Bright Eyes

I thought today was still good. Leo is always awful, but the characters treating him like he's a plague feeds my soul. Rafe in particular had been very passive about him, but today was wonderful seeing him put Leo on notice. I really think it's being written that Javi is going to have to eventually take the blinders off and see Leo for who he really is. Them having sex on Gabi's desk made me want to explode. Roman taking in stray Doug was nice to see. And the mention of Frankie and Max was unexpected, but good to know they're at least being thought of. Tate being petty and a bit vindictive by going back to Sophia's as soon as he saw Doug with Holly was entertaining for me. I think I actually like Tate the most out of all of them because he's so damn messy. Is Holly about to be kidnapped? Her first time? Also, Gabi finally revealing what happened with her the night EJ was shot and the clearing of all the other main suspects, but Johnny made this still feel like an important episode. I think Johnny will be cleared soon enough leaving everybody at a loss for the hell shot EJ. How the real shooter will be revealed is going to be interesting. Speculation: When Kristen finally puts together that her daughter Rachel shot him, she'll agree to frame her mother for the crime, while keeping her hidden away from Salem.

I'm not sure how I felt about it, but I do kind of like that it felt like the show telling us this concludes the first chapter of the series. Could be interesting if they only do it for big aftermath episodes. The biggest mistake with Martin is that it's almost hard to buy his anger because we've gotten no strong scenes with him and his parents. They've all been with Anita/Vernon. I can't even remember him ever even saying one word to Nicole, even in passing.

I really need to see Anita in a scene that isn't with a family member. In fact, I would have preferred that she would have gotten rid of the mob and had a one on one with Leslie to lay down the law with her. I'm going to say it, Mike Manning has been completely lifeless on this show. Other than people's superficial fondness for him, I don't get what they see in him as an actor. I never saw him on DAYS though. The show had another really strange cut right before the opening credits where it looked like they almost cut off Nicole mid-sentence. Kat/Eva are carrying this show on their backs. Lock them in for lifetime contracts, I beg.

Put me in the minority in being happy about Cat not being Abby. After the two adult recasts played tag with the role, it's time for a few years of rest. I have a huge list of things I hate about RC's writing, but that choice was not one of them.

Of course, sexy silver fox Dr. Jeffrey Russell has to be in cahoots with EJ so that Kayla's morals don't look selfish and skewed when she is completely in the wrong in letting Steve accidentally on purpose look at the important hospital files. Anyone find it funny that a handful of characters slurred their words today? I can't quite explain it, but sometimes, like today, I feel like Deidre Hall plays scenes too light or passive, for lack of a better word. She's definitely more known as a charismatic personality than powerhouse actress compared to her soap diva counterparts from other soaps, but I just wish she could give me more. I did, however, like that her scenes with EJ got a 'to be continued...' about Belle. Maybe then I'll see more of what I want from her. Have Shawn and Johnny literally ever had a scene together before today? If they start having Sarah in a scene where she connects with literally any other Horton, then I'll be really impressed. I'm glad they went through the trouble of explaining why EJ bid on Cat. It made enough sense, and I laughed when Chad spit out his asking about it as soon as humanly possible.

With the ending of today's great episode, Leslie has to have the biggest donkey dick of courage I've ever seen.

I'm not that surprised, in just the little we've seen of her she's been a complete natural. Even better than a handful of the adults.

Well, if B&B are impressing us with Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag like it's 2008...

Have to say it, Michael Dietz looked stunningly handsome. The silver fox look suits him perfectly.

They explained that she got food poisoning.

Thank God the truth is going to come out before we had the disservice of hearing those sure to be nauseating and cringe speeches from Martin and Kat. Hallelujah!

Round of applause for Raven Bowens. She was stellar as usual. The Julie/Maggie scene was wonderful as well. With our recent talk about the Bistro, I could see Julie and Maggie going into business together. And Philip learning about Doug was an interesting development.

Brandon Beemer was great today talking about his guilt regarding Bo and reminiscing about being raised by him on the boat. Jada as his support through this only amplifies their chemistry. It felt like an actual measured conversation with the both of them getting to share a point of view. There was a moment it looked like they could have kissed, but I'm glad the show is making us wait. I loved hearing Jada talk about Marcus more and that little scene with Steve really helps cement her as someone we should care about. The miracle cure deserves an eye roll, but Bo having a real diagnosis is a better than the usual. Johnny confiding in Marlena felt so refreshing. I don't even remember them sharing a scene since I started watching. I did laugh when Marlena basically told Roman to leave them alone. She gets it. I almost thought instead of Johnny telling Chanel how he feels, that he was going to nuke the adoption behind her back/on purpose, only for it to blow up in his face after. Still, them holding off on him telling her the truth definitely made me excited for tomorrow. My heart breaks for Chanel already. It took me a little to understand why Chanel would give two sh*ts about Felicity. She works at Sweet Bits right or is it something else? Rachel Boyd was truly horrific today. When Leo hugged her, it almost look like she orgasmed and malfunctioned at the same time. Madelyn Kientz why did you leave us?!? It was a nice surprise to see the high school setting again. It does a lot to make the teens actually feel like their age. Almost felt like I was back in 2002 again! As for someone taking over the Bistro. If it was Maggie, she needs to bring back Tuscany, not Chez Rouge. But I am in agreement with @carolineg that Javi could get into cooking. My thought was that he would work at Sweet Bits and form a friendship with Chanel. Both need friends urgently.

Emmerdale paid homage to it's first episode in what is arguably (I'm arguing it!) the best funeral episode of a long time character (Jack Sugden). The show started with the funeral of the Sugden patriarch, Jacob Sugden, Jack's father. A returned to the village Annie asks who the lady riding her horse is, the answer being Natasha Wilde, just like her now deceased daughter Peggy asked her then husband Matt Skilbeck about who they would soon learn was Marian Wilks. Ron Carlivati has paid homage various times on OLTL and DAYS to the point of nausea, but he definitely did so in a way where you eventually felt he was just blatantly copying. One of the first that comes to mind is when he had Sarah Roberts go over the waterfall just like her mother Tina.

It was Cwikly/Brash who killed him off last time so I think if he ever does it will be for the last time.

Gabi and Brady were a fresh interaction for me. I was caught off guard when he was rude to her until they reminded me why. And then telling her to just suck it up, I almost clutched my metaphorical pearls! I was mortified in soap opera glee when Johnny admitted he wasn't ready to be a father. My heart is going to break for Chanel, but bring on the drama! Rafe revealing he was re-joining the FBI made me excited, but if the writers are yanking my chain, that would just be cruel. With the Bo cliffhanger, I couldn't help but think FBI-Rafe would get involved. But previous people have tried to get rid of Rafe before and it didn't work out so I won't get my hopes up. I don't even hate him, but he's just not really necessary. Lastly, I'm rooting for Shawn and Jada!

Yeah, I think I've only mentioned her hair and eyebrows bothering me, but that's a styling issue. And thankfully, I have not seen one iota of that horrid "story" and hopefully I never will.

I've ragged on her a bit myself, but I've come round to her with this story. She can be frustrating, but I never denied that she was a good actress and she's been especially great all the times she's hoping to God sh*t doesn't hit the fan.

Request: Yorlin Madera - I couldn't find him in the list. It's weird how some people I just assume you've done already

That was never not the plan, so far anyway. What the new writers do is anybody's guess. I did feel when Stephanie popped up and ushered Charlotte away that it felt like they could be hinting at that relationship potentially being revisited. Also, forgot to mention, as cringe as a lot of the fundraiser was, the part where Charlotte got sad because she thought someone was going to take Chad away forever did touch me emotionally, which I was happily surprised by.

I maintain, the baby switch and all that came from it was the last great story this show ever told.

Recasting Rachel with Alice Halsey was a smart decision. She's a natural. I already like her better than Abigail Klein and whatever the hell Annalynne McCord thinks she's doing. However, I did laugh when she was talking to JJ and spit out how she "didn't want to talk about it at all" only to go back to her acting like she's 12. EJ has always been a bastard, but this new leaf he's supposedly turned over makes him creepy to me. This probably is only a coincidence, but I thought it was a relief during the Kristen/EJ scenes that no mention was made of the being brother/sister/siblings. Legit question, have Maggie and Chad had literally anything to do with each other before today? Still, props to the ol' girl for knowing a million dollar piece of ass when she sees one. Kayla was great this episode, but why does she have her hair styled like early Barbara Windsor Peggy Mitchell? Like jswift, a missing beat to EJ's shooting is JJ relating to Johnny how he felt when he learned his father was a rapist of his own aunt, or at least EJ having the audacity to ask JJ how he moved forward. Something.

Finally! @slick jones we are so back!!!

I'm really surprised Carlivati never brought back JT Reiber, with as much as he loved forcing Dr. Rolf on us. He is biologically his great uncle after all.

For those interested, here is Ron Carlivati's full cast list from his entire tenure: