Bright Eyes

If anyone knows where I can watch Hollyoaks Later, DM me, please and thank you.

And they use Julie, Marlena, and Maggie very well, and are starting to do the same with Abe.

Taking guesses at Andre's past ... did he run out on a woman who had his kid? For some reason, maybe cause the stories were played concurrently, but I almost got the impression that maybe Andre has secretly been working with Hayley? Maybe it's too farfetch'd an idea, but it did pop into my head regardless.

Randomly found myself re-watching the final scenes of Six Feet Under and noticed 2025 was the same year Ruth passed. Made it even more heartbreaking.

The first and second page of the thread have indexes for all the actors and the page number their profile is on.

This makes it even more annoying that they're recasting Chad, instead of letting him and the kids leave town and resting them.

So, so happy for Paul Telfer! He could easily win again next year for all the great work he's done in 2025.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/samantha-eggar-dead-collector-doctor-dolittle-brood-1236403855/ Samantha Eggar has passed, making her the third Oscar nominated actress to pass way this week! Goddamn!

John Paul's initial stint will always be so important to me, being that I was in my late teens at the time, so he'll always have a special place in my heart. It's really sad and pathetic how he hasn't had one remotely good story since he returned the first time and things have just deteriorated beyond belief with him. The only saving grace is how much of a stud James Sutton, who was always gorgeous, has become. I've literally had a crush on him my entire adult life.

The recasting of Tony's children made me feel that the show future isn't ending anytime soon, but for some reason, James' return from the dead then made me start to feel they're getting ready for the end, and they're doing this for Ste's happy ending (gag!). Then a more horrifying thought happened ... if this is a short-term return, what if he was just brought back to get a happily ever after with John Paul when he leaves? That is worse case scenario.

The Jeremy and Chad scenes were my favourite today. Chad desperately needed someone on his side, and to have Jeremy do it in a way that tows the line about whether he's truly a changed man really worked. On one hand, his non-judgmental attitude could be completely genuine and made me happy to see a new friendship blossom, but on the other hand he seemed to have almost an antipathy for his family. When he mentioned Julie forgiving Nick for being a murderer and all the rest, it made me question if there was a deep seated jealousy or rage there. However, I also noticed he vaguely mentioned that he found his faith, so hopefully he meant his Jewish faith and that we'll some examples of that with the holiday coming up. Now, if Jeremy's support prompts Chad to still try and be with Cat, I hope Cat finally gets some major agency and tells him to kick rocks for trying to drag her heart through the mud again. I can envision a whole scene in my head where she finally just crashes out on him and it would be glorious. I do think she's headed for EJ's bed, and hopefully not Rafe's, and them both picking up a copy of Wuthering Heights drove that home for me. Leo is bothering me less these days because I genuinely think his guarantee was lowered and since I have a feeling we're stuck with him, I'm trying to cope. Alex and Jeremy was exciting to me, because there really are NO RIVALRIES AT ALL on this show and it depresses me to think about. We need RIVALRIES for the love of God. And I must have been feeling generous, because I was actually happy to see Roman today. Josh Taylor looked damn good for his age, too. Now, please have a scene with Abe, and Jeremy needs to reunite with Maggie, since she was the only one who gave a damn about him (a.k.a was the only one around) last time he was in town.

And it would be the easiest choice to make the brand new recurring character the shooter. Cwikly/Ford improved the story leaps and bounds by my count. Coincidentally, Amy was in the guest cast this week so I guess we'll see her tomorrow.

They somehow made an episode full of recapping feel exciting. Kudos to the actors. Though, I think Leo forgave Aaron way too fast. That animosity should have lingered for a bit longer. Before I started watching regularly, Melinda was just a name on a page and had a permanent residence on my axe list, but Tina Huang is so brilliant to me. She always elevates the material, and to do that opposite Rachel Boyd is a magnificent feat. Still, as warped her performances can be, the show has done well to still make me sympathize with Sophia. Does anyone else think she could end up taking a page out of Ali McIntyre's book? Would the show still have the cajones to go there? With Rachel shooting EJ and those graphic scenes when Xander beat the hell out of Philip, I think they could still pull it off. Anyway, I wanted Melinda's last scene to be of her getting hold of Amy and telling her how much trouble her daughter is in. I almost hoped when Sophia opened her bedroom door, Amy would have been standing there to stop her. Excited to see what tomorrow brings. Abe recalling the best version of Lexie was like summoning a mention of a Goddess. So happy to see Abe is being used properly again. Very interested in where they're going with this mentorship. It's always smart to tie a new character to an established one.

With the 30th anniversary coming up, and the classic characters having briefly returned, I've been on a huge classic Hollyoaks kick today. 1995-2008, I would binge through in record time if I had the chance. And if you threw all of Night and Day in there, I'd be in absolute heaven. However, the elusive Taylor James character still has yet to cross my sights. In current times, let's all praise all-time soap hunk Philip Olivier for still being absolutely gorgeous in 2025, judging by the screenshots of his return.

I absolutely agree with you on both fronts, and have stated my praise of Tyler Joseph Andrews previously. But to be fair, a lot more people watch BtG, me included, while only a small handful of us regularly watch DAYS.

Other than Susan, I really enjoyed this episode. I thought Tony was written pitch perfect. He screwed over Gabi, but was fair in giving her Gabi Chic as a consolation. I'm glad Gabi Chic will be its own company going forward. I had to make a mental note when Tony mentioned how Gabi slept her way through his brothers, that she also slept through various Hortons. I respect her game! She might possibly have the best track record, ever? And am I the only one jumping 100 steps ahead in thinking her scenes with Theo were setting up a future Gabi/Theo/Arianna triangle? Maybe I just had sex on the mind. A random note I've been meaning to say: that DiMera chess set is so cool. I can't play for shite, but I want it for the aesthetic. I was very happy to see Abe get a point of view today, and his having scenes with Belle were a nice surprise. I hope we get Abe confronting Tony about his plans for Theo, so hopefully Tony (and Anna) won't be in Monte Carlo for too long. The whole 'therapy session' Xander/Sarah had with Marlena was completely ridiculous if it was happening in reality. Just way too many boundary violations to count.

That music video we all know about is responsible for so many sexual awakenings.

I saw this on BlueSky and had no idea she had pipes like that. Beyond that amazement, just a beautiful performance.

This one is especially shocking because she always seemed so vibrant and full of life.

Aw, I my sporadic viewing pre-teen/adolescent self loved Nicole back in the day as the boozy bitchy gold-digging hotmess, with a harrowing back-story. I never bought the baby-rabies version of her character that killed her spark for me, even though Arianne Zucker's self-admitted acting classes prior to her initial return helped immensely in strengthening her talents as a more well-rounded actress. Though I am reminded that one of Dena Higley's better post-it note ideas that I'm sad never really came to fruition was when she first returned and had her sights set on seducing Philip, when JKL was still normal and sexy as hell, though I hated the misplaced Paris Hilton schtick with that stupid dog she carried around. Probably for the best she is in rest mode now. All this to say, sign me up as another one on wishing Carrie was back in Salem. I'm still pissed we didn't get to see her reunite with Kate on-screen a few months ago. Speaking of Kate, I wonder if they'll bother giving her an anniversary episode in January. It would be tricky, since all her best/closest relationships are gone, but this show is no stranger to returns. I can definitely see Mary Beth Evans getting one in May.

I have to strongly disagree. Abby should stay dead. I've loved seeing the toll her death has taken on the Deverauxs and Chad. It's made death actually mean something and the Hortons at present are strong enough where I don't find her return necessary. She comes back, everything just becomes status quo. Boring!

Completely understand wishing for more specificity in character, but the younger set are actually pretty solid for me, and like you mentioned, it's the mix/match older group that's more messy. Allie and Claire are moot points right now as they've both been rested for a couple years at this point. I can't tell you how happy I am that they surprisingly decided not to be recast happy with Allie, like they have with practically everybody else. Recasting Chad in particular seems especially egregious with how notable Billy Flynn has been as Chad. Even if Conner Floyd is digestible, it's only going to dilute Chad's importance in the grand scheme of things. With the current younger set, other than the creature known as Rachel Boyd, all the characters are played by solid actors. Cutting Holly and Tate after solidly playing them for two years now, who are still as fruitful as when they began, would be a mistake. Plus, both characters are played regularly with their respective elder statesmen in Maggie and Marlena. Marissa Reyes as Arianna has been built up slowly, and has impressed. Now, she could do with more scenes with various family members, but to be fair, she's literally related to almost everyone. Plus, with her addition the younger set seems more complete and the friendships of Tate/Aaron and Holly/Arianna are believable. I think this latest story of Johnny finding out about his conception has been the making of the character. I literally never cared a lick about him before, but those wonderfully in depth scenes with Sami at EJ's hospital bedside after he was shot, plus the earlier scenes where he initially confronted EJ, eventually leading to the convoluted but highly watchable court drama of him on trial, made me care for him a great deal and Carson Boatman surprisingly delivered. The fact he was coming off that horrid Joy tale is astounding. Raven Bowens is another stand out when she gets the chance to be. But both lack friends and its embarrassing at this point. Chanel literally has no one to confide in except her mother. Johnny has no close pals either. And you can go down the line with most of the characters leading the show right now. It's insane. As for the business stories, I think this latest one with the forged letter has worked tremendously because it was all about family drama, with Titan merely being used as a tool. And the scenes last week where Maggie wrangled the Kiriakis boys (Philip, Xander, Alex, and Brady) together felt monumental in strengthening the future of the Kiriakis clan. You even had Philip genuinely apologize to Brady for past machinations and this is when JPL thrives. When he's being earnest and forthright and not a joke. Nearly all of Philip's scenes with Belle, where he's comfortable enough to lay himself bear have been marvelous. But JPL becomes too messy as we all know, and if I am being ruthless, Philip and Shawn would both be recast. Of course, in a perfect world Jason Cook would finally agree to return. I know he was far from being Douglass Watson or Michael Zaslow, but as that Hogestyn Zoom tribute showed, he just fits on this show like a glove. Now Martha Madison's Belle has many detractors here and that's understandable, but this show has been steadfast in keeping her and has basically bullied me into accepting her. If this was still 2004 or various other times where Belle has come and gone, then I'd agree to a recast as well, but I think complaining about her looking too old has passed its caché now. I really dig the writing regarding her time as the former Daddy's little girl, who has completely messed up her life and has to start again, on her own, without the hero of all heroes helping pick her back up. Plus, Martha Madison always delivers in the dramatic moments and has strong familial chemistry with Deidre Hall and Eric Martsolf. And they've even played her well now and again with Johnny and Tate. In regards to Gabi, the issue is Cherie Jimenez has no grit to her. I'd continue to play her with JJ and eventually pull that dangling Stefan strand, who'd only return temporarily to be an obstacle for her and JJ, but I think I'm leaning to eventually killing her off. And my issues with Abigail Klein as Stephanie have been made abundantly clear. She is the white rice of actresses and a lot of the way she says things itches my vocal stim in the wrong way. Stephanie has only ever been interesting when she was a neurotic hot mess, so I'd lean into building up to that, which would eventually lead to her losing her marbles by digging much deeper into her neuroses and insecurities, resting her character in a mental asylum (not Bayview!) for a bit, before recasting with someone much more rewarding to watch. Then lastly there is Sarah, whom is basically the main lead heroine on the show, if anyone can be chosen as such. Linsey Godfrey got on my nerves a lot early on in my return to watching, but this great Kiriakis feud story has been a revelation for her. She has been shoulding a lot of heavy lifting and has soared to heights I didn't think were obtainable. She's been absolutely brilliant. I do wish she'd be played with the Hortons more. She seems so disengaged with them. But I guess my rumblings can just be boiled down to my personal actor preferences and not necessarily in solving the systemic issue that is writing characters as clearer individuals. I think this team of writers have done well in expressing the inner goings on of characters, but it's more clearly defined differentiating traits that need to be more prominent as well.

He's a big reason why we got Eli Grant, for which I'm thankful.

I've had my issues with the Chad/Cat pairing, mainly the forced situations they've found themselves in being repetitious and silly, but AnnaLynne McCord was strong enough today that I found my heart breaking for Cat. Her and Chad do have chemistry and their relationship has such complexity to it that when written maturely like today, they excelled. Where both characters go from here should be interesting. It was a wonderful trip down memory lane with Jennifer, one of my favourite heroines. There was a section where it was just flashback after flashback that would have had no chance of being possible if DAYS were still on network tv. It made me remember how I felt like I'd won the lottery years ago when I found a Jack/Jennifer dedicated website that had a treasure trove of classic clips, which is where I first saw the integral post-rape slap scene; some of Ashford and Reeves' best work. The show basically mentioning how Jack and Jennifer are the unconventional super-couple is helped by both of them actually aging naturally. Not a botox needle in sight. Also, Frankie (bring him back!) and Emilio Ramirez mentioned in 2025! The JJ flashback clip in the beginning had me emotionally invested immediately, and I wasn't even watching then. This current story would be even stronger if we got Abe's point of view at some point. Him and Roman discussing it could be a great scene. When was the last time they even shared a scene? This has been a very strong week. Let's hope tomorrow can stick the landing.