Taoboi

Oh, really?? Thank you for the tea. I want to not believe that but given how stars are at the Bell soaps as history has shown...that feels very plausible.

Same. I've already irked by it and it's only been two episodes into the New/Old Writers' run. oh, really? The plot thickens...lol. Yeah, now seeing the scene...I would disagree with the wording, but not the body language. I do feel SB was playing against the dialogue which was very interesting. But it seem old school Sonny/Jason to me. I wouldn't be surprised. It just seems more pronounced and pointed now that it's official official. It seems like everyone who had their own point of view just off of two episodes is being giving the 'bad edit' as they like to say on reality tv shows. PM could keep her out of the corner. These writers? FORGETABOUTIT!!! Very. Unfortunately.

Indeed. I felt that PM knew what he had in MW and understood the need for a villain on the show. And not just a normal run-of-the-mill villain, a complex one. And Ava was that. Just look at the scene that was next day after she gave that guy the video of Natalia. She was happy that she was making chaos for Natalia as payback for snatching Ava's chance with Sonny, but PM gave her that scene where she saw the backlash against Blaze in the little corner of her tablet. And Ava froze. You saw emotions. Then there was a knock on her door and Ava went back to Ava-ing. MW played that scene soooo well. I loved all of the maneuvering she was doing during his run. And I felt he did, too, as she was so connected to so many stories. I was thinking a murder mystery for her, or some form of redemption so she pays a little bit for her crimes, but I didn't feel PM was permanently writing Ava out. You have a femme fatale played by a powerhouse...you use it. Very. I still would like to know who got PM back in the first place. Cuz FV sure is making everyone that was for it pay for it now. Lol. So true. I do love that she can come back at ANY moment in fit in flawlessly. So much this. YES. Roger was a complex villain.

8-8 Lord give me strength. Because the whiplash. These New/Old Writers really hated on what PM wrote, didn't they? Because the logical holes as I was watching this episode had me shaking my head and glaring at the screen. Because some of the things coming out of characters' mouths or how some of the characters acted is just....NO. Since it was the first scene...I'm just start with Wagger and Anna. Cuz I know Anna who not only just helped Valentin escape but was just declaring war on Sonny THREE MONTHS AGO is not here talking to Wagger about not going after Sonny and not to get involved with Ava. You mean the Anna who was slowly building a case against Sonny before getting sidetracked by the Pikeman story...that Anna? Even FH with her lovely tough Anna vibe she had in her scenes with Wagger couldn't sell that dialogue. And if the audience feels it is out of character for said character, yes, the writer has failed. I just can't believe we are back to the Worshipping of Sonny. So now that we are back to Heather...Chris's actual A storyline....LOrrrrd. So not only is Laura appearing to be booted out of the story that was originally hers...not only is Scotty around Heather bring back that slapsticky tone of the old regime le sigh (Note...I did like AM as Heather was more subdued than normal)...but this whole storyline is making Portia out to be not only in the wrong, but as a typical Angry Mad Black Woman trope. Even I went oh heeellll no watching her scene. From Felicia whom Portia rightfully dragged to Liz to even her own DAUGHTER. Propping alert is back, and I'm not liking it. And not even that good scene between Trina and Heather which was the oddity out of the slanted writing could save it. And oooooh how Jason slid so easy...TOO easy...back into Sonny's Enforcer mode with Ava. I do like that SB appears to be fighting against what's written, keeping the throughline that PM established for him on his return. But it just feels like the last 3 months never happened and frankly I'm disgusted. Well, at least there is still some Alexis. I just can't fathom how this show has so quickly gone from must see and insightful to a chore in a matter of days.

Now that you mention it...lol. NEVER EVER!!!

Thus why I mentioned wiggle room.

Oh...interesting.

RHoDubai I found this to the weakest of the cast trip episodes. It was nothing against the episode itself. These episodes should be the template for future HW cast trip episodes. We got moments. We got gifs. We definitely got some juicy drama. And there was also FUN. And do I need to say anything about scenery and fashion? It was great in that regards and ended in a nice pretty bow. But in the grand scheme of Dubai episodes...weak. I did like the theme was making up. Taleen and Brooks were back to how they were at the start of the season. So were the Carolines. And Ayan and Stanbury also talked it out to Lesa's disdain. By the end of the episode, it was a friend group again. BUT...that is not what has been going on? The selling point has been fallout between Ayan and Lesa. Taleen and Brooks actually do not end the season on good terms. And Sara and Stanbury's friendship took a hit. But you wouldn't know it here. And with 3 episodes left... ...Hunni what is this? STANBURY. Awww. And the game of chess continues. lol. It says something that Lesa, Ayan, Sara, and Saba went to dinner, but Stanbury managed to have her own little circle of Frick and Frack Brooks and Taleen. And once Sara, Lesa, and (especially) Ayan came back from the dinner and started to get into their asses for not saying they were not coming, Stanbury looked pressed that Brooks and Taleen quickly apologized. Score point for Lesa. But Stanbury getting Ayan to sit down with her and talk over VoiceNoteGate was a win in the war between her and Lesa. TALEEN. While I was happy to see it appears her and Brooks had mended fences finally, I was MORE HAPPY watching Ayan drag her ungrateful ass. Was she not just picking on Lesa last week at Sara's event for not wanting to do anything against her religion, only for her to have an issue now wearing traditional dress to a dinner and not telling anyone she was not coming. Girl, you better sit there and let Ayan and Sara wear you out. Cuz I hollered when Ayan said what she had on post-dinner was no better than the dress Lesa picked out for her. To HER FACE. HOLLERED. SARA. Sara continued to be the unintended humor for me. Because her doing fun shade with the dress to Lesa's dinner was hilarious. Her having Lesa and Ayan's back against Taleen was unexpected. And she now has me liking Saba enough that I'm using her REAL name. Because Saba was talking nothing, but common sense to Sara about her man. Does he pay Sara's bills? Does he pay Sara's son's bills? Does he pay her telephone bill? Are they going to chill? hehe. Destiny's Child aside, no F-boi should be dictating how a money bitca moves and Sara IS about her bag. BROOKS. Brooks just wanted mess to want mess. lol. She was sitting back and eating her food when Ayan started in on Stanbury after Ayan was done with Taleen. And...so was I. I'm again happy that her and Taleen appear to be on the same page again. But I again wonder what happens that they fall out again. AYAN. Outside of Sara, she was the highlight for me. You have to go back to Season 1 to get Ayan like this because she's been mostly background this season. But her coming in and almost immediately starting to drag Taleen, Brooks, and Stanbury was great to watch. And she went in when Taleen brought that NJ out. No, Boo...not to this model who can cruse you out in FOUR different languages. lol. And I do like that she and Stanbury had a sit-down by the spiritual swing and were able to express how they feel. Alone. I felt that was the right thing to do. That said...Ayan needs to accept and acknowledge what everyone else (and the audience) know...she was just embarrassed and lashed out. And she was still trying to make herself look like the victim which is smh. LESA. Was just there looking pretty and with looks and I have no problem with that. Her traditional dress. Her in the blue. Her with the braids and looking every inch of her culture. I can look at her for DAYS she is soooooooooo darn beautiful. And I'm gay. lol. Her only false note would be her clear disdain for Stanbury. And I don't hate that, but in the war between her and Stanbury, she got her blows in, but I feel she's losing. And next week....NINA!!!! Good episode but easily the weakest (outside of Episode 2?) one of a pretty great season. All cast trips should be this fun messy.

Oooo...see it would have been nice to see that pop up more on screen.

Very. Since Natalia's whole reason for coming to town was her daughter...it's very much 'Ho, why is you here?'

THIS. And there was so many places for her to go. Deacon/Taylor anyone?

This? This is FRIEND CONTRACT 2024 (c) Cynthia Bailey RHOA. hehe. But...oh, yes. They stayed feuding all yesterday before the new episode. Sara even did a post tagging Stanbury, Taleen, and Ayan (interesting on who she tagged vs who she didn't ) called How to Get a S3 Guide to shade Saba. And Saba got her back by mentioning she might want to pipe down before she released some voice notes of her own. They were on fire! And for the first time I saw what you all were talking about with Saba. I could be down for S3 being the unraveling of Sara. I thought it was telling this season that so many of her castmates have referenced how she is not at all what she seems on screen and it was a running joke. So will the Real Sara please stand up? As for NY...yeah...I would say that the pigeon comment is so up HIS alley. That said...I was happy to see them and the NY setting again, but I was MILDLY intrigued. I definitely want to see what Abe did. You know I'm Team Brynn on her vs Ubah (and she is already on the warpath online). And the mystery of who is preggers? Sounds scandalous. As for MIAMI...In Adriana We Trust.

Lazy writing and propping. I felt PM was going to, but we still would have had Ava around for a while. And I trusted he could find the right wiggle room to keep her on the canvas as well. Because the Ava on screen during his run was smart, cunning, and making moves on AND off screen. Amen. Oh, do speak your thoughts.

Damn. Because I need yet ANOTHER thing to be mad at that show about. And from reading interviews, I know she loved the show and the role. And she strived to improve. Which she did over those two years. So I will actually miss her. That said...it does make me wonder if the New/Old Writers are going to pivot back to the Joss/Kristina rivalry and make that Joss/Dex/Kristina triangle they teased. Since...they like to go back to things pre-PM. Same. Also same. Now that you say it...Hmmm. Well Terry got mentioned last week so there's that.

Well per last month's thread...one of them brothers ain't staying gone.

Oh I noticed that too. Just ugh.

8-7 Even with the good, this episode is just making me see red. At least I'm watching it as I work out. In the first five minutes, we are going with the HARD reset with a lot of TELLING. And between Jason and Carly to boot. Ugh. So the last few months have more or less been Jason and Sonny at odds. And they could not even show us seeing Jason find him. We couldn't even see Sonny talking to him or be shut down to Jason, but slowly open up THEN. To see the first steps to reconciliation between the two of them. Them (and Carly makes 3) are just back, and that's it? Like that? No build-up? That first 5 minutes was so uninspired and a big FU to PM. Whatever. So we are back to Dex/Joss as the young lovers. Not shocked. But ugh. What I did like was seeing the aftermath of the loss of the baby between TJ and Molly. The potential for drama was right there. Yeah, Molly would be about her work...though seeing her confront Ava would also be in keeping with her character. TJ being angry and feeling like Molly was not there for him. I like Angry TJ. And I would like that last part (Molly not being there for him) to organically snowball into drama for them. And that last scene was heartbreaking. I liked the coda of Sonny going to Kevin (cuz we know how I really felt about seeing He Who Shall Not Be Named in the 8-6 episode). So I liked seeing Kevin seeing Sonny at the penthouse, but wait!!! THIS is how Sonny starts to clue into his meds being messed with??? *cough*stupidreset*cough* And as soon as I said that, Donna ran into the kitchen with Sonny's meds. You know what? Yep, this episode has the very stink of FU to it for sure now. All of that build-up with the meds. And all the ways it could have come out. All the BETTER and DRAMATIC ways it could have come out. These old/new writers went with THIS??? Not only was it slapstick-y, but has FV's hands all over it to me. Well I am happy to see that the Ava/Trina friendship appears to be saved. But the merry-go-round of guests to Ava's cell is a lot. It felt like a beatdown whether it was justified or not. Back to the world of propping I guess. Liz...back to being a bit player. Le sigh. And I guess that last scene was basically let us the audience know whom the focus will be on...Sonny, Carly, Jason, and Joss. Wow.

It's funny you say house cleaning, but PM was doing that and it was a fireable offense to FV.

Yeah it really was. re: Billy. I seriously had to screen him out. He's just all over everything and I just don't see why. Unlike Victor who I also LOVE told Summer it was fixed. EB was in his prime Victor moment. Phyllis had the shocked look and hair toss. And then the music kicked in. LOVE IT. But all of Victor's moments last Friday were great scenes. I was so surprised he didn't strong-arm Kyle for Summer. He just...talked. hehe. Tbf, Jack did try to step in, but Diane shut him down REALLLL quick. Phyllis had that coming. Because Diane spoke nothing, but the truth. Phyllis has been stirring the pot between Kyle and Summer just as much as Victor has been doing it between Kyle and Jack. And while Diane might not get the moral high ground, Giggly Heffa doesn't get it either. SHE can have ALL the seats. Loved Diane getting under her skin before Summer walked in. Awww I forgot about anniversary night. I thought that was well-done as well. Jack and Diane are definitely stepping into those roles now. So it wasn't just me? I was thinking didn't Devon/Abby get engaged? lol. Just smh.

Onward and upward with him.

Nice to look at but *shivers* at the Fords.

IKR!!! And I was on his side, too. smh. And they are STILL feuding as I type this. I mean...what happened? Because Saba is getting some good licks in on Sara as Sara is getting some licks in on her. Taleen? What? Is this referencing tonight's episode? I am 2 hours out from it and I know from a clip that they get into it. Yassss!!!! I'm thinking the same thing. I know they broke up, but there's no way that it is not going to come up when they start filming (which I was wrong about the date and it seems they are starting filming next month. Next month? why?) because if anyone is going to be messy it will be Adriana. Payback is...well...you know.

Well that scene in the trailer didn't help. Beyhive gonna get that man.

Of course Larsa would take advantage of those pictures leaking!!!

8-9 They can never go wrong with a catfight. And Diane vs Phyllis will never not be good. I don't know who wrote the dialogue, but they BOTH got good licks in. I was of course happy to see Diane won over that Giggly Heffa though. I was hollering and cheering cuz she was reading Phyllis down. This week has actually been good. I'm glad I watched/listened to it in one setting. I wished there was more going on, but Kyle vs Summer was a nice A plot that made the backbone of this week. And it's been fun to watch because as I've said before MM and AL brought their A-game. And their dialogue has been on fire as well. I loved Jack playing patriarch over it all and Diane is giving some nice matriarch moments though the highlight was today. I was pleasantly surprised that Victor got roped into Kyle vs Summer. It made sense given the web he's been spinning around Jack, but sometimes it has been easy to forget that Summer is his grandgirl. I'm mostly surprised because Victor was pretty human and tried to get both sides of their fighting. Him coming man to man with Kyle and talking to him was unexpected, but great. I guess B plot would be the 'Perils' of Billy. RME. And outside of his scenes with Lily, I couldn't care less. When I don't care for Adam, and I'm on HIS side, you might want to have a seat. It just felt like Billy was marking his territory, and he really needed to STFU. I liked the idea that Lily might try to hide Billy from the public and she be the face of A-C, but Billy better not use Jill's illness to make it seem like he's not around without her knowledge. Meanwhile, Billy declared war on Adam so Team Adam there. Well...since it feels like the relaunch party for A-C is dead...is the next Y&R event going to be Devon and Abby's wedding? I wouldn't mind. But where would be the drama? Nice to hear that Traci is in L.A. with Alan. Sharon's storyline and the Lucy/Faith storyline vanished. I did like Sally's anniversary of her baby dying. And her trying to suffer in silence. But that's down to CH's acting.