Rape in Knots Landing: Season 1 episode: The Lie

Poor Laura.

Richard was a loser. She wanted a little attention and to see what else was out there. She did NOT want to be raped.

Was Laura the one who died (years later) and left a video recording for her child(ren)?

Yes, R2 that was Laura.

Yes, R1. Laura is the one who dies years later. The character was played by Constance McCashin.

Thanks, r3 and r4. I started watching on tape a few years later, and that was one of the first episodes I saw. I thought it was the same actress who played Maureen Bauer on Guiding Light (who would herself be killed off a few years later). It took me a little while to separate the two.

It was Laura.

Great performance from Constance McCashin in that episode. She really did a great job conveying the mixed up feelings Laura had about the situation.

McCashin didn't always get as much attention as some of the other actresses because her acting style was more understated (and in a good way) compared to some of the others, who could have flashier, even over-the-top at times performances.

I liked the scene with Laura and Val near the end of the episode.

I tend to prefer Seasons 4 and on, but the earlier seasons did have some great, character driven story and acting. I think if they would've stuck with that format with the often self-contained episodes, the show wouldn't have been as successful and lasted as long as it did.

Knots really retained it's quality better than any other of the primetime soaps. It's too bad it's not available to watch on any of the steaming platforms or any of the US networks.

Agreed, R1--Laura did not want or expect to be raped. She was abused and neglected by Richard at home. She screwed up his eggs. She sent his hand-made shirts to the cleaners. Her sins were legion. And he let her know it. Laura was seeking affection and companionship outside of her marriage.

In those early years, Laura's character had such low self-esteem, and it just makes me wonder if she didn't blame herself for the rape (which is clearly rape, even if the terminology for "acquaintance rape" wasn't there in 1980).

As an aside, although Richard was abusive, I have always found the characters of Laura and Richard to be the most interesting in those earlier seasons.

Knots Landing also broke ground in season 3 with the Lesbian storyline between Laura and Ciji

Yes, R7, the scene near the end of the episode with Val is like a therapy session for Laura (interestingly, Constance McCashin is now a therapist). This therapy session with Val reveals significant details about Laura's family history that would be important background for the future. Val was more insightful than she might have seemed on the surface.

I think that Constance McCashin was the best actress of the entire Knots Landing run, "understated" being a good adjective to describe her performance. That viewers were outraged when the character of Laura was written out of the series speaks volumes.

The self-contained episodes of Knots in those early years resembled the dramas of that time ("Family" with Sada Thompson, Kristy McNichol, et al is the closest comparison I can recall from that era).

R9, that Laura-Ciji storyline was an oasis during those dismal Reagan years. Knots was ahead of its time.

In another episode, Sid was accused of rape. The girl's mother was played by Conchata Ferrell, who recently died.

Karen had this great line, certain the girl was lying; she was. the mother didn't know; "Oh, sure we're poor but that doesn't mean we can be raped!"

It was a two parter.

I always loved the scenes between William Devane and Constance, they really seemed to like each other and their scenes had such an ease. The "Laura is dead, Roll the Tape' episode wrecks me.

Legend has it had Van Ark stayed full time for the final season, she was going to work on Greg's biography, and go to the clinic where Laura had gone to die.

She was going to get a shock there and find Laura alive!

The show set this up when the clinic or funeral home effed up the return of Laura's body; Greg read a letter saying they were very sorry and 'this would never happen again'.

It's really too bad they couldn't have worked it out where Laura came back.

R12, I remember that line by Karen. Forgot that Conchata Ferrell played the mother of the girl who accuses Sid of rape.

In that two-part episode, Richard originally defends Sid but then offers the girl a bribe. Then, Sid fires Richard and retains Ron Rifkin (boyfriend of Ann Romano on One Day at a Time).

After Richard is fired, he staggers over to the Fairgate house and delivers his famous drunken rant about Saint Sid.

These memories are such a hoot!

Anyone watch the Stars at Home Knots reunion? Not one mention of Constance.

Constance was robbed of an Emmy. She deserved it.