#tnb30

[laboulaie]

Todd & Blair Shipping Challenge

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DAY TWENTY-SIX: Favorite Sad Scene

These scenes always make me cry. Todd and Blair are *sooooooooooo* in love here and happy, waiting for their little Starr to be born. Major props to KDP for expertly playing Blair’s underlying fear and grief as if she already knew something was going to happen and they would never be the same again. Of course Todd had to leave her the day after their wedding for *sigh* Marty because he lives in self-loathing and guilt over what he did to her. It is a shame that his decision this day forever affected their love story. Both characters would go on to say this was the last time things were perfect between them, that they were a family. And the decades that followed showed both characters desperately trying to recapture what they had in these scenes. They were even mentioned in the finale on ABC as “things were never the same.” We never did get to see Todd and Blair actually together, happy, LIE-FREE as a family with their children and we never got to see TnB ever go on a honeymoon they deserved. Everything about this was tragic. But god, were they beautiful.

[davinahalliwell-winchester]

Todd & Blair Shipping Challenge

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DAY TWENTY-FIVE: Favorite Funny Scene

“My god, you’re heavy.”

“Well, why don’t you workout?”

“Why don’t you stop wearing hand cream?”

[laboulaie]

Todd & Blair Shipping Challenge

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DAY TWENTY-TWO: Favorite Work/Business Scene

I was torn for today’s choice. I wanted to pick something from 1995 because my favorite careers for both of them is when they have their own thing (Blair had Melador, Todd had The Sun) and I’ll never forgive OLTL for taking Blair’s company away (pretty much everything that wasn’t Todd-related let’s be honest) and for making her a *shudder* lounge-singer *shudder* but there were some great moments in 1996 which I consider to be their best year at least work-wise aside from 1995. Plus I felt I had already used enough content from 1995 for this challenge so far - let’s appreciate how unfathomably stunning KDP is here with this adorable hair length and outfit. To the scene itself, I love how this proved not only that Blair was a resounding success taking over The Sun in Todd’s absence, she is also much preferable to have at the helm according to the employees. Todd of course is smack dab in his loathsome phase here, making everyone around him miserable - most of all, Blair - because she dared to exist after his supposed death. He’s pretty unbearable here with his passive aggressive comments that he knows breaks Blair’s heart but I love how formidable she is in these scenes. She convinces Todd to hear out the staff and defends his unconventional methods to the staff and refuses to let Todd push her out of a newspaper she’s at the very least equally-responsible for its creation and success. I also love how these scenes contain all the aspects of that dysfunctional TnB dynamic from friendship to rivals to lovers (deep deep down). Any other woman would have walked the first time Todd slut-shamed her, patronized her, abused her the way Todd does during this time but Blair is so committed to re-creating that dream team they once were pre-Ireland and inch by inch, Todd is warming up the idea during this period of frustrating ANGST.

[davinahalliwell-winchester]

Todd & Blair Shipping Challenge

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DAY THIRTY: Favorite ‘I Love You’

[laboulaie]

Todd & Blair Shipping Challenge

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DAY TWENTY-NINE: Favorite No-Dialogue Scene

It can’t be stated enough how much of a gift the online reboot was for TnB fans. It took a struggling and sabotaged start-up company to actually realize recognize the magic of TnB, invest in them and give them a story that wasn’t based on lies. It was the first time really since 2001 that we got Todd and Blair teaming up together against others. It felt like a full circle in a lot of ways and this scene was no different. It actually mirrors the scene they had together in early 1995 (my choice for “Favorite Friendship Scene”) when Todd just comforts Blair. Kassie and Roger didn’t need any words and beautifully portrayed everything the scene needed - the longing, the angst, the heartbreak, the love, the support, the friendship, etc. Todd kissing her forehead and Blair shedding a tear. It was also refreshing to see Todd be the strong one. Blair’s had a habit of having to put on a brave face and tough exterior for others but in this moment, she got to be vulnerable and Todd took control. *sigh* I still miss them so much.

[davinahalliwell-winchester]

Todd & Blair Shipping Challenge

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DAY TWENTY-EIGHT: Favorite Family Scene

[davinahalliwell-winchester]

Todd & Blair Shipping Challenge

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DAY FOUR: Favorite “Date”

“You and me?”

“You and me. Against the world.”

[laboulaie]

Todd & Blair Shipping Challenge

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DAY TWENTY-ONE: Favorite Friendship Scene

Back when Blair was her own character and a writer valued her in her own right, she has her own career and aspirations (Melador anyone?). One of the first things Blair designed and made with her own two hands was a ring for her best friend, Todd. I love everything about these scenes. Blair says she designed the jewelry to match with the character of the person and with Todd, that was something “bold, sharp around the edges and one of a kind.” Notice she didn’t make it for Cord! This was back when soaps took their time and had scenes longer than thirty seconds where they can develop characters and relationships properly. For two characters like Todd and Blair, who’ve been burned and are distrustful of pretty much everyone, to find true comfort and understanding with each-other was a beautiful thing to watch. Todd taught Blair how to be comfortable with herself and not self-sabotage and Blair taught Todd how to open up and have a healthy relationship with people. Even before they got married, this friendship was the most stable and loving relationship either character has had at this point.