MovieChat Forums > Road to Avonlea (1990) Discussion > The Return of Gus Pike wasn't good for h...

The Return of Gus Pike wasn't good for his character

posted 13 years ago by fairyqueen
10 replies | jump to latest

Don't get me wrong I love that episode,, especially the flashbacks. I also love the scene where Gus reunites with his mother who had long believed was dead. However, now that I think about it, I wish it hadn't happened because it takes away part of what made Gus such a great character in the first place.

For most of the series run, Gus had no real family, just a horrible father who was in and out of jail. The legacy of Abe Pike always haunted him as he worried that he would become like him. Several RTA sites have referred to Abe Pike as the show's most hated bad guy and that's completely understandable. He wasn't just some guy who showed up, wrecked havoc and then left. He was the father of one of the show's most beloved characters!

All of that stuff was awful for Gus but great for his character. It gave him a tragic quality that was very appealing, especially when he bonded with the King family.

Therefore, I was disappointed when Gus found out his mother was alive and that Abe may not be his father after all. Gus with a mother and a good father is a lot less interesting than Gus with no family besides a murdererous father.

[–] Naneki1 13 years ago

I think Gus was still interesting, regardless of his biological parents and whether or not his mother was living. After all he basically raised himself and turned out okay...his character would have been totally different if he hadn't been separated from Eliza at an early age OR if he had been raised by Eliza & Ezekial Crane...and for all the evil that was Abe Pike, he did teach Gus how to play the fiddle.

"chicka-chick-ahhhhhhhhh"

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] fairyqueen 13 years ago

"Gus was always one of my favorite characters and I always hated the way they treated him.

Felicity and Gus have the worst chemistry on the show in my opinion, I always hated the fact that the show made them out to be "The Couple""

Thank you! I love Gus but have never really cared for his relationship with Felicity. I thought I was the only one who felt that way and it feels good to know that somebody else agrees.

Somebody asked on a youtube video comment what that song was called that was playing when Gus and Felicity reunited in Return to Me. Somebody else replied "The Gus and Felicity love theme" and it got several thumbs up. That annoyed me way more than it should have. It's called Gus Pike's Theme! There's more to Gus than just his relationship with Felicity!

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] fairyqueen 13 years ago

"The only reason they added those plot lines was because Sarah Polley was no longer interested in playing the role. If Polley loved the show, we very well could have had a Sarah/Gus pairing...lol and just as quickly as those teeny boppers took to loving Felicity and Guss, they would have turned to that pairing."

I think the characters of Gus and Sara would have made a much better couple than Gus and Felicity. Felicity was at her best when she was kind of bitchy (the actress played it very well) and I think that side clashed with Gus' romantic side. Sara was more like him: kind, dreamy, romantic. Plus her background made it even more applealing: A rich girl from Montreal and a poor sailor boy with a messed up family. The only problem was the age difference. I think Felicity was a bit too young for Gus and Sara was even younger!

I think Gus was only paired with Felicity because she was the only female close enough in age. At the time, the show was divided between the kids (oldest being Felicity, oldest girl at least) and the adults (the youngest being Olivia). The producers must have recognized what a great romantic lead Gus could be and wanted to pair him with somebody. It was either Felicity or bring on a new character, who the fans didn't care about. From what I've noticed, the pairing is so popular because of Gus, not Felicity.

I love the scenes between Felicity and Seth Pritchard. It's my secret (sort of) wish that they got together.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] jessie-lane3 10 years ago

The way they grew Gus' storyline was wonderful. From the start, Ezekiel saw him for the first time and "knew" something. He was Gus' father figure. Then in his return in season 6, he learns E is his real father,closing out a sad past with happiness.

[–] shoopies 10 years ago

Gus Pike is a wonderful character and the pairing of Felicity and Gus helped the characters to grow.

Felicity started out a bossy know it all older sister who wanted to be just like her mother and pretended to fit in with the snobby gossip girls. She grew from all that in to her own a smart, and strong woman , through Gus's loving Felicity for who she was, she learned to let her real self come through and blossom out. The indecisiveness of what she wanted to do was just frustrating. She seemed to be the type to have set career dream.

Gus was honest, smart and very kind and respectful but rough around the edges. He had a sensitive side that he covered up ,and would become very hurt and angry when someone took him for granted. Gus was a hard worker and eager to learn. He had a stubborn side and did not hear reason unless it was spoken from the heart. Gus grew and changed through his education and different jobs and through Felicity's loving him she made him understand she loved him for who he was and Gus did not have to empress her, just be himself.

As for Arthur Pettibone Felicity just like the idea of two boys liking her and though Arthur was hurt he was more in love with his work as a budding vet then any girl.

As for Stuart. Felicity never really connected with him. Her heart was always belonged to Gus . She only married him to make her mother happy and to make herself think she was happy. I do not think she ever truly loved him.

[–] Felixthecat34213 9 years ago

As for Stuart. Felicity never really connected with him. Her heart was always belonged to Gus . She only married him to make her mother happy and to make herself think she was happy. I do not think she ever truly loved him.

No one is saying she belonged with Stuart, just that Gus and Felicity had no chemistry.

I thought the characters grew because the actors grew into them and fleshed out their characters. Their pairing just felt awkward to me.

[–] kate-hryn-rose 8 years ago

I really liked Gus originally, but didn't like his character in the end. He went from light-hearted to angry. He had some rights to be angry but It took the gentleness away from his character and made him look hard.
Making Gus blind was odd. He couldn't even come back to work in the lighthouse.

But unlike others, I liked Stuart. What Felicity did to him was wrong. She shouldn't have led him on.