Certain lines of dialogue (e.g. Stephanie Forrester calling Brooke Logan a ‘slut from the valley’) on Bold and the Beautiful become instant classics. Now, thanks to Tanner Novlan, another quip has joined that particular hall of fame. Fed up with Liam Spencer’s interference in his marriage, Novlan’s Dr. John “Finn” Finnegan blasted Liam and called him a “little puke,” which not only let Liam know where Finn stands but also helped earn Novlan Soap Hub’s Performer of the Week for B&B honors.
Tanner Novlan – Performer of the Week
There are only so many times Novlan can play Finn’s regret over turning his back on Kelly and his remorse over having feelings for his birth mother, Sheila (Kimberlin Brown). Finn knows it’s wrong as Sheila has attempted to kill about half of his family but…he feels some kind of pull toward the woman who brought him into the world.
It may be hard to empathize with Finn on his Sheila stance but we certainly were cheering him on when he threw down with Liam (Scott Clifton) at Spencer Publications. Finn knew walking into a relationship with Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) that Liam was a part of the equation but he likely didn’t know just how much Liam would be lurking.
“I know what you’re doing,” Finn informed Liam as he stood in the doorway of his office. On cue, Liam played the ‘Kelly almost drowned‘ card and asked Finn if he was supposed to thank Sheila for saving her. Next, Liam brought up Finn embracing Sheila at the courthouse, which was a mistake on Liam’s part. “You took that video and you didn’t come and confront me about it…no, you ran straight to Steffy and showed it to her, didn’t you — you little puke!”
Liam hid behind wanting to protect his family but Finn wasn’t buying it. Novlan brought strength and intensity to these scenes (as did Clifton, his scene partner). Finn, however, is not letting Liam have Steffy without a fight. “Steffy and I love each other,” Novlan’s Finn passionately stated. “We’re committed to each other…you think that you have this…this ‘in’ with her and this…this history and you exploit that but that’s all it is, Liam. It’s ancient history. She’s with a real man now…you need to stay away from my wife!”
Liam countered that his wanting to protect Kelly (Sophia Paras McKinlay) isn’t disrespecting Finn’s marriage to Steffy. The two men continued to square off as the week progressed. “Man, you have an ego!” Finn blasted Liam after he pointed out that he and Steffy were once a family. Novlan didn’t drop his character’s intensity as Finn called out Liam on his running back to Steffy the minute his marriage with Hope (Annika Noelle) tanked.
Liam’s conveniently leaving out from his conversations with Finn that he impulsively kissed Steffy not once but twice in recent weeks. Once Finn learns that we can see him re-confronting the publishing heir and reading him for additional filth.
Novlan got to display Finn’s more loving and nurturing side when he went to visit Steffy at the Forrester mansion. It was evident that the two are still very much in love. Finn fessed up to this being his fault and Steffy has every right to be on guard. But he pointed out that her living away from him wasn’t just about Sheila. It was about Liam, too. “I’m going to fight for our marriage,” Finn told his wife. “I’m never going to stop fighting. Because I love you too much to ever let you go.”
Steffy maintained she moved out because of Sheila. However, Novlan was able to bolster Finn’s position that Liam is at least half of the problem by telling his wife that Liam shared with him that he’s still in love with her. While that may be true, even a 1% Sheila problem is still a pretty big problem! Finn gave a sincere apology, agreed that Sheila should not be a part of their lives, and asked her to forgive him. Finn teared up that they all almost lost Kelly. “I am so sorry for making you feel unsafe,” Finn told his wife. His open heart and genuine remorse are going to make it hard for Steffy to say no.
Kudos to Tanner Novlan, who, through his powerful performances, has passionately shown us how deeply Finn loves Steffy and for teaching us that, through his ad-lib (see below) that the word ‘puke’ is not just a verb but it is also a noun. Bravo!
The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. For an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.
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