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OMG I agree! I can't put my finger on it but there's something morbid about it. Same thing for gambling. Big agree. Honestly it's been campy from the get-go. If one enjoys it, they should make peace with the fact it's pure camp. Kat's hat was giving Lindsey McKeon's Marah (GL) vibes when SATC's stylist Patricia Field joined the show. Madison is such an underdeveloped character - she can be a genius doctor and then a teenager - and the whole relationship with Chelsea is treated as an afterthought. This show has too many characters and too few (talented) writers. Extra comments: Greg Vaughn is a pro and a stud, however I don't see where the story is with him and Nicole. There's no stakes, no tension. Mark my words: they will tease a big secret with Kial in the next few months, that's all they can do story-wise. Speaking of love stories: how grand can these love stories be if the most exciting thing these couples can do is bounce between cafes and book a hotel room? If I see that hotel room one more time, I'll scream. They have a huge problem with sets. I have liked Vanessa so far but I don't understand what they want to do with her. While WF was a bust, I'm enjoying the new writing and I'm loving the direction lately. They're experimenting a lot - and succeeding. Loving Leslie & Marcel. I literally have no idea what's next for Ashley and Derek. Not that I'm worried at all, but they've been written into a corner. They were isolated before, they're even more isolated now. I don't see any chemistry between Shanice & Ted. In fact, I don't see any chemistry between Keith's Ted and ANYONE.

The fact she was implying it was a good thing - to be inspired by Sonny - kind of let me speechless. I agree. Yet there's so much room for improvement in the romance department. Eva and Izaiah don't have a tiny bit of chemistry and their story has no stakes. Why haven't they had sex yet? Do these writers think young people aren't horny? And then you have Nicole and this blind date... I don't read the spoilers but for now I don't see any anticipation or stakes. Same with Ted and Shanice - where are the stakes? (apart from Leslie going ballistic, but that would happen with any woman) BTW they have no idea what to do with Ted and Keith is an epic fail. He has no charisma, no presence, he comes across as cold and unrelatable. Been saying that from day 1 of that set. They have the extras do all kinds of weird actions when they're in that ugly area. No idea why. I disagree. The flashback was a nice touch. For once they weren't just TELLING, they were also SHOWING. As for the casting, remember Dani was a 'model'. Young Dani could pass off as a model in the soap world and she wasn't too light-skinned IMHO. Young Bill, on the other hand, was darker - and I don't buy him in a hoodie. She is indeed stuck in all kinds of 90s tropes (<cough>the elevator</cough>) Been saying that for months now - they have off-screen characters being catalysts for stories and we never see them, yet we deal with the consequences of said characters' actions. It's very Josh Griffithy, but hey- I was told this was also Irna Phillips' style from the golden era, 100 years ago, so we should really be thankful. That's a very good point - but at the same time, why would the writers embark on such a story if it takes them into such a conundrum? And to think they have everything planned in advance... @Errol @Toups I like the new look but replying from one's phone is a NIGHTMARE.

LOL of course his character has 2 kids in an already bloated cast where the white collar always have two kids (often never seen but quite mentioned).

IWTYO when I realized this show has Eva Thomas dating a Tomàs, as well as a Dana and a Dani. 🙁 I'm all for planting seeds and I'm sure these characters will pop up eventually, but one thing is name-dropping and planting seeds, another thing is building whole-ass personalities, actions or reactions around characters we have never seen and probably won't see for a while. Not to mention that when they had the chance to plant seeds with Izaiaha (remember Elon's conversation with Anita?) they didn't lmao. They chose to 'plant seeds' with the other brother, Luke. For a show claiming it has everything planned till the last detail, it comes across as weird at the very least.

Ellen Weston played Robin Lang Bauer Bowden Fletcher #5 (1963-1964) on GL before her infamous headwriting stint on the show in 2003 under Jon Conboy lmao

The biggest change for me is that in the past I trusted they had a plan and a story to tell. These days, no more. I'm jaded, alway expecting the worst. However BTG and GH have rekindled my love for the genre. Of course I always watch on demand.

This is so, so cool. Thanks! I really can't remember Tomas' apartment though.

Yeah, add Ma' Hawthorne and Luke to Yolanda, Dante, Alan, Deanna, Madison's mother and 10 other off-screen characters I'm forgetting and we could make a whole new show. That's not how you tell a story. Good for you. It's still pointless and not recommended, so Andre and Dani were right saying you shouldn't.

27 sets (if the number is real) would probably be okay if only there was a communal, work-related space. I'm not saying this show needs a corporation - in fact I hate it when writers improvise corp. stories without any research, plus a corporation wouldn't fit the fabric of the show - but part of the problem is that all we see these characters do is hang out at cafeterias or restaurants. It makes them feel aimless. And then you have random sets built for a couple of appearances, like Andre's apartment 🤔 I too paused and read the directory, only to feel more confused. And have you noticed how they have the extras on that set do the weirdest things? I swear I saw a couple of them fighting and another one arguing and gesturing while on the phone lol While 'driving story' is certainly a provocative hyperbole on my part, there's no denying the writers have off-screen characters' moods, actions and choices heavily influence the on-screen characters and story. To me that gives fan-fiction, amateurish, Josh Griffith vibes.

IA. Plus we had an almost identical scene later when Ted saw Leslie with Marcel. This show is obsessed with fathers having a say in their daughters' innocuous love life. IA. Not only is Izaiah written as a beta male, the actor himself comes across as a bobble-headed softie. And I'm tired of hearing of how much of a rascal he was - yet he's so docile on screen. It's fugly. And I still have no clue where it's supposed to be located. Next week Randy and Hayley are meeting there. Weird. I hate to burst your bubble but you actually don't need to pre-wash. Dishwashers and product are designed to hang on the dirt until they scrub it all away. By pre-washing the dishes, you're preventing the dishwasher from doing its job - hence it breaks down and gets damaged/ineffective over time. That's why you find "the stuff stuck on them just stays and hardens". It's a catch-22 sitch. I know because my brother repairs dishwashers for a living. Yeah in the middle of food prep. Ugh. I'm all for product placement, but does it have to be this silly? You find a thousand better examples on TikTok. I'm sure the Dupree's will have their large family gathering for Christmas. We don't need to see it for Thanksgiving too. And yes, these speeches by the patriarch are... patriarchal. I was wondering the same thing. Also, I remember that soap actors are paid per week (ie: 3 appearances per week granted). How do you measure that when the broadcast is so scattered? I also wanted to say: this show's Josh Griffithy obsession with having off-screen characters drive story continues. I feel I know more about Luke and ma' Hawthorne than I know about characters I've seen since February. From a storytelling point of view I find it very, very amateurish.

Have you checked who the breakdown writer was that day? lmaooo Maybe we finally have something to blame them for! It's a combination of bad acting and bad writing. These writers can't write an alpha male to save their lives. In the meantime, Izaiah has shared non-stop how much of a black sheep he is, yet it's all talk for now we haven't seen any proof. LMAO same! I'm more of a director type of guy. And Pascarelli is the worst. (love me some Phideaux on the other hand) It's ugly, pointless, identity-less... honestly a waste of money. And they always have the extras in the background do the weirdest things in that set. I think that set needs a 'statement piece'. That chaise longue is too on the nose. I myself have been getting behind and finding myself too bored to catch up. Honestly the show's 'format' does not work. They have characters going back and forth from one cafe place to another to talk and it's just gotten ridiculous. They need some glue that holds the characters together and raises the stakes - and the Dupree family ain't it. Y&R had Newman and Jabot, B&B had Forrester and Spectra, GH had the hospital... I'm not saying you need a corporation but you need some umbrella set up as a catalyst for characters to meet up at work and do projects together.

I couldn't agree more on both accounts. Plus Ashley kicked out a man on a wheelchair, who had no family or friends (thanks Naomi!) to rely on. Again: big agree. His performance was green and weak. And whatever tic he was doing with his nose wasn't it. That's an interesting observation and yes, you're right. It's sick. He was insanely hot IMHO Not handsome but charismatic. That voice made my heart melt. They keep talking about how difficult Izaiah was supposed to be yet he comes across like a softie. Much like Bill. This show can't write alpha men. The only one I can think of is Elon. I agree - I like her contribution so far. Add the background music to the list. Only thing I despise is that fugly cafeteria set or whatever it is. The fact it doesn't even have a name is a sign that it was really ill conceived. Speaking of sets, they officially gave a house to Andre for one night to present Ashley with that wonderful fake Paris getaway... gag me.

That's exactly my point. Nobody cares if Nathan's 16 and has already lost his virginity. Because he's a guy. I couldn't care less about agreeing with 'the vast majority'. My point is - as already stated - that soaps used to push the envelope. Heck, 1991's Victoria Newman was a thousand times more modern than this. These days, you can't even have Naomi get an abortion. They were treating Samantha as if she committed a crime or a sin. Manipulative --> getting Tyrell's phone and texting Nathan. Let's be honest and chalk up the living room situation to the lack of sets please...

Same!! ❤️ Sure, but they used to push the envelope - and that's not been the case for at least 25 years. They have no impact on the 'culture'/'conversation'.

I can see a pattern though. When Kat came out as a virgin to Tomas, nobody even remotely thought that Tomas might be a virgin too. He's a man, he's an adult and he's Latino - he must be good in bed (and that's what he turned out to be). Same thing for Nathan. Nobody is up in their arms because a 16 year old boy is not a virgin. (but yeah he's a bad guy 😮 ) Well, you have Tyrell who is seemingly uninterested in sex at the moment (🙄) so he fulfills that quota. I was hoping that line was tongue-in-check... because literally no teenager would EVER pose that question, especially to their gay parents. Which reminds me, Smitty deflected. Methinks Smitty and Martin are unable to talk about intimacy. (they're just overcoming their issues in that department after all) The hypothetical 'dissolute' scenario you're depicting is as extreme and as bad as this repressive scenario where the parents are acting like punitive monks. No parent in their right mind would go 'You do you girl, have fun'. A mature approach would be to discuss the issue openly with your child, let them realize the pro's and con's and then let them live their life. 'Cause, spoiler alert: teenagers will have sex anyway. Sex is a basic human need and a human right. It's the same people who still can't deal with sex and could never discuss it with a teen Samantha and Nathan were not doing drugs. They were about to have consensual, protected sex. Which they literally have a right to. Martin and Smitty will just force the girl to do it some place unsafe. And them having so many supporters in the audience and in the writing team baffles me. It's fine I guess, but that's one of the reasons soaps are in decline.

Yolanda, Dante have both seemingly driven story without being seen not even in pictures. We had Alan being mentioned multiple times. I’m sure there’s more I’m missing. I’m not saying this is a mistake or it has never been done. I’m saying that there have been too many instances in 8 months. Let me rephrase my thoughts: no one worrying about Tyrell’s virginity - because he’s a male - while everybody is riled up about Samantha’s virginity is the problem. First of all sex is a basic human need and a human right. You admitted that teens are having sex at 16. So you might as well teach them what’s fair game and what isn’t. Who decides when you’re mature enough for sex? Is Dani mature for sex? This attitude from Sam’s parents (and the writers) is hypocritical, sex negative and it’s honestly the foundation for any sexual related trauma. The thought of Samantha’s ‘honour being defended’ honestly scares me. We should be past that in 2025. As if having sex with a guy, as questionable as he may be, would say anything about your honor. It doesn’t. As for Tyrell, I agree guys like him exist. I like him. My problem is that the show has not worried once about his virginity being taken. Why? Because he’s a man. Double standard much? Everybody was happy to have sex at 16 and now in their conservative adulthood want to forbid teens from living their life. It’s absurd to me. Being talked about as a conquest is outside Samantha’s control. One progressive and adult alternative to Martin’s parenting is helping their kid realize that sex and love are different things and expectations can lead to disappointment. It’s better than treating sex as a sin. I agree - that’s the story. But it’s slanted in favor of Martin’s parenting and Sam being portrayed as a sinful, manipulative, immature brat. When in reality her desire to have intimacy is perfectly normal and should be fulfilled. It makes me really uncomfortable.

I’m being genuine: it escapes me what the problem is with a 16-year-old wanting to have protected sex with a fellow 16-year-old. The poorest choice she’s made so far was helping a stranger, Kenny - the guy whom her father basically had someone else kill - download an app. The writers not even hinting at Tyrell listing after that girl is another major problem.

One thing is mentioning random relatives, another thing is them playing a role on the storyline while we've never seen them. I'm glad it was a thing in the 50s, though!

Multiple at a time? And having an effect on the canvas as we speak?

Samantha’s storyline makes me really uncomfortable. For a show that claims to be so feminist and progressive, this feels straight out of the 1950s. She’s 16 and craving intimacy. She gets caught with a boy (mind you, her own age!) almost using protection—which, in my book, is a good thing! Instead, she’s reprimanded and humiliated in front of him, as if some sacred boundary had been violated. Ugh. She wanted it just as much as he did. All of my points were literally voiced by Samantha, but they were treated as “social justice warrior” propaganda and quickly brushed off—even by the show’s supposed heroine, Nicole. It’s all so puritanical, misogynistic, and frankly vile. And now they’re trying to rationalize the whole thing by throwing Nathan under the bus, making him brag about his “conquest” to his friends. But here’s the truth: Women talk about their hookups (and the size/performance) all the time. Even if Nathan is talking about it—who cares? It’s not a crime to have sex. Samantha shouldn’t be made to feel ashamed, period. And meanwhile, you’ve got the two most heteronormative gay characters acting all high and mighty as if they weren’t ram**ng their b**ts every night Oh, and obviously no one cares if Tyrell kisses or has sex with his girlfriend—because he’s a boy, and apparently boys don’t get hurt. No trauma there. Excuse my language, but this is just sickening. P.S. I’m convinced it’s now an inside joke that Rowena is nowhere to be found. PPS. I hate how you have so many offscreen characters being mentioned all the time. Yolanda, Deanna, Luke… that’s very Josh Griffith-y of MVJ and that’s not a compliment.

What makes a breakdown standout? The only thing I can think of is when the flow of the show gains momentum till the last cliffhanger. That's a good breakdown in my book. Ugh I find it ugly and bland. LOL at the silhouettes in the background making up for the extras!

I agree. She's so entitled. I feel the same. I'm like 'ok what's this week's shocking twist'? I'd rather follow a story from A to B but so far they haven't really had 'storylines', apart from the initial Leslie story. They've just had multiple events happening and the aftermath in-between. LMAO I thought the same thing. Glad I'm not the only one finding that comparison highly problematic. Big agree. Want to be edgy? Have Jacob fall for Smitty. Have Naomi get an abortion and take no prisoners. You get my point. A couple of things I wanted to point out: - Hayley's story is being played for camp, I assume; - is it me or you can tell Tracey Thomson's impact already? Friday's show had different camera angles and a different vibe altogether. They had more background music... I liked it. - for the life of me I don't get what the problem is with Samantha having a sexual life. She'll be in college in a couple of yeas. Sooner or later she ought to have sex. So? Why are her parents worrying so much? For a show that proclaims to be so edgy, feminist, sex-positive and progressive, the way they're worrying about Samantha's verginity seems straight out of a '50s show. Especially considering that nobody is worrying at all about her brother Tyrell's sexual life, let alone virginity. Double standard much? Just educate the girl about contraception, STDs and sex versus feelings and let her begin her sexual life like any normal human being!

The triangle sucked with Hayley in it because they did not develop her. They did not develop her because they were waiting to 'shock' us 8 months into the show. You see, it's a catch-22 situation. Oh yes. The elevator baby delivery? The wheelchair guy? It's straight outta the 80s. MVJ was given a show to create 40 years too late. Now, if Naomi were allowed to have a non-traumatic abortion, or if Jacob were allowed to explore his sexuality beyond the heteronormative rules... that would be modern. Ditto. And I just realized, everyone has 2 children. Vernon and Anita have 2 children. Dani and Bill have 2 children. Nicole and Ted have 2 children. Martin and Smitty have 2 children. Vanessa and Doug have 2 children. Elon has two children lol Most of these children are unnecessary and it's no coincidence that the show can't keep track of all the relationships, reactions and beats. Then you have a non-entity like Jan who has 1 child and then you also have Leslie, who possibly foreshadowed expecting another child of Ted's 😅 It made me realize how hard it is to have a supercouple these days when the hottest thing they can do is have dinner in a hotel room... I'd argue that you're enjoying the show precisely because you took a break from it

I hate to be that person, but this Hayley reveal is silly, repetitive, and counterproductive. Unpopular opinion: leaving breadcrumbs left and right and then picking them up after months (and possibly wrapping it up in 2 weeks, cause we know the show is notorious for skipping beats) IS NOT telling a story. In less than a year, we’ve had countless foes infiltrating the Dupree clan—Leslie, Kenny, Alison, and now Hayley. At this point, the show is basically a “Who’s threatening the Duprees this week?” gimmick. It’s lazy writing. Oh and I can’t wait to find out Hayley’s real name, because let’s be honest—this show is obsessed with aliases. We’ve had Dana/Leslie, Sammy/Randy (completely pointless), Samantha and Tyrell had different names, and I’m sure I’m forgetting more. I do think the twist was planned from the start (which explains why Hayley never had a real “talk-to”), but it completely writes her into a corner. It ruins the fun of the triangle—it’s not a love triangle anymore, it’s just another villain vs. good guys setup. And in this economy, who commits to a multi-year con like this? There are a thousand easier, less demanding scams. Also, Randy was supposedly one of the good guys, which is why Doug and Vanessa even took him in. As for the rest of the show: - This show has a weird gambling fixation. There’s the Golden Corral, the Dupree family literally placing bets on Ted’s marriage, Dani getting married in Vegas, Joey offering Donnell a job at the Golden Corral… It’s bizarre. - A few weeks ago, Naomi described herself to André as “vindictive and ferocious.” Um… where? She’s boring, sanctimonious, and insufferable at best. - Leslie’s actions toward Ted are borderline predatory and rape-y. Not sure why no one’s talking about it, but it’s giving very double standard vibes. - Ted continues to be a total non-character. The new actor has zero charisma or presence. His line delivery is grating, and I’m genuinely shocked he gets more POV scenes than Nicole. Just look at Nicole’s first kiss with the new guy—it was shown from Ted’s perspective. Why?

I had been meaning to tell you: Alex Cheeks is a strong, promising young actor. Definitely Emmy and primetime worthy someday