53 replies to this topic

[JackPeyton]

Ah, it is that time again my fellow SONers, time to rank the soaps! I know, we still have a month left in 2012 but whatever. All of the soaps took on some major changes this year. Y&R, GH and Days got a new team behind the scenes. B&B saw two of its mjaor stars from the start quit. So how do they stack up against each other?

[CarlD2]

1. GL reruns on Youtube and DVD
2. ATWT reruns on Youtube and DVD
3. Saynotoursoap's Youtube channel
4. Edge of Night Youtube
5. Doctor Who
6. Some of the Supernatural fan fiction I've read in the last few months.
7. Random Real Housewives and Kardashians episodes I watched on Netflix

Edited by CarlD2, 30 November 2012 - 03:06 AM.

[JackPeyton]

1. GL reruns on Youtube and DVD
2. ATWT reruns on Youtube and DVD
3. Saynotoursoap's Youtube channel
4. Edge of Night Youtube
5. Doctor Who
6. Some of the Supernatural fan fiction I've read in the last few months.
7. Random Real Housewives and Kardashians episodes I watched on Netflix

i love it. esp the last one.

[AllMyDaysatGH]

1.B&B
2.DAYS
3.Y&R
4.GH

[Toups]

1. GH: By far the best soap in 2012. RC/FV have rejuvenated the show and created a lot of excitement. I love the long term story that started with Robin's "death" in February, Duke's return in August, then Faux-Duke/Faison revelation in November.....and the story is not over yet. This long term plotting has been RC's best story. Heather/Todd duo was fun to watch as they switched Téa/Sam's babies. Though the storyline only took five months to tell (I wish it was longer), I liked how it was slowly revealed (John/Jason finding out the truth, then Sam finding out, then Heather kidnapping the baby, then the rooftop hostage that led to the reunion). I also liked the 3 week short story of Jerry poisoning the water supply which lead to a location shoot adventure that you just don't see anymore on soaps. AJ's return has been really good so far and it looks like there's a Quartermaine family resurgence. The show actually has cliffhangers, the most out of any soap this year, that made me excited to watch the next episode. GH has also done a wonderful job not spoiling everything - Robin's faked death, "Duke's" return, Faison's return, Sean Kanan playing AJ. So sum it up, GH is back to being a fun soap to watch. The style of the show is my style of a show I want to watch every day.


2. B&B: There's a reason why Hope/Liam/Steffy triangle has been responsible for B&B's great ratings in 2012 and up from last year on a consistent basis - it's classic soap opera. And it's clear that these 3 are able to carry the torch and lead the show into a new generation. Bill Spencer was fun to watch this year and I'm glad to see him ascend to top 2 male leads.


3. Y&R: Not a very good year though I didn't totally hate the show.....but I'm starting to dislike the show ever since Griffith took over.


4. DAYS: Sad to say that my favorite soap is ranked last. One word to describe the year: boring. There was a lot of backstage drama with TPTB that resulted in the show having no direction at all. Stories were abrupt ended (though some can say that was a good thing). There was only one great week: the DAYSaster. Or good episodes here and there (ie) Stefano getting shot episode. I've been really disliking the show since September and I just cannot connect to any of these new stories.


For 2013, I think GH will remain as the best soap. They still have Robin to be rescued and reunited with her family, Faison to be exposed, Duke to be rescued, AJ/Tracy battle for ELQ, how the AJ/Michael relationship will proceed and how that will affect Sonny/Carly, it seems the Nurses Ball will be brought back.

Since DAYS is my favorite soap, I really hope the show picks up steam in 2013 because Jan/Feb/March will be crucial months as NBC will decide to renew the show or not. Right now, I don't think DAYS can compete with GH so I hope the show will at least improve to #2.

[JackPeyton]

For me this is really hard, actually. That is why I did not post mine right away like I intended to but have been working on this list for an hour now.

1. B&B
2. GH
3. Days
4. Y&R

Well, B&B as number one was easy and a nobrainer for me. It has been consistently entertaining and well done all year long, something none of the others can say. More than that, its actually on like a two-three year stretch of greatness right now. They toned down the traingle and dragging it on too long and gave it a much needed break and I was surprised they did it with Liam being with Steffy and not hope. I am excited to see it pick up again as this triangle has been the breakout of the show since iot started for me, and clearly many others. I dont miss Ridge at all. Stephanies goodbye was so well done, and such a tribute to both her and Susan. I love Bill & Katie too. They really just need to work on Marcus, Rick, Thomas and Caroline. I wouldnt mind a little more Thorne too.

Similarly easy and without hesitation, Y&R is last. The show is truly atrocious and I do not know what else to say about it.

Where I had the hardest time was GH and Days. I like GH a lot right now but I do not love it. Monicas sudden Saint AJ routine bugs me, Sam still serving no purpose bugs me, i dont care about the hospital stories at all, and Konnie existing and being a huge storyline really turns me off from the show. But on the flip side I love that Sean kanan is back, that Jason is dead, and that we have had a return to the hospital. I dont mind all the vets returning but i also fear a redo of Rons OLTL anniversary disaster. Its very 50/50 for me.

Days was awful under M&D, who somehow out did JER 2.0 and Hogan and Dena as the worst show runers ever, like i didnt know it could be done. I did enjoy a few things, will sticking it to sami, sami and marlena and carries dynamics, adrienne and justin popping up, and maggie/melanie moments but that is about it. The show however the past two months has slowly - very, very slowly - started to turn around. I am loving this baby story, i am obsessed with kristens return. I am curiously optimistic about the next few months but the show is still just so boring.

[quartermainefan]

This is the year I gave up Days. I think the last episode I watched was the return from the daysaster, or maybe I watched one after that. I just looked at pregnant Nicole and Sami mooning after EJ and I said to myself "I can't watch this again, it's the same crap every year with the same four characters".

GH gets my vote as best of the year, not that there are many soaps left to choose from.

[JackPeyton]

This is the year I gave up Days. I think the last episode I watched was the return from the daysaster, or maybe I watched one after that. I just looked at pregnant Nicole and Sami mooning after EJ and I said to myself "I can't watch this again, it's the same crap every year with the same four characters".

I gave up too but started again after the daysaster. I will say this too, thank got the new team removed nicole from the quad and backburned the triangle from hell. Sami finally has a life outside of propping Ej and Rafe and it has been glorious. I hope it keeps on, because I can not with this triangle that eats the show alive. And its even worse because it isnt even about Sami, shes reacting to the men and propping them.

[Cheap21]

It doesnt feel that way. Just yesterday we had Rafe and EJ throwing zingers at each other over Sami. The triangle is still in effect, especially with Rafe and Sami reconnecting over the Gabi/Will drama and EJ now being her boss to try and win her back. Sami's life still seems to revolve around both men.

Edited by Cheap21, 30 November 2012 - 06:22 AM.

[JackPeyton]

It doesnt feel that way. Just yesterday we had Rafe and EJ throwing zingers at each other over Sami. The triangle is still in effect, especially with Rafe and Sami reconnecting over the Gabi/Will drama and EJ now being her boss to try and win her back. Sami's life still seems to revolve around both men.

I didnt say it went away, just that it was backburned. Ok, well not on for 37 minutes a epsiode 5 epsiodes a week anyways, lol.

I think with her job and her playing a supporting role in the will/gabi and kristen storylines she has more of a life than we have seen her have since at least 2006.

[Cheap21]

I didnt say it went away, just that it was backburned. Ok, well not on for 37 minutes a epsiode 5 epsiodes a week anyways, lol.

I think with her job and her playing a supporting role in the will/gabi and kristen storylines she has more of a life than we have seen her have since at least 2006.

Maybe but her role in the Will/Gabi story has been primarily about Rafe. As soon as she found out about Gabi, she was going on and on about how Rafe needed to know and of course she ran right to him as they teamed up to get to Gabi's side. Her role in Kristen's story has been all about EJ trying to win her over with Kristen connecting with him by offering to help him with Sami.. It seems as if every story angle they give her is ultimately about them. Her brief involvement (which only amounted to her finding out and reacting) with Caroline's alzheimer was the only thing done with her the last several months that was not about them at all.

[chicklitsandfantasies]

1.B&B
2.Y&R
3.GH
4.DAYS

[reallyhateskateonlost]

Of the 4 soaps, they have been boring to me.
Each of them have their little moments but they are lacking any excitment...lol

[ChitHappens]

I only watch GH and I would give the show a D+.

It's poorly written, and every story is ill conceived. The day to day dialogue is not consistent (script writers need to stick to the same story until it's over). Oh, and when something is brought to conclusion, we can negotiate that D+ to a C-.

Under a different regime, GH could easily be a very high B or even an A-.

[Khan]

1. GL reruns on Youtube and DVD
2. ATWT reruns on Youtube and DVD
3. Saynotoursoap's Youtube channel
4. Edge of Night Youtube
5. Doctor Who
6. Some of the Supernatural fan fiction I've read in the last few months.
7. Random Real Housewives and Kardashians episodes I watched on Netflix

WIN, WIN, and let me say once more, WIN.

[Bright Eyes]

1. Home and Away was the best soap opera of the year. This show is a true ensemble where everyone is connected to each other. Everyone knows each other. And the stories behind the build up and back of forth of the major couples: Harvey / Roo, Romeo / Indi, Heath / Bianca, Brax / Natalie, Dex / April, even John / Gina has been classic soap opera storytelling. And now I have no clue who I want Casey with, his baby mama Sasha or the girl who saved his life, Tamara. And this show, even with the constant cast turnover, RESPECTS its history but never RELIES on it. Harvey and Roo's wedding was wonderful with the returns of classic characters, Celia, Morag and Colleen. And there was no story this year as heartbreaking as baby Rocco's health issues / death and Dex's accident and subsequent therapy that basically rendered him an invalid in the beginning.

It's been an amazing ride of ups and down's in Summer Bay this year and 2013, with the arrival of villainous Adam and his psycho son Jamie, who left Heath for dead in the middle of the ocean and the announced exits of Liam and my favourite character, the commonly acknowlegeded Prince of the Bay (Romeo), not to mention the announced mystery return of the deceased fan-favourite Charlie (Australian soaps don't bring people back from the dead), is sure to be another must see year.

2. Shortland Street - This show has some amatuerish qualities to it and the annoying as hell Jasmine / Angel God storyline is a struggle, but if you get past that and just welcome yourself to being entertained, Shortland Street will not disappoint. I think SS is the most human soap there is right now. People actually support one another and are grounded, except for psycho Bree who slowly started to believe she was her sister Broooke, the story climaxing with Bree hitting Brooke over the head and sending her to a STORAGE unit, left to bleed out and die! The best thing about the story, for me, is that Brooke is far from innocent and even now, with Bree in a psychward, Brooke can't help but create little schemes to get what she wants. And as this story ended the arrival of Dr. Boyd Raleston (is he murderer? is he a hero?) to the canvas gave the fabulous Lana (my favourite character) the lead story as she and her friends tried to find proof that he murdered Lana's friend's (Kylie's) sister, Julia. Now it seems the murderer was Emma's (the other friend's) father, leaving Emma in a quandary of staying loyal to a family who will disown her if she doesn't or her best friends. Then there's Vasa ... this character is a mess and I LOVE her for it. This is a woman who is desperate to be loved and in that journey to wanting campanionship, she constantly makes terrible decisions, sometimes betraying her daughter Ula to do it. Right now Vasa has fallen in love with a patient (Gus) after being ostracized for having an affair with Sarah Potts' now ex-boyfriend Zac, MS survivor and single mother of two who EVERYONE loves (except me! total Mary Sue type). The twist here is Gus is dying of cancer, so once again Vasa is in a lose lose situation. Not only will she lose the one person in a long time that loves her, but she could just as well lose her career right along with him. The build up of this couple, even knowing the fate of it all, has been completely endearing and impossible not to stubbornly root for. And to make stakes even higher, Roimata was sexually assaulted by a mysterious assailant. We still don't know who did the deed but the story heavily ties into the Boyd story, where the Vasa story ties into Rachel / Chris's story, who have taken in Gus' son Jared as a foster child.

And just like Home and Away, SS is tremendous at remaining a true ensemble piece. You really can't say who the lead of the show is because everyone's story comes in ebbs and flows. And then there is Vinnie. The most lovable male character I have seen in a very long time. You will fall hard for him in an instant because of his staunch friendship with Vasa, his semi-fathering nature to Ula, who can be an uber selfish cow, and his all around sense of humour, genuinuity and sexiness. Did I mention the sexy? If for no other reason, check out SS for the fit hot guys. TK, Zac, Vinnie, Josh - it's just too bad Sarah's son Daniel left this year. He was cute as a button and I'm pissed him and Lana didn't end up together.

3. Hollyoaks - This show has constant ups and downs and I've probably stopped and started with it at least 5 times this year alone, but what always brings me back (other than the perfect Ashley Taylor Dawson) is that this show is never afraid of taking risks with it's stories. The way undercover cop Walker gave himself up sexually to Brendan and how he stayed in hiding as Lynsey was murdered all to secure Brendan's downfall, was mesmerizing to watch. And then you have constant screw ups in love, Texas and Dodger. Just when they get together AGAIN, one of them screws it up royally literally the NEXT day, LoL, but they have so much chemistry your love of them will never be unwavering. And even with the nonsensical Rhys affair, it was so wonderful to see Cindy finally being given a real story. Having to stand by with her husband Tony as she watched her other lover die in the hands of his wife, who he was planning to leave that night, was bittersweet and emotionally devastating. And when Jacqui finds out Sinead is probably pregnant with Rhys' baby, that bitch is going to wish she had died in that crash. And, though he has his detractors, the wonderful James Sutton (John Paul McQueen) is soon returning. This is an actor I followed to Emmerdale and initally quit watching when he left, I love him that much. And with this confusing Ally plot out of the way, the show has finally found itself another durable family in the Kanes, especially with alcoholic mum Martha and dour but sweet Callum. And of course there's always my Mercedes, currently in a psych ward. Whenever the show centers on Mercedes it is must see because you never know what lie is going to come out of her mouth next. Not to mention, the friendships. Texas/Doug/Leanne are always highlights when their altogether, it's the only way I tolerate Doug and Leanne actually. And there's also Lacey / Pheobe as well. Even though Lacey was in the middle of being a manipulative selfish cow, when Pheobe admitted she wasn't a virgin because she had been raped Lacey actually became affected by her reveal until Ally wormed his way into her mind again. And Pheobe herself has been a great addition to the canvas, especially once Jacqui took her in. Hell, she's a better McQueen than Theresa and Bart have ever been, and I actually don't mind them as much as others do.

Edited by Bright Eyes, 30 November 2012 - 11:28 AM.

[chicklitsandfantasies]

Lol Bright Eyes.

[Khan]

IKR? To BR and to Carl: well played.

[darraholic]

1. EastEnders
2. B&B
3. DAYS
4. Y&R

[wingwalker]

1. B&B: Even though the Steffy/Liam/Hope triangle ate the show for most of the year, this is the only show I watched for the entire year without taking breaks. Lately the show as been really great, probably the best in years.

2. GH: This one I've watched on and off all year. Some things FV/RC are doing I love, others not so much, but I do always feel like they are at least trying to save the show and keep it alive, more than I can say for the regime of my next show.

3. DAYS: I've had to give up on DAYS. The stories are either awful or boring. Everything is so "paint by numbers", no surprises, no shocks, no twists. Doesn't feel like they are trying at all or know that their renewal is coming up soon.

4. Y&R: Another show I've had to give up. This show was god awful under MAB, unwatchable. Now under JFP/JG their have been some improvements and doesn't feel like they are destroying the show like MAB's tenure did, but overall show is boring and seems directionless.