KMan101

18 hours ago, AlexElizabeth said:

My goodness, Gabi and Jake AGAIN today? This stuff with Jake crying over old mob memories is total crud.

Philip not being a jealous loser was nice for the two weeks that it lasted. He really asked Chloe if she f-cked Brady in the park. WTF.

I actually did watch Marlena with Ben and I can actually appreciate his reasons for not wanting a kid because they're 100% legit. He's totally right - he has no business bringing a child into the world even if it's what Ciara wants. The Devil wants that baby tho

It's startling how ... awful Gabi and Jake have become. LOL. The Kate 'story' didn't help. I also don't even see the same chemistry between Barash and Banus I once did.

With Ava cooking constantly and the Hernandez kitchen being such a focus can we get MarDevil setting Ava up with a Rafe murder? I'd be forever grateful. 

Different choices could be made with a lot of these characters and it could at least be watchable and almost interesting. But nope. Zzzz.

And why are they writing Philip like he's ready to be profiled on Dateline NBC? As someone who's struggling to remain interested watching, I assume he's going to have Jake kill Brady? But I assume Philip is the 'loser'. The writing could be SO MUCH BETTER. Sigh. I don't mind Philip pulling a Victor, so to speak (Victor was *bad* once upon a time) but the writing is hardly layered like once upon a time. Things that might seem good on paper don't translate because effort isn't taken.

Told ya'll The Devil was really about Cin. LOL. But it makes sense. I'd involve them too. It just always feels like Ben propping. He's right but I still roll my eyes. I just can't ever invest or care about him.

2 hours ago, Skylover said:

I can see Maisie being back in a few years when the money dries up. I'm enjoying the show at the moment. I think it's got a good cast generally (other than Stuart, Rainie, the Panesars and a few others). The problem is it feels like it's lacking energy and nothing big is going on. It doesn't feel like there are big stories bubbling under the surface.

They've done a good job with the child recasts, I think the new Tommy and Lily are good. I think the Bobby and Dotty recasts are good too. Peter, Ben and Liam less so. Hopefully they recast Ben and Peter again down the line. They are morons for getting rid of the last Ben.

I like most of the cast too. You're spot on in your assessment of the show though. It's lacking energy and nothing big is going on. And like you said doesn't feel like we're building towards anything. 

I think it's why I perk up more when Janine is on and she's interacting with well-established characters and you can tell the actors are upping it a bit and bringing some energy. IMO. But even the Janine/Kat 'battle' over Scarlett feels flat. So far. 

I could do without Stuart and Rainie too. I like Vinny and Kheerat and even Suki, but I'm not sure what their goal is with the Suki/Honey stuff. They had a nice friendship, the kiss happened and now it's a power struggle, if you will. 

Lots of little stories are going on, which is good to see, but that's how it should be. These are the potatoes. Where's the meat? lol

I guess the bubbling secret of "Rocky" and Dotty has some potential but it's not quite the same.

I feel like they hesitate pulling the trigger on ending Gray but that would boost them a bit. Build it up, climax it and give us a payoff. Seems like it was going that way, then we had him with his dad and circling back to Whitney. Lots of people could be suspects if he was murdered ... just saying.

I will say I like that Sonia is single and becoming more of a 'matriarch', if you will. It works. I hated the years of her vs. Pauline. It never worked for me. Not everyone has to have an attitude or be a bitch EastEnders  lol 

There's a definite 'lack of direction' going on with the show. Some of the characters could use a purpose. They do have a pretty large cast though and do a decent job overall.

I never liked the shoe-horning in of Skye, as much as I love Robin Christopher and Skye. I didn't mind her on the show but yeah it was all so rushed and forced.

I did like the idea of Alan having a daughter but it was all wasted on Skye, and then un-done.

I'm giving the show the benefit of the doubt with MarDevil 2.0. It will last months. So we'll see. I hope the two year renewal leads to better plotted stories. But it's also Ron.

2 minutes ago, Soapsuds said:

That's what I said when it first started. It should've been Beyond Salem 2.

100%

But I do think it gave the main show some initial buzz. And while TVGuide isn't what it once was, it still highlighted MarDevil. So I get why IF it were a decision (not saying it was of course) they'd say "let's do it on the main show" but of course it wasn't that deep. LOL

For me, time to move DAYS online LOL. I'm all for 'seasons'. 

I will say I wish The Possession 2.0 had been a Beyond Salem mini-series type story. A better budget and a clear focus, with a beginning, middle and end, would be fantastic. We'll see how this one goes. The fact is, for me, it's a bright spot on a fading show that I'm struggling to remain invested in. 

1 minute ago, Soapsuds said:

2 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

How are you enjoying the possession story when it's barely on?

How can you not when the rest of the show is garbage? LOL

But I LOL. It's true. I miss the DAYS when stories played out. They used to have a pretty good formula. The flow is terrible. We're lucky it's on as much as it is.

I know DAYS is trying with no budget, but having characters on for 2-4-6, even 8 episodes a month you aren't able to do what you normally would be able to. I get it but it totally affects story-line flow. And Ron was trained in 'play it to death then rest it'. I actually notice a better balance lately but it's still not great.

It's very hard to invest in on a daily basis. Saving episodes up and binging it is slightly better.

3 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

The possession story is such a flop. They shouldn't have even bothered.

You were never going to like it  lol

Hardly a flop. It's brewing. It hasn't even 'started' really. Trust me if it flops I'll be the first to shout it from the rafters.

24 minutes ago, wingwalker said:

 

 

Not surprised since there was rumors earlier this year that she was thinking of not renewing her contract.  This is going to be a big loss for the show. The show already major problem with the lack of long time characters and now they are losing another one. She was also popular with younger viewers.

Definitely going to be a loss. She'll probably have good success away from the show though. We'll see. 

They just wrote out Bernadette too (also popular) but I assume the actress is just on a break or temporarily written out for story?

Soooo random but I lol everytime I realize the character's name is Bob Hope. Will never not think of THE Bob Hope.

I will say, the show just 'overall' feels a bit depressing. Bullying, postnatal depression, a psychotic murderess ... not against any of those stories but it's just so heavy. You shouldn't have so many heavy storylines on-going. Reminds me when EastEnders and Corrie would be so heavy and it becomes draining to watch. There has to be some balance.

I feel like they really ... damaged the Duckworth family line by turning Terry so dark.

I also wonder why they don't bring Martin back and put him with Gail. He'd add a lot and I liked his 2018 return. He fit right back in. Is Sean Wilson not interested or unavailable or is the show just not? I mean, they do have a huge cast ...

I feel like they have missed some opportunities to bring familiar faces back, even though we have a lot as it is.

Totally random but as we're talking about familiar faces ....

It's so sad though, I can't see Bet ever 'working' on this version of the show. We're better off with her in our memories I feel. Not that she'll ever return it seems. They bring it up for a tabloid article every so often but it's never serious. They should have done a spin-off.

Well, I shouldn't say 'this version' as it's a lot more palatable and an effort is made to feel like a familiar show so she would actually fit in again now, but the show as it was for so long? I'm glad she avoided that.

On 10/7/2021 at 2:15 AM, ranger1rg said:

Why can’t DAYS have even a modicum of the fun and energy of Beyond Salem? I really don’t get it. It’s like they were filmed on different planets.

Preach

And while I am enjoying Possession 2.0, it's like watching an entirely different show as well. And then you have episodes that drag on with Ava, Duke The Bear, Rafe ... sigh.

Beyond Salem = the show fans want

Possession 2.0 = the show Ron wants

Duke The Bear = the show NBC wants

Meanwhile, Sony is all "I don't know her"

On 10/5/2021 at 8:35 AM, DRW50 said:

The main difference is Corrie still has some characters one can care about, and tries to maintain integrity in some of them. EE is entirely hollow at this  point,  lurching from  one plot device to another even as none of it makes sense or is worth watching. The worst part now is the incredibly pathetic obsession with bringing up past moments as a checklist - it's like mainlining Wikipedia summaries as scripts.

Spot on

8 hours ago, wingwalker said:

Same. I still keep up with spoilers and watch the occasional clip, but I've stopped watching full episodes. It's just not worth my time anymore. The show is terrible. 

Jon Sen's contract should be up in either Nov or Dec, so hopefully at the very least we get an announcement of him leaving soon. They both need to go, but even just Sen leaving would be a good thing. 

 

I don't even find it 'terrible'. It's just ... existing at the moment? I mean, I'm basing it on this year. I guess I happened to start watching again regularly during the 'slower' time.

It does seem like it got 'worse' under Sen. 

7 hours ago, Skylover said:

They should never have promoted Kate Oates to that senior role. The show was much better when she was just EP of EastEnders. I think she got too greedy and took on too much.

I can see this.

I almost feel like they might have received some heat for the show hence things becoming 'boring'. It's reminding me of the US soaps where they're either checked out or micromanaging. Though I'm still not entirely familiar with how much control and say a series producer has on the UK soaps. Carl told me a lot of the Corrie/Emmerdale decisions are ITV based.

So does it fall on Oates?

1 hour ago, AlexElizabeth said:

When the episode starts off with Jake and Gabi in bed, I know it's going to be boring.

Was that Richard Steinmetz playing the judge? I don't care about this story at all.

Maggie is back and wearing a hideous purple outfit. Summer is dead. Okay? Moving on...

I liked Ava's outfit today. TB looks fabulous.

What is this flu shot stuff??? Is this their way of telling viewers to get the COVID vaccine? This was so random. (Tbh I hope GH does the the same thing and makes Jax be the one to get his shot.)

This was a rough episode. No Johnny or Chanel? No Nicole or EJ? No possession? I'm asleep.

Yikes ... 

1 hour ago, FrenchBug82 said:

This is what happens when you don't know how to write organic drama for your existing characters.

You have to rely on *really random* rabbits from a hat.

Mmm-hmm. Nailed it.

20 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

I felt this way before, and I feel it even more now.  Ryan going on an actual killing spree is needed here for the buzz (have to compete with MarDevil2.0) and the needed thinning of the canvas.

Yeah. I'd be so down. They'd probably off the wrong people, but I can list several that would make sense as 'big deaths' yet not really LOL you know? Like Sasha, Brando, Willow ...

23 hours ago, AlexElizabeth said:

I keep forgetting that Sasha and Blando are on the show. BTW, it was stated on screen 7 weeks ago that Sasha was 38 weeks pregnant and she still hasn't had her baby.

lol the show must too because it's like they're dropped and then played to fill their guarantees

Both really could go tomorrow. I don't see the point in either of them.

13 minutes ago, AbcNbc247 said:

I was thinking that too.

Ah. Yep, I bet they are

3 hours ago, carolineg said:

GW was a good writer that wrote characters and character motivation well, but he was boring.   No big events ever happened under his watch and that's something GH is known for.  I didn't dislike him, but the show seemed to drag.  He probably should have been given more time though.

That's how I felt. There was definite potential under him. 

So happy for them!

11 hours ago, AMCOLTLLover said:

Which is a shame coz Hollyoaks is such a [!@#$%^&*] show most of the time lmao

lol. It has had a lot of rough and bad years, depending on what you like in a soap. It pulls me in and then loses me. I'm watching it the most regularly right now. I look at it a little differently than the other UK soaps. It's definitely more plot driven but I have to say I think they've done a better job with showing characters having motivation which is more than we get from the US soaps ... LMAO.

It does it's thing and it works for them lol

I wish the others had a clearer idea of who they are. And yep, totally realizing the irony of it all.

On 10/4/2021 at 3:20 PM, victoria foxton said:

GH badly needs a strong nonsense EP. Who isn't going to practice favoritism. But it's unlikely we will ever get that.

Yeah, it feels like Frank will never go. Of course it COULD get worse, LMAO but it's time for a change. We've had different writers, ABC 'execs' overseeing the show come and go, but Frank has been the constant since 2012. 

Hell, give the job to Gary Tomlin. He's waiting in the wings LOL.

21 hours ago, AlexElizabeth said:

I don't give one f-ck about these Sam/Dante scenes. I did laugh at how Dante was blatantly staring at her boobs. That dress was fugly!

LOL at Curtis kicking Esme out of the Savoy. He had no time for her and her fake ID. Esme is that crazy girlfriend who calls you every two seconds if you don't answer. I did laugh at how she walked into Kelly's and Mildew literally just got up and walked away without even acknowledging her existence. I love Joss/Cam/Trina ganging up on her.

Nick Chavez is really good. I really buy that Spencer is genuinely remorseful about what he's done and I have sympathy for him. Sprina got 10 seconds alone and it was really nice.

Willow can't justify what Nina did. Oh no... I don't care.

EDIT: LOL, I just realized that we're still posting in the September thread. Whatever

lol whoops!

I adore Chavez as Spencer. 

The Facebook pearl clutchers must be glued to their TV screens along with Frank as Willow talks.

On 10/4/2021 at 3:28 PM, ChitHappens said:

Why are y'all letting Nellie Olson, who doesn't even like LW, work you into a tizzy?  When KDP came on this soap, he trashed LW like crazy.  Called her all kinds of names.  Twitter is doing their best to make him relevant even tho is is trolling them because he knows how they feel about LW's airtime.  

lol you're so right. I shouldn't have given that man space in my head.

On 10/4/2021 at 3:13 PM, DRW50 said:

Emmerdale tends to have a better track record with well-crafted stunts than the other soaps. The problem is it doesn't matter if the characters aren't worth investing in, which is mostly  the case now. 

I will say that the stunts on Emmerdale and Corrie are ITV-driven, not producer-driven. The producers have little power in any  major decisions. 

@I Am A SwedeThey were also nice enough to post the last page of the article. I couldn't get it to post here for some reason.

Ah, thank you for the clarity on the decisions being "ITV-driven". That makes a LOT of sense in the context of certain things. 

I was probably a little too dismissive of their stunts but like you say ...

I mean, damn, Susan Lucci and Erica Kane OWNED All My Children like Branco thinks Laura Wright and Carly Corinthos OWN General Hospital and even Erica Kane wasn't on this [!@#$%^&*] much. It's too much for ANYONE. How about some balance? 

I really detest when folks come together on social media knowing that there's an issue here and the loudmouth know it alls steamroll over them with this crap of "she owns the show" and we're all just haters apparently. Lord. We'll never see Frank go.

2 minutes ago, Vee said:

It was bad as soon as the OLTL 3 returned in summer '13. And there were definite bad stories before then. Ron didn't exactly skimp on writing Sonny and Carly in the later years.

Ok Vee. Was just simply trying to make a point. It felt more balanced to me. Not calling Ron some amazing writer  Relax.

On 10/3/2021 at 2:22 PM, AlexElizabeth said:

I don't think they've been posted here yet but I saw the episode counts on twitter and... yikes. Carly has been in like 75% of the episodes this year. The September episode counts were embarrassing. Sonny/Nina/Carly/Jason are completely eating the show. They were on almost every single day.

I noticed that Liz and Sam had 4 episodes each last month. It boggles my mind that these ladies have two of the strongest fan bases in soaps, yet the writers seem to forget that they exist. Gladys got more airtime than they did.

Yeah, it's absolutely insane. The balance is horrible. They get called out constantly but Frank turns his blind eye. He has to know. 

But I'm sure the Facebook pearl clutchers loved it!

And then you have Nellie Branco who thinks he speaks for all of daytime's fanbase when he lets his inner Laura Wright fangirl out. Lord. He needs to have several seats. He was actually making good points this week until he started with that [!@#$%^&*].

As much as I say "Genie Francis should be the star" (wouldn't it be nice if she got the treatment Laura Wright does?) NO ONE should be the 'stars of the show' when it's an ensemble daytime drama. And this 'Sonny and Carly ARE THE STARS' is not what people want.

Remember when Ron didn't give a [!@#$%^&*] about either of them and he wrote for the SHOW. And then 'The Writer' was fired. Yes it sucked starting in 2014 but we all know lots of crap was going on BTS. 

3 minutes ago, I Am A Swede said:

They've been that way for a long time. They desperately try and try to re-create the buzz they got for the plane crash in 1993.

If it isn't a lorry crash then it's a house explosion or a gigantic storm or a helicopter accident.....

Yeah, as I familiarize myself with their history more and more it comes off like that for sure. "Look what we can do" and they spend all this money and most of the time it doesn't seem to hit the mark. And a lot of their stunts look CGI driven and not great. The plane crash in 1993, which I've watched, was much better done, even if some of it is forced.

I have to say they tried to do the same to Coronation Street. It and Emmerdale were very interchangeable for a while. They even have a similar look (the lighting).

Lord. Hollyoaks meets Emmerdale is what I get from that. LOL. 

I guess the UK soaps are responding to "you've been boring" with their yearly end of stunts. Sigh. Sometimes they work, often they don't. At least I guess there's an effort to pull something off but like it's being talked about in the EastEnders thread, it's all about throwing something at the wall, seeing if it sticks, and winning the awards.

The balance and structure remains odd. The interaction is getting better but they used to do such a better job mixing folks and stories. It felt like lots of things were on-going. 

19 hours ago, victoria foxton said:

Looks like zombie's invading Weatherfield.

lol it sure does. I assume they'll do a good job pulling it off, more so than the others do, but not sure how to feel. It seems ... desperate

Ironically, Hollyoaks seems to be doing the best job at having multiple stories on-going and the cast interacting regularly. You can tell folks are still in their own bubble but I don't really see the same issues. It helps they have a much much smaller cast I think.

21 hours ago, AMCOLTLLover said:

In all fairness the UK Soaps are different than the US Soaps. It seems random coz the UK Soaps don't have a structure anymore like back in the day. They don't think about their storys for the long run. They are writting explosive and random storys that click with the audience to win BAFTAs, NTA's, British Soap Awards.

And it shows that they are just trying to win awards like Coronation Street. It's as boring as EE but they always have that one story that people click with and vote for.

NAILED IT.

And that sometimes works, it mostly doesn't. It's becoming hard to invest in, like the US soaps.

19 hours ago, MichaelGL said:

It’s like the EE writers are just throwing random stuff at a storyboard hoping that one of them sticks or aka gets people talking.