carolineg

It's better than that and the redesigned Gatehouse. It still vaguely resembles a penthouse lol. But the decor is weird and it's just very dark and small. All things considered, it's not too bad IMO. I hope not.

Well, I definitely think if they are keeping Bonnie around they should bring back Mimi, but I don't think that's a popular opinion around here. Whatever, I liked Mimi.

Thanks, the window looked similar to the OG one, so that's what I figured. I always liked Sonny's penthouse set and wondered why his was so much nicer than Jason's even though they were right next to one another. It's dark and dreary and smaller with even more tacky decor now. I mean, I was able to channel surf and get the idea that it was supposed to be his, but I think it looked more like Johnny Z's old penthouse.

For someone who's always been in love with Chloe (according to him), Phillip sure has had a lot of women in his life lol.

I didn't watch GH the entire hour. Is that supposed to be Sonny's old penthouse across from Jason's that he lived in for years? I mean, obviously it's not the same set, but is that what the show is going for?

Oh yeah. I think he was blackmailing Kate about something? And Kate kept mentioning how Marlena was her best friend and felt bad but did nothing lol. I actually had to pause and think if Kate and Steve ever slept together lol. In the scheme of Kate's transgressions over the years the Stevano stuff doesn't seem so bad. I thought I maybe missed something else. Weren't Stephanie/Phillip once engaged? Did Kate mess that up?

100%. I would have taken a mention of them being together on the reboot, but I think they kept mentioning Alison was an alcoholic in Atlanta. With Luis/Sheridan was there a backstage issue with MW? One ever made public? It is strange on such a short lived soap that they didn't end up together since they were popular and both actors were there. I am surprised MW never popped up on another soap tbh.

David is Orpheus's grandson with Jordan Ridgeway. Orpheus son went by the name of Evan and killed Jordan but he framed Ben for it. Rafe had custody of David because that's what Jordan wanted but Evan's sister Zoey ended up taking over custody when Evan went to jail. Evan/Christian *his real name* was hooking up with Sonny for awhile when Will was in jail. It didn't really make a lot of sense just because Orpheus's kids should have been much older and closer to Sami/Eric's ages though. And I guess Evan was just bisexual because I don't think Sonny and him hooking up had much to do with anything with his plans. He ends up breaking out of jail and holding a presumed dead Ciara captive and attacks Claire. I kind of get him and Charlie confused in my mind, but I think Evan is back in jail. Was GG weird on Dirty Soap? I remember his wife being really jealous of his love scenes with Ali, but I don't remember him being strange. But there were some other, stranger co stars on Dirty Soap lol. Why do Kayla and Kate dislike one another? I can't remember.

Sorry. My bad I'll leave to the Classic Days Discussion. CB is channeling his smirking half brother Will. I wonder what damage he will cause. I actually think Will would have been a great person to get possessed as well. The entire young adult scene is pretty good. Even if Tripp is boring-I do get his purpose. I wish they would bring back ORK or someone new as Claire. I do feel like her absence is noticeable.

Yeah, obviously, they were pushing John/Hope and have on and off until like last year lol. That was just the first story they really interacted in that had that weird vibe. So I honestly thought it was a strange one off thing until Jope became a huge thing. DH and KA had some chemistry, but it was an odd time to go there. After all the Bo and Marlena romance struggles. It would have been better if Bo and Marlena joined them in the jungle, but we got jungle madness from it and we got to see Stefano's shrine to Marlena lol. And it's not like anyone liked John/Hope. I have seen maybe a handful of people in 20 years say they enjoyed John/Hope lol. Such an odd hill to die on for multiple regimes. The show just kept going back to it and back to it for no reason. The John/Kristen story was a lot in 2012. Especially after Marlena sticking by John through RoboJohn, paralysis, and him going to jail. Not to mention him sticking by her through amnesia, Romansbaby, her actually being a serial killer but not, etc. It took half a year to break down something that was built up for a quarter century by someone John had legitimately not mentioned since 1997. And John/Marlena weren't together for a long time after. Neither was on much, but they didn't reunite for years. Oh well, it's a soap, things happen, but almost too much time had passed since Kristen was on for it to make sense. The idea was there and I overall liked it, but John/Marlena never would have broken up over that. With the teen invasion, I actually liked most of the teens except Shawn/Belle or maybe Shawn/Belle as a couple more than anything. Those two were pushed so hard and I guess they were cute, but the show really boxed those two in as the next great lovestory and they were so virtuous and chaste. Even Carrie/Austin and Sami/Lucas had sex lol. Waiting til marriage? Ugh. Belle you were conceived on a conference table for christ's sake-lighten up. It's sad when both your sets of parents are hotter and sexier than you. Shoot the Bride was good. I enjoyed almost all of it. Bringing Hattie back was obnoxious and having Xander being able to live a mostly normal life in Salem after shooting Marlena is a choice, but it was a good use of most of the cast. On to today's show. Out of all the things MarDevil did, Ron talks about Marlena and Kayla kissing at length. WTF? That's not even important at all. Can Marlena apologize to her family members first? Drake was really a one man show in the background with his facial expressions and gestures. I usually don't mind it, but I wish someone would have told him to tone it down today. What's this weird thing they have been doing on Days with people in bed or a state of undress just entertaining guests? Marlena was in a robe all episode, Ciara/Ben didn't leave their bed while talking to Jake, and Johnny was shirtless in bed with his wife just having an extended conversation with his own twin and her boyfriend in the last few days. I am not even that formal, but you would think Marlena would have at least thrown a sweatsuit on or Johnny a shirt lol. So far I am liking Johnny as the Devil. Carson Boatman is a real find. And I really like Sami/Lucas, but the hell is going on? Going away together? Sami has been pushing Lucas away for months and now they are going to leave town together? Whatever. If Ali can't get a decent shooting schedule we don't need her, but it's not fair to Lucas or BD.

The Jungle story was so silly. I didn't see John/Hope coming and I still was naive so I didn't even get that anvil. I just thought it was strange lol. Nothing would ever come of it! Someone at some point said JER might have always been thinking about John/Hope because he was the one that found her as Maison Blanche. It's an interesting thought. John was a strange choice to find Gina/Hope, but I thought the John/Hope/Gina stuff was more SSM and Langan. But I know JER really loved his Bo/Billie. I assume the show knew ED was leaving at this point, so she never really got a story post-reveal. She was in scenes doing things, but Kristen was just treading water as a character. Honestly, I was convinced for years JT and DH disliked one another in real life because of how they interacted, but there is 0 evidence of that. Maybe DH was just really bummed for her buddy Wayne, but I swear Marlena has more chemistry with a potted plant than this Roman. JT really doesn't bother me much anymore in general, but to this day I can't believe him and Marlena were even friends let alone lovers/spouses. I really started falling out during the Saved by the Belle years because I hate all iterations of SORASed Belle. I swear I was convinced Sami had succeeded with her black market baby scheme and this lame KS version of Belle was fake and a cooler real Belle would appear someday because John/Marlena's only child wouldn't be that obnoxious. Obviously, that didn't happen. I watched some of the SSK stuff and JER's tone was definitely darker and more violent and cruel, but I do think the story started out really well. I was interested in at least. Outside of that mess, I thought there were some interesting beats like John's drug addiction and John/Kate as a couple. I even thought Sami/Stan was at least creative. I did watch the Alex North stuff because I liked Wayne so much, but that was a mess. You gotta love the show for having the balls to use real Roman/Marlena flashbacks for a completely different story. I drifted away after because John was in a coma for 17 months then died and the Sami show was never my thing. I will say the John death and Marlena hell bent on revenge was some of Deidre's best work. I hate(d) CC and Carly and was bitter the DH's got fired so I missed most of that era. Although I know I have gone on record here saying I liked Melanie and Molly Burnett lol. I thought she was a likable actress. I say that without any irony lol. I thought most of Eileen's return was fantastic. My only gripe was how easily she broke up John/Marlena after everything they had been through. Overall, I thought it was the exact shot in the arm the show needed. Bringing Brady in was genius. The thing about Ron is that he starts of well. He was excellent on GH in the beginning then fizzled out spectacularly with the Kate DID stuff. I do appreciate Ron's use of veterans and I think he did great with the shoot the bride Marlena/John wedding arc he just needs someone to reign him in or a cowriter.

@KLNI am going to move over to the current month. Sami/AS does remind me of Marci Walker. There is nothing graceful about her, but she has such an angelic face you never thought she was capable of such evil. I have never thought about it, but there is nothing about AS or Sami that is delicate or subtle. The trifecta of newly returned Eric, Sami, and Roman right now make me want to punch them all repeatedly. Thank goodness JA was hot because Eric is a whiny little baby man. Roman wanting Marlena back is fine, but I just don't get why the kids and his family were pushing so hard for a reunion when they knew John/Marlena loved each other. That seems like they are setting Roman up for heartbreak again. And man, do DH and JT have anti-chemistry. Marlena doesn't even pretend not to cringe when Roman touches her lol. I know JT is bff with Corday and Wayne was on PC, but there wasn't any other available actor in town to take over Roman? One that Deidre didn't actively looked disgusted by or didn't play a memorable character previously on Days for a decade? I always thought Hope was more involved in this story and better friends with Marlena and John, but she doesn't really pop up until the jungle stuff. And Kristen is doing nothing. She is just standing around bothering John and waiting for Roman/Marlena to reunite. What a waste! Anyway, I will probably stop re watching soon because the Jungle story is the line in the sand for me when the show starts going horribly downhill.

Yeah, I never understood why Sami and early Jensen Ackles's Eric were so anti-John. I mean, Sami was traumatized, and it did appear when AS first took over the role that her and John had a good relationship, but Eric had no reason to be so pro-Roman/Marlena. Roman got to leave town, miss important events and milestones, let John solve satan and kidanpping issues, and everyone just thought Roman deserved to be rewarded for this? Only on soaps are two twenty year olds that are on their own obsessed with their long divorced parents getting back together lol. Poor Belle/Brady would grow up without their parents together, but as long as grown ass adults Eric and Sami got to see Roman/Marlena remarry everything was alright. It was a bizarre obsession they both had for years and I am still not sure how it would have made their lives better especially when Marlena and John were specifically telling them they were in love. And those two brats never acknowledged the fact that they would have been orphans if not for John for several years and probably grown up without their sister Carrie in their lives (which actually may have benefitted both Sami and Carrie but not the point...). Turning Sami into a villian was genius though. Another reason why I am sure Roman was so mean to Marlena after the affair is that she basically publicly humiliated him in front of the entire town. If it was more of a private matter, his reaction might have been different, but everyone knew. Embarrassing. Marlena really could have pulled him aside. I appreciate the entire town leaving the church to give them some privacy because my nosy ass would have sat in the front pew and eavesdropped if I was there lol.

His anger is very fair, but I think Wayne's Roman was always an 80's hero that was misogynistic as was popular at the time and didn't change. But I think the main issue was that he didn't really outright say his issues with Marlena and his stolen life until that awesome fight posted in the December Days thread where Marlena says she drives defensively and was just an ass to everyone. Roman was 100% the wronged party, but he was basically pretending like those stolen years didn't exist and was very absent for Marlena and his children the minute he came back. He also, rightfully, had issues with John being close to his children and wife, but sorta lived in 1984 and ignored everything until it was too late. Marlena was cowardly and often danced around the entire situation, but they definitely didn't talk about anything in a productive way, so it just spiraled out of control. I don't think anyone ever would argue he was wrong (except obsessive Jarlena fans), but he sort of could have picked up his pride and forgiven Marlena and I don't think she ever would have cheated again and was locked in. It was a tricky situation always because I never felt like anyone asked Marlena about how she felt, about her missing years, her lost time, etc and Roman didn't really fully understand John/Marlena loved one another outside the fact he was Roman. It was a lot of miscommunication and they were all at fault. But Marlena never really spoke up about her issues either. And I think Roman called her a whore and a slut A LOT and that was not okay for our precious Queen Marlena. I also think him enabling Sami's hatred toward her mother didn't help. That's honestly my biggest pet peeve in the entire affair. He seemed to be happy Sami hated her own mother then peaced out before anything was resolved. John was wrong in a lot of ways, but at least he faced everyone and never left. Anyway, it was one of the most bizarre circumstances on soaps ever to happen and everyone felt a ton of guilt and Isabella was pregnant, so John/Marlena/Roman sort of just cut everything off and bookended it without every really exploring feelings and chaos ensued.

I am watching John/Marlena's non wedding now and the Kristen/Stefano plan to stop it sounds SOOOO SINISTER. They keep saying how are we going to pull this off? It's so EVIL!! And like in the scheme of things, your timing is awful, but bringing Roman back to his family is pretty nice and not evil at all. And Marlena and John are reading Roman's death letter in bed before having sex. Weirdos........I forgot they brought Roman's death and letter up 10000 times before their wedding and I was vaguely shocked when he reappeared. I think I was just young and stupid because there should have been a sign over Jarlena scenes saying ROMAN WILL BE BACK and I missed it. Also, I feel really bad for Marlena because Sami is pretending to like her but secretly hates her and the only thing Marlena wants is for her to accept her. I freakin hate Sami in 1997. It's weird because Marlena is like BFF with Lexie but Hope is nowhere to be found in John/Marlena wedding stuff. Bo's there, but not Hope. I guess Hope is hanging out with Franco and not part of my edits but it does seem weird. And I think JLB is trying to play Laura like she's a little unhinged, but she comes off as someone's drunk aunt instead lol. Also, AS finally cut her hair and it's adorable and Deidre Hall is spending a full scene talking to AS about how beautiful her hair is in the background and I love it. It's a cute scene where you know the actors are just talking to each other and it made it to air. I miss that in group scenes now. Marlena says Sami has the best hair of all her children, and well, I saw MM's Belle hair in 2007 so no lies there.

Not off topic, but sort of off topic....I am deep diving into days and right now I am at Jarlena's 1997 reunion (I skipped way ahead because I got bored) and the blocking of scenes is so odd. Jarlena are reuniting and weirdly moving all around Marlena's (gorgeous, wonderful, best set ever) penthouse while talking and it feels so awkward. Even their kisses/makeouts seem so weirdly rehearsed. They dont feel like that now even when they are both 70. It is just such a big space and they keep moving all around the room. Strange directing and the DH's must be so much more comfortable with one another now because their love scenes seemed almost awkward back then, but still hot because duh John and his 90's penis.........

In a sea of bad actors on Days, CC was nowhere near the bottom. There were worse acting atrocities happening right next to her with Austin Peck. I prefer a likable, charming actress that works well with her co stars over a big, showy, great actress. She had heart and warmth with her co stars and was pretty enough but not overwhelmingly beautiful. She was relatable. Carrie was a girl you might know and be friends with.

Kyle Brandt should have probably never been in the biz. But he was hot and still is.

Ouch. I don't think she's a bad actress at all. She's fair. I don't think she ever got the credit she deserved because she was on Days in the 90's, but probably would have won a couple of emmys if she was on GH or YR. Again, CC isn't a flashy actress but she is a likeable one. I am a sucker for actors that grow up in roles though. I think it was a great tribute to Jarlena as a couple up until he was banging Hope in a submarine. But they clearly gave a lot of thought, money, and effort to the wedding and honeymoon.

That's fair. To me, I was like well John/Marlena/Hope/Bo/whoever are acting stupid, but they aren't stupid. JER's characters on Passions just were stupid so you had nothing to go on. I think the show had a slick advertising campaign and a great premiere slot after Jarlena's 1st (legal) wedding, but it didn't have the same vibe at all. Yes, the Hope/Gina/John stuff was awful, but stunts! Location shots! They put a lot into that wedding and I did think it was well done. Probably the last thing I thought was really well done on Days tbh. Anyhow, that had nothing to do with JER but I think it was crappy of Days to hold off on the Jarlena wedding for so long just for it to align with Passions, but it is what it is. We had to live through a year or so of weird excuses as to why Jarlena weren't getting married for that premiere.

Oh yeah. I remember that. I just think Carrie is an easier lead to follow. CC genuinely has chemistry with everyone and had a sort of blank slate career wise. Plus her and Austin grew out of one another and her and Mike could have spun off to their own show or not. She had a lot of romantic/career/life options circa 1999. Ali/Sami was so tied to her bitterness with Marlena and John and her ridiculous Austin obsession, I think it would have been so much harder to extract her from the main show and make her a viable lead on a new show. AS is probably the more charismatic actress, but Carrie seems like a perfect lead for any soap. Not an Erica Kane spunky lead, but a nice, relatable heroine like Marlena I am not going to lie the Princess Di stuff had me more intrigued. I was honestly open to a new soap because I stopped watching GH the day Brenda got driven off that cliff with her mom. I literally reset my VCR that day like it was GH's fault VM didn't resign her contract lol. Passions just didn't take for me and I slipped back into GH after my sorrow over the loss of Brenda ended. I think it's one thing to watch JER write your favorites that you are connected to do silly things and another to create new characters doing those same silly things. Her hair choices right? I have never seen such tragic hair even in the 90's..........

I am not convinced Ali could lead a soap. Days sure tried with her, but she works better as a villianess. IMO. I was always intrigued by the Marlena spin off Manhattan Lives that would feature Carrie as well. I think Carrie/CC was more the heir apparent to a soap. She was blandly perfect and innocuously likable enough to lead a show like Marlena. She's less the lame than Belle but less polarizing than Sami. It sounds like I am dissing CC/Carrie, but I genuinely think she was a stronger lead just based on personality and overall rootability. I think she had a long history with the show to be comfortable for viewers, but was enough of a blank slate to build an entire new life outside Salem. I think Sami/Ali works a lot better in the confines of Days and her own family, while Carrie seemed more adjustable and easy to spin off. Just my opinion, but I think Carrie was always the next generation of heroine until she left and decided to leave acting for the most part. I could see Lindsay as Chloe, but it's not something I would think of. Nadia is so painfully beautiful, but lacks spunk. LH definitely has that. I mean, I think the Princess Di stuff turned off a lot people before it even premiered. And it was mostly inconsequential to the actual soap overall.

No that was Carrie, silly. Sami didn't become the main heroine until like 2000 when Austin decided to fall in love with his stalker and so did half the men in Salem. Sorry, Never Say Never DEE! That movie and picture still makes me laugh out loud and we have discussed it at length, but I love it. Apparently 60 year old Roman had strong sperm and Marlena still had a fertile uterus. I can't believe superstud John only impregnated her once.

Yes, Deidre looking fantastic in that story Last time I have liked her hair. She looked gorgeous. Not young enough to make me believe she was still ovulating, but really pretty. Neither here nor there, but I actually think the show made Marlena too old when she debuted to pair her with Don. She was a full on respected psychiatrist in 1976 and then she had to play her 40's for like 20 years to make everything work in a logical timeline.

Again, it was akin to giving Sami a platform for her delusion and making her the main heroine of the show in 1996.