If you've seen the hashtag #Harder on Facebook and Twitter, you may already know about the social media response to the potential pairing of longtime The Young and the Restless character Kevin Fisher (Greg Rikaart) with handsome newcomer Det. Mark Harding (Chris L. McKenna). Fans have noticed chemistry between the actors, especially during recent scenes where Kevin was was questioned by "Officer Yummy Pants."The hashtag is filled with innuendo (Harder? Insert teenaged Beavis and Butthead laugh here) but it's rallied some fans around the idea of a romance. A social media campaign is one thing, but could a story like this become a reality? Would a romance between Kevin and Mark Harding be too big a leap?
In a Twitter discussion a few weeks ago, I heard from some users that it was too sharp of a turn for Kevin, a character who's been embroiled in several heterosexual romances (and marriages). It's too farfetched, they said, for a straight man to suddenly “turn” gay.
But I think there's something there to explore. I think there's a way to make this story happen that honors Kevin's history and yet opens new possibilities for him.
And for that, we need to get aboard the Big Purple Dream bus, and revisit the romance of Olivia and Natalia -- "Otalia" -- at the late and lamented Guiding Light.