carolineg

I feel like I will again give the show grace because I do think they are overusing Hattie to meet Deidre's guarantees. Obviously they could figure out a better use for Marlena, but I do think there was more of a John story planned and perhaps things changed quite quickly given the circumstances. It's not an excuse for Ron, but I can at least rationalize the fact the show may just have not had enough time to rework some things given the taping schedule. I feel like Body & Soul will be dropped by April or at the very least minimized and Hattie will just pop in from time to time.

Oh, I don't think Deidre enjoys Body & Soul. I know she likes playing Hattie, but I don't think she's keen on playing her long term. I think it's probably a bit fun for her to have different screen partners and do different things after all these years. DH has always been clear she has no say in writing these days and just goes with the flow. I'll give her a pass as well because it is probably good for her to do something light hearted. I am sure the upcoming material will be very difficult for her. That bothers me as well. Their actual jobs and livelihood are being made fun of. I know some actors don't mind and lean into the joke, but long time vets like LK, JR, Judy Evans, Deidre, etc deserve better than being mocked.

I have mentioned several times that I think Deidre likes and enjoys working with both RSW and GR. I said as much a page or so ago on this thread. I highly doubt it's her big idea to have stories and scenes with Ben/Alex and Leo. Just as I have mentioned about Body & Soul-it seems like these actors are having fun. Enjoying their jobs doesn't mean they are writing scripts or pitching these ideas.

Yeah, it was weird then too. Marlena wasn't actively seeking him out though. Leo showed up at her apartment uninvited to ask some therapy questions and turned on Drag Race for her to watch because he was talking about it. I am aware this isn't the first time Marlena's been friendly with patients. She's technically currently married to her former patient. Ethically Marlena's interaction with her patients has always been questionable. There is just something more believable and organic about Marlena helping Julie, Hope, Jack, whoever than forcing us to believe she just finds Leo that likeable to spend time with him as a friend. This is Ron's way to shove Leo down our throats by using the main heroine of the show to prop him. If Marlena likes him obviously the audience and everyone else should. There is no way I could ever believe the woman we have been watching for nearly 50 years would be bff with Leo Stark.

Yes. They and Peter are the most glaring for me. I even think Tony and Anna should be involved. And, unfortunately, John/Stefano played huge roles in this whole story as well.

Well, Kayla and Kate had nothing to do with Aremid. Kayla wasn't even on the show and I think Kate was presumed dead and recast and on a fishing boat for most of the story. Kate revealing to be alive all happened on the Salem side of the show during the climax of the Aremid story. Anyway, I totally get your point. Marlena could have retold the story to those ladies and it would have been a much more accurate description of events than the tale Kristen wove. It's hard to revisit Aremid when the main players are missing here.

The Marlena/Leo scenes are really weird. He's her patient not her friend. DH was acting so oddly as Marlena. Not like Hattie, exactly, but off. She also could have just told Kayla about this. Anyway, I get the impression Deidre actually really likes working with GR. I want to blame this all on Ron, but she seems to have fun playing off Leo. Idk, maybe knowing some sad material is coming up this type of stuff just lightens the mood a bit for her.

GH aired uninterrupted here on the West Coast. I can't be much help as I am more interested in the news, but I am sure it will air on Hulu tonight. It doesn't seem to be a nationwide pre-emption.

Agreed. I think since Harris was very much a supporting player on Days Steve may have decided he actually liked that better than leading every story like he did on GH. Plus, I think he got mostly positive feedback for his run on Days as well, so he might have took that to heart and realized people like a character with more vulnerability. I think Steve just went into auto pilot on GH and was bored, but didn't want to be sidelined either. I honestly think Steve just mellowed with age. He seems content in his own personal life and with his place on the show. But, of course, I don't know the man and am just guessing based on his performances and overall demeanor on the show.

Anna/Jason feels much weirder to me than Sasha/Jason just because of Robin. It just seems like something Jason wouldn't do. I guess sleeping with Michael's baby momma isn't much better but I don't have much investment in Sasha/Michael. I will say I am probably one of the bigger SBu fans on the board. I don't love him, but I do enjoy him at times and I agree with your assessment. I think his time at Days helped him a bit? He is definitely giving more effort, but I also think SBu seems to be enjoying a fresher approach to his character and different screen partners.

Agreed. I don't think it's the worst story idea for Jason. I do get @Vee's point about it getting old quick with Sasha/Jason though. Again it's one of GH's famous baby stories that gives everyone 9 months to figure out what to do next with the two characters.

I was wondering if the Anna/Jason stuff was dropped. It seemed to have a bad reaction from pretty much everyone. I don't want Jason/Anna paired, but I definitely don't want more of Valentin/Anna either. I agree Jason/Sasha would get old quick. To put it kindly, SM and SBu are more subdued in their performances. It was one of the reasons I found Sam/Jason so lethargic as a pairing. I actually have no idea what Sasha and Jason would even have in common or talk about besides this baby. The show just really needs to get a grip on what to do with Jason or let Steve go (which we know would never happen). I would try to pair Jason with Nina, Ava or (don't everyone hate me) Lois. Even if Jason covering for Sasha makes character sense to me, the idea of Jason pretending to hook up with his quasi son's girlfriend is just weird. I don't think pairing Emma with Gio is the answer either. Again, I like Gio, but he just floats around from scene to scene. The actor is cute and seems like a great kid, but Emma needs a love interest with more substance. And, no, making Gio BLQ's/Dante's kid won't help.

Between the talk about how NAC is awful for not going to a ex-coworkers party, people comparing Jason to John Wick, and the actual spamming of today's dialogue and photos of today's episode this thread is a rough road to find actual content. I actually do see the concept of Jason protecting Sasha. It makes sense for the character. It's believable enough for me to buy although I don't think anyone on the canvas should. Jason is at a really awkward crossroads here. Sam's dead, Liz is with Lucky, Carly/Jason tanked so he needs something to do. I don't know how Sasha has become so vital here, but I don't see anyone realistically on the canvas to pair him with either.

I can't remember when. I think actually recently when she found EJ/Belle in bed together lol I know where Sarah/Xander currently live. But Xander/Sarah have an apartment with a set. They moved in to Maggie's "temporarily" because of Sarah's accident. They didn't move in permanently to my knowledge. And honestly, technically I believe half the Kirikas mansion is Xander's anyway so they aren't just bunking with Maggie, but rightfully there. Shawn and Belle just feel tired and forced to me. The way they explained their current breakup is how I feel about them now. They just were holding on to something that wasn't there. I know they are endgame, but it's a bit of a waste when both work better with others.

I think Hope gave Shawn/Belle her house, so I guess it's technically his. And Xander and Sarah do have an apartment. But, yeah that's about it.

I actually believe Sami HAS uttered those lines before lol

EVERYONE BE AWARE! I am going to say something nice about MM's Belle. I think she and DF are great together. It irritates me that MM was wasted so long on BB's Shawn when they clearly don't work well together. Marlena's reaction was a little OTT considering everything her children have done in the last 40 years. EJ/Belle seem like pretty silly stakes as they are just two single, consensual adults. But...I also think Marlena should start kicking her working, wealthy children (and their kids) out of her home.

I am pretty sure a lot of the negative spin on NAC came from Mo when he was super obviously shading a "young, arrogant actor" on State of Mind which reeked of jealousy and NAC just not worshipping at the shrine of MB's acting mentorship at GH. It's built from there, IMO. Is NAC arrogant? Who knows? I am certainly not making judgements on him not showing up at his old co-stars birthday. It's days later and we are still talking about TA/NAC's off screen relationship which doesn't matter at this point. If NAC makes it-great. If he doesn't that's fine too. There's clearly still a lot of interest in him in the GH fanbase.

I was pretty sure Jason was going to pretend to be the father the minute he and Sasha started sharing scenes. Frankly, I think that was where this was headed even if Chad didn't leave. I guess you can argue it's in "character" for Jason to do this, but considering it's the third time he's played this charade I don't know why anyone would even believe him. All of Michael's baby momma's either are Nina's kids or pretended to be. To me, all three are interchangeable. One was just more evil. Does someone even know why Tracy hates Sasha? I thought it was underlying jealousy over Cody, but since Sasha is clearly not going to be with Cody does Tracy just hate her for no real reason?

Yes. That was just what was said on screen. It doesn't make any timeline sense. I think we are supposed to believe Cody was a product of a retconned affair Dominique had with Mac while she was married to Leopold. I guess even if you ignore the timing issues I don't understand why Dom never went back to get Cody once Leopold was dead and the danger had passed. Or, Idk, at least tell Mac about Cody once she knew she was dying. It's not like Dominique didn't have easy access to Mac living in the same town and all. I don't think the show even attempted to explain that. I believe the initial story/con was that Cody was Leo/Dominique's child and Dom rejected him because of that. It seemed to me Cody always knew Leo wasn't his father. He just wanted the Taub's necklace/fortune. Maybe someone else remembers better, but I don't recall any reasoning for Dominique to just let Cody grow up with the Bells instead of her or Mac.

The show was very clear with AL's Brook that she never had a prior romantic relationship with Dante. Thus, it would be very difficult for her to seduce Dante.

Yes. Dominique was scared of Leopold Taub (her husband at the time) hurting him. So the Bells adopted him and he worked in the stables at Serenity? Whatever Dominique/Leopold's estate was called. But also had time to go to camp with Dante and BLQ.

You're probably right regarding the Brenda bots. Perhaps it's just me projecting how much better Brenda would actually be in this storyline. As for the weird stop gap stuff. Just put Sonny/Natalia and Carly/Brennan together or don't. They aren't interesting and aren't doing anything. Pull the trigger or drop it. It's all a waste of time anyway. To be fair, Eva isn't the only one that looks rough with lighting. Mo never looks good and sometimes Watros looks like she can't shut her eyes they are so puffy.

The way Willow hemmed and hawed over telling Chase he was shooting blanks was hilarious. She was literally acting like he was dying. Is this how she delivers bad news to her actual patients? Everyone knows I think ELR's character is a bootleg, boring, homophobic Brendabot, but I think Eva looks good? It's clear she's had work done in more places than her face, but she looks fine to me. To me, 90's soap stars mostly try to put themselves together well and would never wear, say, Brook Lynn's hideous wardrobe. They have some pride and sense of glamour.

IIRC, this retcon was the one Drake had the most issue with. It went directly against what aired with John getting his name from a Vietnam War Memorial plaque in 1986. I am sure over the years as the retcons got sillier he probably just gave up on accuracy, but this is the only retcon I remember Drake speaking out about.