Maxim

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Yesterday was slow and not willing to load the home page for 10-20 seconds at a time... to a point I made myself believe it was my internet and had to restart the router. So, y'all are not alone in this impression.

Up to December 29th, 1992 🦩 "Christmas miracles?" 🔷 Just when I said that the show was almost too dark for Christmas, they turned it around and proved that you can't truly appreciate the LIGHT unless you've experienced DARKNESS first. P.S. I HAVE ONLY 2 more episodes left from 1992! YEEEY! 🔷 Just imagine Clint's astonishment and disbelief when he returned to find out that Sloan Carpenter was the one who saved his brother Bo's life. Clint, being a true gentleman, expressed his gratitude by saying a simple - "Thank you." to the general. However, he also picked up on all the signs indicating that something was going on that night between Viki and Sloan. When she tried to explain, he was not interested in listening the same old spiel. Later, Viki felt a need to compensate for her actions and she... invited her husband into the bedroom. Based on their reactions the next morning... it was clear that something truly unfortunate occurred that night. In my opinion, either Clint was unable to achieve a proper erection due to his stress over Sloan... or Viki was clearly not enjoying it. That's just speculation on my part. They didn't say what it was. Regardless, something negative happened and their "recovery" of their marriage was once again... impossible. 🔷 But then Cassie and Andrew's Christmas party helped everyone put their problems aside for just one night. Almost every character showed up, except for Alex, Blair, and Leanne (the trio nobody wanted)... Even Asa and Bo made an appearance to see their friends and family. They sang Christmas carols, hoped for fresh starts, and prayed for salvation. We even witnessed Billy Douglas meet the first gay guy he could potentially develop something with - a handsome guy who was inspired by his courage last year and who wanted to reach out. It was so nice to see a gay moment like that, especially considering it was 1992. The little touch of them holding hands for a brief moment was truly special. Even though Billy isn't front and center anymore, I’m glad they haven’t completely forgotten him. 🔷 In the darker part of town, Asa created a REVENGE list. It detailed all the ways he could make Blair and Max pay. He hired a health inspector to shut down Luna and Max's spa, then he threatened Luna's radio station with financial problems, effectively getting her fired. Why is it always Luna who has to suffer because Max decided to put his penis in Blair? Why do women always end up paying for their men’s mistakes? Meanwhile, Blair is like a CAT with nine lives. She’s not about to let anyone take her down. She visited her mother at the institution, and Addie didn’t even recognize her. Now, Blair is hell-bent on taking Asa and Dorian down. We’re on the brink of one of the biggest WARS in the entire show. A nasty old vampire, a scheming witch, and a toxic snake are all out for each other’s blood, and I’m here for it. These kinds of wars are just so much fun to watch. 🔷 Last, but not least... Viki is having trouble living with her choice. Sure, she ended things with Sloan, and yes, she slept with Clint... but... she can't just sit back and watch Sloan move on. He's as manipulative as ever, intentionally meeting Dorian to get under Viki's skin. I mean, come on - Sloan is basically THE BROOKE of this show. That's exactly the kind of move The Slut From The Valley would pull. He’s all smiles and flirty with Dorian, while Viki is over there biting her lips in jealousy. Plus, he went to see Clint and pulled off what I like to call a "psychological attack". Just wait and see. That’s how you PLAY them, my friend. It's in the clip of the day section. P.S. Oh, and I nearly forgot - Renee was the one who saved Asa from “dying” aka angina attack. I have a feeling they’re going to get back together soon. Oh and... Idiotina and Cain broke up again (because Blair casually mentioned in front of Idiotina that Cain might have hooked up with Alex), and this time it’ll probably last a mere 2-3 days at best. 🔷 In general - quite positive 5 episodes... to their standards. And again, incredibly well written. As @DRW50 put it days ago - they are using December to wrap up things... putting little endings and bows on everything. Overall - 10/10 - 🎀 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clip of the day Sloan vs Clint. "I'M IN LOVE WITH YOUR WIFE"

Finally put the Christmas decoration up. The entire day going to and back from the shops.

I completely agree! Just yesterday, I was thinking the same. It's all part of that initial stage of love... Infatuation, where the illusions and perceptions of the other person are so detached from reality that they resemble a character from a fairytale. I believe that once they take their relationship to the next level or get married... many cracks will begin to surface, and she might end up regretting leaving Clint. Clint may have his flaws, but he is fundamentally a good person. He may not be as clever as Sloan... yet he has a good heart, which I believe is even more valuable than brains. Sloan has the potential to become quite menacing. He likes to control people.

Hahaha, thank you... I think it's over the top at times, especially the flamingo on the top, but I just have fun making it. I'm also excited for you to catch up to these episodes in the future. You have the entire Blair arc ahead of you and I'm jealous!!!!

It’s incredibly kind of you to warn me ahead... about more dark material coming up... thank you. The reality is... Bo's storyline is too much at times... How on Earth were they thinking this is a good idea to air in the weeks before Christmas? The last thing people want to see on their screen is a man in this condition just before the Holidays. My father lost his best friend to suicide earlier this year, and I was there for him every single day on the phone, giving my support whenever I could. So all of this brings back too many memories from that time, and I want to move forward. However... I’m ready to endure pretty much anything just to find out what happens with Viki and Sloan. They have truly captured my heart and soul.

Up to December 21th, 1992 🦩 "Die, ASA, DIE!" 🔷 Oh my GOD! Guys, I don't know where to start. These past few episodes have been WILD. Probably the wildest of the entire year. 1992 is ending with a BANG. 🔷 If you thought cold, plotting Blair was dangerous, you haven't seen what the triggered, angry one is. Dorian opened Pandora's box... taking away Addie from Blair was the last straw that made Blair go to the DARK side completely. Addie was the one thing keeping her empathy in check. With her gone... now Blair has absolutely NOTHING more to lose. And what followed were some of the best moments of the entire YEAR! Blair taunting Asa... verbally assaulting him... basically to death. Leaving him on the ground begging. She was vicious, brutal and she used the truth to try and finish him off. YES, I hate you. Yes, you disgust me. YOU ARE AN OLD UGLY MAN. YES, I f-cked MAX on OUR WEDDING DAY. Over MY WEDDING DRESS. YOU all need to see this scene. Mia Korf is GIVING he best. 🔷 In another corner of Llanview... at "The Banner", Sloan surprised Viki with a manipulative Christmas present - a framed picture of herself in her youth. Wanting to remind her of the carefree and unburdened woman she used to be and offering her a similar existence. Viki... after protesting too much... gave in and they both started kissing. Jesus, Viki... Clint's aftershave is still lingering in the air, he's been gone for like a day... and you are already kissing Sloan. Dorian Lord may turn out to be right - Adulteress is not that far from reality. But listen... there was a bigger reason Sloan was there. A very haunting twist that made me love this show so much more, because I love organic moments like this. And that brings me to... 🔷 Bo... standing on the edge of the building, remembering Sarah... and getting ready to jump. Like a guardian angel, Nora Gannon (who I remember you guys told me would be very important to him) came in the right moment, seeing all the letters he had written, rushing to "The Banner" to look for him. There she found Viki and Sloan who were salivating over each other and told them about what she saw at Bo's place. Realizing what was about to happen, Viki, Sloan and Nora ran to Bo's office which was LOCKED. Sloan managed to break the door and get in... Well... I guess the universe had a reason of keeping Sloan in the building all night long. It's that type of symbiosis between situations and characters that I treasure in soaps. 🔷 So for the final cliffhanger... we had Sloan trying to reason with Bo, standing next to him talking to him man-to-man and very lightly manipulating him in order for him to get back inside. But just as he was having some success, Bo slipped and was left hanging... with only Sloan's hand holding him. Now I think I know where this is going to - either Sloan will save him and that will make Clint learn that he was with Viki AGAIN deep into the night at The Banner. Because how WILL THEY HIDE this fact... or Sloan will get hurt in the process which will make Viki all that more willing to pick him instead of Clint. We all know she loves to nurture people back to health. Maybe even both scenarios will happen. But I can just sense and feel how they'll use this situation to further split Clint and Viki. 🔷 IN GENERAL- Full of drama, suspense, darkness and themes that are very triggering, that's why I'm keeping my discussion about Bo (suicide, PTSD) at a minimum and won't say anything more than what I already did... other than repeat that Robert S. Woods's performance is impressive. But keep in mind when you are watching the late December 1992 episodes - watch carefully because the show is very triggering in many ways. If you feel like you can't take it - stop watching and skip forward. It's too much at times. Some could even say it's trauma porn. I hope they will visit lighter places in 1993. P.S. Oh... I almost forgot - Luna is having her premonition moments that something bad is going to happen to Max. Well.. with Blair on the loose now... I guess she might be right. Overall - 10+/10 - It is almost too dark... and too disturbing... but I can't give it less than a perfect 10, because there was not a SECOND that I was not on the edge of my seat! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clip of the day Blair leaves Asa to DIE.

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Your grandmother and mine would have been in total agreement about Brooke! ❤️ She would give the actors/characters advice while the show was going on: "He will cheat on you with that slut! Run Taylor! Run and take your kids with you! Don't listen to his lies! Brooke was naked in his office and he didn't tell you! That woman is the Devil". And I would always argue that I loved Brooke just to annoy her. These shared experiences in front of the TV are so special.

I often let random Bold episodes run in the background while I do chores around the house. They often go out of order... an episode from 1989 ends and a 2009 one starts... But since I know all of it by heart, it doesn't bother me. Occasionally, I'll hear Stephanie and pause what I'm doing to listen for a moment. My grandmother watched Bold religiously on the TV every day for years... with our family dog always by her side. When she passed away, that dog would go wild whenever she heard the actors's voices on TV. I could always feel she was searching for my grandmother in those moments.

Ah, the taping! This was an almost ritualistic process for me. I used to do it when my father forbid me from watching "girly" soaps. I would wake up before dawn, turn the TV and press record on the early morning repeat of the Bold episode... continue sleeping and then I would watch in secret whenever I could through the day. Never thought I would have everything... one click away. My childhood self would have not believed me if I told him he would.

First, Happy Thanksgiving guys! I’ve always had this curiosity whenever I read people’s reactions and comments about their soaps. A part of me wonders: how exactly do they watch these shows? Do they stick to the TV, stream them the same day, or save them up for weekend binges (like I do a lot of the time)? It feels like such an important question, especially since technology has completely reshaped our viewing habits. Fewer people sit in front of the television these days - many prefer watching on their phones and laptops. Everything is shifting, and so is the way we consume media. With streaming apps and sites offering decades of soap archives, and YouTube full of seasons of old shows, binge-watching has become the new normal. Just a glance at the Classic Soaps section shows many fans - myself included - devouring years worth of episodes in just a few months whenever they have the free time. So, what are your viewing habits these days? As for me, I keep up with Brad’s drivel and BTG daily, catching up on missed episodes over the weekend. But when I’m alone and my husband’s at work, I dive in my real passion: binging classic soaps. Working from home office saves me HOURS, and I often spend that time watching two or three episodes a day. Sometimes I take breaks from soaps altogether, but then there are vacations or free days when I’ll go through thirty episodes in 24 hours! Honestly, I think I’m the ultimate binge-watcher. There’s a thrill in knowing there are more episodes waiting for me. Limiting myself to just one a day feels stressful! 😁 It’s such a contrast to how I watched years ago. Back in my teens and early 20s, I only followed current episodes and rarely binged. I had the patience then. Now, I crave the feeling of knowing entire decades are available at my fingertips. It’s a cozy, addictive feeling - almost like a drug!

Indeed. A good pre-wash is so essential. And of course Dani will mess that up, just like she does anything in her life. Hahahhahahahah.

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Thank you @SoapDope ! @Paul Raven - it does look a looot better when I play it on slow motion.

Happy Thanksgiving dear @Taoboi! I'll rate them like this. BTG - B+... almost A, but It's not completely there. BB - F+ (the plus is for the great new studio)

Absolute cringe 😂

If you're suggesting that you're even a day past 30 at the very most... I'd be utterly shocked. You possess one of the most youthful energies I've ever encountered. Plus, your enthusiasm for GL lately is equally motivating. I was even tempted to dive into the Reva/Annie drama myself just recently while reading your takes. Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving! 🤗

Happy Thanksgiving @Errol ! Thank you for revamping the forum and making it so beautiful! We are all so grateful!