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Phillip, I heard on some other boards, that GA personally requested his character be killed off if the show was going to end, and that TPTB are honouring his request.

I do not know if this is true. Even if it is, I certainly do not understand what will make GA to request this (assuming he did). Perhaps to bring all the characters together, in spite of their huge personality conflicts, in order to bring harmony to Springfield in the middle of a tragedy?

I do not understand ... Also, there is always the possibility that Phillip Spaulding won't be killed off due to last minute medical miracle that is a staple of soap operas everywhere?

Sigh ...

Didn't we all root for Edmund when he did terrible things, Olivia wasn't always a gem, nor was Reva, etc. We just like them better than Alan.

I really care for the character of Edmund, not because he did terrible things but in spite of all that because he always showed a side of him that had the potential to be good, kind, gentle (I remember how he was with Lizzie or Beth, before the horrible 'keep her chained in the tower' days). Later, he also showed that he was capable of redemption - first for the sake of Cassie, and in the recent round, for the sake of Lara - but things always went wrong with him and for him.

Olivia, ditto.

Reva, not so much. Especially when Reva castigates Edmund.

Jeffrey, not so much. Especially when Jeffrey castigates Edmund. However, I do like Jeffrey way, way better than I like Reva.

Alan is a different kettle of fish altogether. I love watching him, even when he is being evil. I hate what he does to his own family, but all this was easier to see where it came from when the show was closer to Brandon Spaulding's time, the monster that Brandon was.

Nowadays, it is impossible to understand why Alan does any of the terrible things he does. All the same, I remember when he was under some psychological stress (I cannot remember what caused it - was someone drugging him? Was that Alexandra?) and was ready to jump off the bridge, when Gus talked him down, took him into his home with Harley and Alan was being fed the common people's fare. I remember Harley's expressions, how comical it all was and also how tender between Gus and Alan.

Anyway, my memories of Alan over the years are complex. I will never root for the evil he does, but I have seen him also capable of very humane behaviour from time to time.

Yes, I would be willing to accept Alan as a hero if he did something heroic.

In fact, I would be willing to accept any hitherto fallen person (in fiction, most definitely) as a hero if he or she did something heroic.

I believe that redemption of the sinner is one of the most attractive ideas for any specimen of mankind, in life or in fiction. And I have just enough affection for Alan to have it work that way.

I do.

DMT, I agree with this particular statement, mainly:

.... everyone needs to come to a point in their lives where they decide how they want to live their own lives and what affect they want to leave behind.

We are responsible for the deeds we do in our lives, no matter what psychological factors make us react the way we do to any given situation.

However, the major element in my perspective is that everyone may be redeemed, but each person must be willing to be redeemed.

In my opinion: redemption is not a get-out-of-jail for free card, but a process whereby each person admits one's own responsibility for each action taken, admits the effect of one's actions, vows never to repeat any of the same mistakes ever again, lives according to those vows, makes all possible amends to each and every living creature and goes on to do good things (or at least things with the well-being of others in mind) for the rest of one's life.

My belief: redemption is possible for each and every one of us, and each and every one of the fictional characters, even Alan and Edmund and Reva and Jeffrey and Josh and Phillip ... and so on ...