DynamiteKiddo

God only knows how far ahead they are with the scripts, too… those are already paid for, they won’t scrap or even revise them. We won’t get the freedom that Peacock will open up for the writing for forever.

They’ll have to completely refocus if they want to be viable on premium. As much as it pains me, they cannot have the vets headline. While I thought OLTL 2.0 was, by far, the most modern soap I’ve ever seen, their vets like Blair and Tea were edgy and Viki, Clint, and Dorian were versatile. Sappy caper stories with J&M and S&K will not work on subscription-based streaming where people are used to, well, not that. They need a diverse, younger cast. They did get it right in “Beyond Salem” (Chapter 1) featuring WilSon, Leo and Eli & Lani. This does sound like the end… they need to start mapping out a just-in-case finale. 😭😭😭 Crazy that $5.00 a month has changed everyone’s attitudes from cautiously optimistic to doomsday. Lol 😫

Holy $h!t! Will this affect the actors’ deals???

Wow, Taylor! I am cautiously optimistic af! And Tamra has an ally now…

BB is much more suited for Stefan, but he’s another character who is beyond problematic and his “great love” with Gabi was always disgusting to me considering, well, GabY! Gabi is always second best to Abby! I’ve only read today’s recap bc “Days” hasn’t aired yet in California but I’m really looking forward to today’s eppy… maybe I’m in the minority but I’ve been stanning Roman & Kate for over 20 years and I like the connection between them and Abe & Paulina. While I think Allie/Chanel/Johnny is a really innovative twist on an old trope, I don’t actually like either couple (though Allie/Chanel do angst really well). EJ and Kristen whatever. I wonder if BB will be alternating between Stefan and Johnny at all?? And this sounds like the most interesting thing Ava has done since she’s been back… Also, I’m glad Chad is the Horton Home before going to the K’s. That set makes these sad scenes so much more meaningful. And I agree that Chad moving to the K mansion will coincide with Stephanie moving in with her Uncle Justin for whatever crackpot reason to jumpstart a Chad/Steph/Alex triangle… good thing we know Steph has no qualms about hooking up with family! Lol

So I think Melanie started really annoying and ended really problematic, but there was a sweet spot in the middle of her run that I thought was really successful… I thought the Philip/Melanie/Nathan/Stephanie quad was fire! It was formulaic and unoriginal, but I so rooted for Nathan & Melanie and Phil & Steph were perfect spoilers (I was dying for them to scheme together to keep Mate apart and eventually get back together themselves)… it was very Sami/Austin/Carrie/Lucas-esque. But right when the story climaxed once Steph was exposed for switching Parker’s paternity results, we lost JKJ, SH, and MH! It was the biggest letdown, and Corday obviously really interfered during the last leg of Dena 2.0 in 2011 because everything on the show changed overnight in early ‘11. But then Melanie languished with Dario and then Chad (she also got moved down like a generation) until TomSell came and centered SO much story around her in MB’s final month, which was crazy. And we can’t forget the showeating terror of her retconned family with Maggie and Daniel. And then her very limited 2015 return was wasted on Brady & Theresa/Kristen. So even though I think MB is lovely (she was great on Queen of the South!), I have Melanie whiplash lol.

They really ought to have a reunion, given all the Dorinda/Vicky, Jill/Dorinda, and Tamra/Jill drama. Had Jill said a small fraction on the show that she has in the press… it could’ve been fireworks, but maybe she would’ve totally crumpled on the receiving end of Dorinda’s real wrath?!? That does sound like a solid OC cast, but when the drama didn’t center around Vicky & Tamra’s(/Shannon’s) fallings out, that show (or def. the Heavy Hitters, Tamra & Vicky and even Shannon and Heather) has heavily, heavily relied on a fall guy, most notably Gretchen and Kelly… I guess Brandi would be the de facto target. Lol

Ava is such a flop but I still think TB is one of soaps’ best actors, so this sucks if true! I’d honestly be fine with them trying her as Taylor again—back during the big 2011 “Reboot,” I totally disagreed with them ditching her… her Taylor becoming a CarlyLite was terrible, but she was a blank slate character that could’ve gone anywhere. It would’ve been better than Sarah Brown running a global corporation above Horton Town Square. Anyway, I read a spoiler that Kristen is shocked by Rolf’s new experiment… I’m afraid we’re getting Stefan’s “essence” implanted into Jake’s not totally dead body. Lord omg! Lol! I’ll be thrilled to keep BB, but if this is the case—how stupid!!! Also, I’ll be shocked if Molly Burnett returns. She’s been successful in primetime.

I think it’s so crazy that they’re not connecting Abby and Jake’s deaths as a DiMera thing. I will miss BB! 😍

I loved Shawn & Belle’s scenes on Friday—they’re always at their best when they inevitably reconcile after angsty drama. But the problem is that definitely since their 2015 returns, they either haven’t been invested in or the stories have been harrowingly unappealing (JPL’s Shelle/Phelle triangle) or stupefying (this Jan pregnancy/EJ affair). And people blame the actors, and I don’t necessarily think they embody what I want S&B to be, but there’s something to be said for familiarity and they absolutely are Shawn & Belle and have been for so many years. Meanwhile, Kristen Storms was never what I wanted Belle to be, either, and Jason Cook became insufferable toward the end (I wound up enjoying him on GH, but Matt was very different from the Shawn that he pretty perfectly captured through 2002 but NOT ever after). Like others have said, Ron should lean into Belle being an ice queen with a perpetually wondering eye and BB’s Shawn desperately needs to be fleshed out—in addition to taking the lead at Salem PD (just put a f-ing fork in Rafe), he needs consistent character traits beyond noble and hot. BB’s sex appeal has been confusingly uncapitalized since his first run. His turn as B&B’s himbo Owen was great, and leaning into that could maybe even make Shawn funny, which he’s never remotely been lol. And they’re obviously at their best apart—as stupid as this Jan $h!t was (mostly because of how they contorted themselves to justify Belle’s newest affair), it should have gone on longer… once they get back together, there’s gonna be nothing for them to do (I will admit they’re awfully boring when they’re happy). On a related note, I hope we get to see Belle react to Chad framing her for framing EJ… they’ve been a surprising hit as friends for me since that bizarre brainwashing-induced romance in 2015 and that got totally lost in the devil/BJ stuff. And for the love of God, Shawn desperately needs friends and/or closer familial relationships!!

I thought Jake was a breath of fresh air and really, really different from any character we’ve had in years… and I love BB. And I think he had chemistry to spare with Gabi, Gwen, Kate, Abby, and Ava. (I actually think a real Jake/Abby pairing was the way to go, but anyway…) But his time on the show has overall felt aimless. I wonder if this was TPTB or BB’s decision?? ETA: I REALLY hope we get a Sonny/Evan scene(s)!

I figured Jake would die the same way Abby did while Sarah was in police custody, proving she didn’t do it.

I didn’t watch Ultimate Girls Trip 1 because I was completely uninterested, but this was appointment tv for me! Dorinda was probably the season’s biggest epic fail… she is so cruel and completely shattered this “hostess” image she’s been trying to cultivate. The fact that she made Brandi and Tamra cry says a lot, because they’re two of the toughest housewives. It’s a shame because she has a lot of heart, but she also has a lot of venom in her heart. Jill was a terrible disappointment—she got overwhelmed by all the other “big personalities.” In all her press for UGT2, she’s the messy Jill we all remember and love, love to hate, or just hate… but she shrunk in the group. I think she was scared to REALLY go there with Dorinda because she knew D would maybe try to ruin her and she, like many of the ex-‘wives, wanted to shed her toxic image. Eva was a nice surprise—a real delight. I have nothing negative to say. Taylor made a compelling case for a comeback (to OC maybe??)… she HAS evolved and can be kind and relatable, but she holds a nasty grudge, is a messy drunk, and has very little self-awareness or willingness to acknowledge others’ reasonable perceptions of her. I think Vicky is one of the worst people I’ve ever seen across all media platforms. I’ll add nothing else except I have zero empathy for her during her personal problems. I think someone else said this a few pages back—in episode 1, Brandi had the makings of a natural heroine. Which is crazy because she’s one of HW’s most infamous villains! But at times, she was never more likable! But then she had to go full Brandi and pull the lowest, dirtiest punches with Taylor and not recognize the horror of her words. It doesn’t matter if she was provoked or not, she is a nasty person at her core… but this highlighted all the other things she can be at her core, too. She came out of this multi-faceted and, dare I say, “rootable?” She cleaned up her image after humiliating herself in s10 with absolutely NOTHING to show for it. Does everyone remember when this trainwreck put her teen son on WWHL Zoom to appeal to Andy to rehire her after she got booted from the reunion?!? And they say Jill is thirsty!! And ya about Phaedra. She was a hoot and a half, but it was all artifice. Apart from seeing her boys in e1 (which was lovely), we got NOTHING of substance from her. And I kept on waiting for Kandi to be brought up! It’s bs she dodged that (all the ‘wives got to skirt their firings probably because they all thought this was an audition to return and they didn’t want to burn bridges anymore than they have… Brandi was the only one who kept it real). I mean, I think Phaedra left Housewives in more disgrace than anyone, even Vicky, Jill, Kim Z., Danielle, etc. Production was messy af with the flashbacks! If you didn’t watch ATL, you really would have no idea how vicious she was. So I guess Tamra is the winner here! All season, I was wondering who this level-headed person was and it turns out she was just as fake a Phaedra but got herself her orange back. So Tamra is another person who is easily just as evil as Vicky, Phaedra, and Brandi… for years, Tamra was legit trying to RUIN other Housewives’ lives and when she got bored with that, she just started indiscriminately pot stirring like an old, tired witch. This person on Girls Trip was not Tamra. If she has actually changed, good for her, but I’m extremely doubtful. Also, did anyone else catch on WWHL how much obvious contempt Andy has for her and Vicky??

ICAM with all of this! But I’m thinking Rinna will have to pull something major to be spared. She hasn’t had a storyline since Kim stopped regularly appearing (and that was never her story) and the audience has completely turned on her and Erika. And I bet she gets paid very well because Rinna IS a hustler. People mock her for that and suggest she’s actually unwanted when she declines lowball offers, but I think she’s a legit businesswoman… but the way she has achieved that on Bravo has cost her her soul, and as a Billie Reed fan, it’s super sad. It is disappointing to see Sutton parlaying with Erika, but this woman has got to be TIRED from carrying BH on her back for 2 seasons and being held accountable for everything she’s ever said or done (so ironic on this show). But for me, Sutton cannot do anything to jeopardize her relationship with Garcelle because it’s what makes her likable for me. Because without that, I think she’s kinda just a desperate Karen with a laughable victim complex. But Garcelle/Sutton is the wacky opposites attract duo I never knew I needed so much! Ya, Diana’s house is as big a fail as she is! But keeping it 100, I don’t think any of the ‘wives really decorate their own homes except for Yolanda, who is a professional interior designer (decorator?). Of the current cast, I think Sutton and Kyle have the best interiors (but there’s something about Kyle’s new and old house that doesn’t quite come together, despite Faye’s help); as much as it pains me to admit, Garcelle may actually have the worst. Rinna’s is interesting because she has some seriously dated, impersonal interiors but probably has the best location—when she was FaceTiming I think Crystal this week on her patio, I was DYING over her view at sunset! Anyway, Diana continued to be a void. Her home scenes are as vacuous as her group scenes. For someone with SUCH an interesting backstory, there is nothing compelling about this woman (I felt similarly about NY’s Tinsley, but at least she had Dale, Carole “betraying” her, and Sonja & eventually Dorinda psychotically hating her). I love that KKB quote! I think I’m one of the only people that think she’s a boss in that scene—to me, she owned Bethenny from start to finish and left her speechless. It always gets edited differently in reels and people point to it as the first example of her insanity, but she destroyed B, which is so satisfying. But, ya, she is obviously insane lolol. And Erika is the worst. I actually hope she gets leveled legally—she is irredeemable. And I hate to say it, because I do like her, but Crystal is drowning this season. I am not in the business of critiquing housewives’ traumas, but I wasn’t connecting with her re.: her eating disorder. On NJ, I really connect with Jackie on this and I think she’s f-ing horrible. Like you said, I even connected with Diana once she finally normally explained her continuing health problems from her recent miscarriage. But Crystal is just not delivering—I predict a major cast purge for next season.

I think it’s really sad that it’s BEN WESTON’S portrayer that’s getting the show to invest in the Kiriakis family. This is also right after “Days” finally got JKJ back after 10 years and wasted him (granted, I’ll admit he really changed or he was making some really ill-advised choices).

I’m totally here for Chad & Sonny hooking up for all the reasons already mentioned, but IF they ever did go there, it’d always be tainted by undertones of thirsty fanfiction. And re.: Xander & Sarah… ya, they blundered this. They were one of the last decade’s great surprises (even though Xander did get lightweight Ben whitewashed) and now they’re completely intolerable. And imo, she only ever worked with him (and God knows RC tried and tried and tried to make her the show’s premiere heroine after Abby left in 2018).

He is beyond tired and repetitive, but I will say I thought for a second in early 2020, I thought he, Evan, and Zoey (esp. played by GH’s Britt) had real potential to be a great black sheep “other” family. But we all know how that went… lol. Anyway, the prison breaks are standard fare at this point but I’ll give it to “Days”—they’ve been pulling punches all summer with Abby’s murder, the TR climax with Lani & Eli’s exits, Lumi’s wedding, and now this. Some of it has worked (Sami’s arc), some of it hasn’t (most of Abby’s death and aftermath)… we’ll see how this goes. And this all happened right after the possession finale. I do feel like they are trying, it’s just that everything falls a little flat because of budget and scheduling. But with all the event storytelling, we’re missing so many beats because of episode guarantees and block taping. Like we’re getting a lot of good scenes recently about Abby’s loved ones grieving a whole MONTH+ after the murder!

So I hate to hate on this, because I love the concept of the Peacock specials and this was a lovely idea, but this was disappointing to me on multiple levels. First, they did not invest in this like BS1. I understand they have no $$, but even the stock establishment footage was not assembled with same effect that it was in BS1 (or even, quite frankly, Chad & Abby in Paris or The Last Blast Reunion). Like, this wasn’t any more of an ambitious adventure than The Alamanian Peacock, but that was presented so much more believably. They did not sell this as a splashy action adventure—like at all. The movement from locale to locale was so insane and I don’t think one, not one, set worked. Conversely, I did not feel the need to nitpick any of this in BS1 because it was done so earnestly. Production felt like a major afterthought here. I mean I thought the two best looking scenes were the editing of Harris MorganMichaels speeding away with John and Steve in the van and Thomas Banks’ sniper situation in the hotel above that Canadian park. That is not good lol. And the biggest issue was defaulting to the older super couple cast. While I’m not a B&H fan, I initially thought them headling this was super solid and I totally understood including S&K, given how close they are. But this almost entirely subverted zero expectations, which I think is the beauty of this platform—you can do stuff outside the box and even if BS1 didn’t push boundaries, it at least played with them. Nothing about this was “different” except for Paul & Andrew (they should have been way more front and center) and that actually sexy sex scene with Li & Gabi. One of the big problems with “Days” has been its inability to move on and reinvent itself and this cheeseball stuff with B&H, S&K, and J&M was SO indicative of that. And they didn’t even include Hope in Hong Kong where all the stories converged! WTF?!? I know some people thought ED was unneeded in this, but she is smart casting because of her broad visibility between Y&R, Real Housewives, and, of course, her iconic “Days” roles. This is shady to SH, but anytime they can get ED, they should. Like having LR’s Billie headline the first chapter was absolutely the right move. Chapter 1 felt so fresh and this felt the opposite. And even though I really, really don’t care for him, from a marketing perspective, Steve Burton was probably a smart move. I think it’s just really misadvised to force everyone to work with him after GH. Anyway, on a positive note, I thought Megan worked shockingly well, Paul & Andrew were everything, Wendy showed a lot of potential, and after not understanding including Gabi & Li… I totally got it, even if RH continues to prove he is so awkward. And Hope’s reunion with Bo and Zach was obviously lovely, as was LD, even though most of the Heaven stuff was cringe af. And I loved the song for the opening! Also, this reminded me how much I actually like Lucas Adams as Tripp and, honestly, they didn’t need to recast Joey considering this is who we got… jmo!

Sooo, I think Kyle is literally the worst. And worst of all, she doesn’t shine in any situation—almost everyone else’s home scenes are better and none of her “friendships” with the other housewives feel genuine (bc she is a snake!). However, like others have already noted, the drama between the three sisters and whatever that mother obviously put them through is THE story of the show. But I don’t get the Kim love. Kyle weaponized her sister’s alcoholism on national tv, which is obviously shameful. And Rinna won’t “OWN IT” that she capitalized on a moment of weakness (the ride to game night) and made a years long story out of doubting Kim’s sobriety. Which is also shameful. But Kim IS an addict who is incapable of taking any accountability for like anything in her life. As someone with a complicated relationship with alcohol, I want to identify and empathize with her… but I have never seen a shred of humility in her and she uses her recovery as a shield to not answer for any of her very real transgressions, drunk or sober. I hate to say it, but I think she’s a pile. And apart from being quirky in the early years (that feels gone now), I find her even less charming than Kyle. Just my opinion 😕

Ty! I’m down for anything that finally exposes Kyle for the treacherous snake she is! Lol. And I think Erika likely thinks she’s in too deep to apologize? She’ll obviously try to turn it on Garcelle (like she did with Denise and her daughters at the pizza party), but when it doesn’t work this time she’ll either have to apologize or lash out and I have a feeling which way it’ll go………. lol.

Ya this was so f’n tone deaf. Between RC’s Blue Lives Matter story with JJ/Theo and his treatment of Lani shooting Stefan and TR/Ray, it should really make you wonder… However, I did think their last 2 episodes were a sweet, pretty complete send-off, ignoring the circumstances obviously. This couple had a lot of starts and stops with story, but I actually think they’ve been one of the better, more consistent couples of RC’s “Days.” From the initial paternity quad with JJ & Gabi all the way to this TR stuff, I think they’ve been really solid fixtures of the show. I can see why some feel they were slighted throughout, but I honestly disagree. And I will miss them!

If twitter is coming for Portia (and Jagger & Phoenix), Kyle will parlay that into the only role she knows how to play—victim. And it can work. Hopefully Garcelle won’t take any heat off of Erika, Kyle, Dorit, Mo, and PK by offering any sympathy or accepting any responsibility for this. She is not accountable. And Rinna will probably try to run her trash mouth that this validates what she said. Meanwhile, as uncomfortable as it was—Rinna’s “statement” can be a conversation, but she picked the wrong time to bring it up because Diana saying she donates $$ to Africa in an open letter to Garcelle IS hella racist (as was Dorit telling her to calm down and Kyle accusing her of not paying). As far as Sutton is concerned… idk man. She brings it, for sure. And personally, I love her friendship with Garcelle and think she has the best interior style since Yolanda lol. But she is a Karen and Crystal and that hag Diana are right about her being completely awkward and unable to express herself in any kind of normal, understandable way. Lol. Kyle was awful, but so was Sutton—she literally just blew off Diana’s miscarriage. Sutton wants it both ways and I think we’re giving her a pass because we approve of who she’s battling, not because she’s right. Anyway, despite being problematic, Sutton has been a strong addition to the show. I don’t know what we’d do without her or Garcelle. And this is going back a few weeks, but I just wanted to comment on Crystal/Sutton. What a mess! Btw, in the group, Crystal sucks… but I love her home scenes and her husband brings the Hollywood cred’ this show needs. And she did prove herself formidable last year going against Sutton. But whatever this was… was a total flop. First, in her backwards way of defending Sutton, she brings up the “violation”… so she is as self-centered as everyone else, Lolol. I finally understand her, though. Clearly, she has been through therapy and has misguidedly been taught to never allow anyone to invalidate your feelings. Because your feelings are yours and, therefore, can’t be wrong. She tried to extend that premise to her “dark” comment. But what Crystal sadly doesn’t and won’t understand is that her very inappropriate word choice (because that’s how she “feels”) implicates Sutton as a predator and a racist. Lol. I don’t know what she thinks she’s doing, but if she thinks this is her pulling her weight……….. Lolol. Sorry for being so long winded like Dorit!!

I hate Ben as much as anyone else, but if we’re stuck with him, he should always be dealing with the Chabby fallout. Obviously, RC kept them separated because it was impossible to proceed with his vision for Ben while acknowledging what happened with Abby.

So I actually am a huge Missy fan notwithstanding lol, but she really is needed for this, esp. since the writing sucks so far and EVEN NOW it looks like episode guarantees/the budget is getting in the way. In the last two days, we should have had everyone from Maggie to Ben reacting to this ON SCREEN. Since we’re not getting that, Cady is going to have to carry a much heavier load. But even if Missy is checked out, she always nails scenes with/about Jenn’s children. And can you imagine the looks she’d exchange with SSH, SR, and MBE… or just seeing her sitting alone in the Horton living room?!? I like Cady fine and I want her as Jenn if it means we’ll have the character full time, but she can never compete with growing up and growing old on the show. I do hope MA gets good content with SN—that’s one of the show’s more intense relationships, though you wouldn’t know it these days. I also hope Justin is around for this. But it looks like Will won’t be and I’m crossing my fingers for a surprise Casey Moss visit… But this all just sucks and shouldn’t be happening.

THIS! 👏👏 When Marci left the first time and Kate returned for 3 months to wrap [!@#$%^&*] up, Ron tried to replace her with Sarah as the show’s premiere heroine and it. did. not. work. However, like @Michael said, Abby hasn’t had the presence TPTB has wanted to give her as the female lead because of Kate and Marci’s pretty limited availability. Kate was obviously block taping during her six month 2019/20 return and Abby was so islanded and felt pretty superfulous. Then when Marci shockingly came back, all momentum was lost with her maternity leave… but all year, Abby/Marci has been front and center and SHINING. It makes it even more tragic to lose her now. And how much notice did they have? Because Abby should’ve had scenes with at least D&J, Gabi, WilSon, Ben, and Tony & Jake (harking back to Andre & Stefan) to make this hurt more. And how are you gonna do an Abby whodunnit without Gabi as a viable suspect?!? Lol. I am leveled. I know she’ll inevitably be back, but this is so unnecessary. Not only is she a legacy character born on-screen, she’s the show’s only enduring young heroine since Belle. And especially with Kate (though I personally prefer Marci—it’s a long, complicated story lol), Abby is truly a FORCE on this show with so much reach. I don’t know what the real motivation is because RC has clearly been so invested in her, but I guess this is his fickle dumbf*ckery coming through. I know many have been citing Victoria Konafel/CIN as a comparison, but I don’t think this is a situation where TPTB were unwilling to work with Marci/Kate, I just think accommodating their availability came to its natural end… this honestly started in 2015 when Kate extended her run to co-headline the 50th with Chad/Ben and B&H and then she appeared sporadically until summer 2016. They just didn’t have to kill her—if they thought recasting was that risky, ship her off. Billy Flynn is lucky TPTB value him enough to not sunset Chabby like in Feb. 2019 (should they have just stayed off canvas since??—that was one of the show’s lovelier sendoffs.) I also wonder if Missy was unavailable or if she boycotted?? It’s a real shame and mistake to phase out J&J’s family—for years, Jennifer/Abby/JJ were the heart of the show (TomSell’s most successful creative decision) and kept Tom & Alice’s legacy alive and thriving in that house. I’m crushed, and I’m even more disappointed because my interest in the show had been so revived by Zach Tinker as Sonny. Also, how much does TPTB hate Lucas?!? Omg lolol.