DRW50

It reminded me of the role that Ashley and Edna used to fill on the show. Rare sighting now. I should appreciate it while I can. Some Farm-era episodes:

I saw a bit of John Oliver bemoaning Trump's pronunciation of "Puerto Rico" and how truly bizarre it was. I try not to ever actually listen to him, so I didn't realize how it sounded, so when I saw it on Oliver's show I had flashbacks to the Miss Universe pageants and the year that the crowds shouted "PUERTO RICO!!!! PUERTO RICO!!!!" for much of the night. I ended up wondering if that's how Trump learned to pronounce Puerto Rico, and was, somehow, bewildered all over again that this man is President. I didn't think I could even have that reaction anymore...

There are always these lovely pieces about how a bigot had their heart opened because they were saved by someone of another race or an lgbt person, but these are huge exceptions used to hide the reality that most bigots won't change. They have no reason to. For all the talk of out of control PC ways and those poor cake shop owners, society rewards bigots at every turn. If he had his way, this woman likely wouldn't have a job, wouldn't be able to get married, and that's just for starters. These are the people who run America - they hate most of this country and they are very proud of that hatred. The media can get gushy over Scalise all they want, it doesn't change who he is or what he believes.

Amy Carlson (ex-Josie, AW) was recently killed off Blue Bloods.

This was when that woman working with Conboy (I don't remember her name) was desperate for what she seemed to think was hard-hitting material. This was also when Lizzie was supposed to be psycho and mutilating dolls, wasn't it? Everything about her "writing" came off like someone transplanted from bad "relevant" '60s primetime drama. The Bomer interview reminded me of why I shouldn't put my feelings onto actors. I'd always wondered if he might have been as disgusted as I was, but of course he wouldn't be (and given his years working with slimy Ryan Murphy, I shouldn't be surprised). I watched Ben grow up and I was very attached to the character. It was just a 2-year gig for Bomer. Sometimes, although that suicide idealization show on Netflix shows the limits. Oh. Ellen Weston. I remember now.

@SFK I forgot to tell you that I think that Rob Denise channel has still been putting up episodes.

I'd never seen it before.

That's interesting. I wonder if that's why she rarely talks about the show.

Thanks for posting that. I'm so glad to see an episode from this period as it helps narrow down my confusion over when Marland took over and what stories he pushed or didn't. I was never completely sure how much of a role he had in Craig's hit and run with Dusty. Or Shannon's debut. It's fascinating to see how much of an anti-hero Craig is here - wanting to do the right thing but being too afraid, and instead doubling down on a mistake. I prefer this to the tears and more tears we'd start getting by the end of 1985. Odd seeing Shannon and Nick together. Talk about passing the torch. I didn't know if he was still around by this point. Shannon really was in one bizarre and overly convoluted mystery story or another from first to last in her run. I had to laugh at that woman's cod-Irish accent (the woman Shannon was talking to). Take some lessons from Helen Gallagher! I loved Anne Sward as Lyla but I'm curious as to what some who did not (like @Mitch ) feel about Lee Bryant. I think she's a pretty good fill-in and makes the character her own. You can also see Dusty was a much more central character before Marland deemphasized him for dull Holden. I guess it paid off but for me Dusty's always more interesting to watch. It's "nice" to know one thing never changes - all that awful wailing and shrieking from Lily. It's a wonder Dusty didn't flatline to get away from the earache. I wonder when they replaced that cheesy (and oh so '80s) incidental music. I kind of like it, although I can see why Calhoun (wasn't it Calhoun) would want it gone ASAP as it's very "Russians taking over America for $2 at the local video store." It's interesting to see Kevin before the Marie saga and all the angst. I can also see why Marland cut him, as he's irritating. Julianne Moore is a real natural though. Also good to see more of Marcy and Stuart. I really like Stuart - Ross Kettle is such a natural and so charismatic and charming and goofy. I wonder why they didn't want to do more with him. He and Marcy are sweet together. I never remember if Tomei quit or was fired. I can see where Marland may have wanted to move on to fresh characters as her group was pretty much gone and she's such an up-and-down actress, but I liked these scenes. I think she and Stuart could have made a decent long-term couple. I can't help noticing just how youth-oriented this episode is, yet somehow it all feels completely natural, unlike the much more desperate push of young characters earlier in the '80s. It not only felt false, most of the time the characters just felt oddly heavy and very depressing.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/rebekah-mercer-donald-trump-231693

I'd say start at the beginning of the year. What others are still on Hulu?

I'm still amazed at just how few plans are in place for any actual government sans the President. People are just completely powerless and incompetent to do anything because he can't. I used to, years ago, assume that there was some system in Washington that continued on regardless of who is in the Oval Office, but it seems like everything truly is paralyzed now and nothing is being done as a balance to him even when we're clearly going to suffer huge long-term consequences (whether in being attacked or being cut off from the rest of the world economically and in foreign policy, etc.). I don't understand how such a huge and powerful country seems to be such a shambles.

I won't give anything away but I grew to really love Linda as time passed. Whether you'll feel the same way I don't know - I'll just say that the current story she's in is not her best.

The more I read people talk about Mueller the more I flash back to the 2016 fantasies about how this or that was sure to drive Trump out of the race. Between Trump going on about the "storm" that's coming, and North Korea's plans to soon test a missile that can reach the US, I think we're going to have much bigger problems long before Mueller does anything.

There is an episode of 9-10 year old Tom around.

And the only Barton babies have Dingles as parents. The Kings might still beat the Bartons (for now...). Did you see the scene where Harriet upbraided Charity for making light of Emma's suicide when she wouldn't make fun of a mentally ill Zak or Belle? I thought you might like that. The only one I really disagree with was Finn.

I can't stop watching this.

I never saw Scott Holmes as being able to have any type of sexual or romantic chemistry. I did think he and Ellen Dolan were fine together in her first years on the show - playful and a believable couple, the type of day-to-day worry over takeout, picking up the kids, etc. that Marland knew how to write. Only after she returned and the characters became screaming banshees did I grow to dislike them.

Serial killer stories never kill off characters people want to see dead.

The most well-known is probably Silas on Hollyoaks.

Shadrach died 7 years ago. I think I would be more down for this a year or two ago when the Dingles were going around acting like thugs, but they mostly seem very disparate and are scattered into their own random storylines these days. I can see why you can't stand them though, as it's how I tended to feel about the Mitchells on EE before they were broken up. I'd never want them to kill off Sam though.