Vanityfest – DAY 3: SERENDIPITY or DESIGNED
From the start of Vanity’s story I have wondered how much of it was planned in advance. I know soap opera stories are plotted well head of the actual writing. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle, fusing plots and character/relationship development (if you’re lucky) into short term and long term story arcs. Therefore, fundamentally, trapping Charity and Vanessa in that cellar was thought through and outlined. But was it strictly for the purpose of expanding Vanessa’s sexuality, or did they know this would be the first step in their long term plans for Charity as well?
Although I find the idea of serendipity intriguing, my stronger instincts tell me that everything happens for a reason – whether it is of Universal/Godly design, or of our own making – intentional or unintentional. In this case, there are just too many connecting dots within Charity and Vanessa’s story for me to believe that it was entirely random and simple “luck” and happenstance. While I’m sure not all the pieces were known from the beginning, there was enough to go on which allowed them to quickly take advantage of the good fortune that did manifest as the story progressed.
I invite you to follow me as I lay out my theory that Vanity was carefully designed by the writers, piece by piece, over an extended period of time, for a very important purpose: the revitalization and renewal of a long-standing, beloved character.
Firstly, according to producers, it was decided back in 2014 that they would explore Charity’s past in greater detail than they had previously, but circumstances (Emma’s maternity leave) put that story on hold. However, before she left, they introduced DI Mark Bails as someone she knew from her childhood (such as it was). At the time, Charity shared with Debbie that he had groomed her and abused her as a teenager, though she didn’t go into much detail. To accommodate Emma’s leave, they sent Charity to prison, after she did several legitimately criminal acts (however justified).
Upon her return in 2016 the groundwork continued to be laid, the key element being that she bought half of the Woolpack and became co-landlord and barmaid. This put Charity at the center of village life, interacting with villagers on a regular basis, including characters she hadn’t previously engaged with much before. She had always been a gobby person, but now she was able to use her snarky wit to its greatest affect.
And yet, as an ambitious business woman, being a barmaid was not enough to keep her attention. Her family was also faced with pending tragedy as her granddaughter Sarah had become ill. To help her, Charity concocted some outrageous schemes, her prime métier. One of which was to execute a jewel theft with the help of ex-con Frank. This led to a twisted plot of revenge, providing the most significant connection between Charity and local vet Vanessa, Frank’s daughter.
Even though Charity and Vanessa had little to no contact with one another, from the time Vanessa arrived in town to Charity’s scheme with Frank, they were living in the same village and new all the same people. Each of them had their respective reputations, for better or worse, and they each were well aware of the other. No doubt, had they wanted to, the writers could have found another way to bring Charity and Vanessa together, but having Charity as barmaid, and Vanessa steaming about her interference with her dad’s relationship, the stage could not have been set up better to create the most seemingly random encounter – which I conclude was not so random.
Vanessa had been having her own developing journey, including falling in love with her best friend Rhona, and later an 18 year old young man, Kiran. She had a one-night-stand with her other best friend Moira’s son, Adam, which lead to a “who’s-the-daddy” scenario when Vanessa become pregnant. Ultimately Kiran was proven to be the father, but he felt unable to be a proper dad, so he left town.
It was a rocky start for single mum Vanessa. Her son Johnny was born prematurely and was in hospital for weeks, creating a disconnect between her and her child. In time they found their connection and Vanessa became a devoted mum. Then in 2017 Vanessa helped her bff Rhona get justice, when she fought back and got her rapist husband Pierce sent to prison. Connecting all these experiences together, combined with Vanessa’s temperament and loyal/caring/healing nature, it almost seems inevitable that she would be the one chosen for the fateful task ahead.
In order for Charity to open up and reveal her traumatic past, and then to actually deal with it in any healthy way (if indeed they intended her to find some healing), she needed someone she trusted enough to confide in. Even before the confession, Charity herself needed to be in a place where she would be willing to open up about her experiences.
The Charity who returned from prison was the most wounded Charity to date. Her ordeals with Jai and Declan, and her time in prison, created the most armored and defensive Charity we’d ever seen. Even before she was convicted, her dealings with Bails during the Home Farm fire investigation was that of a woman completely shut off from her emotions. When she tried telling Debbie about her experience with Bails we saw a glimpse of the pain he’d caused her, but the minute Debbie shut her down, not wanting to hear her mum’s story, Charity closed the box again.
Jump ahead to her scheming ways with Megan and Frank and we saw a woman lost. She had no direction, no focus, emotionally shut down. She was grasping at whatever and whoever she could, creating chaos at every turn, biting back at everyone, friend and foe. Bringing Mark Bails into play with THAT Charity would not have generated a healthy story in any way shape or form. Charity was completely alone, not trusting or relying on even her family. A different Charity had to develop if she was going to face up to her past and find a way forward: the story goal the writers had decided to tackle.
Thus, the decision was made: bring someone into Charity’s story that would bring trust and hope into her life; establishing a foundation upon which they could begin their true exploration of her character. Vanessa became that person. How they came to this conclusion we may never know, but as I pointed out above, she was a perfect candidate. The best part being, it would come out of nowhere. It would be a completely new, fresh relationship, which was absolutely essential for this story to work.
Please note that I know absolutely nothing about how the writers made decisions, when, and for what reasons. I don’t know them or have ever talked to them. Although that is certainly something I would kill to do.
Everything I’m offering here is my own speculation based on what I’ve seen on the screen and bits of gleaned from interviews. It is very possible I am completely wrong about everything. I have a tendency to over analyze, so simply take this as my crazy musings. Nothing more.
