Can Absolutely Any Soap Character Be Redeemed?

On soaps, scheming bad girls can become heroines. See everyone from Julie to Sami on Days Of Our Lives (DOOL). Rapists can become beloved heroes. See Luke on General Hospital or Todd on One Life To Live. Killers can become heroes. See… uh, Luke on General Hospital (GH) and Todd on One Life To Live (OLTL).

Oh, and Quinn (Rena Sofer) on The Bold and the Beautiful (BB), and Michael (Christian J. LeBlanc) on The Young and the Restless (YR), and so, so many other people.

So, is there such a thing as an unforgivable crime on the soaps? Is there such a thing as a character who absolutely cannot be redeemed? Over 10,000 fans voted!

You Gotta Have Hope!
Steal a baby? That OK, we still love you, YR’s Sharon (Sharon Case) and DOOL’s Nicole (Arianne Zucker)!

Fake your death, put your family through hell and encourage an impostor to pretend to be you? All is forgiven, YR’s Phillip (Thom Bierdz) and Cane (Daniel Goddard)!

Sleep with a father and son, two brothers, a half-brother, and every other possible combination? Oh, B&B’s Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), you’re such a lovable heroine!

In other words, clarify 64% of you, yes, anyone can be redeemed. Even the worst people can become heroes.

Beyond the Pale
B&B’s Eric (John McCook) may have forgiven Sheila (Kimberlin Brown), but fans never bought it. Same goes for Eric’s other charity project, Quinn. DAYS’ Andre and Stefano don’t seem to have a lot of defenders, and it looks like YR’s Zach (Ryan Ashton) is headed the same way.

According to 34% of you, some bad guys are beyond saving. It’s not like they’re lovable mobsters like GH’s Sonny (Maurice Benard), mustached control freaks like YR’s Victor (Eric Braeden), or Jennifer Aniston’s dad, like DAYS’ Victor (John Aniston).

That’s how you know they’re truly evil…