Chris B

The irony of saying Giddeons breakdowns need to be saved by the script writer is that he's a breakdown writer who writes very detailed, dialogue heavy breakdowns so the things the script writer did to "save" his breakdowns is likely his own work. Now I will say, for Carlivati, something I don't like in his breakdowns is that the scenes can be short and choppy which is a signature of his.

That is a very good point. Despite the issue with the Chancellor Mansion revamp, I thought the show looked expensive under her and she would never allow a show to be as boring as what JG is giving us. I will also have endless respect for her immediately getting Jess Walton back after the previous regime ran her off.

I did feel like JFP's Y&R was decent. Of all the recent HW/EP swaps, her period was very safe but watchable. Nothing spectacular but better than what we have now.

A while back someone did post a clip from his GH episode. He was Curtis therapist when he was paralyzed. I know in his primetime show Zatima he played straight. Seemed almost like a completely different person which is good for an actor but really surprised me.

I'm one of the few who doesn't think the actress playing Samantha looks her age but I can't say I find this story to be super engaging. I don't mind it and there have been some fun moments but it just makes me wish she was younger. Maybe had they kept Tyrell the age he is and make Samantha 13-14, it would be more impactful and fresh for a US soap. I always struggle with any of the teen stories because watching Eastenders and Hollyoaks has completely spoiled me in that regard. I don't think a US soap has done teens well since probably around 2010.

The weird thing about this is that they've brought back Lorie and Leslie multiple times and even created a long lost Brooks/Abbott child who fathered Theo, when that could've easily been Brooks son. Not only that, but the Brooks family had a media empire and they've done endless stories in that realm the past 20 years. These stories write themselves. I have no idea how JG always manages to find the most absurd stories to tell.

It has to be because I know he had deep issues with playing Todd and women screaming asking him to rape them. The insane thing is that there are legacy characters that make sense for all of these people coming in.

I'm all for recasts, villains and back from the dead characters but Matt Clark? If ever there was a character not worthy of bringing back from the dead, it is a serial rapist. They could've given Howarth so many great past characters to play and they do this? I'm stunned he accepted and disgusted with the show.

For those of us lasped Y&R viewers that Josh Griffith has driven away, Peter Bergman is starring in a new Apple TV series!

Claire Labine is one of my favorites and she definitely excelled at scenes like this. Very interesting to hear!

Danielle Paige's scripts feel so warm and P&G like to me. Everytime I see her name in the credits it reminds me of ATWT or GL at their best. I don't know if it's from her experience on GL or her books or both but she does romance and family scenes so well. Jazmen, on the other hand, gives a modern and youthful feel to his episodes and lots of Black cultural references. They don't always land but I love that he consistently tries.

Breakdown writers do pitch story so that isn't unusual or unique to him.

This I 100% agree with. She's one of the most fascinating characters on the show and one of their strongest actors. I'm not finding her likable right now but not in an Ashley/Derek/Tomas way. She's endlessly watchable just going down a dark path which of course is good for drama!

She's a complicated woman, that's for sure. I feel like Doug's death could've been a turning point to her but her actions since then have started to turn me off her. Especially the way she's dismissing Donnell, not to protect him but so she can go back to Joey. It's taking her more in a villainess direction in my mind. At this point I need them to go all in and make her a full on villain like Joey. If not, we need to start seeing some better judgement out of her.

I find a lot of the criticism that comes his way is unjustified and based on past things like his reputation at Daytime Confidential. I agree some of his Days work wasn't great but he had a HW and had to fit their vision. When he had the opportunity to write stuff like Bo and Hope's reunion or Doug's death, the material was excellent. I also feel like his work on Ambitions was excellent, along side the wonderful Michele Val Jean and it makes sense to have him here. I think his breakdowns for BTG have been great. There haven't been any short or choppy scenes and I think he's done a good job of bringing a level of depth like the discussion of how Black women are more at risk from lymphedema in yesterday's episode. That is a meaningful thing to add to a breakdown and something that only a Black writer would've caught. So far I'd say his episodes have been very memorable. I especially like when his breakdown is paired with Danielle Paige or Jazmen. Those are probably my three favorite writers on the staff. Overall, I have no complaints about any of the changes to the writing staff. I think the show has continued to get better and until I see signs of the opposite, I'm pretty happy with the writing. I just wish they had a better EP and set designer.