all the signs she's been giving him throughout their romance. Clint told Dorian on the 4th of July that he was falling in love with her (one of the reasons being her fire and impulsiveness). About a month ago, he told Dorian that he loved the mother lioness quality about her, and when she asked if there was anything else, he said he had a list of things he loved about her. So it was only a matter of time before he actually said it, and I was actually expecting it sooner than this. It was a surprise to hear him say it for the first time in an argument, but Dorian shouldn't have been surprised that it was coming. She appeared genuinely touched each time he mentioned his loving feelings for her. And early on in C/D's fresh start at romance, Dorian asked when they would actually make love, as opposed to just glorious sex (in her opinion).

ITA that up until the moment Clint walked into the kitchen and Dorian got totally defensive about how serious the relationship has gotten, we had no reason to believe that Dorian wasn't as involved in this as Clint was. This does not fit with previous writing, which RC himself continued and built upon, so there's got to be something more to it for Dorian. Her defensiveness suggested that she's putting up a wall to protect herself from feelings that she would consider too vulnerable. She doesn't want to get hurt again like she did with David. I think she wanted this with Clint, but now that it's here, she's scared. I agree that she's making Clint feel unwanted, but if she can't or won't face her fears, she'll push him away and lose him that way. Clint is a great guy and is willing and able to take care of Dorian (as she's taken care of him) if she'll allow it. He also wouldn't abandon her the way David did. David hurt Dorian in the worst way possible for her, re-enforcing her fears and insecurities.

As for Clint/Nora - it's typical soap to throw in closeness between two people to cause angst in a romantic relationship. And Clint and Nora are already good friends. However, even if C/D have problems or break-up, I don't expect Clint to jump right into another romance with anyone. If Clint and Nora ever become romantically involved, I think it will only happen after some time has elapsed for Clint. I know some Nora fans are already spinning that Clint has "lustful feelings and thoughts" for Nora and is hiding them because of Dorian, but Clint doesn't work that way. Clint is an honorable man and he wouldn't tell Dorian he loves her unless he means it. He's still emotionally and physically attracted to Dorian. He's friendly and charming, so he probably doesn't realize he's even flirting with Nora at times, but that doesn't mean he has romantic feelings for her (or that even Nora has more than just friendly concern for him). If C/D break-up (for whatever reason), Clint will be hurt at losing the woman he loves and may not want to open up his heart again right away. And, just because they've been friends for so long doesn't mean Clint will automatically consider becoming romantic with Nora. I can understand some fans being anxious to see Nora with story, but I don't think Clint would rush into romance just because the woman is there.

I haven't noticed Clint flirting with Nora, not even unintentionally. I think that Nora's fans want it to happen and are imagining that they are seeing it, but IMO it's not there. Clint treats Nora like a good friend, a woman he respects, and a part of his family.

I agree that Clint treats Nora as a good friend and a woman he respects. He has never sought Nora out - the times they interacted happened because they happened to be in the same place together (several times at the mansion because they both live there and most recently at Dorian's when Clint was leaving and Nora came looking for Dorian). He doesn't go running to Nora with his problems or act like he has to be around her.

I can see how some would interpret their interaction as flirting, but thinking back on their talks, you're right, I don't see Clint expressing romantic interest in Nora, even unintentionally. From Clint's actions, there is no way Nora could get the idea that he was interested in her that way. I think many get confused by "chemistry", which is a subjective thing and differs from viewer to viewer, and even if you think two characters have it that doesn't mean romance is being portrayed in their scenes together.

I will confess that the preponderance of Clint/Nora scenes (while none with Clint/Dorian) along with the fact that we have a new headwriter, had me questioning whether all that has been written with Clint and Dorian's romance would be disregarded tout de suite! So I would be called upon to forget that Clint told Dorian that he was falling in love with her. In that way, I would surely see Clint being drawn to Nora to bring about the change in story direction. It just seemed to be moving in that direction with a new writer and all these scenes all of a sudden with Clint and Nora. I just couldn't swallow it and it wasn't likely that I was going to forget what I have been witnessing for two years, what we have been posting about during all this time. I mean we have video clips and transcripts. :lol:

I gained a little more clarity as it relates to Clint and some temporary relief when Clint told Dorian that he loves her. I am back to trusting that the writer will keep with what has been written for the character of Clint. So I can trust that he won't dump Dorian on some kind of whim. In the nearly 30 years that Clint has been on OLTL, he has only told one other woman that he loves her and that was Viki. He stood by her through just about everything imaginable. He is true in that sense. So, this is not the kind of man that acts on a whim when it comes to declarations of love. He is deliberate in saying it.

What I didn't count on was Dorian's reaction to what I thought she had been waiting to hear. That is what threw me, really. Well, I was surprised to hear Clint say he loves her at that moment but more surprised at the reaction. She chased him for months; told David that she might be Mrs. Buchanan when he got back. Yet she seemed taken aback, like they hadn't discussed the progression of their relationship and she thought they needed to think about things. Huh? It seemed rather strange to those of us who have actually been following the romance. So that means there is more to it from Dorian's side. I can't imagine the writers would have Clint say this to Dorian when really they could have chosen not to do so and have them drift apart with Dorian being wrapped up with Langston and Clint somehow losing interest in her.

Instead, we got the swell of music with his I love you, which in soap land takes on a significance. Yeah, and did I mention that Clint doesn't say I love you too often? I am not sure what is going to happen in weeks ahead, but I will be sure that Clint will still be in love with Dorian. I am not sure what will happen with Dorian. But what I see happening is a swift change for her now that Clint is serious. That to me signals fear more than disinterest. And that is largely based on how she has stood by him in loving manner thus far.

I have not forgotten Dorian's pain and humiliation. Pain

That's what I was thinking as well. It's realistic that Clint could say I love you to Dorian at this point in the story, but since this is a story and it's controlled by the writers, they didn't have to have Clint say that at all. If they wanted to switch story direction asap, C/D could drift apart as you say with Dorian wrapped up with Langston and Clint losing interest when Dorian didn't include him.

To have Clint say the words is significant, and the scenes were presented as this being a milestone for the couple, despite Dorian's reaction. I hope this is not about the writers setting Clint up to be humiliated if problems break them up, as the writers seemed fine at continuing C/D as a couple. Clint took a chance on romance and love with Dorian, that was reciprocated all this time from her, so losing her in any way should not be written as a punishment for Clint. I know certain fan groups wish to see him punished for disappointing them, but Clint hasn't done anything that requires pay-back.

So, I think there's still more to C/D's relationship, and we have yet to see Dorian's true reaction to Clint's declaration. I think she was being real when she got defensive about his anger in the beginning, and she was wrapped up in the Langston situation so she took his simple request for a phone call as him trying to control her (though I think she knows better than to accuse him of that). When he finally told her he loved her, the scene ended on her stunned look, about the same look she had back in March when he said he picked her.

This time, being confronted with what she's been waiting and hoping for (and more serious and committed than Clint just picking her over Viki), I think she got scared and pushed him back. I'm interested to see what she thinks about it alone and in private.

Exactly right. I see no reason for Clint to deserve some punishment because he chose Dorian instead of Viki. I think a professional writer would have more objectivity on the matter. Speaking of Carlivati, I expect him to give great care to what he writes for the Cramers, the Buchanans and the Lords. He has stated often enough that they are the core families for OLTL. If they are to be the backbone of the show, they need to be written clearly and decisively, not in a manner that is inconsistent with earlier patterns of behavior. If the characters of Dorian and Clint are to change direction, it shouldn't be a swift something out of nowhere. It should be in a manner that makes sense for the character's behaviors to date, or at least since they began a romance with each other. And you know, Carlivati should know the ins and outs of the affair. He was a part of writing them.

"On the Edge of a Dream"