DRW50

It's hard for me to say exactly - I think the show becomes more generic but there's still mostly moments to enjoy, even if things can get dull at times. The biggest changes will kick in around 93/94 into moving AMC away from what suited it.

That's one of the best parts of those years. I don't remember if they ever gave Skye enough motivation for getting so involved in going after Cindy, even with her love for Stuart. Robin Christopher was at her best as Skye when she was softer (like here) - she became much too hard later on.

As someone else already said, Cody is much more suited to the kind-hearted stable hand than some kind of tortured bad boy. The latter could be interesting but I don't think the show as it is now can write that type of material. I'm not really sure it is suited to Josh Kelly either. It is fitting that he's Mac's son considering they tried to make him a bad boy as well before realizing their error.

All of the Pacific Palisades episodes are already online, but these two have commercials.

Chase, Dante, Anna and Jordan all being on the force (or is Jordan now just deputy mayor?) may be a factor, but the main factor is probably that I just don't think Frank wanted Lucky back. No reason to make any real effort for him.

Glad to hear Sandy is still doing OK. I do wish we heard more about whether those movies will happen, but it may have been for the best for this night to just be about the past.

Realizing Carly has been on the show for almost 30 years makes me feel decrepit. You're right that there are some moments of charisma and talent. I guess I just don't see them overcoming the sea of blandness. And I was thinking of some of the next age group too, even those I like. It's also hard to figure out what age group some like Brook Lyn (another I don't dislike but just makes me feel sleepy) would even be in soon with the Gio reveal.

Thanks again @Vee . I notice so many reports about his death just talk about how weird and disturbing his work was but never talk about the heartfelt moments. He did veer more toward the weirder and colder elements in Inland Empire or Lost Highway, but his work still had a great deal of warmth in other projects. It pops up repeatedly in The Return. The outpouring of love from so many who worked for him is very touching, but the gratitude from Naomi Watts and Kyle over his discovery over them is what stays with me most. They clearly loved the man as much or more than anything he did as a director. Few directors have ever managed to have such strong, charismatic personalities, so clear in their work, yet their work also stands up in its own right. Still can't believe it's real. And it makes me think of how many disabled people are thrown to the wolves in times of mass climate change.

I don't think Trina being there is going to make a difference about what happens with Gio. Like most of the younger characters on the show he's mostly vapid beyond physical appeal. I doubt Emma's going to be a big shift. The show just has a very lackluster younger group compared to how hard a lot of the older cast work. It's not entirely the fault of the younger cast, but not something which seems likely to change anytime soon.

I do wonder if she told them she's leaving when her contract is up. I hope she does as she could go on her terms.

I don't think you're wrong, but Tracy isn't doing anything different than what the "good" characters on the show tend like Sonny or Carly tend to do, she is just not as focused on reminding us of what a good person she is. I'm not entirely sure I believe she is just acting out of what Monica wants rather than getting to stick the boot in on people she finds to be odious...luckily, Jane is able to thread the needle. I imagine Willow will get the kids back soon enough anyway. Probably the most interesting part of the story is seeing Carly face the consequences of her actions, losing both her son and her grandchildren, even if it's not the same for me as Laura Wright wasn't playing Carly for most of those key storylines. On paper, I agree with you. Onscreen I don't think it entirely worked because I think even then the contempt Guza had for the family was undermining them as threats or dark figures. But that first six months or so of the story did work, mostly. It all started to decline for me once the focus shifted to Jason/Robin and Carly marrying AJ to try to keep custody, and so on.

That's what impresses me so much when I watch her first run - the multi-tiered setup would have been impossible to maintain, but you get such an array of stories and complexities. Some was much better than others, but I came away with a real appreciation. I know the show had to streamline to survive, but I don't think it's ever quite the same. I was very critical of some of her choices in the mid '90s, but I do know some were probably foisted on her. I wish we had gotten to see more of what she would have done with the show if it hadn't ended (even if as has been said, she probably wouldn't have been hired if the show hadn't been ending).

Thanks for sharing all these clips I'd never seen @Vee. A brief statement from Lara Flynn Boyle. https://deadline.com/2025/01/lara-flynn-boyle-david-lynch-death-1236258930/

I don't remember the show ever seriously trying him with another woman. If they had it might have had a better result. Characters like Laurel were duds no matter who they were paired with. I do think they wrote Jack as overly sanctimonious and the relationship with Erica was so repetitive, very damaging, but chemistry wasn't a problem for me. To be honest I think Jack was the only guy Erica was paired with in AMC's last decade that she had chemistry with. @gimmetoo Thanks for the recap. The last I heard about Francesca was whatever legal action she was involved in with someone's family so I'm glad she is doing alright. I had my criticisms of Lorraine Broderick's writing, but she was a wonderful talent and one of about three of AMC's headwriters I'd say got the show. I wish she was on soaps now.

@Vee As you're one of the big reasons I got into Lynch's work I'm grateful I heard the news thanks to you. I'd heard of David Lynch, mostly just as another director, but didn't delve into his work until I started watching Twin Peaks a little over a decade ago. It's a show that never leaves you. And so much else of his work, including what may be his most underrated film, The Straight Story, which has one of the most touching scenes I can remember in a movie. Lynch was a very larger than life character, but even if this presence shaped his films, it never overshadowed them. He had a great deal of respect for viewers, insisting they find their own story rather than being told how to think and feel. And he brought out the best in so many actors, to the point where any time I see them elsewhere I wish they were still working with him. In some way I suppose it is fitting that his story ends through fire and California, and as we are in a period where the images he presented in The Return feel timelier than ever. But it's such a loss. I just hope his passing was peaceful and quick, and for whatever they are worth now, I hope the Oscars finally give him some of the respect he deserved.

We do seem to see more rooms than we used to, which is nice (if only the rooms didn't all look so samey).

Thanks. They did have a lot of photos. They really do show how much smaller and drabber everything looks now. Even if they had to cut down for budget reasons I'm not sure why everything is in grey. I hope they can change that someday.

Was "Anna getting her groove back" meant to be the kiss with Jason that most people seem to want to pretend never happened? and giving Robert [Scorpio, Tristan Rogers] and Holly [Sutton, Emma Samms] their Casablanca moment; No questions for them about the merits or logic of making Sasha Robert and Holly's child. I guess that is more difficult than soundbites. seeing Lucky and Lulu reunited with Laura They must have enjoyed watching this much more than they enjoyed writing it. anything Heather Anything beyond giving her a reason to exist.

Thanks. That was fun. This version of Lucy is the one I know a number of people, like Michael Logan, preferred. By the time I got into GH Lucy was with Kevin and was much tamer. I can see why many loved this Lucy though, and got enjoyment out of her being knocked back down to Earth (with the show counting on this so much they even play the Wicked Witch of the West music!). Are there any sites that have photos of each of the Quartermaine mansion design or set changes over the decades? The Loving blog does this for various sets, which is a big help. I was so used to the '90s/'00s version, I didn't realize how different the design can get, especially early on. I'm glad Monica and Lucy had this moment (with Scott) when Gail died. Better Lucy writing than some of what I've seen of her over the last decade.

Thanks. I'll probably skip it until Cyrus is actually gone.

I keep forgetting Diane and Robert were a long-term pairing. She never seemed like his type...but like you said it doesn't matter to the show. I think MEK looked nice with the beard. I almost wish they'd just brought him in as Tad as that's probably who we are going to think of anyway. I wonder if I'd be more involved if not for the convoluted story of being Laura's brother. I appreciated that they had Lulu say Laura might be fond of him but she's not, as that's the logical reaction. She was saying this because of Valentin but I just take it as - GTFO insta-uncle. (I don't know how Lucky reacted to him - have they interacted?) I guess I should try to track down the scenes of Lesley being tormented over her past by Cyrus, as I do want to see what may be Denise Alexander's last time as Lesley, but it doesn't sound very good. I don't know why they didn't just bring in some Vinings we never heard of if they wanted to give Laura new family.

@Vee Thanks. Clearly I only ever remembered that she dated a football player. I agree this story is weaker. Part of the issue is I think Trina outgrew this type of storyline through her pairing with Spencer and crossing swords with Cassadines. I'm not saying she should be thrown into major drama and trauma, but being on a B or C-level in this freewheeling college football story is a waste. I feel like the show still is mostly using Sasha in some semblance of support (with Cody today, worrying for Michael, etc.), although if we are heading towards her being Jason's love interest (I hope not) that would change. It would be more interesting to me if all of his losses led him to start becoming too fixated on her pregnancy only to pull back and realize he is repeating the old habits that led Michael to where he is now. Losing a solid friendship for a measuring contest would definitely be a bad idea. The show's going to need to work to rebuild Lulu/Dante and throwing Cody in won't do that. I didn't even realize until yesterday they were hinting at Martin/Tracy. I knew they'd never do Tracy/Cody but it would interest me much more. Even if MEK is no longer talking like Foghorn Leghorn, I still just see him slumming through a non-part.

@Alan That's neat stuff. Thanks. I swear they used the same face for Ali Sweeney and Erika Slezak. They also seem to have lightened the skin of Debbi Morgan and REG (not sure what's going on with REG's neck and head either). They just used a Hillary Swank doll for Kelly Monaco. The best is probably Victoria Wyndham, maybe because she would have kicked their ass otherwise.