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Unlike most of you, I am NOT happy with this. It's the level of MEGA vanillaness we don't need (if you catch my drift). In the meantime @Errol @Toups can you update the title?

SAME!

I've noticed a new yet familiar face in the crowd - opened a new thread in the Spoiler section about it..

While looking at clips from the recent BTG renewal announcement on the set, I couldn't help but notice a woman looking like Ashley Jones (Bridget, B&B) So I looked at Ashley's IG and guess what she was wearing yesterday: And guess where she's eating at: So the question is: is Bridget coming over to give Nurse Ashley a run for her money in vanilla-ness? Or is AJ coming in as a new character? Original video here:

100%.

Very well said, thank you.

Yeah this is kind of the point of discussion boards. To theorize, discuss, hear each other’s takes and opinions. And if you read between the lines (though everything has been pretty much laid out already), my point is that they should have found a better excuse.

Sorry for double post/quoting - I forgot to mention that this reminded me BTG has that kind of dynamic with Nicole, Anita and that other recurring character (the sanctimonious woman) who act like mother figures to Laura (those 5 times a year we see her).

I guess you’re referring to @Broderick who theorized the Plasma story was a long-term arc to put Nicole in danger and eventually reunite her with Ted. Not sure if you’re caught up with the show, but so far everything points towards Broderick being right again (he was right about Nicole having the BRCA gene). Nobody has ever implied that the Plasma angle itself would have been logical or profound… As for this week’s shows, I was shocked at Dana and Marcel’s conversation. 5 minutes after introducing Darlene, the writers were already discussing another character whom we’ve never seen (Sheila). I swear they spent 5 minutes discussing Sheila and Darlene’s relationship, how they get along and all. Who cares?!? Will these writers ever be able to tell stories with the characters they already have on canvas? Not to mention that this week another invisible character resurfaced: Madison’s mother is driving story lol. It’s embarrassing.

I think we are discussing two different things. You are discussing Vernon’s characterization. I’m indifferent to that. What I am insinuating is that the writers don’t see lobbying as a negative thing. Judging on the words they used, they are portraying the activity as something that their heroes or winners would have the right to do, no questions asked.

I’m sorry - the thing is this is not presented as a negative, as a flaw in how the Duprees operate. The way it’s worded, it’s just another Tuesday for the Duprees and for the writers. It seems they don’t understand this is a problem.

We all know what lobbying is, however it’s nothing to brag about if you’re supposedly all about the rights of the people. It signals you’re favoring corporations as opposed to its workers.

I’m constantly astonished that in the US this is an ordinary, legit, almost positive thing to say: “Over the years, apparently Victor has backed Vernon’s political campaigns, while Vernon has championed legislation benefiting Newman Enterprises”.

God those covers are ugly. But I guess at least they're not AI slop.

I agree. Same goes for Nicole and her therapy speak. HAHAHAHAHAH! And to think Lynette was just there with Hayley a minute earlier promising she'd leave town...! Re: new opening I wish they dropped this alphabetical order they're so OCD about as it strings completely different characters together, but anyway it seems it's brightened and more saturated. This is the new one: This is the older version:

I don't understand... why should I spend money when all the episodes are uploaded on YT?

I don't think Carter, Daphne or Zende are facing any disease on B&B.

First things first: I'm officially FFing through everything Joey-related and my life's improved dramatically. I've come to the conclusion Mrs Thomson is as enamoured - or even more so - than MVJ is with him. Enough with these texts and that godawful ringtone. This show is obsessed with characters getting/sending texts. I realize it's 'realistic' but it's anticlimatic and in most cases unnecessary. Darlene is odious but at least there's some new conflict. I detest standalone episodes. And Naomi's episode skipped one important beat: the moment she agreed with Jacob not to have kids. Was he really on board? The infamous wedding incident with Izaiah was over a pair of Nikes lol. This show is so AFRAID to go there and push the envelope. Caffeine Fix has now been referenced as 'the atrium'. Huh? Speaking of sets, why is Jacob randomly looking at Jacob's wedding pic in Jacob & Naomi's living room? I hate it when side characters are 'upgraded' and they lose all their charm. Shanice doesn't work as a heroine. They saw the fans reaction to the character and took the wrong decision. Not a bad idea but as long as they're enamoured with JL, they're bound to make him fail. There's so many layers to this I hadn't even thought of. Crass. I thought the colors qualified as 'pastels'. They reminded me of Rauch's GL lol but I liked it. I think her home office has turned into her bedroom. Neither was needed. Greyson is Hispanic, no? LMAOOO YES! Best description ever. I'd love to know more about that. Do you think some of those union rules should be revisited? (not that I want workers to earn even less than they make right now!) I'd love to know more about his business model. Did he find a loophole in labor union rules or something? Is ABC supporting him more than CBS and NBC do for their shows? I hate when characters are wandering around with no clear purpose. It happened in Week 1 with a Chelsea scene. However the show is claustrophobic and I'd give them a pass if they shot outside and the weather didn't match the season or location. I appreciated them using a real staircase for Jacob and Greyson's scene, it looked good. Hopefully they'll do more of that in better looking locations.

I respect your opinion and I find it interesting. However I fail to see any character driving characteristic or any character development really. Characters change their perspective and their essence quite often. Look at Hayley going back and forth between poisoning Bill and then having a child with him. Leslie goes from menacing to annoying. Derek goes from obsessive to town hero. It’s just all over the place at times. Isaiah has been all talk about his personality but we haven’t actually seen anything remarkable about him The only characters who’ve been developed are most of the Duprees. There’s no doubt there’s been development in Dani (though she could not been sustainable as week 1 crazy Dani), Nicole (who’s probably regressed), Naomi, Lat and Martin. Chelsea has suffered some short lived PTSD but she’s back to where she was initially.

The whole discourse about relevance's made me realize that you're culturally relevant if you push the envelope - thematically. The ABC soaps have always been progressive in that sense and historically that's paid off. Even with DAYS' possession you could tell there was a cultural knowledge and appreciation of gothic themes, Catholic religion and so on, and that sustained the fun and camp. Y&R has pushed the envelope in the past so maybe it has a place on the list of culturally relevant shows. B&B not at one bit in the US, but definitely in Europe - which is ironic and hard to explain.

I like @Broderick 's insightful interpretation of the story as an arc to bring Nicole and Ted together and give Naomi's her firstborn. I was about to say - the opening credits are ENDLESS. Too many chickens on the top roost. They should cut down on them. I don't understand their purpose and they all seem vanity credits from the joint venture. Guys, it's 2026 - you have new means. You can hit up some of the writers/producers on LinkedIn. Heck, you can film a scene yourselves or create it through AI. I wish the aspiring writers over here would ACT on their aspirations as opposed to constantly posting fanfiction. No offense, but it's just a waste of talent. I am pretty sure that in the first instance Shanice was hiding under the desk for some reason. Nicole didn't see her. Random comments: I've officially downgraded BTG to background noise while I'm cooking and cleaning; I'm officially FFing through Joey & Nessa's scenes. They offend my intelligence. Izaiaha and Darlene've been sitting at Orphey's for 2 episodes straight. That's ridiculous.

All the recent talk made me realize how the ABC soaps and the NBC soaps (even Passions!) have been culturally relevant whereas the Bell soaps… not that much really!

Same. He was trying so hard to turn it into a joke but Ryan just wanted to discuss this.

Hey @Maxim! It's interesting you reminded us of the 'headline of the week' style they had going a few months back. That was equally problematic in my view. We went from one extreme to the other. While the show is still wholesome and watchable, certainly not offensive, it's not must-watch TV. You piling up 10 episodes to catch up says a lot in that sense.

It's not like this soap likes to dare that much... I'm tired of Leslie. She's a completely different character than she was initially. And that's because they decided not to reign in Trisha's acting choices. I'm sorry but it's too much. She's the show's Phyllis. Naughty Nicole is pathetic, been saying that from he start - glad it's dawning on most. She's right to enjoy the moment until it lasts, give her 10 years and unfortunately men will find women that age invisible. Judging by next week's preview, there's still a lot of conversations and talking... nothing happens. Oh Jacob and Smitty have a heated phone call. Interesting.