#wlwsoaps

I most certainly do. One thing, I love that the detail continues to surprise me in this story. Like I definitely did not see a vow renewal coming but then in hindsight, yeah I can see it now.

So I see Harper desperately trying to go back to who she was pre-Phil. I mean Phil called it out in their 'breakup' convo. She's been through huge trauma. Harper is a runner by nature. When things get really really hard she runs. In this storyline she bailed to the US post Earthquake after admitting to Phil that she had feelings of some kind ("I couldn't handle the thought that I might lose you."). There are plenty of story examples of this trait from Harper through the years.

The will they won't they is how you create a longer-term narrative on a soap. Keeps it interesting and people hooked and I'm pretty much here for it.

The renewal though. So I think Harper is riddled by guilt and has been at varying levels throughout the whole affair. She was on the verge of telling Drew right before she was almost shot. That's trauma, Harper has trauma from childhood (and all the soap mayhem she's been through) so it's not a surprise she ran straight back to what she knows, ie Drew. What she's feeling now is a heightened sense of guilt most likely and the need to 'fix' the affair. The problem for Harper is that this is a temporary state and those pesky feelings she has for Phil are real. The other thing that happened right before this is that Harper got as close to telling Phil she's in love with her as we've seen so far and there is a repeating pattern happening.

She's crawled back into her cave of denial so far that she can't see herself right now, but she's heading for a good look in the mirror, I think. Do I think that renewal is gonna happen? Nope not really but let's see. I love the writing team behind this story, I'm hard to surprise lol. Part of me thinks it would be pretty cool if they connect the threads of Harper's story by having her leave Drew at the altar for Phil ❤️‍🔥

I don't know exactly how this is gonna play out but as I keep telling folks in the Discord, I'm not worried. I'm convinced I'm not on the Titanic and that we are in fact on the Love Boat with this ship (Phil is too damn good for Harper for that not to be real and they said it via Harper "It wouldn't have gone this long if it wasn't important"), but the waters are never smooth sailing.

Ok Anon yeah I do. So my hope is that this is Phil's panic response once again (we know she goes for the throat when threatened) but that is is also resolved either in the same conversation or very soon after. Not a fan of them being in conflict given how long this is now dragging out and honestly I want to see them befriend each other.

Phil wasn't wrong when she told Harper she doesn't know her and hasn't wanted to know her. I'd like to see the period as Harper inevitably acknowledges she's outgrown Drew and can't go back to how it was, with Phil & Harper bonding as friends. Inevitably I think they will fall back into each other because pesky real love.

In the mean time hurt people do shit things so I put this down to that and not some epic shift between them. Hopefully this week we see that die very fast.

Meanwhile I'm living here now

Oh I loved it and I knew it was coming. This where shit gets real for Harper and she will have to own it. I love that they have been building a foundation of healthy conversation and communication between Phil & Harper throughout this story.

This had to come, Harper wasn't going to be able to keep it all status quo and for me the choice is what Harper knows and has settled for vs what healthy love (true love?) is for her. Harper coming into her own power if you like.

It's gonna be a tough ride for a little bit but I'm so impressed with what the writing team is doing with this story. And the skill in bringing it to life. The chemistry is delicious.

If you're worried I would say remember it's always darkest before the dawn ;)

Harper do you need a hug love? Next week looks a bit bumpier, but I really hope it's shorter than the loved-up adult conversations to work through it. Bring on I love you and Harper having a reply to that. Phil's feelings are completely fair but please be gentle (and short-lived, like you can have Monday but give me the rest with kisses and sexy times) with the antagonism, I'm still twitching from the mean social media blocking. But on the bright side, finally a new kiss!

This week was always going to be bumpy. Just gonna start with that. I mean all of us right now really

But in saying that, a couple things:

Harper is terrible at sticking her dismounts from Phil. Is this like the 3rd or 4th time she's tried to break it off now?

Adrenaline fuelled clarity isn't what it seems sometimes. I mean yes you can gain clarity from your life flashing before your eyes, but that level of stress will also make you revert to habit and what you know in a sympathetic nervous system overload. Harper, overwhelmed with guilt basically in the middle of fessing up to Drew, is clinging to what she knows.

Time without Phil is the next revelation. Harper doesn't know it yet but she has been permanently changed by loving Phil. You can't go back no matter how hard you try.

I think we're in Act 2 of Phil & Harper and it's no-where near over.

This is just my rambling thoughts tonight while I admire the depth of emotional delivery Ria Vandervis is capable of in screen arts.

Also here, have a hug in #pharper and go rewatch the good bits via Nicole Zara's YouTube channel - Phil1 7850 7851 February 2024 Shortland Street (youtube.com)