Cristofle

And it was a different dynamic - Paul was older and more experienced than her and then she was older and more experienced than James. BUT, she immediately responded to Paul. James did not immediately respond to her.

stlavin95

Definitely not, but ironically their chemistry was better in the earlier seasons.

A lot of the fandom really don't acknowledge how big the difference was in acting ability between James and Joy.

Cristofle

And to some extent, I feel like he hampered her. I can't think of a scene of theirs as emotional as on GL when Michelle had a miscarriage. Because her screen partner was so much stronger there, and giving her so much more.

stlavin95

He did, but James also got hampered massively by the writers having Nathan grow way too quickly

Cristofle

True. Nathan didn't have a natural arc. LOL.

stlavin95

Not at all, lol

Cristofle

On the other hand, Michelle and Danny on GL also changed tracks pretty fast - Danny was supposed to be a temporary character and roadblock to Michelle's other love interest Jesse (also some...interesting acting with that one) and the writers rapidly changed track due to Paul and Joie's chemistry, and they were able to adapt to that as actors and as a team. So Joie can do it, lol, but she can't necessarily do it alone.

stlavin95

James and honestly Mark as well suck at adjusting on the run, lol

Cristofle

I mean, like I said, I know she can adlib. It wasn't her making that awkward. LOL.

stlavin95

Very true, lol

Cristofle

I think the lack of ease between them was a real roadblock for me.

stlavin95

Definitely lacked the ease that Chad and Hil had, especially in the later seasons.

Cristofle

I could tell that Chad and Hilarie were genuinely joking around with each other, and that does help.

stlavin95

It really does

Cristofle

OTH also wasn't good enough to make up for the lack of it, lol.