soapfave06

I thought I was watching a whole new show during that stunt...I still remember being so impressed. I can't believe that was almost 8 years ago now.

That was a great review, J Swift! I wish it had translated better onscreen though or they had put the same effort into later characters.

Made it to mid-February 1995 and I am so impressed by Erika and Robin in the DID story. They are playing every beat as Jean imprisons Dorian, even chaining her up, and I was horrified as Dorian awaken to realize she was in the secret room. Then even worse, trapped in a soundproof prison. The cinematography there was fantastic. I haven't read up on that in ages nor have I seen it so it all played as new for me. I always thought that RJ actually interrupted the Sheila and Hank wedding to expose his past affair with Nora but it actually happened after the wedding in the empty church. The reveal was played to perfection between Hank/Nora/RJ and has me looking forward to more of the Gannon sibling rivalry but based on recaps I am sure it dies down after this. I really wish they had slowed down some of the January story for the Gannons. I know I am repeating myself but the recasts just do not work for me. Robin and Erika are carrying the show for me as Tina, Sheila, Kevin and Rachel do not work for me in the overall canvas due to recasting and Andy and Dylan are so blah and boring thus far. While the show is in great shape overall and a fun ride it is just a bit of a sore spot. I do also enjoy the messiness of Blair loving Cord, wanting Todd's money and lying that she is pregnant to get rich.

I feel like it has been consistent for years now that Jarlena hit the front burner by the end of August. As far as I recall all they did last summer was officiate weddings so maybe by August their story starts and heats up by end of fall. It definitely is a let down to see so little of Shawn and Belle mentioned. The ratings have proven to go up when the family is at the fore front so I don't know why they wouldn't promote the Evans-Black-Brady squad with the generations and the Shawn/Belle/Chloe/Phillip/Brady group.

I thought the story was overall looked down on? Was it that popular? I remember reading about it and was intrigued.

Thanks for the feedback, I am on the last January episode and honestly find her weird so far but wanting to enjoy her. She half mentioned the affair and not wanting to be judged for being a woman, then judged someone who came to work with her in the cop car (it may have been Kevin-I wasn't feeling it) but was also prying to get close to Dylan, even in front of Marty and that made me uncomfortable as a viewer 26 years later lol

I so enjoyed reading all the feedback 😊 Now in mid-January 1995 and am enjoying how close Viki is to Larry and Nora as her life slowly crumbles and Sloan's military funeral-wow!! I did not watch or read up on 1994 much-how rushed was the story of RJ framing Hank for a 1972 university murder? Seems like this back story had a lot of potential but in a two week period Hank is arrested, RJ gets himself out of prison, Hank stands trial and is acquitted. I rather enjoyed it but seems like there was much more to play on there. Nice to see early Todd and Blair, meanwhile I am lost on what to feel about Andy. Can anyone fill me in on why she was popular?

While $26 million is not a lot for 200+ episodes in a year they could certainly do better at lighting and background in 2021. Half the cast looks better in pictures and less flattering onscreen. People make a living online with no money. With that said they have gotten better in recent years with fall 2015 being the best lighting in at least 12 years IMO.

Very interesting to think of Eileen as Gabrielle after what she did with Kristen on DAYS, imagine if that never panned out. I would just have loved to have seen Andrea's Tina amidst the darker DID story and Victor's death being revealed, plus the David drama. Idk, also as a huge Tina and Cord fan it's almost hard to see him without her lol and seeing her Tina with Roger's Todd and Kassie as Blair. There should have been so much more to do with Tina I 1995, I would assume. I would have loved to have seen a OLTL without such turnover-Ellen Bethea mesmerize me as Rachel in any scene (more recently Hank stepping down as DA and Nora convincing Rachel to support Hank in the courthouse bathroom) and was such a blow to lose her, I loved Mia Korf as Blair and would have liked to see Kassie as maybe Blair's sister or even an older Kelly. I did also get to see Javier with Rachel begging for drugs and they were living with RJ, he was indeed hot and talented. I guess they already had rapist Todd to fulfill the permanent bad boy position though.

Thanks Vee and DRW! And wow-I had no idea Tea was brought in as a possible pairing to Antonio and Kevin-hard to picture her outside of Todd despite this being an era I have never had much interest in. I am enjoying Nora and Bo's ties to all the Llanview drama and I am assuming they are pretending to be on opposite sides of the Antonio and Andy crime drama-well actually they just confirmed this onscreen 😊 As I did not start watching until '06 but enjoy pre-mid 90s the most I wish there was a Gabrielle or Tina esque star power character, I like the cast here but no one seems on that page.

Watching some 1995 episodes, was the Linda Soto character mainly background or did she get major play? I see her with Antonio as he makes Andy jealous and she was working with Bo to help Andy out but have never heard of her. If she was a Vega family friend I am assuming she was phased out as Tea was brought in?

Well this makes the over exposure to some tired, boring, aged leads even worse.

Was Janice referring to Michael Storm being a good kisser and enjoying working with him? I thought he did not care for her? Interesting her thoughts on Rauch. Sad. Wonderful to see Ken doing well! Glad you got to hear back from him and he liked that great collage.

As much as I love 80s OLTL especially Rauch I really wish they had not broken what was so lively and beautiful. I am not huge on the Buchanan's but it would have been nice if maybe they did not consume the show. Its nice to finally see this time period after only having the 1969 episode. I could watch Ellen Holly and Doris Black read the phone book. I can't believe they could not come up with another frontburner story for Ed and Carla after they adopted Josh. Ed could have gotten mixed up in a dangerous investigation. The father or mother of Josh could have came on. Anything. I guess Anna and Jim did not really get much story either outside of being tentpoles.

I never thought of that option. That would have been nice and definitely complicated Carla and Ed's lives.

Thanks j swift! I just finished the April 1977 episode. What a shock to see Lana/Brad/Jenny. These episodes are a real treasure. And Viki/Joe in turmoil. Erika is stunning with the long hair. I really loved this Joshua Hall and thought he had chemistry with Samantha. I did not realize he Todd Davis from GH. How interesting Carla did not want Josh anywhere near Sam.

How old was Cathy at this time? She actually blew my mind as I assumed based on recaps she was an unstable hot mess after 1973 through the end but I quite enjoyed her despite her reading much older than she should be.

OMG this just made my entire weekend. I gave up on ever seeing any new OLTL period especially of this era. I love all the natural touches-the dialogue feels so real, Eileen vacuuming, religious drama but not overdone, characters at work, Tim being a construction worker. Nice to see it in color-especially the bright 70s fashions. Ellen Holly looked stunning, amazing to see the progress over ten years. Carla is not only visiting Anna's house and welcome inside but taking Jenny to a meeting they are attending. So happy to see Anna and Carla's friendship. Also grateful to see Tim and Jenny for the first time. Wow is he handsome and I loved the little go they had at the end. I enjoyed GR as Tony here too. I saw him in the DTR episode but that mixed with the behind the scenes drama blurred him for me. The 1975 episode moved very fast but I would say wasn't plot driven. Just characters going about their day and their ongoing relationship drama.

Was readingup on Sean Donely and saw that he and Monica had an affair. Was that well received?

I haven't watched classic soaps in a while and wow the community feel to that Michael Delaney storyline is sorely missed. Relationships, point of views, family drama, holidays feeling like holidays. This is unheard of now and I'm sure never to be seen again between the laziness and covid. You would think with the severe budget cuts we would have too much community drama and natural conversations and less BS. Instead we get Sonny and Carly playing soccer mom and dad.

Could this go on Freeform or whatever ABC Family turned into? Maybe they could split it between that and streaming?

It would have been interesting to see Cathy back in 2005 but at the rate they were going she would have been dead and buried in no time. Watching DAYS recently and thinking back to Marlena in comparison to Viki and how RC has overall kept Marlena at the forefront either through family or having old enemies return and thinking of what could have been with Viki. He did great with the romance with Charlie and there was obvious interference (seemed pretty glaring by 2009-2011) but I would have loved to see Viki getting a good balance of leading The Banner and battling old villains like she did in the late 80s. Obviously not kidnapped every week like Marlena and not Jamie Sanders coming back every 6 months to kidnap someone but I just wonder if there were and how many plans there were for Viki that never came to be.

This 100% I also hope to see long term planning for story. I can't think of many prime time series that are good past the first season. Even the daytime soaps can't give more than one good week or two every six months.

OMG that would be a dream come true. Casting wise I think it is easier to bring AMC back. OLTL needs more of a clean slate.

I have always found it interesting that Cathy was supposed to be the modern woman under Agnes but she ended up being a victim in love and near a breakdown multiple times. She seemed well enough for the time Agnes was there but then ended up off the charts. A little disappointing that they never found their footing with the casting of Cathy. Did anyone ever have any realistic addictions besides Rachel in the mid-90s and Cole in the late 2000s? Would have been nice to see Cathy as maybe a drug counselor. I would have loved to see Edwina, Cathy and Pat recur as popular talk show or radio hosts over the years popping in and out throughout the Llanview scandals. All in all I just don't think it is as difficult to honor the past as soaps make it seem when they have the unique history of being on 40 plus years. Not sure why the Cathy talk brought this to mind for me. Lol.