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They kept trying stuff for Jacinda (e.g. her rivalry with Willow, her job as Nina's assistant, her flirtation with her boyfriend's sister) that probably would have worked if they had a stronger actress in the role. So I can understand if they now want to cut their losses, but I wish it was being handled a bit less clumsily.

I generally agree, but the trial scenes in Thursday's episode aren't half bad. It helps that most of the focus is on the arguments Molly and Martin are making on behalf of their clients. Molly's closing speech is especially on point. Overall, the episode is pretty good today, with a very strong Jason/Tracy scene. But it really gives you the sense of a show in transition, with Jason and Sonny announcing major life changes, plus Jacinda clearly on her way out as Serena takes her place as Michael's love interest.

I think it really helps that they've started writing Lucy better recently. Her scenes today--where she's scheming about getting her shares back, but then also worrying to Felicia that she might be pimping out her daughter--felt very in-character, showing the different dimension of Lucy.

I agree that the writing has a big part in this. But I do think that a different actor might be able to add some layers to the performance that would enable us to sympathize with Curtis or at least view him as a misguided tragic figure.

In theory, I get what they're trying to do with this whole Curtis-on-trial storyline. It's supposed to be raising questions about justice, especially since there's a child in the mix, and putting Curtis in prison for assault would deny that child of his father. But in practice, with the ways Curtis is written and played by Donnell Turner, I just want to see that arrogant SOB locked up. Curtis is so obnoxious and fundamentally unlikeable that it totally undermines the whole moral quandry the show has been trying to set up with this storyline. And again, I think a lot of that has to do with Turner's performance choices, since it's totally possible to play a character who's both arrogant and somewhat likeable (e.g. Rory Gibson's Michael).

Some of the behind-the-scenes decisions on this show are baffling to me. Yes, McKenna was terribly miscast as a replacement for the character Mesure originated. But even though it's taken 18 months, they've finally found a place on the canvas for him that really works. The Jack/Nina relationship is one of the highlights on the show right now.

NuEthan is back, and now he's in Norway? 🤔 This storyline is just getting weirder and weirder.

Those Jason/Sonny scenes today were astonishingly good. If Steve Burton doesn't get the Emmy this year, he deserves it next year for those deeply emotional scenes. And this was one of the rare occasions where I felt MB really show up and connect with the material and his scene partner.

Still could make for some good story. Let's say we get a day of scenes where the reporter interviews Laura, and she's full of excuses for Sonny, and he calls her out on her bullshit. And then another day of scenes where Lulu finds out, then storms into the reporter's room at the Metro Court and tells him he can't speak to her mother like that. The argument escalates, and they keep getting closer and closer, and then finally at the end of the episode, it turns into a passionate kiss. It's Soap Writing 101 and would be a better use of Lulu's abrasive personality than anything they've done so far with her.

Honestly, you could get a good story out of that, if you had an outsider come to town and investigate the ways that the PCPD and DAs office has (sometimes literally) been in bed with the local mob. Like say you had a new character who was an investigative journalist for the New York Times and you got his shocked reactions to every new discovery (e.g. the mobster's son recently serving as police commissioner). You could even bring him on as an adversary-but-eventual-love-interest for fellow reporter Lulu.

Forgot to mention I also liked the unintentionally funny "one-take Frank" moment where one of Trina's spilled lipsticks actually fell into the pool and neither she or Kai seemed to notice.

Cautiously optimistic here, as Jamie and Dan might at least have some of the right ideas on the directions Y&R should head, even though I'm not sure they'll have the skills or the resources to execute those ideas in a satisfying way. I do hope that along with strengthening the younger generation, they shift the focus away from the Newman family a bit. I think part of the reason Y&R is in such a bad place right now is that it used to have an interesting, wide canvas of characters but then killed off or marginalized most of the characters who weren't Newmans or Abbots.

Great episode today. Willow is so smug and stupid, it's going to be delicious to see whatever revenge Drew has in store for her. And possibly whatever Michael has in store for her. I couldn't believe when she picked another fight with him over the 60/40 custody arrangement, insisting that they go 50/50.

Honestly, I'd be hard-pressed to find any teenager who'd want to spend time with a mother as shrill, anxious, joyless, and controlling as Lulu. Which is my way of saying that even if I don't share your affection for the character, I totally agree that the show needs to take a hard pivot away from "worried mom Lulu" stories. Have her take a ride on Hot Aussie Doctor's didgeridoo (and save him from what so far seems like it will be a chemistry-free pairing with Britt).

Exactly! With the number of mob-related shootings there have been in Port Charles over the past 30 years, Sonny is single-handedly keeping the hospital in business!