SPOILER ALERT
This is a real tear-jerker episode, as complicated character Rachel Welles (actress Leigh Taylor-Young) bows out of the series. Rachel arrived at, or rather was dragged into, Peyton Place a year ago. Rachel has touched the lives of almost every person in town.
Many commenters on other review sites have nothing but disdain for Rachel. She is likeable in one episode, and detestable in the next episode. Never straight-forward, always holding something back, not being honest with people who are doing everything possible to help her.
From the romantic interests that never went anywhere, including Rodney Harrington (who gets a final goodbye kiss), to old-enough-to-be-her-father Dr. Michael Rossi, Rachel has drawn the eyes and the attention of the men of Peyton Place. In the words of nefarious Uncle Jack Chandler, "Rachel is a girl who isn't hard to look at."
Everyone gets a sad goodbye, except Rita, who isn't allowed to see Rachel. Constance Mackenzie gives a hesitant, bittersweet farewell, and finally Elliot Carson begrudgingly takes Allison's bracelet as Rachel's parting gift. Michael Rossi will ride with Rachel in the police car as she leaves Peyton Place for the last time.
The unfinished business is Jack Chandler, the dastardly uncle-in-law who was arrested the day before and is presently in jail. Kidnapping charges may be hard to prove, but the DA can certainly charge him with grand theft auto. We shall see what the writers have in store for Jack!
As Rossi rides out of town with Rachel, we get the same final scene sorrow that we saw when Sandy Webber left for California, when Chris Webber got on the bus, when so many other Peyton Place characters left town for good. Melancholy, moving, and emotional, as the lighting fades to dark.
Farewell to Rachel Welles!
Many commenters on other review sites have nothing but disdain for Rachel. She is likeable in one episode, and detestable in the next episode. Never straight-forward, always holding something back, not being honest with people who are doing everything possible to help her.
From the romantic interests that never went anywhere, including Rodney Harrington (who gets a final goodbye kiss), to old-enough-to-be-her-father Dr. Michael Rossi, Rachel has drawn the eyes and the attention of the men of Peyton Place. In the words of nefarious Uncle Jack Chandler, "Rachel is a girl who isn't hard to look at."
Everyone gets a sad goodbye, except Rita, who isn't allowed to see Rachel. Constance Mackenzie gives a hesitant, bittersweet farewell, and finally Elliot Carson begrudgingly takes Allison's bracelet as Rachel's parting gift. Michael Rossi will ride with Rachel in the police car as she leaves Peyton Place for the last time.
The unfinished business is Jack Chandler, the dastardly uncle-in-law who was arrested the day before and is presently in jail. Kidnapping charges may be hard to prove, but the DA can certainly charge him with grand theft auto. We shall see what the writers have in store for Jack!
As Rossi rides out of town with Rachel, we get the same final scene sorrow that we saw when Sandy Webber left for California, when Chris Webber got on the bus, when so many other Peyton Place characters left town for good. Melancholy, moving, and emotional, as the lighting fades to dark.
Farewell to Rachel Welles!
