Performer
of the Week
Soap Opera Digest
September 2nd, 1997
Imagine you're Another World's Jake McKinnon and the love of your life, Vicky Hudson, has just proposed marriage. Do you A) jump for joy, screaming, ''Yes, yes and yes!'' Or do you B) grab the nearest justice of the peace? Well, neither. Instead, AW's most complex leading man urged Vicky to return home to talk to her former flame, Shane, to make sure she was really, truly over him. Then, Jake told Vicky he'd meet her again in 24 hours for her answer. (We'll just call that option ''C''.) You see, as much as the proposal was a dream come true for Jake (the twosome have been best friends forever!), the emotionally needy, hard-luck-kid-from-Laissiter part of him couldn't take another disappointment. For once, Mckinnon followed his head, not his heart. And his head told him to protect his heart. For the climactic scenes at the Lassiter playground, Tom Eplin tapped into Jake's vulnerable side. He swallowed the lump in his throat and quietly explained his feelings to Vicky (you're probably sick of us reminding you how wonderful Jensen Buchanan is, but we can't help it - she was devine). ''If I say yes, I just want to know you are choosing me because of me,'' Jake said, as he brushed away stray tears. ''Because you want to, not 'cause you're running from Shane or running from the truth.''
Those simple, heartfelt words - coupled with Eplin's sad, lovelorn eyes - packed more punch than all of Jake's declarations of love. We bought it. And this time, so did Vicky.