Lumi vs. Ejole (Read 477 times)

[DancingDays]

First off, let me start by saying that I love Lumi. Well, I love Lucas. Sami, I can take or leave. But something occured to me - What's the real difference between Lumi and Ejole? Seriously. Sami repeatedly disappoints/betrays Lucas, but he always seems to come back. EJ does the same with Nicole. Yet we cheer for Lumi and jeer Nicole.

Granted Lucas and Sami share chldren (which EJ and Nicole don't - well, not yet) and they have a much longer history than EJ and Nicole. But isn't Lucas coming back to Sami the same way Nicole came back to EJ?

And, yes, EJ is the devil. That's a given. I'm thinking more along the lines of how each individual treats the other in their respective relationships.

Discuss.

[MrsM]

I'm at the point that I kind of like EJole this last go round I really felt like he truly loved her (as much as he is capable) and it felt sincere. For me, Lumi has such a history that it just can't be ignored. They have done some awful things to each other but it has never been to the level of what EJ has done to Sami. I think the worst thing was when Sami accused Lucas of child abuse and kept Will from him. Sami has done some doosey's of things but Lucas loves her (or did) in spite of all of that or maybe because of it. They are kind of cut from the same cloth. I was never an EJami fan and don't think I ever could be.

[DancingDays]

Actually, I don't mean to bring in EJ's romantic history with Sami. I mean to compare only Sami and Lucas's back and forth with EJ and Nicole's back and forth. It just so happens that EJ is/was involved with Sami, but I'm ignoring that part of it, so to speak.

[MrsM]

I think Lumi and EJole are kind of the same thing. The heart wants what the heart wants. I can understand why Nicole keeps going back. I think they are right for each other just like I think Sami and Lucas are right for each other.

[Trey]

I agree that EJ/Nicole have been good together this time around. I really feel that EJ is sincere and the whole Taylor mess made him realize what he had right in front of his eyes, and found someone who could be with him through all his troubles.

I'm not a Sami fan (surprise) because she makes messes and always has to have someone bail her out. I root for her against EJ, but otherwise, everything else (like Kate, etc.) is her own creation.

I like Lucas because he's a grounded character, but I don't want him to be another prop for Sami.

[fluffysmom]

I like the build up for Lumi. They were best friends and partners in crime before they ever looked at each other romantically. They fell in love over time. It seemed like a natural progression. Yes they've hurt each in the past. They have always been passionate whether fighting or loving. I loved Lumi long before they were an actual couple.

EJ and Nicole each had more of an agenda when they first got together. The thing about Ejole that I like is they accept each other for who they are. Nicole doesn't expect EJ to be a model citizen. I think she likes him being a bad boy. The only thing she expects is him to be faithful to her. I think EJ really loves her in his own way. I think he realizes that Nicole is the right woman for him.

[Tom Horton]

Mar 2, 2012 13:19:47 GMT -5 DancingDays said:

First off, let me start by saying that I love Lumi. Well, I love Lucas. Sami, I can take or leave. But something occured to me - What's the real difference between Lumi and Ejole? Seriously. Sami repeatedly disappoints/betrays Lucas, but he always seems to come back. EJ does the same with Nicole. Yet we cheer for Lumi and jeer Nicole.

Granted Lucas and Sami share chldren (which EJ and Nicole don't - well, not yet) and they have a much longer history than EJ and Nicole. But isn't Lucas coming back to Sami the same way Nicole came back to EJ?

And, yes, EJ is the devil. That's a given. I'm thinking more along the lines of how each individual treats the other in their respective relationships.

Discuss.

Good topic DD and good points. Here is my take on it. First, I've never jeered Nicole for going back to EJ (I have said quite a few very hard things against Sami for doing so, but Nicole's history with EJ is completely different IMO). I agree that Lumi and Ejole have a lot of similarities and that would explain why there are a number of fans who root for both of those couples. One of the big positives for Ejole is that both accepts the other and appreciates traits about them that others overlook and/or criticize.... and that is a big part of what I've always enjoyed about Lumi. Nicole and EJ are both counted as "bad" by the people of Salem just like Lucas and Sami are/were both counted as "bad" by the people of Salem. Both couples bring out a lighter side to each other and become playful and amusing in their banter. Just like Sami is more tolerable with Lucas, Nicole is the only one who has ever made EJ remotely tolerable to someone like me who otherwise hates his character.

There are also some important differences between the two couples. First, is the history. Lumi have a history like no other. I don't mean simply that they've been a part of each other's life longer than Ejole, but that very few soap couples met as early in life and maintained an almost continuous presence onscreen, portrayed by the same actors, and somehow involved with each other for what has now been 19 years. Lumi spent 5 years as BFFs before becoming enemies/frenemies for another 5 before there was any hints of becoming a romantic pair. Ejole's entire relationship has been barely 4 years. At this point in Lumi's history, Lumi didn't even know that Will was Lucas' son yet. Whatever "slack" that may seem to be given to Lumi has been earned. When they first started as a romantic pair (after a solid decade of already having history together) there was plenty of skepticism and criticism from some because of all the mean things they had both done to each other - and believe me Lucas gave as good as he got back in those days. Lumi didn't just have to prove themselves to each other, they had to prove it to the audience. It took a full year of build up before Lumi finally admitted their love for each other and acted on it but even then they were still plagued by doubts and mistrust for each other... and that is why there was another 3 years after that before they finally got married. Lumi wasn't just immediately embraced because they were Lumi, they had to earn it through many trials and tribulations. Ejole is just getting started on that path, so of course they aren't going to get the same level of acceptance yet that Lumi has built up to.

The other important difference is that Lucas and Sami are both "bad characters" (Lucas may have graduated from being "bad" at this point but he was "bad" for the majority of his time on the show and could easily shift back in that direction), Nicole is a "bad character", but EJ is a "villain". I'm not calling him a villain as an insult but rather to explain that he serves a different role on the show than Nicole and that is going to effect how many in the audience perceive Ejole as a couple. It makes them less balanced than a couple like Lumi, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just a difference. Sami, Lucas, and Nicole have all done very bad things in their past but they've never been "dangerous" in the sense that characters like Stefano, Lawrence, Andre, Victor... and EJ have been. It's not about saying this character did bad things too so why does everyone pick on them, bad is bad, etc. Well there are differences in the types of bad that different characters commit, but this comes down to more a matter of who is more dangerous. Nicole did bad things to EJ, she lied to him, she hurt him emotionally, but does anyone truly fear for EJ's safety when he is with Nicole, no. Do they fear for Nicole's safety, at times, yes... and that is a big problem for Ejole. I think the pairing has a lot of potential but until that issue is properly addressed, they are never going to be able to live up to it. It's one thing to fear that your favorite couple might break each other's heart, it's another to fear that one is likely to literally choke the other if they don't get their way. In spite of one really big mistake (that I'm still holding a grudge about), these writers now seem to be making a genuine effort to recognize how various characters are playing to the audience and repairing them, so there is definitely a chance that EJ and Ejole will finally get the writing necessary to repair both. I can't imagine that I will ever be an EJ fan and that will keep me from ever being a gung ho Ejole fan. However, the fact that even someone who hates EJ as much as I do, adores Nicole and wants her to have better than him (i.e., Brady), and would rather see EJ gone than given a chance to become rootable with Nicole can admit that Ejole have lots of untapped potential to become a very entertaining couple, is proof of that potential.

[DancingDays]

Well said Kazz. I like how you differentiate between "bad characters" and villans. It's so true. "Bad" characters usually make bad choices for the right reasons. Villians are just evil. But a town without villians would be very boring. And the DiMeras certainly make Salem interesting!