Bright Eyes

Excellent! New list: Merritt Yohnka Johnny Haymer Harrison Douglas Deck McKenzie Nicole Patrice Kramer

4 months of episodes to go. I actually am enjoying the show for the most part, until Leo shows up and tries my patience. I don't think it'll be too much of a slog since I thought the promo material looked promising and it was still all his work, right?

How did that go? Are they on good terms? Sorry, lapsed viewer here. Sometimes I read the recaps, sometimes I didn't.

Brava to whoever wrote Wednesday's episode. Melissa Reeves again proving why she is the only Jennifer, exuding warmth, love, affection and breaking your heart at the same time. A true matriarch by any other name. The Abby mementos were a great button to put as a period to this story. I honestly hope Abby gets a good long rest before she is ever brought back, though I honestly don't even think that's necessary. I'll be sad to see Mark seemingly go if indeed he'll be spending all that time in prison. The Greene family are a hit in my book, as is this whole Cat story, retcon or not. I don't know when I felt as positively for a new family on this show. Belle was the MVP of today's episode coming in to save the sexy doctor at the perfect time. It's too bad we couldn't get a Leo/Belle scene out of it so that we could start establishing a good aunt/nephew relationship on screen. A moment between them could have been done instead of the awful Holly/Leo scenes. And the Sophia pregnancy (hopefully scare) should have waited until after Christmas. New Years would have been perfect, actually. Regarding Belle/EJ, does Sami know anything about that yet?

Yes, named Hilda von Bingham. Thanks for updating us, Jason.

If only directors existed on DAYS again, JPL would be near flawless as Philip. I had a feeling Philip and Xander would get 50/50. Let Philip hire Kate back at Titan and set her free, I beg! I hope Belle's facetious statement about one of them killing each other wasn't foreshadowing, at least in Philip's case. I want him on the show permanently, please! I was waiting for Belle to finally mention Xander has tried to kill half of her family members. He is a psychopath through and through. I wish more people could treat him with disdain as much as Belle gets to. I just hope the writers don't feel the need to have her apologize to him once the truth about the letter is revealed. As a Horton, I want to like Sarah, but with how much I detest Linsey Godfrey as an actress (was she this annoying on B&B), her being someone to root for while being with someone like Xander is insane. They should have played into the psychology more of how much Xander hated seeing her in the wheelchair and how the possibility of her not recovering clearly disgusted him. Alex back in one of his ugly shirts. Why do they do this to RSW? Judging by his insta, he seems to be wearing suits a lot lately so I'm going to guess he'll be back at Titan soon enough. At least this lie brought back neurotic/insecure Stephanie, jumping at(on) her first chance to make herself feel better. Love to see it. But why were JPL and AK kissing like they were two straight actors forced to play gay?

Slick or @jam6242 or anyone else, do you know if the singer Bill Lockwood (pictured below) is the same Bill Lockwood who recurred in the late 70s as Marcel the pianist?

My man is sexier than ever, honestly!

Thank you very much to whoever (sorry, I forgot) posted the non-geo-blocked promo. Much appreciated! What a fun little tease/treat for the holidays! The first episode discussion is going to be crazy, I fear!

Solid episode today. Literally, not one bad scene. I just know Lauren Koslow hates the B&S crap too, because as soon as this Philip story began, she's sprung back into action. It's almost like she's pleading through the screen not to have to go back to that inane mess. She properly felt like Kate today, matured, as she should be after all this time, but actually her. I'll miss her when she has to deviate back to the BS. I like Xander and Paul Telfer is wonderful (in many ways), but I was wholeheartedly rooting for Philip and Belle today. I don't even care, bring JPL back permanently because Philip is literally the best part of the show right now. I'm a broken record about it at this point. Suzanne Rogers looked fabulous! She's such a beacon of light to me. With how fast RC is running through story, I can't even fathom where we'll be come April/May. Did Shawn ever get a sponsor for his addiction? Which brings to me a thought: we totally should have gotten a Lucas/Maggie scene during Doug's funeral week, much like the Brady/Maggie scenes today, but they also just made me really miss Marlena/Maggie's friendship.

Damn, can't watch in Canada. What's in the video?

Brady mentioned being out of town on business multiple times. Tate and Holly had no reason to be there, and I wouldn't have had Brady there either anyway. The most egregious of the current cast was Sarah not being at the funeral, especially after those great scenes with her and Maggie that actually made her feel like a Horton for probably the first time.

Using Cyrus to clean house is fine by me, but this one by one will take too long. Time to blow up the Metro Court or something. Goodbye Dex, you were sexy at least.

It is absolutely insane that Brady could be a grandparent before Steve and Kayla. But if she is pregnant, I'll be hoping for a miscarriage for Feb sweeps!

Were we supposed to be listening to anything Xander said today because Goddamn!? Good episode though with Philip, Shawn, and Belle all back home where they belong, giving the show so much life! Philip actually makes this Stephanie interesting. She was at her best when she was messy and neurotic. Bring that Stephanie back, and make her a bit of a nympho too! She'd be ecstatic two men were after her, only to be complicated by outliers Belle and Joy. I don't know when the trial is actually happening on screen, but it definitely should have been pushed to the new year. I'm team potential Shawn and Jada pairing, while Eli has been probably the best new character since his creation. I'm not against him and Lani breaking up one day if they're ever full time again though. Ava vs. Kristen - silly, but at least this confrontation was more all out bitchy. The main reason I tolerate it is because I'm interested in what was happening with them in the DoD promo.

The incredible Polly Mellen has passed away. I urge anyone to check ut In Vogue: In the Editor's Eye (2012) which showcases some of her work and knowledge, along with the rest of Vogue's past editors. Hint: It's on YT in full

Thanks slick! Here's the next list: Stephen Brooks Perry Bullington Kathryn Fuller Guerin Barry Gerald York - who also seems to be known as Herbert Winters

Today's episode was like night and day compared to yesterday's. Personally, I have no problem with potential Chad/Cat or JJ/Gabi pairings. The only reason I dislike the way Stefan left is because I never cared for the character and don't ever want him to return. At some point, I'd have Gabi learn Stefan died trying to escape and get back to her, causing her to push JJ away ... and into the arms of another woman. Everything with Hope in this episode was top tier. Very happy TBTB didn't kill off Charles and that Doug is actually Doug's grandson. The Hortons should be a messy family like they originally were. It'll be interesting to see him interacting with more of the cast. Very curious/invested to see how the Cat story ends this week. Considering they cast a newcomer has her mother, I don't Catherina is long for this world.

Pushing 50 Leo literally pouting at Rafe made me want to hurl, but so does every second of his stupid presence and ugly outfits. And though it's nothing new at this point, Diana being some evil incarnate mother is trash writing I'll never get over. If people reacted normally to how Leo acts at his big age, they would be disturbed and creeped out. I will hate him until his or my last breath. I don't know why, but it did surprise me when Alex called Johnny a little bitch. Accurate, of course, but it made me perk up at least. Disappointed we didn't get a continuation of the Cat story. I'm actually excited to see how it all ends. It may be ignorant of me, but I'm trying to manifest Clyde finally being killed off once and for all. Last week, I miss you already. I was surprised by the Trish Clayton reference. It's a shame due to weird aging that it wouldn't make any sense for Patty Weaver to return for a guest stint. I think she would have made sense to return for this, too. I would do it anyway. Also, Mike and Melissa. I also thought it was weird Sarah wasn't at the actual funeral and Liz and Marie being written like fools was misogynistic and embarrassing. You could tell Maree Cheatham and Gloria Loring thought so too, and tried to make the best of the idiotic material. I pray Spencer won't be brought on just to be wasted on Leo. That would be cruel, but how thankful Steven didn't end up as Leo's father. I know you all were just speculating and fear mongering, but you had me secretly worried. No shade, but Brandon Beemer showing clear signs of aging was very confronting for me. Even if I would have recast Belle and Shawn a long time ago, most of their scenes together were still able to come off bittersweet and tender, and as someone who has always hated Shawn and Belle together no matter the iteration, them breaking up "permanently" was still able to strike a chord. Shawn's scenes with Philip were some of my favourites of the week too, with them actually being able to find common ground amidst their sorted history. In fact, I'm going to go as far to say, even with his questionable acting choices and my affinity for what JKJ once was in the role, JPL's Philip is the best character of the 20s/30s/40s group-a-thon. Until they eventually throw him under the bus, at least. Hope and Jennifer reunited felt so damn good as a viewer. When was the last time that even happened? And lastly, SSH you are a legend and amazing for mourning the most wonderful man in the world on-screen for us silly viewers. Thankful to both you and Bill for giving us one of best love stories ever told. I considered Bill/Doug my TV grandpa, who was a gem of a man as much as he was a talent. RIP.

I'd want Scott on the canvas because he's currently the earliest debuting US soap character. I'd give him a depression storyline which would see him go through a character reset into someone than could be much more respectable and not such a joke or a bastard. And yes, obviously bring on Serena.

I'm not watching the current show either, but I was lucky that A Day in the Life of Tracey (5 eps, all less than 10 min) was available to me and not geo-blocked, and honestly, it felt like old-school EastEnders.

I'm Canadian, so have my TV record the episode from the Canadian station it airs on, but it didn't today for some stupid reason.

Today's episode didn't record for some reason. Damn it!

I forget if I said this before, but it is startling how much better the show is when it's centered on people we actually care about. All the classic returns were a sight for sore eyes. It happily surprised me how well even Schnetzer, who was gone the longest, while only being on the show for about a year, managed to fit in so seamlessly. How did we leave things with Ciara? Was she pregnant last time we saw her? I, of course, think naming her daughter Addie is ridiculous. Same question for Shawn and Belle, what was their last exit story? I can't remember if they were on the outs and if they were, why? They gave Liz a fifth husband and two sons! The fan-fiction cogs in my head can't help but turn, but we haven't even met adult Noel yet so I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I thought it was peculiar that they avoided Marie mentioning Nick. Since he was a never before mentioned creation, I would simply bring on his younger brother in the same fashion to carry on Marie's lineage. One of the moments that hurt the most was Marie coming to grips with being the last OG Horton sibling left. I can't fathom what that must feel like. All the flashbacks were so lovely, except the Devil possession crap. That did not need to be mentioned or remembered in any way, shape, or form. Was Peyton Meyer actually young Doug or Doug III in his scenes today, where "Bill" being his cellmate was just a coincidence? Either way, "Bill" was hot as hell.

This feels insane. Hogestyn and Northrop both passing away just a little over a month from each other. All the most heartfelt condolences to Lynn Herring and his family. Deidre Hall seemed to be proper good friends with him last I heard, so I know these two huge losses can't be easy to go through. I feel silly relating his death to him just being on DAYS, but it will always be a failure on the show's part that they only saw him as an extension of Marlena in the end. He could have been a great part of the canvas for years beyond his pairing with her, they just had to try.