Soaplovers

I do wonder if the Joey/Vanessa/Doug story is going to climax and/or hit the next stage in the story because Guza will soon be leaving the credits so I have a feeling he's going to set up the next stage of the story so that his replacement can try to guide it to the next stage (though my instincts say that this Tracy T replacement is too similar to MVJ when some of the best head writer duos have different strengths and don't always agree).

I agree that Vanessa is totally a Guza character.. and the actress provides different flourishes to her scenes depending on if she's acting opposite Joey, Dani/Nicole, Bill/Hayley/SPS, and Doug. She acts flirty/sexual with Joey, caring friend with Dani/Nicole, snarky with Bill/Hayley/SPS, and being concerned/wistful with Doug. Now... Silk Press Sheila in this episode had her acting campy (like Gina Demott of Santa Barbara fame) with Eva and subtle/hopeful with Anita. I think the campy stuff is a front in order for SPS to protect herself from getting hurt. The actress does try to infuse some layers in the character.. but she can only do so much with writing that veers into camp.

ugh... creepy Jenna is back. She's very uncomfortable to watch and I think she would have fit in better with the OG's. imho.

No offense, what exactly were you expecting of MVJ? She's hardly had any experience head-writing.. and it doesn't seem like she has anyone to give her feedback and/or to help her structure and pace all the stories in an organized matter. However, I also think the whole filming and writing schedule (4 months filmed ahead, 6 months written ahead) is what will prevent the soap from fixing what isn't working even if they hear from fans and/or seeing how the actors play the scenes, etc. I looked at today's episode as a build up to another climax... and it looks as though maybe the climax will involve the Joey/Vanessa/Doug story while I'm curious to see if any focus will be on Derek's slow descent to the dark side.

Two things can be true at the same time.... Kat can be an entitled brat and Eva can be a lying enabling schemer. Tomas could be bad in bed and Kat might just not into him so of course the sex isn't anything to write home about. The only highlight of this episode was the Joey/Vanessa/Doug story... and Doug going to Bill was a nice way to have two characters interact that normally don't interact... and then having Bill show to talk to Joey/Vanessa was a nice surprise since we all know Vanessa isn't exactly a big fan of Bill's.

Derek looks to be going to the dark side a bit... but I have a feeling by episode 160 that he'll be regaining his legs, guilting Ashley, and threatening Andre while pretending to still be sweet Derek. There has been foreshadowing since the start of the show that Derek might be embracing the dark side with his expressions anytime Andre was around Ashley, how off he acted after his one accident where his head was hurt, and how he felt a little bit of glee when he saw how jealous Ashley was when she saw him with Shanice. Shanice is bound by HIPAA so she can't warn Ashley... but our Shanice is creative so I'm sure she could figure out a way to warn Ashley without violating HIPAA.

Irregardless, I do think that story fit with the essence of the Iris character.. who always seemed to border on edge in regards to neurotic tendencies. Granted, I do wish the show had decided to show Iris near the end of the show either still in prison and/or going to be released with her deciding to start over back in New York City and perhaps helping women restart their lives after being released from prison.

RHOSLC: So I finished my season 5 binge watch and I have to say that I enjoyed the majority of the season... and enjoyed the new addition of Brownie Part deux (Brownie Part 1 was on RHOC) and Brittani (Jared is a jerk, but he's kind of sexy). Both of these women managed to bring a new energy to the show without veering into dark and toxic waters (thank god Monica was a one and done). So in the tradition of @Taoboi, I'll explain my thoughts on the first episode of season 6 of Salt Lake City. I was hesitant because I'm someone that likes to see cast changes season to season.. but in a gradual way so the shows don't become stale nor do they become unfamiliar to the audience. However... episode 1 did kind of present a bit of a cast change that I wasn't expecting, yet found interesting. The whole theme of season 6 episode 1 was to present to the world a reality of what the show would be like if Lisa Barlow wasn't a main part of the show. After watching the episode, the takeaway I got was that a new housewife would need to be added because the combination I witnessed in this episode wouldn't work long term. Lisa: Lisa is the antagonist of the show. If the majority of the women hate her (Brownie, Angie, Whitney), tolerate her (Meredith, Mary), or are trying to get in good with her (Heather, Brittani)... then the individual is the center of the show.. and Lisa Barlow is the center of the show. And her absence was felt with the women gossiping about her, trashing her, and also trying to figure out how to jump start their arguments without Lisa there to cry/yell. Angie/Mary: Right now, they're the Laverne and Shirley of the show... but they're not enough to be the stars of the show.. they're the comic relief. Although it doesn't seem like a healthy friendship with Mary's intense need for total loyalty and Angie's insecurities making her an easy minion for Mary. Meredith: Was hardly on... but she had a few funny moments when she explained how the Lisa lawsuit situation and the Jen Shah situation were not comparable to one another... and her trying to figure out fishing/fly fishing. Whitney (Little Girl): A grifter wannabe that decided to focus her venom on Brittani. Little girl gets away with a lot because of her whiny voice and slutty ways (I will always judge a homewrecker). Brownie Part Deux: Shady and a liar... but compared to Jen Shah and Monica, she's harmless... so far. Unpopular opinion, but her hubby is justified in the way he talks to her... sometimes. Brittani: I didn't view her defending Lisa because she's friend with Lisa. I viewed it as a way to audition for a snowflake since Lisa was holding out for more money/other perks. Heather: Her black eye drama has forever tainted her in the eyes of viewers, but I have to say that her talking heads are the best and I live for them. Mary's talking heads come in a close second (her remarks about giving fish CPR was so Mary LOL). Scenes for season 6 looks as though Lisa will be having drama with the girls and drama at home. The other women need to start bringing up their dramas at home more if they hope to be rid of Lisa. Lastly, I do recall when the show was starting that Lisa B was the one that was partly responsible for connecting the women.. or did I hear/read that wrong?

Unpopular opinion, but I didn't hate the way that Iris was written off the show in 1994 considering her history and her obsessive devotion to all things Mac... her daddy. Back in the 70s, she ruined relationships and marriages because of her obsession with being #1 in her daddy's eyes at the expense of everyone, including her stepmother Rachel. When Mac died, it was during a time when she had majored messed up things between her and him so she never got to make amends nor to receive his forgiveness. So she doubled down on her obsession with her dad by working at Cory Publishing, being nice to Rachel, and protecting her daddy's legacy from outsiders (including her half sister Paulina). As before, she ruined a great relationship with Hank (even Ada tried to get her to not throw away her chance of happiness with Hank) because of all things Cory just like she did back in the 70s. So once Hank and Tommy were out of the picture, any chance of salvation for Iris was also gone. The fact that Rachel moved on with Carl Hutchins of all people was what drove Iris over the edge. So she tried to keep them apart by threatening them and then trying to shoot him with blanks. So her ending up in prison over what happened to Carl was a fate that Iris could not avoid because her one track minded obsession with her daddy Mac proved her undoing. And even when she was on the show Texas, her focus shifted from her daddy over to her son Dennis with the same obsession/drive.

I know that there was a clash between Michael L and the other producer over the original LHOTP because one wanted the show to be a realistic portrait of pioneer life and less Hollywood oriented while Michael L wanted the show to not follow the books exactly. I think the reboot could work just so long as people understand that it isn't a remake of the original show.. but another adaptation of the books. Also, i wonder if each season will be based on each book so if Netflix has long breaks between seasons.. I think that wouldn't effect things if season 2 takes place longer into the future. I've been on recent rewatch of the original show, and I realize that after the 3rd season... MG loses her cuteness while Melissa Sue Anderson and Allison Angrim improve acting wise and their episodes are more interesting then the ones focused on Laura.

Ashley should be in the position Shanice is while Shanice should be featured more. I think Ashley could have been more like a Katie Parker (she was the happy go lucky unlucky in love nurse back in the old days of Guiding Light). As it stands, Ashley/Derek are on a never ending hamster wheel ( I feel like they're borrowed from Passions).

Having June working at OG's is a good first step to her reclaiming her life, but I think having it revealed that she was the bio mom of Samantha and Tyrell came too quickly and should have been held off until later episodes. With that said, I'm confused as to why Samantha would just go to June for advice when she has Anita, Nicole, Kat, Naomi, and Chelsea to talk to about guys. And even so, I think she would want to seek out a hetero male perspective so I could see her going to Jacob and/or Andre to get the guy perspective. I would have bought Pamela as Smitty's aunt and/or older worldly sister... not his mother. And given that she is flamboyant and over the top..... I could see Smitty being a bit standoffish with her. Originally, Ashley had also had ties to Eva and Silk Press Sheila so I'm not sure why those ties were forgotten after the first handful of episodes. Perhaps Eva/Ashley will interact with one another one day... if Hayley/Caroline can resume friendship scenes.. I don't know Eva/Ashley couldn't either. Derek is basically an island with no ties whatsoever. I would have tied him to Vanessa as a relative from the poor side of the family tree since it had been established that Vanessa came from money (hence why she found Doug to be appealing since he came from the wrong side of the tracks). For some reason, why the writers can't do for Ashley/Derek/Smitty/Jan what was done with Vanessa's character still baffles me. Like previously said, she is good friends with Vanessa/Dani.. her job ties her to the community and allows interaction with new arrivals, and she has a lover & hubby.. plus kids that can be introduced down the line. Why those connections couldn't have been built/posted for the other non-black characters (including Tomas and Caroline), I'll never understand. Unless the fact that Vanessa was originally meant to be an African American character could be why she has development and connections on the canvas.

The problem also is the few times that Ashley's mom Jan has been shown talking to Ashley... I find I'm more interested in Jan's backstory and about who Ashley's father is and what happened in that relationship that caused Jan to shelter Ashley from the world. I don't know if MVJ and co intended for that to be the case (if they had, they probably would have cast someone like Krista Allan (sp?) of Days & Bold fame as Jan). I heard a rumor that the actress that played Allison had auditioned for Chelsea originally. Even if not true, I do think she would have been a good Chelsea.

I would happily welcome the 4 rumored to return (even awkward and creepy Jenna). Erin made me laugh with how high maintenance she was and how Jessel would trigger her without Jessel setting out to do so. However, they need to include one or two of the OG's

We got to see Jan today, but no matter how logical she is... her daughter Ashley will learn the hard way. Kat is definitely Dani's niece... two peas in a pod. Finally... a scene with Bill and his two daughters without the ball and chain around. While I don't like Dani... I will admit that Dani/Andre/Bill/Hayley would be a better story then Dani/Andre/Ashley or Derek/Andre/Ashley.

You did a wonderful job summarizing the hamster wheel that is Ashley/Derek/Andre... it gives me Passions vibes with the rinse, lather, and repeat with little to no story movement. Although it's nice that the writers aren't presenting Ashley as the one in the wrong... thus far.

Do you forget that Miss Dani pulled a gun out at a wedding, broke into her ex's house, etc?

I would love a Bill and Chelsea scene without the toxicity that is Dani around. And I hate that Chelsea gave into her mother when her first instinct was correct... but Dani's mental state is closer to Alison's mental state so she quickly had Chelsea wrapped around her finger yet again. Hayley/Caroline friendship scenes are so few and far between, but I loved seeing it today. I don't get why the writers stopped featuring them as friends, but I'm glad the writers have seen the error of their ways. I'm not sure that Tomas is a good decoy to use for their scheme since he isn't exactly a sensual individual.. but it will be interesting to see him try to act romantic with Hayley LOL Lastly... Hayley saying she hasn't lied to Bil yet gave me a bit of whiplash/side eye. Have we forgotten the 'pregnancy/miscarriage' LOL Vanessa/Joey are toxic.. but they're just the thing for those of us that like a bit of Dark romance mixed into our daytime programs. MVJ needs to be sat down and told to stop trying to make Derek/Ashley happen.. it's been almost 130 episodes and still not popping. Shanice/Derek would be so much better to explore. Although I'm curious to see if Derek is going to either fake being unable to walk to keep Ashley close to him... or if he's going to keep that secret until he can surprise her with the ability to walk.

Oddly... I think Chelsea might eventually be that black sheep of the Dupree family.. the one who has empathy and could be the moral one of the family. She's always been the sweetest of the Duprees and has been the voice of reason in her interactions with Dani and Kat. Martin/Smitty do have chemistry and it was about time there was some love and affection between the two.

Not me watching the 4 minute tease for ROSLC season 6, and now binging season 5 in order to get the backstory.

I guess I could see her take as Allison as having a sensuality that she wanted to keep a reign on since she was still reeling from finding out about how she was conceived and trying not to be like her mother...and/or trying to find a balance between childhood trauma and adult sexuality. Also, don't be dissing the Halloween movies... Halloween II was a decent movie that really expanded the soap opera elements of the franchise. I still marvel that some of my favorite horror movies were written by soap opera writers (Bob Guza Jr's Prom Night & Curtains... and Victor Miller's Friday the 13th). You feel like that about Pamela Susan Shoop & hot tubs while I felt like that about Janet Leigh and showers LOL

Cat is the latest example of character propping, which I noticed started under Ron and continuing under this new headwriting team. Jennifer is being very logical and realistic over her feelings toward Cat.. and also about Chad starting to become interested in dating Cat. It was anyone else, I don't think Jennifer/Jack would have a problem because they would understand that their daughter would want Chad to find someone... but the fact that it's Cat is the issue. Perhaps if she were played by a less one note actress, it wouldn't be an issue.. and I happened to like the actress from when she was on 90210 (one of the few bright spots of that show/cast). It's just that the writing isn't playing into her strengths as a performer.

So far...Eva is wisely using Tomas for her own benefit... and she knows he has a thing for her so she's using that to her advantage. By default, that makes her less delulu then her mother... but for all we know, her mother might have been less delulu back in the day (we did witness how Ted played her in regards to the house, so whose to say he didn't do that to her back in the day during a rough time with Nicole).

I admit I wish that episodes from RTPP were available so I could see how Kathy Glass and Pamela Susan Shoop approached playing Allison.. since both actresses seem so opposite of one another. I only know of Shoop from Halloween II and the gruesome way that her character was disposed of so seeing her playing Allison would have been interesting.

The Duprees really don't love anyone that isn't a Dupree unless they serve a purpose in their lives. Bill is on probation because of the Chelsea situation and because he has helped them with the Leslie situation. Eventually Bill will be tossed aside when they no longer have a use for him. If the writers recognized that the Duprees have money/power.. but are no better then other wealthy families (i.e. Kennedys, Trumps, etc) then I would applaud them for showcasing that power corrupts no matter the gender, race, age, etc. However, I think the showrunners/writers truly think The Duprees are this perfect family that we all should strive to be like.