Melroser

I highly enjoyed today's episode without the bore fest of Will/Electra/RJ/Dylan. I'm assuming Steffy pushed so hard because she's trying to get Hope to confess that she jumped ship. Her "nice" attitude toward Hope seemed smarmy, but I liked it. lol

I thought the Izaiah/Kat scene was well done. They played off of each other well and Kat clearly stated her hesitation. I'm not a Kat fan, but I feel bad for her and can understand her hesitation. Daphne is bringing it today! The aftermath setting in on Nicole was sad and Daphne did it without the extra histrionics some actresses would slip into. If only this would lead to Nicole making her choice finally and picking Kial. The Ted/Kat scenes were also really well done! The writer for today I think nailed the emotional beats well and every actor hit them without overdoing it. Even Leslie! The show needs to keep this style going!

It would be funny if Hayley crossed over to Y&R to go after Kyle, gets busted by everyone in town, and then heads to LA and ends up on B&B. She could arrive in town married to Thomas. What? If this were the 80s and we still had great soap writers, it would be fun as hell. As others, I've lost my interest in Vanessa. It's a shame because in the beginning she was one character I enjoyed the most. The verbal dressing down of Kat by Martin seemed so out of nowhere. I know they've had minor issues (like Kat talking to Samantha about sex), but it seemed excessively cruel to me. Martin and Eva barely know each other as siblings. Why treat Kat that harshly? Found it interesting that while Kat and Eva were at the hospital still, Tomas had suddenly "vanished". (Yes, I know the big brother duties.) I wonder if it had been a stronger actor if Tomas would have had scenes in Eva's room upset over what happened to her...much to Kat's annoyance. Instead, it's like Tomas doesn't even know Eva. The show missed such a great triangle by keeping AA in the role.

Zende could bring up the fact that he's adopted as the reason he thinks he's not being embraced into the family. Then, of course, throw it in Ridge and Steffy's faces that they aren't blood relatives either, so why are they ignoring him? Side note: Isn't Forrester Creations a huge global company? They really can't work on two lines...couture and Hope's...at the same time? I like the drama that the one at a time is generating, but still...

I voted for Katie, too. Brooke had long been one of my favorites since inception, but the writing for her the past few years has been atrocious. The way Brooke has become all about Ridge with little regard to anyone else has turned me on her. I mean, she's always been focused on Ridge, but not to this extent. I do hope there's a Katie vs Brooke for years to come and not just for a couple of weeks. I don't have my hopes up high, though. Brooke works better when she has a rival, and sadly Taylor isn't it anymore since RB took over the role.

Why the tornado was done now? I believe these eps were filmed in January. Not long before the renewal notices come out? I wonder if TPTB were trying to show there were things coming up that were big and could gain more eyeballs, so keep giving them a chance to grow. I'm just throwing something out there. I really have no idea.

I'd love to see Hayley on Y&R for a while, but isn't she basically the same character as Sally and Audra? Those two have essentially been diluted and the same thing would happen to Hayley. I hope Andre and Ashley don't get back together. I've just assumed Ashley and Grayson will work their ways back to each other. I like the push and pull with Dani and Bill but absolutely don't want them back together. What would be the purpose? They've both proven they are toxic people...and even more so with each other. It wouldn't lead to anything. They are hardly a supercouple to root for.

I've just thought over the years that sweeps have meant less and the "season" averages meant more overall. So as long as they improve over the year before (like I think most of the soaps are these days), then that' will help bring in more advertising dollars. The unique aspect of a tornado for a disaster is that you see over and over again when real tornadoes happen how they go through town randomly. One side of a street can be devastated and directly across from that street everything can be relatively untouched. They can play off Fairmont Crest as in the path and not Uptown, Orphey Gene's, etc. and it's realistic. If only it could hit the "shouse" in Fairmont Crest and end that nonsense. In regarding Eva's parentage...what if the reveal isn't about Eva, but ends up that Kat isn't a Dupree? Maybe she offers to donate blood for Martin or Eva and she's not a match. That could lead to plenty of story for Kat and her relationships with the Duprees. She wouldn't be made an outsider as suggested that Eva would be if not a Dupree. The Duprees would still keep Kat in their family while she has to deal with not being a real Dupree....which Eva/Leslie would love to keep bringing up. Did Leslie switch the babies and take Ted's to raise? Is Eva not really Leslie's daughter? Is Nicole really Eva's mother and not Kat's? Who are Kat's parents? I'm here for all of that. Bring it.

Today was a great episode! It reminds me of why I was so hooked on soaps growing up. It's been a while since a soap felt this....soapy. I thought the pacing held its own considering how many different characters (including the Y&R crew) are in the mix. Daphne Duplaix and Peter Bergman said in an interview with Michael Fairman that the show used a whole different stage for the ballroom in order to fit so many people in the scenes. It worked! It comes off great. I truly hope this leads to bigger ratings/streams to prove that adding to a budget can be worth it. Poor Nicole and Ted. Both Martin and Eva. Leave it to Haley to be in a tornado/trapped in a closet and still put the moves on the rich guy. Loved it. When the previews showed blood on Kat's hands I was hoping (praying) it would be Tomas's and lead to his exit. Disappointing. I do hope this sequence leads to Leslie toning things down since she expressed she thought it was her payback for how she's behaved. I don't like Victor but I find it funny he was like I got my helicopter b@tches. Peace out. (But even leaving Abby...in the wind?)

I thought Deke had a portfolio of designs out there. Didn't he show them to Hope at one point to get her opinions? Then, based on those. she recommended him for Forrester? I just assIumed those were some of the work he'd previously done. I do hope it comes out soon that Hope and Deke are at Logan. Someone's got to discover it. It isn't exactly being kept under wraps that much. Too many people already know and as someone else said, the models were walking around in the hallway. I have to say the RJ/Dylan scenes have been the only time I've really liked either of them. I think they have a natural chemistry.

The mixing of Leslie and Diane, as well as Kyle and Hayley, worked really well. I'm kind of surprised they were well done. Hayley sliding her ring off before Kyle comes back. 😄 Jack and Diane trying to get away from Tomas was also funny. I wanted Ashley to slap Anastasia or at least toss champagne in her face.

Logan vs Forrester and the Sheila/Deacon/Taylor triangle needs to be brought back. I can't believe the week they got busted was one of their most watched weeks in forever and suddenly "poof" gone. Sheila should come back on the arm of Clarke Garrison or even Thorne Forrester to stir things up.

I've never understood the appeal of Victor or EB. It's too bad that Y&R's ep today had Nikki talking about the events in Maryland and then Victor walks in (back in GC)....clearly not affected by them. Not that it is "spoiler-ish" really because everyone knows Victor will be fine. It's just another leak like the Impaler out before airing and it was on CBS not lining up the episodes correctly. We know Kyle and Hayley kiss coming up (it's in the promo for the week). I thought this was an interesting take. I wonder if they are leaving it out there so when Hayley gets busted she needs a new mark. Maybe one in GC? Would they cross her over like Sheila? Who knows? Just a thought. I like Hayley now...someone I didn't like for a long time.

Naomi looks amazing today. I love the hair change. I thought "Undercover Jacob" was bad. I'm not feeling "Angry Jacob" either. I understand why he would be upset, but it's a bit much. So Joey is going to the fundraiser? I hope Heather shows up too.

With Abby not on contract anymore they should have her sell the restaurant. She and Devon could leave town. (Please?) I enjoyed today's episode much more than usual today and I agree it was because there was no business talk. The Shadow Room bringing up Audra/Holden's secret into the story again was nice. Can Noah and Audra get back together? They have great chemistry. I love Tamara Braun but Sierra isn't a good character for her. The show needs to wrap up Matt (Mitch) and Sierra and let us pretend they were never around. I'm on board for Lily and Cane. I find their flirting fun to watch...and there isn't much fun on Y&R these days.