soapfave06

I tried to keep up with some previous posts but I find it difficult to search through on mobile, I re-read often as this is my favorite soap anyway haha JDP is absolutely killing it though, Asa depressed back in Llanview is yawn worthy.

I am diving back in now: 1) The scenes of Jason opening up to LeeAnn about his stepfather were absolutely heartbreaking, and I’m really warming to both characters. Jason never comes off sanctimonious, he is very very real. 2) I am not hating the Jane story even if it rushed and of strangers, at least it brings several characters together, the show is incredibly fast paced considering Wanda had a random heart attack prior now their all facing domestic abuse. I just made it to the scenes of Troy calling out Viki for “doing her best” via The Banner (since she wrote an article on the hospital drama involving Sheila and now the Eberts) 3) Any thoughts on Max doing the ritual with the Native American? His return has been great so far. I just absolutely, so incredibly despise Asa and Max together in any form. Rather it’s 1990-1991 or 1991-2001 I quite literally absolutely do not care. There is nothing interesting about someone older finding their father: Jack Abbott on Y&R and Rex Balsom later on. Boring and unrealistic.

Do you think things just blew up in October due to their constant experimenting or was there another push? I don’t think I know what’s coming up with Cain (I know he works for Asa and ends up with Tina) so that sounds interesting! I saw Max at the brothel in the tub but not yet his face and yeah, I think it’s great actually, felt like 80s Max!

I am honestly going to have to rewatch it, October has been absolutely wild, so I want to make sure I did not miss a beat. And it’s a fantastic wild! I’ve seen a good chunk of 1990 and early 1991 and these might be my favorite episodes since early 1990.

I have not advanced very far but I did find some other material and was actually quite impressed: 1) Tina discovering her past lives and going klepto around Llanview had me absolutely rolling, especially poor Megan demanding Luna’s help. 2) Viki using her German to expose Cain was absolutely great - but was there any build-up? Did Viki just enter this room and boom while Megan got a phone call? 3) I also get to see Blair getting her dual apartments for her “jewelry business” so probably for Addie. Looking forward to seeing more of this era I have long ignored!

I literally get a headache watching the later seasons, it’s so devastating. I don’t mind the wild plots, it just lacks anything involving the word character.

I will look forward to those Halloween scenes! I really enjoyed the scenes of Blair at the boarding house making her jewelry while keeping Addie calm, compared to September, the show really started rocking in October. I lowkey would have loved the boarding house to be revealed as Ina’s and just having these lost souls staying there, I treasure that vibe of late 70s Llanview. Does anyone know where LeeAnn and Jason are living? It seems they live in the same place. I left off last night with Jason opening up about his abusive father and had to force myself to turn off the tv as he faced a broken mirror. So good!

I will say I enjoyed Karen and John honing the material, especially those Greek god scenes, I missed the pirate scenes and do intend to go out of my way to find them, it just doesn’t fit the show, and I can’t say how since I enjoyed the more wild 80s stories. I think soaps miss out not having more “work place scenes” which for me helps the pace feel more natural and avoids stagnant scenes: Luna and Wanda chatting between customers, Eddie and Quincey giving Cassie a hard time, Viki returning to The Banner after the Porter caper surrounded by everyone and learning the assistant quit versus repetitive recap dialogue scenes. There also is much more diverse under fives or background actors since Gottlieb took over which is nice to see.

Seasons 1 and 2 and early 3 are television gold for me. It’s truly a tragedy how plot driven it became. And very few shows learned this lesson in the decades to come.

I have made it through 10/18 and into the Jane spousal abuse plot. I am not if episodes were missing but wow they dove right in randomly introducing these folks at Wanda’s, then in their home, then suddenly Viki and Sheila were involved. I’m a little lost, so surely some of the sequence is missing. After nearly a month they have overdone Tina and her past lives. I’m over it. It was nice to use Luna as both a friend to Tina and to evaluate her relationship with Cord but this is ridiculous and not an aspect I’ve ever enjoyed peeking into Malone era Llanview (coming from someone who loved Eterna and 1888) The scenes of Asa attacking and berating LeeAnn at the party were astounding, made me see more in LeeAnn than prior. The following confrontation with Stephanie makes me wish Stephanie more outwardly caused trouble and shows she must be flirting with Joey to get to Kevin which is rather wild. Not even sure what to make of Jake and his tormentor harassing him. Some of this is wild. PS-I really enjoy the “everyday people” aspect with Eddie and Quincy at The Banner and Wanda, Luna, LeeAnn and Jason working at the restaurant. I was shook to see The Banner with an actual staff and Blair coming in.

I am looking forward to seeing this Dr. Jonas. When did he first appear? I had no idea Gerald Anthony was scheduled to appear, what a shame, I would’ve loved that. I can’t imagine Todd and Jason couldn’t both fit. Maybe I’m too caught up in the moment but I shall fantasize for now, and what an easy way for Wanda to appear again for Jason.

Did you feel there was still story left for Jason, or none at all? I did read through your previous reviews and enjoyed them very much, it’s hard to recall everything between binge watching and binge reading.

Oh lastly, can anyone explain the ages? How old are Kevin, Jason, LeeAnn, Joey, Stephanie supposed to be?

I have made it to Blair’s arrival, such good scenes. You can really see the new era kicking in as her first scenes are with Luna, new Tina and new Cassie (at the time) John Loprieno in the Ancient Greek fantasy Tina had, 🥵 I had no idea that Bo, Viki and random officer man tracked Alex and Porter down and did NOT see her shooting Porter in the back coming and definitely not her killing the police officer. Wow! Porter’s death scene was actually pretty good and the scoring to Alex holding Bo at gunpoint was chilling. I would still gripe that maybe there isn’t really umbrella arcs. Alex would add more to the Sarah mystery, Carlo remains blah, Viki randomly got added into the Sarah tale. Why on earth is Cain Rogan targeting Megan? The scenes aren’t bad but it comes off messy when A) it should be Marco (copied that from Bluesky honestly) or B) Andrew whom I thought was more vital to her send off in just a couple months. Lastly, the character of Jason has officially captivated me. Wow. Not sure what was left for the character longterm, but compared to what I have seen of Suede, Dylan and others Jason would’ve been a great antagonist to Todd and his mane of hair.

I am still enjoying your reviews (and Vee’s!) and I hope to catch up! Ultimately this era is one of the few successful reboots of a soap opera IMO.

I do actually remember those scenes, where she had a scar on her face, and was wondering where that would go, the next thing I know Joey is pursuing her 😂 I will say what I presume to be the build-up of Jason’s learning to read and his frustration at how LeeAnn is treated and concern for Wanda is making me a fan of him. The actor is great and raw, not sure he ever has chemistry with anyone though?

I wish we had interviews with the hired writer, and how far the collaboration went.

Haha I know she is gone soon, but wow. Carlo is also so…just there in this time period so she makes that worse too. It’s a miracle what they did building the teen set after a long slump in younger leads. I love the 80s Max-Gabrielle-Tina-Cord-Viki-Clint focus but wow they failed to continue building the world of Llanview and the next generation to move into the 90s.

I am with you there, I’m unsure she would have stayed if they put her at the forefront, but I would have loved to see Sheila, Viki and Nora in a friendship and at the forefront together. I’m interested in seeing the triangle too, hoping to see some chemistry between Troy and Sheila, I’ve seen some but not much over the years. Valerie is just captivating.

I may have missed where Alex was during the Sarah mystery before appearing with Porter, but this entire mystery is a snooze fest. Maybe it would be better if Cassie wasn’t so whiny, instead confronting Alex and accusing her of manipulating Bo, which leads Alex to prove Cassie wrong, getting her involved in bringing Sarah back at the upcoming wedding? There is little movement or actual mystery in the air and I actually don’t hate these soap tropes.

I have now watched from Luna’s arrival to early October, getting very close to Blair’s arrival, where I hope things take off. Of what I have seen of 1991, I will say Luna actually brought a breath of fresh air to Llanview and it was quite nice to see her. This was a fun way to challenge Tina and Cord, although I’m such a big fan of Andrea Evans Tina that I can’t get invested in Karen Witter, though she isn’t bad. It was great to see Megan and Cord as siblings dealing with Luna as well. I’m sure I have said this before but wow, this show wasted Valerie Pettiford. I would hardly call it a story but the medical crises Sheila and Viki faced, it was great to see Erika and Valerie side by side and what could have been. The transition period is also interesting: Luna and Jon on a date? Rafe still around? Ken Meeker (?) who plays Rafe is so handsome but I’m not sure with whom he would have had chemistry. Sheila? Brenda? I guess Rafe fades away in these episodes same as Brenda. Also interested in Eddie and Quincy, The Banner employees? Do they just fade away as Bo leaves The Banner? Maybe this was just a test period. Unfortunately I just can’t seem to get invested in LeeAnn and Stephanie as young leads, I can’t judge this Kevin or Jason. I am bored in all of their scenes but interested in certain moments as they pass.

Ursula’s last scenes are the campiest sequences I have ever seen on any soap opera, but I love them so much

I have been bored to tears since that episode; they are capable of so much more:

This 11/17 episode was extremely lazy and boring. That Adam and Chelsea opening scene was so cringe and out of character for both. Billy Flynn is being wasted and I was only interested in Claire and Holden. Every character feels the same with no actual personality.

I would love for Rick and Amber to come back and Amber to be involved with Deke somehow 😭 The show does look great though!