Yes, yes, Ben is on medication now to ensure that he never again sees a necktie as anything more than an accessory. But before he begins a new life with Ciara, shouldn’t they maybe think a little longer and harder about the difficulties that his past will present to their future? How would a child of theirs feel when he or she learns that Dad was a literal lady killer? This isn’t an insurmountable issue — nothing is for “Cin” — but it deserves, even demands, further addressing.
The Body Count, Part 2
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Speaking of Ben’s history of homicidal tendencies, wouldn’t Hope have renewed reservations about her daughter’s relationship with him now that he’s put a ring on it? A romance is one thing; a marriage, quite another. Also, how on earth does anyone think that Bo would be cool with Ciara tying the knot with a man whom once upon a time he would’ve moved heaven and earth to bring to justice? There’s a frank and uncomfortable discussion to be had here, and thus far, it hasn’t happened.
The Ex Factor
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Since Tripp left Salem, Ben and Ciara haven’t had to deal with a third party trying to horn in on their relationship. How would they fare if, now that they are committed to one another, they did? What if, say, Theo were to return a little bit older, a whole lot wiser and altogether supportive of “Cin”? Would it give Ciara a glimpse of how much simpler her future could be if she wasn’t getting hitched to the modern-day equivalent of the Salem Strangler? Would she be tempted? She deserves to find out. For that matter, so does Ben.
His-and-Hers Traumas
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Clyde be damned, Ben has earned a mental-health gold star from Marlena. And Ciara dealt with her rape years ago. Still, these two bring to the table enough combined baggage to fill a warehouse. So rather than contemplate flower arrangements and seating charts, perhaps they should be inquiring whether Salem’s busiest shrink offers a bulk discount and booking a year of pre-marriage-counseling sessions. We want it to work as much as they do; this would help guarantee that it will.
Real Life
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We’d say this to any couple whose courtship has mainly consisted of daring rescues, Chinese food and prison visits: Get to know each other in the day-to-day. “Cin” have no idea how they’d actually get along if they weren’t always in crisis (or bed), and hello! They should. We have no doubt that they’d click like a seatbelt — we’ve mentioned their chemistry, right? But they should doubt it — enough to discover how lovely their life would be as husband and wife before they become a bride and groom.
