OzFrog

I’m DEAD at that Eva stare! 💀😂

It’s incredible that the BTG March thread already has almost 4 times the amount of posts of the other soaps March threads combined 🤪

So being in the UK, I haven’t been able to watch any full episodes of BTG yet, but did manage to catch some short clips from the first few episodes on YouTube, as well as make it through all 110 pages of the Feb thread *phew*. And my thoughts are as follows: I pretty much love all the core four (Vernon, Anita, Nicole and Dani). Having done a lot of late 80s ATWT bingeing late last year, it’s warmed my heart so much to see Tamara Tunie back in the thick of it all. And she nails Anita perfectly! I admit I had not seen much of Clifton Davis prior to this, but it’s refreshing to see someone portray a calm patriarch so well, especially the interactions between Vernon and Dani. Nicole is the sibling I’m instantly drawn to more because of how centred she is, but I also have a lot of empathy for Dani in her situation, and seeing how her emotions have driven every single one of her actions thus far - that’s character-driven story 101, and I am HERE FOR IT! IMO, both Daphnee Duplaix and Karla Mosley are perfectly cast for the roles they’ve got - I’m wholeheartedly invested in their sibling chemistry. When I first watched the clip of Martin and Smitty in their home, they did NOT strike me as a gay couple whatsoever. I actually thought they were just best friends and housemates. And I share everyone else’s thoughts on the actor who plays Martin -it’s jarring to watch. I also had to guess how Martin was related to the rest of the family - it took me a while to confirm that he was Nicole’s son. Some had commented on the overuse of exposition dialogue in the first few days - for someone like me whose brain is wired to think in black and white, it’s useful to have it all spelt out. If there is any way for a UK resident like myself to watch full episodes, I’m eager to hear suggestions!

Been bingeing on Cruz/Eden stuff starting wth 1984 - currently on 1986 and the horrid Tori stuff… ”OMG CRUZ! KeItH’s gOt ThE oThEr eArRiNg!!” Someone kill me now…

Carly and *Caleb*?? That storyline did not appear AT ALL in any of the 1995 episodes I’ve seen. I’m intrigued now…

On the back of my 1995 viewing, I’m curious to know… I heard mentioned somewhere that there are scenes between Julie and Carly - I’m fascinated particularly because this was when Maura West had just joined and Susan Marie Snyder was about to finish up - some people described it as almost a “changing of the guard” of sorts, considering that Julie’s original motivations were quite similar to Carly’s. Do these scenes even exist?

@DRW50 thanks so much for this - such a treat to see a scene like that! And you’re right - how long did Kim have that hair?? On a different note, I’ve been making my way through the early 90s episodes currently online, and have made it to 1995 where Carly has shown up in town! And it’s weird seeing the juxtaposition of the more recent characters like Carly with the earlier brigade. I mean, it was a shock to me to see scenes between Carly and Andy (although I will say that Andy seemed to clock onto Carly very early on). Even seeing her interact with characters like Connor, Evan, Scott Eldridge… she had smokin’ hot chemistry with Evan #1 (Greg Watkins). Maura West at that time was an absolute revelation in what seemed to be a sea of dullness - indeed, Carly was the best thing to have happened to the character of Rosanna Cabot!

Currently up to second half of 1992 - Margo’s rape, Rosanna’s intro story, Holden’s disappearance/memory loss. Also a bit jarring to watch KMH as Emily at this point after getting used to Melanie Smith. I’m fascinated by Rosanna’s interactions with the Snyders so far - it’s weird watching scenes between Rosanna and Angel for example, but those two had the beginnings of a strong friendship! There’s a big gap in the middle of 1992 episodes available, so I have a couple of questions: * What was the catalyst for Holden’s disappearance? * What ended up happening with Linc and Marcy?

I will say though that they at least did a decent job in finding an actress for Sabrina (Claire Beacham) who bore a strong facial resemblance to MES, so it wasn’t so jarring when Sabrina came back. Almost every Kim scene in 1991: Kim to Bob: “You must deeeeeeal with your feeeeeeelings for Suuuuuusaaaaaaan!”

Kim every time she walks in on Bob and Susan after the affair during 1990 and 1991… Almost every time Lyla sang at Mona Lisa during the late 80s…

Early 1991 is an interesting period. The culmination of the Angel storyline (one that started back in 1988), Hal’s finding out about Jennifer’s true paternity, the Tonio/Sabrina storyline, Bob and Kim’s ongoing saga. The Classic ATWT SOD Tumblr has also been a good backup source of info for any missing episodes - https://classicsodatwt.tumblr.com/?amp_see_more=1 There was a question a few years ago on this thread about what happened to Colin Crowley, Sabrina’s ex. According to the Tumblr, he was indeed killed off by Richard Tyrell in late 1990 via a heroin overdose on the orders of Tonio. Another thing about early 1991 - the whole Darryl/Carolyn Crawford storyline! And it took me a while to realise that Carolyn Crawford = Maeve Stoddard!

I can only imagine what it would have been like had she stayed on as Emily - having just binge-watched her late 80s ATWT run, I think she captured the complexity of young Emily so well. And watching her progression from being James’s teen lover to her relationship with Brock (damn they were good together) - the possibilities were endless for Emily’s character at that time. Not to mention her chemistry with Marie Masters!

Also reminds me of Emily and Ellie’s involvement in the Brock Lombard storyline… I think even the other actors were getting their names confused at times!

Laughing at whose idea it was for Kim, Barbara AND Ellie to have exactly the *same* haircut in the second half of 1990!

Continuing my binge watching of 1990… up to August, where Iva is on her cruise that she won on the Inside Oakdale launch. Whose wild idea was it to put her in a random triangle between Jason Benedict and Franco Visconti, of all people?? 😆 Also enjoying the chemistry between Jon Hensley and Heather Rattray - he managed to somehow bring out more Martha Byrne like qualities in her!

Curious to know - was there ever a time where all six of the Snyder kids (Seth, Iva, Ellie, Caleb, Holden, Meg) were on the canvas at the same time?

Been making my way through the 1989 and 1990 episodes - currently watching Casey’s death and the aftermath thereof. All I can say is, DAMN, ATWT was on fire during this period! I have to also say I actually liked the Brock Lombard storyline - Emily never seemed to catch a break during this time and I greatly admire Melanie Smith’s portrayal. Also getting used to Heather Rattray’s Lily and can’t help but imagine what it would be like with Martha Byrne still in the role. Now waiting for Holden’s return to see if there is chemistry between Rattray and John Hensley…

Have fallen down the rabbit hole of late 1980s ATWT on Youtube - watching 1989 at the moment after having started with late 1987 (when Iva explained the full backstory of Lily’s conception to her). One of the major gaps in the playlists I’ve found is the immediate aftermath of the Derek/Lily cottage explosion in September 1989 - there is a four-week gap after this, and I have no idea what ended up happening to the Mason clan of Derek, Niles, Trisha, etc. Anyone here able to shed some light?

PORTIA: Dante woke up! CURTIS: datisgoodnews… 🙃

👏👏👏👏 to Anna for kicking Sonny out of her office, especially after he had the nerve to ask her what she would be charging Jason with even in light of being cleared for shooting Dante. Was totally worth it just for the look of dumbfoundedness on Sonny’s face…

I’ve been watching the late 1985/early 1986 episodes that recently propped upon Jim’s channel - right now it’s the whole Baxter McCandless storyline and I’m up to the part where Paula has just kidnapped Mark from the hospital after his shooting (damn she is one freaky lady…). I do have to say though, I *ADORE* watching Constance Towers - she lights up every scene she is in. And also fascinated by pre-Loving Catherine Hickland!

One more observation I had - does Jason know that Britt is also dead?

Anything that shows and demonstrates an actual family relationship is a good thing in my books (it’s soaps’ bread and butter at the end of the day). And GH has been doing that in spades in the last week or so - we need more of this!

Just watching the 8 March episode… I agree with everyone who has said that the dialogue has elevated itself to another level. Extremely character-driven and yet is still advancing the plot. The Carly/Jason scenes were well done - LW and SB still have that chemistry, and there was genuine emotion underpinning that whole sequence. I was actually pleasantly surprised with the Michael/Willow/Joss/Dex scenes - again, all about the emotion, all about the character, all about the underlying motivation, especially the ongoing resentment against Sonny. Ava/Nina in the chapel - what the hell is Ava up to??? The Dante and family scenes - all the right beats played. Alexis/Diane - good use of history between those two, and great segue into Alexis’s possible return to law. And yes that was a good decent Friday cliffhanger - Carly did that brilliantly…

Just watched the Friday episode, and I can see what people here have meant about the scripts sounding different… There is definitely a lot more grounded humanity coming through in some of these scenes - whether it’s Sonny/Ava, Molly/TJ, Kristina/Blaze, Sam/Danny, Sam/Liz. This is the kind of soap I got drawn to as a teenager, and I’m encouraged to see signs of it coming back!