Aback

Random takes: - What was even the point of that jeweler guy? Also—Dani was borderline harassing him. - I know I’m probably in the minority here, but I want Jacob and Kat to happen. I need something messy to completely dismantle the Duprees—and Katomas just isn’t cutting it. - I officially can’t stand Jacob and his wife. Same goes for Anita and Vernon. - Hayley’s corset was just as ugly as it looked uncomfortable. - I genuinely don’t remember when or how Derek and Ashley reconciled—and I’m someone who didn’t even mind their storyline! LMAO. - Tuesday’s episode was a mess. - Dani finding out about Hayley’s pregnancy and immediately thinking, “She’s faking it”—huh?! What writer thought that was a realistic reaction? I get denial, but that leap was absurd. I agree the ‘Leslie Victorious’ moment was way OTT. But hey, at least I wasn’t yawning. The following episode, where she handed over her daughter’s last few belongings was much better. - I can’t with the constant back-and-forth between Orphey Gene’s and the Country Club. I forgot this was such a soap trope, but even back in my loyal viewer days (late ‘90s, early 2000s), it wasn’t this bad. While GH has a ton of beautiful sets, we’re stuck with the same three—and half of them are ugly. Also: it’s been way too long since we had a party, gala, or any kind of event. I know the Richardsons’ anniversary gala (back in late April) has had a big ripple effect, but I was kinda getting used to those large-scale episodes. Fingers crossed they don’t go with Guza.

I actually love the new fashion.

Please let the mob and the casino go with him.

The more I think about it, the more this feels like a slow-motion gravestone for DAYS. Sure, it’s doing fine right now, but without proper promotion or any real path to gaining new viewers, the audience is bound to shrink over time. At least with broadcast TV, people could stumble onto the show while channel surfing. Now? The best-case scenario is that a random Peacock subscriber happens to click on a thumbnail.

Am I correct in assuming that DAYS does not drive new subscribers (since it’s not promoted outside Peacock) but it helps retain the current ones (most of which where acquired when DAYS transitioned to Peacock)?

Also - if they're happy with the result, why would they want to invest further? The formula is working the way it is for now, so I don't see anything changing budget-wise, unfortunately. I'm just trying to unspin these disingenuous press releases.

Gasp! But that’s impossible! Don’t you remember we have that insider on the board who claims that there’s no ‘proof’ linking P&G or CBS to any kind of homophobia? 🧐

Weird question: is anyone - ahem - archiving the show? We all know how disrespectful networks can be towards soaps runs so I’m hoping that some gentle soul will make sure that BTG will be available to masses forever…

Genuine question: how is 600.000 viewers on streaming considered more successful than 2 million people watching on television? I don’t understand it and the whole ‘6 billion minutes watched’ sounds like a really pointless metric to me.

And yet somehow - not sure why - we know for certain he would have never named a character 'Mariah'.

The Duh-prees - Count me in as someone who cannot stand Kat’s fashion. No one walks around town dressed like that. And those wigs? Completely immovable. We have incredible wig technology these days—can’t the show find something better? - Vernon’s sermons are total FF material. - It looks like they’re setting up a past drinking habit for Anita (with all the “drowning” references), and maybe even a rape/child plot? Also—remember when Dani was an alcoholic? Lol. Ted / Nicole / Leslie - Some people are projecting way too much onto OG Ted. Sure, he had screen presence, but his line delivery was pure caricature. He wasn’t menacing or threatening—he was a joke. NuTed may be meek, a bit one-note, and smaller in stature, but his confrontation with Leslie on Friday worked. Also, let’s be real—Bill’s not scary either. Total softie. Couldn’t scare a fly. - The ATWT reference was cute, but wasn’t the Duncan storyline from the ‘80s? Are we supposed to believe Nicole was already practicing back then? Since she said it was her patients who watched… like others pointed out, God forbid she watched herself! - Also: I stand corrected on Leslie. I think she’s starting to make more sense as a character. She’s fearless and provocative—that’s what drives her. I actually loved her mirror scene where Nicole 2.0 made her debut. The non-Dupree characters - You guys were a bit dramatic about Monday’s show. It just had too many unlikeable storylines crammed into one. That’s all. Also, I stand by what I said about Derek and Ashley—their storyline is totally rom-com coded, and I’m into it. - I’ve developed a soft spot for Doug!! 🥰 And I thought that Vanessa ripping into Ted had a subtle layer of self-reprimand to it - I officially can’t stand André. I don’t buy him as a playboy at all. Same goes for Pamela with her transatlantic accent. It’s such a shame that this is the first character CML had to create… and this is what we got?

Characterization: - I realized I have PTSD from Ted #1’s constant swaying. The moment I saw NuTed, I actually caught myself thinking, “Why isn’t he rocking?” - Leslie makes very little sense from a storytelling perspective unless she’s completely psychotic. What was she hoping to achieve with all her dramatic reveals and aliases? Also… who wouldn’t put two and two together after Laura’s accident? - Anita and Dani come across as mean-spirited, and honestly, the Duprees should just be portrayed as full-on villains. Been saying this since day one—remember when Dani punched Haley and the whole Dupree clan just walked away from her with that “shame on you” look? Wrong on so many levels. Glad others are finally seeing it too. - Mona is sanctimonious and I can’t stand her. She’s the worst kind of person: lower-to-middle class but constantly making excuses for the rich. - Call me crazy, but I’m actually enjoying Ashley and Derek’s storyline. I’ll take this neurotic OCD queen over the sanctimonious, multi-talented nurse any day. Plus, soap couples are usually so plastic. They deal with insane drama but never go to the bathroom, never plan a weekend away. Look at Kat and Tomas—every scene is just them planning lunch or dinner…! - Btw by now André seems bored af by Ashley. WTF Moments: - No young woman would be even remotely interested in going to a casino (looking at Eva). And it’s wild how the show is treating gambling like it’s some kind of therapeutic hobby—like retail therapy or something. - What are they doing with Smitty’s eyebrows… and more importantly, why? Parallels with Other Soaps: - I like Nicole, but she reinforces my belief that soaps should never include psychiatrists. If they’re portrayed accurately, they ruin the fun by rationalizing everyone’s childish and selfish behavior. If they’re portrayed inaccurately (hi Taylor from B&B), it’s equally bad. - Anita’s story is giving major SSM vibes from 2017‘s Y&R, when Victor got Nikki to start playing the piano again. - Karla played a model on B&B too… 🙄 Direction & Continuity: - Pascarelli is hands down the worst director this show has. - Wednesday’s episode started with a nighttime establishing shot of Orphey Gene’s… but all the scenes that followed were clearly set in daytime—until halfway through the episode, when it suddenly switched back to night. - The picture on the piano at the Duprees’ house shows two little girls and two little boys. Who are the boys? One could be Martin (or Tyrell?), but who’s the other kid? 😂😅 (And speaking of pictures… no one under 50 is walking around with a printed photo in their pocket. But I digress.) - I love catching the time on the phones when they pop up onscreen. Friday’s episode was supposedly set before lunch, but Vernon’s phone said 3:15 in one scene and 3:50 in the next. A few scenes later, Kat is playing Leslie’s audio for Jacob and her phone shows 10:40. Cool.

LMAO this is the funniest hill I'll die on. Here is what I'm saying ⬇ The shoulders and sleeves are too tight. He'd benefit from a larger size. The yellow arrows show where the shoulder cut should actually be placed in my opinion. I don't mind the granpa fashion per se, I just have an OCD with sizes LOL

Dear God in Heaven (/KatherineChancellor), maybe blazer is the wrong word - I’m just saying André needs to wear baggy clothes or larger sizes cause he’s a short king and the sizes they’ve chosen for him make him look smaller and shorter than necessary 😭 btw he’s not even that young, must be around Martin’s age…

Well, no turtleneck for him!

Random takes from this week: - Bill’s been played way too soft by the actor. I just can’t buy him doing anything truly sinister. I wish he had more of that old-school Victor Newman edge. - On characterization: I’m fine with Leslie being shown as a narcissistic and cruel mother—as long as she doesn’t tip into full cartoon villain territory. Dani’s involvement in Nicole’s storyline feels natural to me, and I really like that Martín is such a hothead, which totally clashes with his polished political career. No wonder no one wants to confide in him. Also, I don’t mind Haley’s characterization at all. - I’m still annoyed they dropped the whole lawsuit storyline. That’s why I’m a bit hesitant about getting too invested in the June plot. Also: I can do without another instant-sibling storyline. - Ashley and Derek? Totally fine with them in small doses. That’s the best way to handle those two. - Thank God Ted is getting recast. I honestly couldn’t handle that constant swaying much longer. - Speaking of Ted: maybe I’m in the minority here, but that hotel set is hideous. The oversized boiserie makes everything look flat, and that artwork on the wall? Bland, ugly, and lifeless. - I’m 50/50 on the product placement. On one hand, it’s totally misplaced and campy—especially when it shows up in the middle of emotional scenes. It just feels wrong. But on the other hand… here we are talking about Febreze and Tide. So maybe it is working? I honestly don’t know. - I don’t have any issues with the fashion on the show overall, but André’s wardrobe is just off. Not in terms of style, but size. His tops are way too tight and actually make him look even shorter than he is. Same goes for Smitty. Both of them would seriously benefit from some larger blazers or chunkier sweaters.

I'm curious if they'll have an announcer introduce the recast!

I hate to be that person, but Monday’s episode was a mess. The editing was an eyesore—felt like multiple scenes got chopped mid-way through. Anita’s singing was completely over the top. And while TT can sing, something about her performance just felt off—her voice was actually kind of grating Leslie’s motivations make zero sense, unless we’re supposed to believe she just thrives on chaos. Her smirking while her daughter got locked out? That was straight-up cartoon villain territory. Once again, the Duprees came off like a full-on mob—especially the girls, who acted more like petty mean girls than anything else. And don’t get me started on Kat and Eva. Their dialogue was repetitive and totally unrealistic. “We have opposite fairy tales”? Seriously? Give me a break.(not that literally though, I want my episodes daily!!)

I totally understand your sloths concern about it and I agree with you. Let’s hope the show plays it’s cards right. Further comments about the last few episodes: - I liked that one of the attendees was filming the scene. That’s realistic. I wonder if the writers will follow up with that. - Martin and Smitty trying to drag Leslie out was very heteronormative, so perfectly in line with them two as characters lol. As for the future: it’s obvious the Duprees will come to accept Eva one way or another, but the rivalry with Kay should be here for the long term On the topic of acting: the only bad actors I’m seeing are Ted and Derek. Tomas hasn’t proven to be either good or bad, so far, but he’s certainly mediocre and uncharismatic. He sucks the energy out of the scenes and I don’t see any couple of women ever vying for him.

I absolutely loved the last few episodes—devoured them! If Trisha and Ambyr’s performances aren’t Emmy-worthy, I don’t know what is. I wasn’t bothered by the lawyer girl not being at the gala from the start, or the grandkids being absent, or Vanessa being MIA. It just goes to show how unnecessarily huge the Dupree family is. And like Toups said, you can’t cram the entire cast into a single episode. Oh and the cue when Leslie was having that fantasy was epic, very DAYS-like. They should keep it and develop it Minor nitpicks: Yeah, Ted seriously needs a recast—been saying that since day one. I still don’t know where he stands, and he just comes off as a generic nice guy. Not having Ted and Bill share a single scene since the show started? Huge missed opportunity. And not having Leslie get anywhere near Bill in one of her wigs? Another big miss. It really weakened the impact of her big reveal about Bill’s involvement. Now it just feels a bit like fan fiction. I’m totally confused by Vanessa and Doug’s “arrangement.” One moment it seems like they’re in an open relationship, and the next Vanessa acts completely shocked when Doug so much as hints at her “distractions.” Huh? Can anyone explain what’s going on there?

And I appreciate it so much! What an incredible work you do. Thank you!!

SAME!

Point is: the audience that’s willing to tune in at that time of the day is not interested in soccer. As shown by the ratings. So it’s a double waste of time to air soccer and it’s not surprising most of us are quite frustrated. (But we’ll survive!)

Good point! Same! Lmao God, I hate that there’s no show today. So pointless in the age of streaming to pre-empt soaps. 😡

Big agree. Mondays show was BRILLIANT from start to finish. If this is the realization of MJV’s vision, I’m all for it. I even enjoyed Ashley and Derek’s asinine conflict. BTW they both come across as insufferable people. Also- is it me or they have fixed the abrupt ‘fade to black’ issue?