Last week marked a changing of the guard on All My Children with Palmer’s Tribute and Adam’s departure from Pine Valley. James Mitchell passed away earlier this year, and they aired a special episode in honor of his character Palmer Cortlandt on Tuesday. David Canary has retired, so his character of Adam Chandler has been retired as well. Adam’s twin brother Stuart was killed off last year.
One word sticks in my mind when it comes to both characters is formidable. In the dictionary that word can be defined as difficult to deal with or overcome, awe-inspiring because of size, strength or ability, or frightening. To their families they could be difficult to deal with as if you went against either, he had the potential of hitting back. They were awe-inspiring as both were able to work their way to having major corporations. They were frightening due to some of the plots they employed like Palmer and his Dobermans, Adam gas lighting Dixie and many others. Palmer and Adam loved their families, but they weren’t seen as virtuous men.
The two men’s histories were intertwined as Adam’s sister Charlotte loved Palmer and became pregnant with his child. Palmer went away to fight in World War II. Charlotte killed herself and Adam ended up taking care of his sister’s child. This was the basis of their quarrelling and happened off camera in Pigeon Hollow, before they came to Pine Valley. Adam and Palmer shared other family members. Adam had a son JR with Dixie, and Dixie was Palmer’s niece.
Palmer’s tribute took place at midnight. His heart went out and he passed away. The program used old footage along with some outtakes that James Mitchell taped during his last appearance as part of a talk show. Palmer’s former wife Daisy and daughter Nina were back on the show for one day to honor him. Palmer’s youngest child Pete, whose mother is Opal, did not make it back on screen as he was in Europe. Considering when this episode aired, we could joke that he got waylaid by the Icelandic volcano.
Daisy played matchmaker for Palmer and Opal many years ago, and she was already in town on his request. So while Palmer was alone while he died, his love for Daisy and Opal did not cease to exist. It was just that it was impossible for him to keep either relationship going. For all the years, that Daisy and Palmer were apart, they had a same time next year relationship. In September they would reunite, for a time. Opal knew about the arrangement and never interfered.
At the end of the episode, we saw each of the characters featured on the episode say goodbye to Palmer with their candles: Nina, Daisy, Opal, Tad with his daughter Kathy who happens to also be Palmer’s great niece, Angie, Brooke, Adam, Jake, Krystal, and Kendall. Dixie who had already passed on welcomed Palmer to heaven. Some additional pictures of Palmer were shown and memorial picture to James Mitchell appeared on screen.
Palmer’s death played into the decisions Adam Chandler made in his life. For a change, though he was reacting positively to something instead of negatively. Adam, who had been dealing with heart problems of his own, had continued to live in stressful situations. He had fallen in love with his former wife Brooke English again, but decided to honor his marriage vows. Meanwhile his current wife Annie had recently had sexual relations with his son JR.
Discovering Annie and JR kissing on a bed, was reason enough for Adam to leave his much younger wife and follow his heart back to Brooke. Brooke who was on her way out of town stayed long enough to say goodbye to Angie, Tad and Erica. Angie admitted to continue to read Brooke’s writing even in the years that they weren’t in the same town. Brooke had inspired Angie as she went past the glass ceiling. Tad was clued in, but couldn’t change Brooke’s decision to leave. Erica helped Brooke which was shocking to both women. The two were never friends, but Erica does care for Adam. Even Erica preferred Brooke for Adam over Annie. Then again Annie stabbed Erica, so even an enemy is better than someone who in an insane rage sent them to the hospital.
Once Adam found out Brooke had left on Erica’s plane, he went to Ms. Kane. Erica got her pilot to turn the jet around and return Brooke to Pine Valley. Adam said goodbye to his youngest daughter Colby, who was happy that Adam was following his heart. After leaving the airport, Brooke and Adam went to the park to chat. Adam told Brooke about Annie’s duplicity, so the marriage was truly over for good. The duo could not decide where to go, Brooke had been on her way to Paris in April, but they may also go to the beach. It was open-ended that they could return. They left the park holding hands after sharing a kiss.
Brooke and Adam fans were given closure to their long standing on and off relationship. While not married, they were together and in love. When Julia Barr left years ago, due to a contract issue, as All My Children would not give her another one, the character disappeared with barely a trace. Now at least, we know that Brooke is living life happily and off camera.
It is difficult to say goodbye to long term characters, but this kind of departure is better than the alternative. There wasn’t some salacious offensive off character activity that sent either away. They didn’t just stop appearing with no explanation and we were left to wonder what happened to them.
While I’ll miss Palmer and Adam, I’m glad we got to say goodbye to them in such a way that I wasn’t left shaking my head in confusion or my fist in anger. Thanks for the memories, and the hours of enjoyment I got from these formidable men.
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