Maxim

Inspired by what you and @Taoboi told me... I went on a little YouTube Victoria Newman deep dive and now I'm a little obsessed. This is so much better than anything Brad has ever given her.

I predict there is going to be at least once or twice a month a polite discussion/criticism about criticism and criticism about criticism about criticism on BTG. Our chronic theme that keeps reappearing. I'm saying this with pure love and endearment. I also predict we'll be trashing Bold while it performs unbelievably well in the ratings and the quality of the writing sinks lower and lower while actually achieving season highs. I predict we'll laugh a lot.

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B&B - Ridge will see Brooke talking intimately with Bill or Deacon or whatever and he will leave her. Brooke will sob for 4 to 5 months while Ridge is getting his ego and penis stroked by doormat Taylor. Then just as Taylor is standing at the altar he will realize that he can't live without Brooke and forgive her, going back to her. Then 6 months of them going around like they are best most happiest and stable couple will follow before all of this gets repeated again. In a random interview Brad Bell will say this is his best season yet and the year he took most chances.

I'm literally screeeeeeaming. I can't believe I'm watching post-coitus Viki and Sloan... while he is feeding her strawberries. @mar4331 I'm glad I followed your advice! This is wild!!! 😄 Poor Clint is on his way to the inn...

I still have flashbacks of Katie trashing their house when she found out about her sister's bedroom games with her husband. THAT WAS TOP Katie for me. Now as you say it... you get me interested in her Victoria on Restless. Never seen her in that role.

I can be TEAM Katie on this one if she gets savage about it. I want someone to terrorize Brooke, because KKL is most fun when Brooke is squirming after being judged by someone and she feels threatened. And I'VE ALWAYS maintained that Katie should have gone to an etsy witch after Brooke fu-cked her husband and ordered her FINISHED by black magic, hahahahah. I'm joking of course, but my point is this - Katie should never have been one of the people cheering Brooke on. That bitch was having orgasms by Bill while Katie was being revived by a defibrillator. That's an END moment for me. Katie should go savage and start channeling her inner Stephanie Forrester. That's when I'll get on board with this storyline, it could get fun.

I think you are correct in this actually... you articulated it so well (hey hey again) that I get your point completely. This is how I receive it - It's better to finish the meal before you are too overfed on it... that way you remember the best taste. I love this. But that little dramatic side of me wants moooore always. That's why I say I can't be objective about it. I know my strengths and my weaknesses, haha. But now you've managed to turn me over to your side on this subject. I'm going to agree with you.

Instead of this... They should style her back like this...

I agree with this 100. Honestly, more than a 100.

Ah, hearing that you were smiling reading it... makes me smile instantly too! They say smiles are contagious, so it must be true. 😄 Thanks for hyping me up like this about what's to follow in the show... now I'm going to tell my husband to hurry up with his cooking and come watch the next 2 episodes with me ASAP.

Merry Christmas to you again @yrfan1983 ! You are so welcome! That definitely makes sense. Unfortunately, not all episodes have credits, so I can't track which one is written by whom, but I have noticed a change in quality for sure. It often stems from the less developed characters, as it's easier to get lost in them since they aren't as evolved. For some reason, Alex has moments of sharp clarity, wit even, followed by episodes where the dialogue writer gives her nothing but nonsense and cartoonish drivel. Again, it's tough to determine if it's the dialogue writer's fault or the overall chaos of the character. But I believe it's a 50/50 situation. I find it quite interesting how dialogue can either enhance or ruin a scene... we've been discussing this in the BTG topics for nearly a year now, and it's easier to track which episode is written by whom - we receive that information as soon as it starts airing, there's always people who report who it is. I'll make an effort to pay more attention to the credits from now on, and if I notice anything interesting or feel a significant difference, I'll be happy to report it. 😊

I appreciate differing opinions... and honestly, I believe they aren't as different as they seem, because I simply wanted it to be longer... to include a few more beats... since I really enjoyed it. When something works... I think it's best to enhance and evolve it while it's still fresh... I wasn't fond of how the show introduced a new shocking headline every month during the first six months. I truly didn't like it. It's just not my preference. I found myself anticipating all those shocking reveals... whatever... to conclude and for a new one to begin. The suspense then just gets killed when I know a new one is coming. I would have preferred this storyline to last a few more weeks at the veeery least, with added beats and drama. That doesn't mean the storyline lacked a beginning, middle, and end. I just felt that Anita should have experienced even more dramatic... engaging moments throughout. The potential was there. I was STILL hungry after it wrapped up. I'm not sure if I'm articulating (HEY HEY Articulettes) this well. I needed that little something extra for dessert... But I'm not the typical viewer... I'm a very hungry for drama boy, so my opinion is not the final word on anything.😄 It's just my opinion. And I have even more reasons for saying this - I don't want the show to rely on these intense one-month storylines that leave the characters feeling exhausted and worn out after just a few seasons. A good story can span an entire year, filled with various nuances, problems, and issues... and so on. I don't want Anita to become a character who has faced 20 crises in just a few years. That's why I'm loving the lower speed they've gone for these past few months. That's my kind of soap, even though it's boring some people. I think everyone is looking for different things in a soap, based on their own taste and preferences and it's destined to have times where part of the audience is FED and loving it and part of it... isn't. But I always try to be as objective as possible and measure the good vs the bad. It isn't possible however to be completely objective and differing opinions are most welcomed. They are part of the beauty of it.

I really wish soaps would finally catch up with modern communication and publicity. TikTok has managed to make absolute nonsense go viral, yet soaps still haven’t tapped into the potential of these platforms. They need far more activity on their official accounts - strategic posting, funny moments, clips that actually have viral potential. One lonely clip a day on YouTube or Facebook just isn’t enough anymore. In a sea of digital junk... people need constant reminders if a show is going to stand out. The promo for BTG has been shockingly weak these past few months. That has to change.

Up to February 22th, 1993 🦩 "Enter... Robin Strasser." 🔷 @mar4331 - It's official! She has ARRIVED! 🔷 Okay, I couldn't contain myself and JUST HAD to come and tell you what I think the moment I finished watching. I'm just 2 episodes further, so this is going to be shorter and mainly focused on the Viki Buchanina / Dorian Lord's return. Let's dive in! 🔷 Just when Viki was ready to let her hair down and enjoy the fruits of the forbidden affair - smiling coquettishly at Sloan like a schoolgirl (the man did tell her she’s forever 19 in his eyes, OH MY!) - the fairytale turned straight into nightmare when a familiar face turned up at that same inn. Dorian Lord is here, baby… and she has never looked younger, fresher, or more ready to cause trouble. And let me be clear... this is not a dig at Elaine Princi. I just fundamentally disagree with people who insist the two Dorians are “so alike” or “hard to tell apart.” I see so much difference it’s almost crazy. Princi’s Dorian always carried a darker, more seasoned energy - mature, elegant, but at times visibly “emotionally worn out”. Strasser, on the other hand, walks in with that girlish, Machiavellian sparkle the character had been missing. Her face, her charisma, her whole vibe - playful, magnetic and dangerous. I love both versions, but for entirely different reasons. And since I’ve already watched glimpses of Strasser’s early 80s run (1980–1983 clips, thanks again to @DRW50 for linking me to some of them couple of weeks ago), the shock wasn’t about seeing a “new” Dorian. The real surprise was how instantly she clicked back into place for me. Two or three minutes in, I was already laughing like an idiot. Even my husband wandered over from the kitchen to see what all the fuss was about. He’d seen Princi’s Dorian with me before, and after watching for maybe 15–20 minutes he declared, “This one is muuuch better!” I responded - “You can’t judge Elaine until you’ve seen more. They are different.” But hey - everyone has their taste. 🔷 Storyline‑wise… the NEW-old Dorian is coming in with a savage energy I wasn’t prepared for. It’s like she’s been awakened from a long, deep sleep and now is coming alive after taking her first drop of human blood. The tabloid vampire has risen, and she’s circling Viki and Sloan like a vulture. And suddenly, as I expected, Viki stops looking like such a wretched human being. That’s how much Dorian was missed. Her absence was felt very strongly, and the moment she walked back in, Viki snapped right back into her usual place... the heroine whose life is being attacked from all angles. Seeing Savage Dorian (that’s what I’m calling her for now, because that’s exactly the vibe she’s giving) slip into full Assassin Mode - calling Clint and lying that Viki has “broken her foot” and is tragically alone and in need of help - this is a neeeeeeeew level of circus we haven’t seen. 😁 Princi’s Dorian could be vile... but she was demure in comparison to this. Strasser's Dorian is like a character who escaped from Gone With the Wind/Hitchcock's Psycho. She's Cinderella’s bitchy stepsister who stole her shoe. Overall - yes, I’m missing Princi. But I’m also taking Strasser with open arms. Everything she’s bringing is exactly what the show needed. DESPERATELY. 🔷 Another storyline that took a seriously dark turn is Marty’s downward spiral. The girl is clearly in a dangerous self-destructive place, and the show pushed that to the max - in her desperation she took some pills and ended up calling into Luna’s radio show in this raw, unraveling state. Bo and Nora managed to intervene just in time. And honestly… just thinking about the fact that two months ago it was Bo who was at rock bottom, and now he’s the one stepping in to save someone else - that parallel was very good. And here’s the crazy part - for the first time, I actually felt empathy for Marty. They got me. They manipulated me right into it. Because underneath all that venom and destruction, there’s this very sad, very lonely person who’s been broken since childhood. She clearly needs help - that much is obvious. But at the same time, we can’t pretend her dangerous, sociopathic streak isn’t still there. We literally just saw what she’s capable of, and now she’s lying about where she was on Thanksgiving. Between that and the way the show is framing things, I’m pretty convinced - at least for now - that Marty is responsible for Sarah’s death. 🔷 Billy and his boyfriend finally got some much‑needed airtime. The one scene a month was starting to feel like a contractual obligation and not much else, so it was nice they had their moment. The setup was simple - Billy, his boyfriend, and his parents all sitting down for dinner. His father, of course, unaware that the young man next to Billy was not just a “friend.” Enter Sloan Carpenter... who managed to open that man’s closed and homophobic mind just enough to make him see the opportunity that lies ahead - something which Sloan didn't get to have with his son William. An opportunity to love and bond with his child! Sloan, like a male Viki... succeeded with his gentle manipulation. Billy’s father actually swallowed his bitterness and showed some level of acceptance and respect towards Billy and his boyfriend. The boyfriend’s name is escaping me right now, but they’re sweet together. My favorite moment was Billy quietly telling his mother, “Please don’t pause every time before you say "gay." Just say it normally.” That line hit me. It was real. It was familiar. It was one of those tiny truths soaps get right, and they nailed it. P.S. I almost forgot - Cord is not handling the Tina/Cain situation well. The man was practically dragging her from room to room like a dog. And then we hear Tina telling Cain she’s in the process of breaking up with Cord. I did not see that coming. Overall - 10/10 - No problems on the horizon - the show is running smoothly, like a well‑oiled machine. And I loved that Robin happened to return on my birthday, the 22nd of February. Makes it easy to remember now. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clip of the day Dorian Lord is back, baby.

Also I don't know why they are acting like Katie hasn't been a non entity for years. It's almost like she's been this Loooooogan woman all these years while let's be honest... Katie Logan is known as Brooke Logan's sickly sister that has a heart attack every few years. That's it. Everything she's ever gotten in life, just like that other parasite sister, the low IQ bimbo Donna... is through the goat of the family aka the whore of Beverly hills. Katie is like a jealous Brutus to Brooke's Caesar. And this will end like everything does connected with Katie - a heart attack and probably an Emmy. Yawn.

They had. In 2003. Btw... Who in their right mind is allowing Heather Tom/Katie to step in front of the camera with this hideous hair on her head. I'm not saying haircut because I don't know if this is a wig or a cleaning mop someone appropriated as a wig. It's so distracting I almost wish Brooke tells her - I can't allow you to have the Logan name while your hair looks like that, Katie.

It almost feels like a typo, but it isn't. LOOOOL

I love dark Viki. There was this very important scene in which she said she is done living for other people and it's time she does what she wants and to hell with it. In Bulgaria the idiom is - "да скъсаш синджира" or something like "to break from the leash and run wild" 😄 Merry Christmas! I literally woke up half an hour ago feeling like I have to hurry to watch. I can't believe a show is doing this to me in 2025. I last felt like this when I was a child. 🥲

Chile someone has to tell them... I mean... Bold did better with Eric and Stephanie in 1987 with similar fake photos. You can't tell me that in 2025 this is what they come up with. A fan can do a better collage in literally minutes... For free. Sloppy. Who knows maybe this will be a horror movie twist in the future.

It's so right. 🤭❤️🎁🎁🎁🎁

Up to February 17th, 1993 🦩 "Society SLUT." 🔷 I've finally managed to find some free time (from all the overeating and festivities) to write down my thoughts before I lose track of where I was. A couple of episodes back, I had a really bad experience with the show and even thought about giving it a 1-star rating. But since then, I've watched 3 new episodes that were pretty amazing and totally changed my perspective. So, in the spirit of Christmas, I'm not going to dwell too much on the negativity, although I will mention a few things. I'll concentrate on what's working right now and how they've gone from a 1-star rating just 3-4 episodes ago to 10 out of 10. Let's dive in! 🔷 First off, let's talk about the negatives and why I was almost ready to take a break from this show. Watching Tina have sex with Cord just to prove she is still loyal to him (almost as if she was being forced into it) was really uncomfortable, almost like I was witnessing sexual abuse. Then there were the parallel scenes of Luna finally being de-Goddessed by Max, acting like Max's penis is one of the seven wonders of the world. One positive of the whole Luna fiasco was that we met this super cute dog that she named "Valentine". 🔷 Since this very short "rough" patch, the show has found its groove again - Thank God. The Anna Karenina storyline is picking up speed - Viki seems to have picked Sloan and is FINALLY going on that trip with him. Marty (drunk beyond coherency) called her a slut and got slapped for it (I almost saw a glimpse of Stephanie Forrester for a second). Then there was this really intense scene where Viki showed up late to Clint's "5000 editions of The Banner" party... and she kind of emotionally slapped him by revealing she wants to spend a weekend with Sloan. His reply was - "ENJOY!" Touche! She thought he would beg and plead, but Clint showed he was the bigger person here. He was definitely hurt, in fact, he was crushed, but he managed to keep his dignity intact. Later on... the parasite named Lindsay attacked him at his most vulnerable moment... you can guess what she did. 🔷 Talking about Marty Saybrooke, I feel like they are setting her up for a classic boy (in this case - girl) who cried wolf scenario. They're making her out to be this unreliable liar who has issues with almost everyone in town. The latest drama, aside from her attacking Viki, is the suspicion that she might have been responsible for Sarah's death while drunk driving. Plus, she's involved in this whole "trick Leanne into leaving me" mess where she's pretending to be Jason's lover. So, basically, everyone despises her and views her as a promiscuous irresponsible monster that runs people off the road and calls innocent men pedophiles. A liar that should not be trusted. And a girl who would sleep with pretty much anything that moves. I feel they will turn all of this upside down in the future with her getting blamed for something she didn't do. Nobody will believe her when the time comes, I'm sure. P.S. That epic moment when she set off the fire alarm in the Buchanan Palace just to mess with everyone... was so good. I really enjoyed it. I will repeat myself - she is probably the best younger actress on the show. 🔷 Last, but not least... we have some movement happening on two fronts - first, it looks like Kevin and Leanne might be getting back together, which would leave Rachel heartbroken... but for now, that's just a possibility... a hint in the air... Aaaaaaaaand, Bo and Nora are getting closer and closer. That moment when they were stuck in the elevator felt so genuine and real. I really appreciate how the writers are taking their time with showing us a slower falling in love process. It feels natural. I hate rushed love stories. 🔷 Oh... and here's a little treat for the end - we spotted this mysterious, wrapped in a fur coat... figure... checking into the inn where Viki and Sloan are expected to arrive. Could it be... I'm pretty sure it is... Miss Dorian... Lord! Overall - 10!/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clip of the day Marty vs Viki!

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