ranger1rg

Entertaining episode, even though so much of it was laughable. -- Finn shows up at Bikini with Taylor (HUH?), even though Steffy is still at work. I guess the kids are still on a playdate. -- Seeing so many extras is a gift. But speaking of extra -- that DJ was animated beyond belief 😂 -- With the facial hair, Crew Morrow looks even more like his dad. I do wish he'd put on a few pounds. That RJ body is fire, though. I vote for seeing Bikini at least 3x a week. -- Why are Forrester Creations and Logan working so late? The staff is all out partying while the execs are at work past 9 pm? 🤣 -- Brooke made me LOL when she called Hope For The Future "the heart and soul of the demographic." Must be why she can't get her line produced. Has she been showing up at FC for months doing nothing? -- Only in Soapland would Hope at Logan have to be a secret until the line comes out. Didn't we just do this when Eric worked at Logan? -- I'm so glad to know Dylan has bartending skills so she can make extra money.

I have no idea why today's episode was chosen for a classic episode repeat. There was nothing special about it. Nothing. Not surprising, since Josh Griffith was the writer. We did get to see that Society and the GCAC rooms haven't changed at all. Still, the show looks better visually in 2026 even though the writing is even worse.

I guarantee you that Kyle Brandt didn't need a dictionary. He's a Princeton graduate, not just a reality star who fell into a soap role. He's now a regular on Good Morning Football on the NFL Network, and anyone who knows his work knows how intelligent and creative he is. I think he's one of the brightest and most entertaining sports journalists in the business. Added bonus? He speaks veery fondly and respectfully of his time on DAYS.

I understand how others feel about JPL, but I like him in the role. I know I'm in the minority on this board. Is he Quirky? Different from other Phillips? Yes -- but I don't have a problem with that at all, especially on a show that can use a jolt of something different onscreen that isn't Leo acting like he walked out of The Birdcage in every scene. Is JPL bringing parts of himself to this role. Sure. I'm OK with that.

That story is giving "We really don't want to punish Hayley."

The writers couldn't decide who Kristina was. I don't blame Kate Mansi for any of it.

Yeah, I agree. We can't wait for the snow to fall for another big event or for major plot action. Just no to that. That happened after Winterfest, and it's why I'm holding my breath after this last week of good stuff.

Binged this week's episodes while riding home from a Memorial Day trip. Honestly, it's all too low energy. Not enough is happening and it's come off essentially as boring. I saw some good things, but overall? It's a slog.

I know she's not everyone's cup of tea, but I like Kate Mansi. I just think the writing for her Kristina has failed her. It's been an all-over-the-place mess. Until they have a better plan, I don't want Lexi back or any recast of the character. I can't see the need for this version of Kristina on the canvas.

Josh Griffith clearly loves Phyllis, and as long as the ratings remain (ridiculously and confoundingly) high, I'm afraid we're stuck with this version. It's a shame, because Michelle Stafford is capable of so much more. She can do layered work that's subtle and emotional. I feel like she can do this version in her sleep, and I am over it.

I didn't like Jessica's move, either. She's been presented as someone who pushes against the establishment and who is independent, but it still seemed out of character for her. I don't know what I wanted, but it wasn't that. At first I wasn't crazy about the modern dance moves made at the end of the structured and beautiful cotillion dance. Then I did some reading and found that contemporary moves are often a part of the cotillion dance, and that changed my mind about it completely. I will die on that hill -- it was all too much. We're supposed to love the Duprees as a family, but that kind of move doesn't do it. Did any of them ever hear of sharing the spotlight or a generosity of spirit?

Fully agree we're getting WAY too much Phyllis -- along with her obnoxious acting tics in full force.

You may be right, but I'm not happy about the writing there, which cclearly led us to believe something plot-worthy was happening. Yes, this has been done before on soaps, but when it's written THIS dramatically, it should mean something. -- Last week was a good one overall. I appreciate the light/dark offering of the cotillion/plasma ring, but I still think the cotillion should have been THE even of the week, and played for even more effect. More could have been done with these characters with more time devoted to it. -- And yes, more could have been done without having the Duprees be in charge of EVERYTHING. I just don't enjoy that complete takeover. -- I am concerned about the fallout from the plasma ring and that we're going to end up wondering who was involved/charged/convicted/in charge. This "Who is the Impaler?" story should end. -- I also want to be done with Ashley grieving over Derek. I'm ready to lock her in a room already.

I don't want any part of a Deanna breakdown if it's used to show that Vanessa was right about Joey, her parenting, or anything else.

Agree COMPLETELY. I absolutely despise both of them. I know I've made that clear many, many times 😂 I think they're both garbage human beings.

😂 😆 😂 Andrew showed up instead of Andre when I was swyping. Agree with you about Earnestine. (Please note that you called her Ersentine 😂) She's been really, really good. And you know, name of us complained like crazy about Ben Gavin, but he turned the corner with Derek in recent months, and I really think he found a place on the canvas. I guess in one way it's good that we care who died. I'll miss him a lot more than I thought I would.

I forgot to mention Andrew in my post. I agree with you -- he was really good in those scenes talking about Derek. I found that much more worthy of Emmy submission than anything Jen Jacob did as Ashley. Sorry for being so critical, but these grief scenes have just made it clear how mediocre she is as an actor. That scene when Shanice looked at Ashley in the hospital to let her know Derek died? Shanice carried that scene -- completely.

-- Eileen Davidson is always worth watching, even though this show sucks. -- Nathan Owens is so hot, but the love scene with Hayley Erin was so mechanical. Not a single pursed-lips kiss looked realistic.

-- Sorry we were spoiled, but it was great to see Doug at the end, even if it's just Deanna's vision. Jason Graham looks great, and I do hope they're bringing him back alive at some point. -- Ashley is working my nerves with her tears. As I said, she's making Derek's death all about her. Yes, Grayson was a problem, but it is not all his fault Derek is dead. -- Grayson returning to the hospital to work is laughable. I like Jordi V, but this character isn't exactly a ball of fire in any regard. -- Tomas appeared today to show us they killed off the wrong person. My God, he's terrible. -- Vanessa continues to be trash, and an even worse mother. The stuff she said about Deanna was really uncalled for, and storming away from her isn't winning her any Mother of the Year awards. She's been garbage since day one. -- Joey's lines to Donnell are all lies and gaslighting and cliches. -- I thought Anita and Vernon went at Ted way too hard when Ted recommended Nicole as chief of staff. Was Ted selfless? No, but so what? He defended his reasoning really well. Anita and Vernon should treat Ted at least as well as they treat Bill. -- Kind of hilarious that the Duprees ending up running the cotillion and now are running the hospital. 😂 -- I liked Ashley for a few weeks over a month ago. That's over. All this crying over a guy she threw away is obnoxious.

Ben Gavin's last day on the set as Derek.

-- Finn Carr has been outstanding as Rocco, but I have to admit that I'm tired of Rocco's poor decision making and relying on Britt for everything. -- And no, Finn, you can't tell someone about your dangerous life (as he did with Gio) and expect that someone to say nothing. -- It's kind of hilarious the way baby Phoebe keeps being shoved in Ethan's arms. -- Cassius and Joss are both bad at what they do 😂 Cassius brings breakfast to her and never even considers that she might attack him from behind a corner or door. Joss knocks him out with a chair and instead of immediately running out, she stares at him open-mouthed for an eternity. -- At least Charlotte wasn't on today.

You may be right. I won't be happy if Lia gets some sweetheart immunity deal, especially since Grayson got one and Ren is in line for one. Derek dies and these people all get away with crimes? Again, you're probably right because this enables the show to keep the Golden Corral Casino Mobster around. And how lame is that? I just want this plasma stuff scrubbed from the show completely. LMAOOOOOOO True. It's actually laughable. Has he written even one piece? Agreed. We're already in "She's making Derek's death all about her" territory. And the truth is that she's a mediocre actress. None of these grief scenes are anything special. -- If Doug is back, putting Jason Graham in the credits is a colossal unforced error on production. If that happens and Nicole is part of the secret, I can't wait to hear the tortured explanation of why a psychiatrist is the medical contact.

-- Today was less interesting, but I guess that was inevitable after two episodes filled with action and plot movement. -- I know we had to get Ashley's sadness and grief, but I can do without this many scenes in one episode in the future. -- Grayson and Ashley need something to do from this point on, because they're pretty boring together. -- I'm side-eyeing SO much of the plasma operation aftermath. Too much is "We're clearing the table and moving on. For example, Grayson stole plasma for a year. He not only gets full immunity, but no one at the hospital hears of his crimes and he gets to keep his job in healthcare? Really?? -- Grayson gives a recorded interview in the middle of the police station and it's all wrapped in a minute? -- Lia gets informal visits from the police department? No formal questioning for someone so high up. Yeah, I know she's still in the hospital, but she doesn't even look ill enough to be there, and I don't think we're going to get any formal questions. -- Lia doesn't know who the Impaler is and it's unclear if Joey knows. How convenient, and not believable. And why would Bill even consider taking on Lia as a client? -- I was happy to see Shanice dragging Lia for filth. I agree that Donnell turning on Joey as he did seems like we missed a few scenes. -- We had a "VIP meeting" at the warehouse and none of those VIPs had shown up? But yeah, Ren knows the Impaler's identity and Lia doesn't. -- And let's throw Lynette into this plasma mess to make it all muddier and hide how badly the plasma story's been written. "The entire plasma operation is out of the DMV." Isn't that convenient.

Just sickening. Do they really think we want this? Even more, do they realize how angry we are about that relationship?

-- More suck writing. On one hand AI controls everyone and everything; on the other, Matt Clark is such a luddite he doesn't know there's an Internet to check on his Newman crimes. -- Michael walks into every single room carrying his briefcase. Is this a show inside joke akin to someone saying "What are you doing here?" in every episode? It looked worse than usual today -- as if they threw a wig and extensions at her 2 minutes before her scene and told her to do her own hair,