ReddFoxx

I do agree that the show has found it's rhythm. It feels like "This is Beyond The Gates" much like when you tune into the other soaps and feel " This is The Young and The Restless" or "This is The Bold and the Beautiful", What was not working was scaled back (Ashley/Derek) and it's good to see that a writing team can concede when something is working instead of pushing it.

Derek looked like he wanted to hit Grayson upside the head. Telling Jan was a really passive aggressive move and the way Derek smirked after he told Jan was giving villain. Naomi is definitely lying about her results. "Your top's on backwards" was the line of the episode and probably the best Ashley line so far.

There is a day of service for MLK Day where I live and it's a very White area. Over in Los Angeles there is the Kingdom Day Parade. With the NAACP involved with the show they probably wanted some sort of observance and I think this was a sensible decision.

Hayley's nasty, backhanded comment to Dani was excellent soap. Dani really walked into it though because she shouldn't have sought Bill out in the first place. Eva did a solid for Ted, but Kat couldn't say thank you and keep it moving.

Dani once again is running to Bill for no good reason. She does not need to lean on him when she has a husband. Meanwhile, Hayley wants to kill Bill, but is still indignant over his connection to Dani. Hayley is King Magazine, Dani is Essence and a King Magazine thot does not like be depriortized for some bougie Essence model.

Drunk Nicole was a good view of the character being vulnerable. It is very wasted with Carlton, though and he sort of faded a bit in those scenes because he's still underdeveloped. Vernon was barely acting like a father in this episode and his attitude was nonchalant when Anita was upset with him for not telling her about Dani. Dani is his daughter too, but he is very caught up in the "Anita Show" as he called it. For the first time Elon acted like a decent father and not like a chastising, judgemental pain.

That part was a stretch. No man is ever going to talk to his best friend if said best friend moves in on his former wife. Bro code or not men just don't operate that way. Even women don't forgive and forget that sort of thing.

So far the characters viewers have complained about the most have seen changes. Derek downgraded and Ashley is more supporting. Tomas could end up taking a nasty fall courtesy of Val, lol. "OMG Bill! I heard a loud crash and when I rushed in all these heavy file boxes were on top of Tomas!".

Was glad that Dani didn't fawn over Bill and set at least somewhat of a boundary by saying his daughters are who need him not her. Andre putting him in his place was such good, traditional soap.

Lindstrom is listed with the recurring players so I guess he's just in the credits and not on contract. Everything flowed very well today and I really like how family is written believably. The ending scene was done very well with Nicole comforting Dani as a good sister would. The last time I was moved by a siblings scene was on Y&R when Jack and Ashley had to reveal to Traci that her fiance was a lunatic, but much of the credit there went to the players moreso than the writing.

Those contact pictures of Vernon and Anita that were on their kids and grandkids phones were hilariously serious. Just a small observation. Kat is not wrong to be upset and scared, but ignoring her grandmother's call was selfish. That character is hard to root for at times. The Mardi Gras scenes were wonderful. The way that this show pays homage to Black culture is admirable and very necessary in this era.

Leslie is probably going to be a problem for Joey because she picked up on something being suspect about him wanting to name the clinic after Doug. Martin got Tyrell all the way together for being such a follower behind Jessica. Martin was two seconds off of saying "Little boy, hush up!".

Vanessa has always lived behind the gates because she mentioned how she would sneak Doug into her parents house when they were young.

I mentioned while ago I found it problematic writing that a white man had control over so many Black people on the first majority Black soap. Yes. Her main claim to fame was Stella in "A Streetcar Named Desire" which she won an Academy Award for.

The reveal is going to be dragged out so giving Lindstrom a contract was probably a fair option for his time even if Joey is set to end up off the canvas eventually. EON gave Kim Hunter a contract to play the loony Nola Madison for an arc.

Eye roll at Vanessa running to tell Joey about Nicole's business. And despite Doug's issues, Joey is totally delusional for saying that he's better than Doug.

Joey in the opening credits has me like.

Lol at the "that explains a lot responses". Some of her diction and expressions still do give children's show, but that is similar to how actors with a theater background sometimes appear more theatrical on screen.

Karla somewhat implied that GL wasn't her best work when she said she in the preview special that she "cringed" looking back at scenes from there. Before GL she started acting on a children's television which makes her evolution even more remarkable.

With Season 1 off Paramount Plus it would be good to rerun the first season on BET to possibly grab new viewers. Or at least do another week or so of episode like they did last year.

Jill (Brenda Dickson version) fantasizing about messing up Katherine's face was a crazy scene.

Dani was wrong for telling Bill about Anita before she told their daughters, but that's par for the course with Dani and her need to stay connected to Bill. Writing wise I think the writers wanted to divide how the grandchildren found out so it wasn't so predictable and to avoid repetitive dialogue. While Kat and Eva can still have a rivalry this would be a perfect opportunity for them to have a frenemy moment where Eva convinced Kat to get tested.

I maintain that the decor is intentional because a lot of men decorate rooms tacky based on what they think women like and Hayley is supposed to be somewhat tacky in taste judging by the vibe of her clothes. It also gives bordello which fits with cheaters.

Wishing everyone a happy new year, a prosperous new year and a tranquil new year. It can be hard to take the time to slow down and enjoy 365 days but hopefully we can all do that.

I enjoy petty details and was completely elated that Nicole forgot about Carlton, lol. The music cutting off saved Derek from embarrassment.