DramatistDreamer

Uh, I want to be left out of that assumption please. I said that Mona had Auntie vibes and I was hoping that Mona would have been Laura's Auntie. On a separate note, I'm tired of the excuse given of the merger for Paramount/CBS/Skydance being the reason Black viewers have to eat dirt on any and all cultural markers. Why have a show then? We can accept that for the first decade of Y&R's run they didn't feature a single Black character on their canvas and 🤷🏾‍♀️but in the year 2026, it's inconceivable to have more than generic storylines on a show that allegedly centers a family headed by man known as a Civil Rights stalwart? M'kay.

Last year, I complained that I thought BTG was missing cultural touchstones and a few people were apparently baffled by my concerns. I guess I will reserve judgement after today's episode airs but Juneteenth is a federal holiday and if they can celebrate Thanksgiving, they can certainly celebrate Juneteenth on this show.

I didn't get a mother/daughter relationship from Mona & Laura, to me Mona came off like an Auntie type for Laura. The way Shanice pulled in Dr. Monica, is how I first imagined that Mona would have helped Laura get the job working for Nicole. I think I even proposed that in Season one. Oh well.

Today's episode wasn't as tightly constructed as yesterday's episode but it still had some entertaining moments. Dani was trying to clean up the mess she helped create, she was equal parts desperate/pleading and angry/determined. I guess it needed to be said but she also lied when she told Bill that they were the only two who knew what they did. Oh really, Dani?🤨It feels like Bill is just a genuine serial cheater. I can't see him being faithful to any woman, eventually he will stray with someone. It must be challenging for Ambyr to try to lay still through all these bedside scenes because I do see her moving at times.👀I think Lami's monologue at Eva's bedside was better today than his scenes yesterday. Nicole and Kial are still just "meh" to me. I think they are trying to shoehorn Greg on the canvas when there is not much for him to do. Other than Nicole, he has no genuine purpose and that is not enough for me to invest my attention. Meanwhile, I realize that Kat didn't want Nicole to know but it's still odd that even Andre with his gimpy leg knew what was going on but Nicole, the self-appointed "Fixer" of the family was totally in the dark. Ironically, last year, she chewed everyone out for keeping her in the dark about Martin but, it feels like a choice now. I'm just going to assume that Mona's fundraiser went on without a hitch since we haven't heard from her but saw Jan. I do wish Mona had at least one relative (Laura, as a niece would have been a great choice) because clearly, on this show, having at least one relative helps to anchor a character. Maybe we see Mona tomorrow. Or next week.

Characters aside, the scenes between Keith Robinson and Colby Nixon are among the most compelling scenes that I've scene so far on BTG. Coming from the theater, having written scenes between two lone characters in a confined space on a stage, watching these scenes play out, it was the basic definition of Drama, no-frills but genuine conflict playing out at different levels.

BC has improved in his performance but I still think he only has one gear and that's anger, which is the easiest emotion to portray. Still, at least he emotes, unlike AA.

...not folks wanting Y&R characters to gentrify BTG. I thought Dani was going to go up and take a shower but she calls Vanessa over to brag confess her bumping uglies with Bill (who didn't make it at all obvious as to what his intentions were when he was practically sizing Dani up and looking up her skirt 🙄). And yeah, Dani needs to make a pit stop over at that new clinic because...Bill. I guess we'll find out what happened with the "downstairs" folk like Mona tomorrow, or, next week. You know who would have been intimidating as Heather? And it's too bad, she had to retire from acting due to her health...Sabryn Genet. For some reason, I thought of her today during those scenes with Heather (played by her former onscreen sister AJ). Colby Nixon is really going from strength to strength and I appreciate that she resists the temptation to go maudlin and hews closer to understatement. You don't see too much of that on daytime soaps.

Come on, BTG, who misspelled incumbent?? Spellcheck before you send this to post. They are giving me little incentive to take this campaign seriously. One thing, I am seeing that is perplexing to me. Some (not all, let me be clear about that) of the same people who complain about too much Duprees are some of the same people who seem desperate to link Eva to those same Duprees. If the writing makes her one, won't it just be all Duprees all the time?

Is Martin running unopposed? Did I somehow miss the name of his opponent? For some reason, I just cannot take his campaign seriously.

I came here just to comment on this very remark.😂 If only they would write for this character, outside of her trifling mother and unconvincing geriatric wannabe gangster boyfriend.

For me personally, the storylines that I tend to be drawn to have some world of logic undergirding the story. Dolls coming to life don't appeal to be when the story is being portrayed by real people and not some animated story. 🤷🏾‍♀️ And that phrase "well, you know it's (just) a soap opera irritates me because it's as if someone is saying "well, it's a soap opera, so be prepared to leave your brain at the door before you enter". My opinion but I often feel as if that mentality is why only four soaps remain on network broadcast (terrestrial) television.

Having worked with directors in theater and independent film, I know what a director does, but in terms of daytime dramas, for the last twenty-odd years, I don't really see evidence that a director actually guides actors. Maybe there isn't enough time but I really wonder what a director actually does on a daytime soap today? I mean, what is their function? Colby has improved a lot and has certainly become a capable actress but I can't help but feel that a good director could coax her into elevating her performances that much more, although the writing hasn't always been able to take her there.

Count me among those who think today's episode will provide a great Emmy reel for Colby Nixon. She was so good and resisted being over the top. Dani often has me side-eyeing her but I was genuinely revolted by her today. That man probably bumped uglies with a different side-chick for every year they were married. Now you know that it's unlikely that the NAACP is insisting on character development or story trajectory because Dani has no dignity. I wonder if Hayley will be the one to end up putting two and two together. If she does, she might just go for half of what Bill owns. The transplant story is just "meh" for me, I'm not sure what that leaves us with in terms of a story with legs. Kat and Eva end their feud? And?🤷🏾‍♀️I guess we'll have to see. And in terms of destroying sets, I never said that I thought checking up on how "the other half lives" meant destroying either Uptown or Orphey Gene's. I only meant exactly what I said. I have been in two tornadoes and I know that some places end up with damage while others remain intact. Mona had a whole event at Orphey Gene's so I thought we would have at least seen a two minute scene with Mona and Jan huddled in a corner, grateful that where they were was spared from the storm, checking for news of others. I honestly don't think it would've busted the budget to film that brief scene and stick in during post. I really do hope these writers start to pay attention to characters like Anastasia, Mona, Laura down the road, so they don't have to rely on a big (budget stretching) event to keep momentum.

I do agree that it's unsustainable to focus almost exclusively on one family but other than the occasional 2-3 episodes cameo, I wouldn't want characters imported from other soaps. I'm okay with the occasional crossover (it lends interest) but after a few episodes, I suspect, it would become ordinary and possibly stale. Mona, Laura, Anatasia and Chessie, June, the other Hawthorne brother, even Deanna and Donnell...there is storyline to be created for these characters and skilled writers can do this. Even though Mishael Morgan did snag that Emmy at Y&R, Hilary Curtis was mostly wasted on Y&R and to me, Amanda just doesn't match up. I think, ultimately Hailey would be wasted, possibly even worse at Y&R, especially under Josh Griffith's pen. Having these stories featuring an event is great but ideally, the event should kick off other storylines and I hope that is what happens here and I hope they branch out. I am hoping that we get to see what, if anything happened at Orphey Gene's because there is a group of other characters there that could be made interesting.

I. Was. Riveted. I haven't seen this level of soapy goodness and intrigue in over 20 years. Seriously. I realize that group scenes with a lot of cast members is a logistical challenge (perhaps technology has eased the strain) but the payoff can be worthwhile when the execution comes off as well as today's episode did. I have a suspicion of where I believe Eva is headed but I think I might keep that suspicion to myself.👀 As for Dani and Bill, what if the doors should suddenly open? I guess we shall see. 🤷🏾‍♀️ Seeing some vulnerability in Anastasia was a good touch. She's a character I would really like to know more about, especially after that odd scene where (I think?) Martin was kind of slack-jawed when he heard she had donated to his campaign and Vernon (if I remember correctly?) kind of chuckled. I wondered whether Anastasia's family may have had history with Vernon's family that spans generations. I wonder if this was a one-off between Hailey and Kyle? Those scenes were interesting at least and it was a nice touch to tap into Kyle's party boy past, while showing a playful side of Hayley. And it was cool to try to figure out whether Hayley was sizing up another 'mark' or looking for a lover on the side. The execs and producers by now, would have figured out that Wednesday and Thursdays have been some of their lowest rated episodes, so it seems they are at least making attempts to try to shift that dynamic and that's a good thing. It's been a looooong time since I have been keen to "tune in tomorrow" and find out what happens next but I probably won't wait until Saturday or Sunday, I might actually tune in tomorrow.

Today was an entertaining episode for me. I no longer watch Y&R so the criticisms about synchronicity of characters (apparently Diane is supposed to be missing?) is lost on me. I continue to like how group scenes are filmed (has someone been reading the ATWT thread at any time over the last few years?). Because of the large cast of characters and extras, I don't think there is as much room for camera movement as there was for the cotillion. The dialogue could be stilted at times between characters, but I tried to overlook it because the dialogue itself was well-intentioned even when it didn't exactly roll off the actors' tongues. Leslie continues to be out of pocket with Ted but her scenes with Diane were genuinely interesting, Leslie really seemed interested in how Diane was able to get back into people's good graces, even though she didn't seem to like the answer. Is there a reset coming for Vanessa because if she were to disappear, I wouldn't miss her. She seems highly entitled and insufferable. At this point, I don't even know whether bringing back her kids would make any difference since she seems to care for them so little. Whatever they're doing isn't working for me, personally and it feels like she's taking up too much screen real estate, so to speak. If the NAACP were truly worried about the possibility of having a Black underworld figure, Power, the television series would not have gotten so many NAACP nominations and awards over the years. Not to mention The Godfather of Harlem series, about an actual Black mob boss, Bumpy Johnson, has gotten numerous nominations from the NAACP. To me, the pressing issue is about one of power dynamics, who appears to have it but doesn't versus who actually holds the power. If you're going to have an underworld boss, it might actually be interesting to have a Black woman in that seat of influence and power. Nonetheless, I look forward to the next episode.

No offense to Jon Lindstrom but I wanted Joey Armstrong out of there yesterday. Maybe his Impaler sister ends up accidentally taking him out.👀

Since I would have a lot more use for Deanna than Joey, maybe she could accidentally push him into wet cement like a character did on As The World Turns. Leslie could've been far more effective in the role that Joey Armstrong currently occupies. Losing her money in a civil suit could allow her to shift her position to become a modern day Stephanie St. Clair.

That was my first thought...that his sister is the Impaler.

Some of the optics have been truly terrible and yeah, it's unbelievable that the writers don't see it.

I have similar feelings on this. Also, having a full episode just focusing on one storyline...if it's going to work, and there were some revealing moments (Hailey/Val expressing an apparently genuine moment of regret for the loss of her friendship was odd, after just calling her and Chelsea brats, but Marquita Goings made that contradiction work, somehow) every scene has to work really well, or else, you feel like there are definite lulls and there were scenes where I felt restless, as if I were watching filler. Maybe it was the overly-expository dialogue, at times. The idea was a good one but the execution, at times, was a bit clumsy. And yeah, the idea that Joey was too smart to be scammed but big dumb Bill is, really toes the line into being borderline offensive. I don't think that Bernie Madoff ever thought that there was a mark out there that was 'too smart' for his schemes. In a way, that statement also makes Hailey and Sammy/Randy look incompetent as confidence man and confidence woman. These implications, bordering on stereotypes give me the ick.

I remember Jeanne Cooper talking about how much literal dust the studios had accumulated. She worried that someone was going to get sick. It just doesn't seem like standards have been raised since then.

Eric Braeden is basically saying that the studio where Y&R is film is DUSTY.🤣 Eric, sir, advocate for Y&R to step up their standards, if anyone has the juice to make that happen, it's you.

I saw the teaser on Netflix and thought is was pretty good, using the theme music and flip glasses (there was a guy in my high school who wore flip shades and I had the biggest crush on him for a minute, lol). It's interesting that they went for a Single-Camera shot series, rather than the original Multi-Camera that was used in the past, especially since it's only 10 episodes in a Season. I'm interested in hearing from Felicia and Debbie as to why they made this choice, as I think there are definite "pros" and "cons" to each. Since my group got bored with and stopped discussing BTG so, maybe they'll start discussing ADW lol. Hillman technically takes place in the "V" of the DMV, let the comparisons of how Black culture is portrayed commence!😂

Thanks @Errol my two Gallery images were already saved. Considering the advice I was given recently by some posters regarding using the Blogs, I am living for the irony right now.😂