j swift

I just finished the first two episodes. Is anyone else watching and wish to discuss? I found Tom Hollander to be an engaging Truman, although it is hard to watch and not be distracted by the superior portrayals from other films and theatrical productions. Philip Seymour Hoffman being my favorite and Robert Morse being my least favorite. Chloë Sevigny as CZ Guest and Naomi Watts as Babe Paley were the standouts for me. The sets and costumes are grand. I went to La Cote Basque the first time that I ever went to Manhattan with my mother, which should have been a sign to her; and it was. They recreated it perfectly. As well as The Paley's legendary apartment and its upholstered walls. The hair is divine, and the costumes didn't seem dated or funny, but chic and enviable. Calista Flockhart doesn't get much to say in the first two episodes, and while she certainly looks the part of what Tom Wolfe called the 'social x-rays', her line delivery is completely unnatural. Similarly, Diane Lane has to repeat over and over about the importance of female friendship, but it seems like exposition without any insight into the character or why she values these other women. The idea that Capote betrayed his friends in order to get out of a financial hole dug by liquor and poor romantic choices feels like well trodden territory. It might be that I've consumed too much information about this story before. I've read the memoirs, magazine articles, and watched the movies. So, I was hoping for a new take on the story. It all feels a little homophobic to portray Truman as this sycophant who was longing to feel accepted by the types of women who rejected him in the past. As if, his life was sad, and theirs was just the facade of happiness. But, I wanted Jon Robin Baitz to find a unique perspective. For example, I liked the version of Tru which suggested that it was all a con, he never liked them and was always planning to write an exposé. I've come to think that Truman projected his self-hatred about his addiction onto Babe. She burdened him with her secrets, but never tried to help him stop drinking. It was no wonder that when the chips were down, he felt as if he couldn't depend on her. Which is why all the commentary in the script about the closeness of the women rings false. Also, I don't think that the exile from society was as much of a tragedy as it is portrayed. Within years, he fell in the with the new society at Studio 54, and left those old gals in the dust. There's little evidence that he was as hurt by his ousting as has been assumed. And, I believe he was would have found the new scene much more appealing and liberating. All in all, it made me want to wear and chunky scarf and smoke cigarettes. But that would just make me sick to my stomach and be as disappointing as this series so far.

I think with Mac out of commission, there was a need for an enforcement officer. Hopefully, someone will still start solving some mysteries in Port Charles. We still have open cases on who shot Austin (in November), who shot Curtis (in July), and who is Cody's father.

I don't see much evidence to support those concerns. They've already gone through the trouble of recasting twice. There seems to be a focus on Alexis's family with the Gregory storyline. And the surrogacy seems like it is going to be a long term plot. I could see them getting rid of Molly three years from now, but that could be said for any character. In the short term, there seems to be a commitment to the character and her family.

4.3/10 I like that Maggie gets to be a bit sassier than Alice. Although, Alice demonstrated some sass toward Bo while he was dating Billie when Hope first reappeared, and she enjoyed seeing Julie taken down a peg when she was being too highfaluting, she was generally benevolent. I pump my fist whenever Maggie reminds Alex or Xander that she is not easily conned. I appreciate that she prioritized Sarah over Konstantin. And, overall, I enjoy that she's not a pushover, which is a consistent part of her character. And, that what's made her attractive to everyone, from Neil to Victor. Many people, from Linda to Bonnie, have underestimated Maggie due to her rural upbringing, but they've never succeeded against her. Overall, I think they've once again done a poor job with pacing the story by having Theresa head over heels for Alex for the past six months. But, after spending one week with Brady (and his aforementioned 90s R&B beard) in the police interrogation room, she is suddenly back in love with him. Have Theresa and Sloan had any interactions? Or Theresa and Ava? The three of them need some gal time to hash out their respective issues, now that Nicole is out of the picture. Days always feels a bit claustrophobic to me when they don't change up scene partners now and then. Theresa's got potential, she could design Chanel's wedding gown, or commensurate with Ava. She's just got to get out more often.

I have to go with some actor's mythical tales about fans. 1. I don't believe anyone ever threw fruit at ATWT Eileen Fulton in a grocery store. 2. I don't think anyone ever asked OLTL Roger Howarth to rape them. 3. I don't believe anyone ever made a bet with their family for a steak dinner that was resolved by a letter to Soap Opera Digest.

I disagree with the consensus that nothing is happening. I'm not attuned to the credits, so I don't notice too much of a change, as I doubt the average viewer could tell who wrote a certain script. Paulina has cancer. Johnny got engaged. The Pawn story has shifted Konstantin into a more mysterious guy. We've also gotten much character exploration from Everett, Chad, and Stephanie that I've appreciated. The common criticism that Days is too plot driven certainly does not apply currently. And, if you're a fan of adults talking about mature issues like drugs, commitment, and loss, this would be the place to find that type of dialogue. Something is always happening in Salem. The population is in constant upheaval. It is just the pacing and inscrutable character motives that annoy me at times.

Question(s) of the day: Why does Alex need to tell Brady that Theresa is focusing on her work? Don't Brady and Theresa work in the same office? Also, Xander's out there just telling anyone that someone called him asking him to kill people? Lastly, why does hair and makeup insist on trimming Brady's beard like he is a reject from the 90s pop group Color Me Badd?

Was Chad the officiant for EJ or Stefan's wedding this fall?

Right? The Mayor, (who we're told is Salem's version of Sam Walton), has a daughter who is engaged to the twin brother of her former lover. That's a story that has some appeal!

Remember the article about the end of GL from a couple of months ago? This is the author.

3.8/10 I liked the Ava and Wendy scenes because it helped define their relationship. But, that scene and the Everett/Leo scene were so annoying because of how they chop up conversations. Characters get approximately two lines of dialogue, then they cut, and come back for two more lines. I'm not a content expert, but it feels like on streaming the audience can tolerate longer scenes. Is it possible that Stefan knows about Johnny's engagement before EJ? And isn't it a bit tacky to get married whilst your stepmother and sister are in an Italian hospital? They're really playing the “what time of day is it in Salem” game with Kayla getting home from the hospital while everyone is still in bed. But, what Chief of Staff works overnight shifts? Fourth, are Stephanie and Everett famous enough in Salem to have gossip written about them in the newspaper? Headline: Former coma patient and lady who still lives with her parents might be canoodeling? Also, just last week, Everett threatened to quit because Chad squashed a story for personal reasons. Isn't he doing the same thing with Leo?

4/10 First, I don't like it when DAYS sets up a cliffhanger, like Xander on Friday, and then there's no payoff on Monday. Second, the amount of action that they tell us about rather than show us, like Lucas breaking out of prison, has become bizarre. At least, have Harris drag in the laundry bin into the room and let Lucas pop out. But, I'm still intrigued by Everett's backstory. I hope he just cheated on Jada with Stephanie, and it is not anything more nefarious than that. Because I enjoy the potential of The Spectator as a workplace (even if they do silly things like sponsor treasure hunts). And, I would not like it if he was written into a corner as a drug kingpin, or some big baddie. Lastly, I know he has many detractors, and there are times when he makes me cringe, but I get the appeal of RSW. He is sexy and charismatic, and it is believable that women would be instantly smitten with him.

https://x.com/DaysPeacock/status/1751032270939656234?s=20 This is presented as a winter preview. Which begs the question, other than the Horton House fire, is there anything else from the fall preview that we haven't seen yet? Just in case

It was a good old-fashioned cliffhanger. Especially now that the Sarah conflict is resolved, so it didn't seem like there was a lot for them to do but raise a baby. However, it made me wonder who could have that kind of hold over Xander to demand that he eliminate a threat. I thought Xander was doing well with The Spectator, but I am unclear if he sold the whole thing to Chad, or if he still has an interest? Because I am unaware of any source that could control him financially at this point. It's a GPS based treasure hunt. Rather than standard clues, you give the participant coordinates to find by GPS. I assume we'll see a lot of characters with their phones up in air tracking down the game's treasures. And I would also guess that's how Everett and Jada will cross paths. It will probably all take place in the square (under the possible dome). Also, totally against character, I am willing to suspend my disbelief that Jada and Stephanie just found out today that they both lived in Seattle. But, I like that Everett's ring that he wanted to gift Stephanie is going to play a role in the story.

I realize it is an age-old scab writer's trick, but the use flashbacks in the Theresa and Alex scene were absurd. As an audience, we are well aware of their motives, and we don't need to rewatch a scene from a few months to remind ourselves. It is just heavy-handed and silly.

And ironically, two minutes after Ryan finally got to see Ave, he was shot dead.

Thanks, I forget that Esme knew that her father was Ryan prior to her arrival in Port Charles.

I'm stuck on the dialogue that Spencer said to Esme when he told her that Nikolaus has Ace. He said something like, 'your father sent you to Italy to manipulate me'. Did he mean Ryan or Esme's adoptive parents? And how does he know that?

3/10 I'm conflicted about Nicole and Alex asking Maggie's advice on sobriety. Yes, she's been in the program for a long time, but wouldn't Kayla or Marlena provide more appropriate advice. Eric's dialogue about DUI was not very natural. And Theresa breaking the rosary was very James Reilly (although I guess we know he can't be a scab...). Also, why doesn't Jada want to question Theresa about where she bought her drugs? And EJ's much more devoted to Holly than Johnny. I know Holly's in a crisis, but EJ and Johnny haven't spoken in weeks.

Yes, when this whole discussion arose yesterday, I wondered if props recycled the whipped cream for Johnny and Chanel's recent romp? As the kids say, not to yuck someone's yum, but whipped cream in the bedroom is not sexy to me. Because I imagine it doesn't smell good in the morning. Then you have to wash the sheets. Yadda Yadda...

2.7/10 - points for copious shots of Johnny's ba dunka dunk So, Theresa is high as a kite, but somehow Jada knows (a) it is ecstasy and not some other drug (b) she hasn't overdosed, although she's been sober for years, and (c) the drugs are not tainted like Holly's. How does Jada know this information? Also, is it romantic to realize that your teenaged stepsister's OD means that you have to appreciate every moment and propose with a high school graduation ring? Doesn't Johnny or Chanel still have the ring from their first wedding, or is that considered tasteless? And does this prove that Johnny never graduated from college?

I'm not a legal scholar (but I play one on TV haha), but this Esme cliffhanger made no sense. What does she have to lose by going to the police? Nobody can prove that she got her memory back simply because she called him “Spence”. She couldn't really be prosecuted a second time for her past crimes. And, she could get child support from Nikolas. At the very least, she should expect a pay-out to keep quiet. Instinctively, it doesn't feel like Nikolas will keep Ace long term. But, it is a unique solution to make Esme a viable antagonist while getting rid of her obligation to a baby.

There's an amusing irony to a parent tweeting, 'thank you for being so lovely when you pretended to kidnap our infant son, we really appreciate it'

3.2/10 - too much distracting nonsense Does Steve Burton bring the same leather jacket from job to job, or is it like Batman and there's a whole room of them? He is so wooden as an actor. It is even more noticeable in scenes with Tamara Braun who is such a live wire. The entire Tate thing makes no sense. He hasn't been convicted of anything. He was only charged with obstruction. And now he's off to a teen rehab? Once, again, has Theresa moved into the interrogation room because she hasn't been home since New Year's Eve? And why is the transfer happening at night after dinner? And why wasn't The Bistro open for dinner? And did John say more than two words for the entire episode?