Taoboi

Well, Martin's bubble is going to bubble. lol. Well, this week continues to prove what I said a while ago. I didn't like the June reveal week because as a B plot, I didn't feel the June storyline was strong enough at that point to be the center of attention. And no A storyline in sight? No, ma'am. On the other hand, the B plot of Doug/Vanessa/Joey has been built gradually enough that I felt it could be the center of attention without an A storyline in sight if given the chance. And so far this week, it's doing that with a nice slow (but building) burn. You can practically feel the tension and Vanessa/Joey haven't even left town yet. And today's Vanessa vs Doug scenes as well as the Marcel/Joey scene today...my anticipation is piqued. Is it truly going to end with Doug dead? And because they have a solid main plot, it's allowing some of the other plots to develop intriguingly. You have on one side...the growing tale of Dark Derek...and BG is playing him slightly darker...and I liked today's near-miss with Jacob. On the other side...and a great counterbalance...the funny tale of Andre and Dani. And I find it to be comedy done right. Or perhaps it's just how good their chemistry is. Andre was giving 90 sitcom today for me. And both stories are part of the continuing Dani/Andre/Ashley/Derek storyline which is really just a side-story to Dani/Bill/Hayley (and Bill is off in his own story so far this week with being in the Doug/Vanessa/Joey storyline to show his dark side while with his kids showing his good side) I do like. How it feeds into every other story. And hehe. Marcel's appearance and his brief talk with Smitty was just a nice reminder that the Crooked Cop/Martin's Secret storyline is still in play. Things that make you go hmm. Or if that will truly feed into the Doug/Vanessa/Joey storyline as well given Joey's comment to Marcel. But let me take a moment to talk about giving Smitty shades of gray. I was so shocked and like I did earlier gasped at how nasty he got with June. Which surprised me since I was enjoying his scenes with Martin and how they still have so much milage to go before they are on the same page. And of course, the June issue is just another block to keep them apart for now. I liked we got to see Samantha's POV since it has been discussed about the fact she's surrounded by women so...why June? That need to know her mama. And it's already been set up for Smitty to be so anti-June during the June reveal. So I relish the next leg of the story because it's a side-effect of the Martin's Secret storyline. Honorable mention to how well Martin has been coming across the last few weeks with brief flashes to arrogant/angry Martin here and there. He's come a looooong way that even he has shades of gray that make him compelling. A solid B plot (while the A stories all simmer on the backburner with slight connections) with some interesting side stories going on. YES, PLEASE. Nice pivot from last week.

Yeah. As soon as Britt walked into the hospital, I was Team Lulu...and mind you...happy to have her back on canvas cuz Laura's daughter and AB has been a superb recast...but I've been disliking Lulu for months. lol.

I admit that I've idly thought about that today. Since these writers have been in charge, I guess the only romance that I've seen where I felt invested has been Emma and Gio. And yeah Joss is never lacking for a love interest. Yeah, there was the Drew/Willow affair, but that was more started before the takeover and now that's a mess. Otherwise I would say Ric/Liz, but then I would go off on the silliness (again) of Liz having not one...not two...but THREE of her former love interests on canvas at the same time and when she herself is single. Yeah, I don't even count Chase/BLQ either since they have been together for a while. So does that really leave Jason/Britt and Lucas/Marco for romance that feel somewhat believable? Hmmm...do I feel their slow burn on building romances have improved? Honestly...outside of Emma and Gio...I would say no. For that very reason. The only reason it feels slow burn-y is due to how massive the cast is. So things (for example: Trina/Kai) drop off and I forget about them until they eventually pop up. It used to be...well with CVE at least...EK is still too early to tell methinks...that CVE would throw some wacky, silly situation between a couple getting together that came across as unbelievably forced. Worse, he did it when the slow burn that was going on between two characters was actually organically happening so I felt there was no need. I feel he still does that ie: Molly/Cody. But again, I personally still feel they have too much an elephant in the room for me to get invested in them.

*gasps* Oh, Smitty, all hell no!!!

Now that's Hayley. If anything, Derek is Krista Allen's Billie Reed. 😜

Let me add today's Naomi/Jacob/Ashley/Derek couple scenes to the list. Exactly...some of the scenes last week (I'm looking at any and all Hayley/Caroline scenes) would go a long way to developing some characters. I guess I will eventually be curious about that re: actor guarantees at some point due to those discussions on DAYS and GH, but I would think BTG still has plenty of wiggle room to avoid the disadvantages of that. At least for now.

Thank you. No reason to watch any time soon then. Not even for JM's new haircut.

Thank you.

I agree. There are so many that beg to be develop. Martin/Eva. Hayley/Caroline. We hadn't had a Andre/Kat scene in forever and they were suppose to be closer than Martin/Kat. Heck, Ted has not had a lot of scenes with Martin or Kat really. Which makes Bill's scenes with Naomi and Chels stand out even more. Smitty outside of Martin's bubble and not as the parent is another one. So many come to mind.

BLOOP! I had almost forgot that Martin/Eva had a bit of a connection at the start of the SilkPress storyline as well as post-anniversary party. And it was nice to see it again today. They have nice chemistry and it would give another layer to the Eva/Kat rivalry even though Martin and Kat have already discussed his feelings on Eva.

Here's a question...watching these scenes with Emma and Gio...has this writing team gotten any romance right?

Same. I believe like you...he would fall on the altar of Sonny.

Hehe.

Which is why everyone got it when Lala did that on TRUE BLOOD.

NINA...YOU...BETTA...READ.

Always. And bubbles.

YES. Package and all!

And Texan.

Same. Andre has worked his way back into my good graces. And that montage. Perfection. Can't say the same for Ashley. Actually it was a reference to THIS diva.

I understand. I just told my co-worker earlier today...a DAYS fan...that a lot of actors and actresses have been passing on GH over the last few years. Regardless of how I feel about the writing overall, I do feel when it comes to the vets passing, the writing has been (and continues to) respect them.

RHOM Well, I gotta catch up on RHOM some time. lol. I haven't watched the latest yet. But from where I've been watching, I had to admit that I felt...nothing. I found it odd. The ladies had been giving fashion. They have been giving trips. And of course, they have had some drama. So the episode before the one that was the latest felt a little too muted for me. I admit that I was surprised. Were the ladies finally BORING me? Hehe. NOPE. I watched the episode before the latest one...and everything was back to normal for me. lol. I can't believe the finale is almost here. So I fully expect these storylines to close out. The only sour note that I have noticed that has been bugging me is the Alexia/Marysol tension. Production must be covering a la the old RHOM days because it has continued to be there and clear as day over Marysol's feelings for Todd, but it STILL hasn't boiled over yet. And I'm ready. Are we going to see it? Meanwhile... ALEXIA. I swear...she really does be the gift that keeps on giving. Why? I was just as shocked as Stephanie when she revealed she had a sister. I went WHHHATTT??? SINCE WHEN??? lol. I liked that her and Steph came to a meeting of the minds again. But it's interesting that Alexia also started to stir up some mess between Stephanie and Marysol. And then we are at the part of the season where the ladies are seeing that Alexia is NEVER leaving that man. So...still giving. LARSA. GIRL, SHUT UP!!! Everyone and I do mean EVERYONE has told her to let this feud with Lisa go. And they have even told her how to do it so how she keeps walking into a scene and then...restart the SAME argument. Seriously...just SHUT UP. Outside of that, these last two episodes she gave NOTHING. Unless she was the one behind Adriana's shady birthday cake... GUERDY. I loved her good humor and her Janet Jackson shoutout during the 80s event (and also Production being shady with everyone *cough*Larsa*cough*'s 80s picture). Besides that, I liked that she showed us her therapy session. JULIA. I continue to feel there is more to the story of her adoptive kids and her kids than she is letting on. The only interesting thing about her otherwise has been the continuing deteriorating relationship between her and Adriana. I was surprised that she even realized it was her birthday. LISA. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I liked for her and Production poking fun at the other girls finding out that she got to events first. It was funny. Now that scene with her and Jody was kinda...odd. And as she has done all season...Lisa stays giving LOOKS. STEPHANIE. I love, love, LOVE that she's doing an event that also spotlights Adriana's singing. Help a friend out! And it was funny seeing her mend fences with Marysol only for Alexia to stir that pot anew. A Marysol takedown? I doubt it, but we'll see. FOH ADRIANA. The feelings about growing older is real. And I liked that Adriana put a face on it. That said...she is hot AF. So it was sad to see her so down. And it was shady whoever did that to her birthday cake. It was also so telling where her friendship with Julia is now. I did like that Steph gave her a lifeline with her event. I also appreciated getting an update on her singing career. KIKI. I liked that her and her father have come to some understanding. MARYSOL. I mean what Alexia was not wrong. I was shocked that she was saying it. We had heard it before though. From Lea Black. From Ana. Marysol very much be manipulating from behind the scenes to take out people. It was why I enjoyed that she was being upfront at the start of the season with her pot-stirring.

I'm sure someone here can still verify. It's been so long I can't remember for sure. Hehe. Don't get me started re: Y&R Paul. But I agree on Scotty. Especially given how he was written out last time.

That's a given. I live for Dani shading Ashley. I just worry...as has been mentioned here...that as soon as Ashley finds out about Dark Derek, she's going to try to run back to Andre. And he is going to drop Dani. AGAIN. Hopefully not since they did get married now. He needs to stay with the fine wine, not mess with stale bland bread.

True. But for me, I guess it could be also that Maxie isn't around to give their scenes some gravity/grounding, too. Lord...is Madeline even still alive?

Hehe. I'm not going to lie. As soon as you mentioned his name, I went and had to refresh my memory. And didn't it turn out that he and Kin were distantly related in real life, too?