| "Tempted": Allure and Menace in Port Charles' "Tempted,"An Analysis (c) by Alison Armstrong |
| An analysis of the "Tempted" episodes of the show "Port Charles," formerly of ABC-TV. This site will focus on the scenes featuring the vampire character Caleb Morley (portrayed by actor Michael Easton). The character of Caleb Morley and any other characters relating to Port Charles are the property of ABC and their creators. This is a fan-run site and is not an official site, nor is it affiliated in any way with ABC, Port Charles, or the actors portraying any of the Port Charles characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The writings on this site are copyrighted by the author, Alison Armstrong, and may not be reproduced without the author's express permission. |
| "Tempted" Episodes 18-22 Gathering strength from the human frailties of his foes, Caleb surveys the gradual erosion of love, trust, and hope in Port Charles. With a steady, seemingly inevitable momentum, their lives are slowly ruined. But although Caleb proudly admits that he has planted the poisonous seeds of doubt, human free will is what seals his enemies’ doom. Caleb knows their weaknesses so well that he can accurately predict how they will react; he knows their deepest fears, the limits of their sanity, fidelity, and devotion. Supremely confident in his ability to see inside the hearts and minds of these mere mortals, Caleb is not nearly as perceptive about his own fatal flaws—his arrogance and desperate need to possess the woman he loves. As Caleb watches his plot unfold, absorbing sustenance from the turmoil he wreaks, the people of Port Charles are tormented by inner demons roused from their slumber by Caleb’s devious tactics. Kevin’s suspicions of Ian, fueled by the mysterious letters and a secret meeting with Ian’s alleged victim (“Anne Marie”) haunt his dreams, prompting him to call out Eve’s name in his sleep. This, in turn, revives Lucy’s jealousy towards Eve, creating tension between her and Kevin. Conflicts between Jamal and Alison, Jack and Livvie, as well as Eve and Ian are also intensified. Jamal’s struggle to conceal his secret past with Valerie and Livvie’s attempts to deny her lingering desire for Caleb evoke distrust, jealousy, and suspicion in Alison and Jack. Ian’s condescending behavior towards his wife’s fears, Jack’s protectiveness of Livvie, and Eve’s paranoia over her baby become stifling and oppressive. Meanwhile Chris’ obsessions with creating a vampire formula lead him into dangerous, unethical behavior that will have long-lasting repercussions on the lives of the Port Charles inhabitants. The most devastating effect of Caleb’s plan, however, is the drastic transformation of Livvie. As Caleb hypnotizes her, making her into his zombie-like accomplice, he has her assume the identity of “Anne Marie” and do other things to ruin the lives of her friends and loved ones. In the process of serving Caleb’s goals, she begins to become manipulative, deceitful, and treacherous, traits that will become even more pronounced in subsequent arcs. Caleb has tampered with Livvie’s soul, taking away her innocence, trust, and sincerity, the very qualities he probably adored in his first Olivia. Although in “Tainted Love,” Caleb wanted to recreate in Livvie the woman he had killed long ago, he ends up by killing a part of Livvie also. His corruption of Livvie becomes complete by the end of “Tempted.” Throughout these earlier episodes of “Tempted” Livvie refuses to acknowledge her love and desire for Caleb. Although she inadvertently reveals to Jack that she once was in love with Caleb, she tries to persuade Jack and herself that her feelings were illusory, no longer valid. After Jack questions Livvie about her visit to Caleb’s cave, she senses Jack’s suspicions. “I know what you’re thinking,” she blurts out. “You’re thinking that I went there looking for Caleb or that I was trying to seek him out. You think I’m still in love with him.” Then when Jack replies that he didn’t know Livvie was ever in love with Caleb, Livvie backtracks by saying that Caleb “tricked” her into believing she loved him. Caleb, however, knows the truth that Livvie denies. She did love and desire this mysterious, alluring, passionate, charismatic and yet vulnerable man, this vampire who, like Livvie herself, is lonely and wounded, craving an unconditional love beyond human limitations, a happily ever after romance with savage passion. Both Caleb and Livvie also know that from the moment Livvie met Caleb, her relationship with Jack would be forever changed. Caleb stirred within her the wildness, intensity, and sensuality she would never experience with Jack. Once she had pledged herself to Caleb, fully knowing his vampire nature, savoring the dangerous thrill of his embrace, she could not settle for Jack’s tepid lovemaking. As Caleb reminds Livvie, his voice penetrating her mind, her life and the lives of the other Port Charles residents have been irrevocably transformed by Caleb’s influence. “Olivia. Olivia, you were right,” he murmurs. “This is the beginning of the end for you and Jack. For all the lovers in Port Charles. And who said breaking up is hard to do?” He laughs. “Oh, I’ve stirred up some lies, planted seeds of doubt. Now all that delicious doubt and blame will slowly poison them from within, and this time I’ll leave no marks. Nothing to show that I’ve caused any harm. This time they’ll destroy themselves.” The morning after Jack brought Livvie back home from the cave and they made love, Livvie seems irritable and defensive, becoming annoyed at Jack’s attempts to plan a day of “24 hours togetherness.” Asking him to stop “smothering” her, Livvie says she wants to be alone and go visit her catatonic mother at the sanitarium. When he mentions his panic at seeing her, scantily clad and amnesiac, in Caleb’s cave, she tells him that she feels as if he is waiting for her to “go crazy.” Wisely perceiving that fear such as Jack’s will destroy them, she recommends that they both try to get back to their “normal” lives. After they kiss each other goodbye and Livvie leaves, she hears Caleb’s music. “Oh, Caleb, don’t do this,” she pleads. “I want to be with my mother and Jack. I want to have my life back.” Meanwhile, in Jack’s room, the ceiling fan lurks ominously overhead, the blades whirring and slashing. Faster and faster they spin, casting menacing shadows. With a crash, the fan suddenly plunges onto the bed, nearly crushing Jack in its razor-sharp grip. As the fan swoops down at Jack, we see a glimpse of Caleb landing, as if airborne, and then sighing with self-satisfied delight as he leans against the cave wall. Like a bloodthirsty feline, Caleb enjoys toying with his prey. He foresees his victim’s every move and relishes the torment he can inflict as he thwarts escape. He also knows what temptations compel Livvie’s heart. “We both know who you really want, Olivia, and who you really need to see,” Caleb says as he anticipates his victories. “It ain’t your momma, and it definitely ain’t Jack. Follow me, my love. Follow the sound of my voice.” |
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| Snappies of "Tempted" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |