Taoboi

Not a thing wrong. I was not at all expecting Picture 2. I see it now. In more ways than one...lmao. As a nerd, I completely understand.

That crossed my mind, too. Moreso given some of the online comments hating just to hate because the people commenting did not see anything but black main characters under the guise of wondering where white characters were. So MVJ beat them to the punch by having a white couple in the first episode. Also, I feel for non-black people who were curious about BTG, but might feel...unsure? if they would try it out, Ashley/Derek could work as a safe space. If that makes sense. But again...I think her intro was intentional from a storyline POV, but also has more layers to it than it first appears. IMHO. Not the best part of the week, but we saw her first day at a job she wanted. We watched her interact with boyfriend, friends-some of who aren't her friends maybe?, interact with her boss, heard her fears, and got to hang with her for-sure-real friends at the bar, before seeing her pass out, carried off by a boyfriend who adores her from Episode 1. Given just who she's connected to rn...Andre, Naomi, now Laura...and their connections to the canvas (Andre-close backstory, Dani, Naomi-police bf, daughter of Dani/Bill, Laura-being her nurse AND friends with Leslie/Eva, Nicole's assistant), Ashley is nicely set-up for something and she's only a MINOR character at the moment. So her intro scenes...bland and all...set up a POV to work with as we get into the meat of it...which just writing those connections out, I would suspect is for the Nicole/Ted/Leslie story, but she could easily be all about her/Andre/Derek. Especially if Dani circles back around to Andre. Poor thing would get ate alive if she does but lmao.

2-24 Well, I lasted 2 minutes into those Adam/Chelesa scenes. And that was just on the basis of how good Mark Grossman's arms looked in that shirt. And no, I'm not here for that 'romance.' Woooow so Giggly Heffa AND Sharon got kidnapped. SMH. I was happy to see Chance connect the dots. And I was here for Mariah speaking for the audience re: Giggly Heffa. Summer don't get to cast stones for her mother given who her mama is. In fact, I enjoyed Mariah vs Summer. Finally, Old Mariah popped out. And trivial note...Josh Morrow looked yummy in that blue shirt. The highlight...not shocking...was Audra telling the truth about Holden to Nate. I thought it was very well done and there was enough wiggle room in the dialogue for reasons Audra did not think anything of telling Nate about it so bonus points for those of us who would be wondering why she had not said anything at the time besides lazy writing. Nate seem like he forgiven her, but not too sure given the look on his face. And Audra said she was honest so she better have been honest. Because Holden is sure to come after her. Given what I've glanced from here of 2-25, this week sounds like it will be a chore. Moreso after the awesomeness of BTG's first week.

Now you know I go up for my Girl of the Diva Hair Toss, but love you more. So...agree. 😜

I think so as well. Haven't people here mentioned that they checked out B&B and Y&R in anticipation for BTG's official start.?

Really, Andre!!! Stirring the pot. lol. smh. Those look good. I'm looking forward to them digging into the Nicole story with Kat getting suspicious of Leslie/Eva and getting more of a feel for Martin/Smitty's dynamic. So a nice slow down for Week 2, but it still sounds nicely paced.

Hahaha!!! Cuz she's...HER.

I personally feel that like a lot of things this first week, Ashley's intro was intentional. That it only APPEARS out of place. Now if I am wrong, I will happily eat crow. I also feel her first appearance with Derek was meta though...being the tokens black people have been on other soaps. But I also think they were also being used to get in some of the non-black audience as well for that first episode. I agree that outside of showing some backstory to Vanessa, her scene was out of place. But I do like me some Vanessa so far. But perhaps it was to set up the reveal of who her husband is. Because seeing him on Friday (and I think Wednesday if he was one of the men in the car with the keycard?)...then what is going on with her and her husband? For me, the gay story is too early to call. But I see what you and everyone mean. I don't feel anything for them yet, and there was no chemistry to be found. Yet. Mike seem more comfortable in his role than Brandon. And Martin is set to be too important to be with so green an actor. I was at least happy to see Brandon show some of Martin's sass yesterday with Bill, but so far...outside of Martin/Vernon scenes...he's a weak link. And that is just going off of the characters. Story-wise...what will be their story? I think like you and several other people, it will be about Martin and Smitty's differences, too. And I liked someone mentioned a possible parallel between Smitty and Dani...two career people who took a backseat to their men's rise to prominence. And what if Smitty sees how Dani acted at the wedding and has an epiphany? And the phone call at the wedding was not an affair, but a JOB OFFER? What if Martin has an issue with that, but Smitty...now seeing how Dani acted is like 'can't be me?' Like Sharon on Y&R at one point when her and Nick opened Crimson Lights...trying to not wind up like Nikki just hanging around the ranch all day with no life. lol. More organic conflict on top of Martin's dreams to cause a rift. Or perhaps one or the other resents how perfect their life appears to be?

hehe. I was meaning the show over the movie, but love the gif all the same.

I really agree and love these. I thought one of the best things they did this first week was to take what I call the Warren Ellis approach to writing. And what he does is drop readers into his worlds with very little explanation except for what is necessary. He trust the strength of his writing and the readers' intelligence to figure out the plot of the story and go along/roll with his (very often) wild ride, introducing characters' personality, character development, sharp dialogue, innovative ideas, and well-paced plots. Could it be a lot? Yeah. And then sometimes it was over quickly, with the readers wanting more. I never felt lost watching this first week. And if I had any questions, people online and MVJ was very quick to have family trees posted. Because let's be real, it was a lot of people to keep up with. And we STILL have not gotten to everyone yet. And I loved the technique that while we had a strong A plot, the majority of the other plots sprung from that plot. And there are subplots that I suspect ARE related to the main plot or B plot as well. It only APPEARS to be disconnected. Let them cook. To be fair though...I do love slow burns. And at one point, soaps were exactly that. Perhaps it is because the tv landscape has changed so much that people do not have that patience. Or perhaps people are so burned out to have patience due to the other current soaps not being able to plot and paced as well as this first week, coming off as the stalling some of the current shows are clearing doing. And that is just a sign of those writers not knowing what they are doing or just interference. For now, BTG does not have interference and clearly appears to know where they are going. So I can trust the journey, just like readers of my own stories...who yes do have a problem when I start my stories with slow burns, but also stick around due to me using the aforementioned Warren Ellis approach. Is it perfect? Nope. But has it been well done? I would say yes. Like I said the other day, I haven't live-posted about a soap in ages. And the fact that I would even want to (and also taking forever to watch this week of all the soaps lol) is due to how well done this show has been. In only its first week. Now I fully expect Week 2 to slow down from this, but I feel this first week was well done and hit the notes it needed to grab the audience's attention. Real conversations. Real connections. Messy situations. And today's audience can and do live for mess...even first time soap watchers and ones who haven't watched in ages are tuned in. It has great buzz. To paraphrase from the show INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE...let the tale seduce you.

Yay!!! I can't wait!!! She has more presence. I feel like if Mona is who I think she is, Leslie will try to kill her, but death...won't take. I feel like if Mona is who I think she is, Leslie will try to kill her, but death...won't take.

Personally I don't mind nerdy since they...like rugby players...are ladies in public, but freaks in the bed hehe...but I'll take these pictures. 😜 Nice bulge, onion shaped butt...what's not to love?

RHOA Oh, hunni, what is THIS?

I was just about to tag you. VERY.

Oh, God yes. I know I am in the minority, but I love the Y&R sax red opening. But I'm bias since it was me learning about and liking and trying to follow Y&R as a regular viewer when I was just a teenager aka always at school. lol. I really love how they built up to Andre and Dani throughout Thursday's episode. And just how it felt like a natural seduction. And just their vibe...right down to the slow dancing...just made me think of black people romance in the late 90s when it was not unusual to see the lady being serenaded by the guy...or the r&b band/singer that was popular during the time. For me, it was unexpected and therefore magical. Even though I know Andre is a player, but I was not expecting all of THAT. He was smooth. I wasn't hating on Dani at all. NOW I was hating on her kicking him out of bed the next morning. He clearly, for all his player vibe, liked her just a lliittttttle bit. And it was nice to see a satisfied smile on her face when she woke up to him watching her. Or perhaps my mind is just a little on old school romance. Andre and Dani were giving. Yeah, Cheap called Leslie that and I hollered at work during a brief break. lol. Like someone just said online today, BTG has a lot going on and multiple storylines and yet it does not feel like another show with its multiple storylines and quick cuts. Proving that it can be done with good character development, good pacing, and STILL be soapy. And this is just focusing on character and being the FIRST week. Just wait until they find their rhythm AND add on the ability to plot going hand-in-hand with character...if that makes sense. Agree. It's been fun to read. I feel the same as well which makes it deliciously refreshing. You can see the thread. You can sense the plotting. Just the fact that so many storylines from sprung from the main plot of the Duprees vs Bill/Hayley. It's like an umbrella tale and yet not one at all.

Hopefully without Sonny's picture today. 😜

Why is my mind drawing a blank on Christian?

Same. I feel I will feel a way if it was only a fantasy.

Whhhhhhhhhhhatttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Eva is WHO??? DANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!! and YASSSSSSSSSSS FRIDAY CLIFFHANGERS ARE BACK!!! And a NEXT WEEK preview (like Y&R and B&B both get now), too!!! Spoiling NEITHER cliffhanger??? YES, PLEASE. WEEK 1...10s, 10s across the board. Facts.

BH Reunion is filming today.

Hehe. SilkPressed Sheila!!!

Not Martin showing some sass!!! Oooooo Bill trying to push Martin's buttons now and teasing out what he knows. Woow at all these extras. Not the Dupress NOT getting up!!! HAHAHAHAHHA!! at the look Anita gave Vernon. I KNOW that look!!!!! Very telling all the men stood up while the women sat pretty.

Chelesa's dress is my second favorite. And that hair...wooooow. 'I don't have to stand here and let you psychoanalyze me. It is not that deep.' OMG!!! I hollered. I love the Dani/Nicole dynamic. Happy Page 100!!! It really was. The audacity of it. I think he cares more than he would like to admit.

THAT'S Vanessa's husband??? Who is Smitty talking to on the phone??? Not Bill trying small talk with Dani. smh. Is he trying to set her off? OMG! Not the wine throw.

Exactly!!!! Which is what LuAnn did. Now there will be an uphill battle for her when she gets out.