2 minutes ago, Soaplovers said:

I would agree today's single/child-free 30/40-somethings don't socialize with their suburban neighbors, but if you live on a street and/or cul de sac with families that have kids around the same age... they all still socialize.   And I know several peers of mine that live in the Chicago burbs with kids.. that talk all about their bar beques, neighborhood block parties, etc.

So it would have to be families with school age children around the same age for it to sort of work.

Ooh, that's a good point, and I agree. Desperate Housewives tapped into that very well in its first season, with the kids having their own storylines while still being affected by what was going on with their parents. Now that's a show I need to revisit now that it's 20 years down the line.

The notorious Season 13 is over and now we’ve arrived to the final season.

Actually beyond Linda’s very grisly murder and the ending of the Jason story the back half wasn’t as bad once Romano was gone.

What did you all think of the Alex/Claudia mess that just dominated the 2nd half of S13?

I love Maree Cheatham but her character is supposed to be Laura’s mother…..?? 🤣 I could see it if was sister or something but yikes.

7 minutes ago, All My Shadows said:

Ooh, that's a good point, and I agree. Desperate Housewives tapped into that very well in its first season, with the kids having their own storylines while still being affected by what was going on with their parents. Now that's a show I need to revisit now that it's 20 years down the line.

It’s funny few years back I tried doing a rewatch as I pretty much watched every episode live when it ran. I made it through Season 1 just fine with nostalgia but stopped during Season 2 because I became  bored with it, and actually skipped ahead to Season 3 without finishing Season 2. 

Edited August 26, 20241 yr by soapfan770

15 minutes ago, soapfan770 said:

It’s funny few years back I tried doing a rewatch as I pretty much watched every episode live when it ran. I made it through Season 1 just fine with nostalgia but stopped during Season 2 because I became  bored with it, and actually skipped ahead to Season 3 without finishing Season 2. 

That's exactly what I would probably do because I distinctly remember the second season being crap lol Nothing ever could live up to that first season, so I'd probably just stick to that and keep it moving, to be honest.

BTW the opening theme music retro remix for Season 14 sounds terrible and horribly outdated, which is weird they went that route for this season because the show’s score at the time is on point and gives me Melrose vibes for sure. 

11 minutes ago, All My Shadows said:

That's exactly what I would probably do because I distinctly remember the second season being crap lol Nothing ever could live up to that first season, so I'd probably just stick to that and keep it moving, to be honest.

Yeah Seasons 3 and 4 were far much better but I finally gave up with the start of Season 5 and didn’t finish the series…maybe one day lol.

Another way to get connection b/w characters would be for some familial connection

eg 2 sisters and their families living next door to each other-maybe a back story that their parents developed the block and they inherited or simply chose to live next door.

Or an  older couple owning the next door property and letting children live their to help them out financially.

Something along those lines that would keep them in contact and connected.

4 hours ago, soapfan770 said:

BTW the opening theme music retro remix for Season 14 sounds terrible and horribly outdated, which is weird they went that route for this season because the show’s score at the time is on point and gives me Melrose vibes for sure. 

4 hours ago, All My Shadows said:

Could not disagree more. I think the faster opening theme gives the show more energy right from the start. That season 14 opening was one of the things that hooked me in the 90’s when I watched for the first time. I saw the last season before anything else back then.

6 hours ago, All My Shadows said:

I already knew about Larry Riley's health deteriorating throughout season 13, but it really is heartbreaking to think that just yesterday, he was a healthy, muscular man, and in his very last appearance, he was so much smaller.

It is very sad to see his final episodes. 

I, too, don't think the S14 "remix" of the show's theme song works with the opening titles, but since everyone involved with KL - David Jacobs, Michael Filerman, Lorimar, CBS - knew going in that S14 would be their last, I tend to view the arrangement as a sort of thank you to viewers who had stuck with the show all those years.

16 hours ago, soapfan770 said:

Actually beyond Linda’s very grisly murder and the ending of the Jason story the back half wasn’t as bad once Romano was gone.

How Ann Marcus was able to turn things around in that back half with little-to-no prep time boggles the mind.  Was it as thrilling to watch as "peak years" KNOTS?  Probably not.  In fact, if you were used to wild twists and turns that had defined the Lechowicks' era, the latter half of S13 and all of S14 might have been a letdown by comparison.  But I really appreciated how Marcus salvaged as much of the show as she could from John Romano's disastrous time there and allowed KNOTS to end on a more dignified note than it would have otherwise.

16 hours ago, soapfan770 said:

What did you all think of the Alex/Claudia mess that just dominated the 2nd half of S13?

Frankly, I thought it was silly how Claudia was allowing a virtual child manipulate her like that - and over what?  A "secret" that turned out to be a big bunch of nothing in the end.  But, like I said before, I think Kathleen Noone was largely wasted on this show until Marcus came along and figured out how to employ her better.

Whatta finale. WOW.

Yes, nothing beats Abby strolling her ass into the cul de sac, mentioning Claudia's house was on the market (aka her house), and getting the last word.

KL had the best ending scene of any primetime soap 

While the back half may not have been as strong as the first half of the show, there are so many things that did work incredibly well.

Paige- they figured out the best use for her and for NS. She is allowed to have an edge, but they made the correct decision moving her away from Abby-lite.

Anne- again, another example of finding the correct lane for the character and actor. I think she worked best as a sort of Lucy Coe character, with one scheme after another blowing up in her face.

Linda- she does work well treading that line Abby did for so long, until the danger catches up to her. She has the desire but not the canny intelligence Abby relied on. But Linda was younger and pays the price.

Frank, Pat, and Julie- I really liked these characters, and I am just as sad they all ended up gone by the end as I was the first time I watched. The show allowing Larry Riley to keep appearing until he couldn’t anymore was a class act in those days. People clearly dying from AIDS complications were not treated well even then.

I also liked Jason and how that allowed Mack to revisit his background.

Main thing I didn’t like- Gary and Val deserved a better final catalyst than Danny to reunite. The whole thing should have been treated as the important story turn that it was after all those years.

The return to the Cul-de-Sac and more down to earth stories was the right direction to go. They did rely a little too much on twists and violence but the overall show never really stops being entertaining.

When Gary & Val were finally going to reunite, they should have had them go to therapy counseling to hash out everything they went through on a very deep level bringing in Lucy, Lillimae, Miss, Ellie etc...

8 minutes ago, SoapDope said:

When Gary & Val were finally going to reunite, they should have had them go to therapy counseling to hash out everything they went through on a very deep level bringing in Lucy, Lillimae, Miss, Ellie etc...

It would've made a good bottle episode with flashbacks as well. 

A few things gave it away that season 13 had new showrunners.

- When Val comes back to her house after being forced to move back there after the ranch is taken from Gary/Val.. we got the flashback to when Val first came to Seaview Circle with Richard.. and then in the present day, Alex comes in and the scene is almost recreated.

- Alex deciding to unveil the portrait of Claudia/Greg's mom (I assume the pic was of a young Ava Gardner).. with the whole cul da sec there for a gathering at Claudia's house.  It harkened back to the early seasons of the show.

Seeing the final scenes of the final episode, a memory unlocked where I remember a pre-teen me sitting with my late mom and her saying 'The show has come full circle' when she saw Abby pulling up and saying Claudia's house was on the market.. with Val welcoming Abby home then taking Gary away..while Karen has a befuddled look on her face before resuming what she was doing. 

The show started with new arrivals on Seaview CIrcle (Gary/Val).. and ended with new arrivals on the Seaview Circle (the newlywed couple moving into Laura/the Williams old house).

I thought I had timed it right to get home for the series finale, but I guess not. What a ride this has been! For a solid week, I was stranded in Knots Landing, a show I’ve wanted to see more of for years and years, and it was an incredible time. I really have no interest in Sisters, so I’ll be taking a break from the Primetime Soaps channel. In the mean time, it’s back to Falcon Crest on DVD as well another watch of Knots’s first two seasons in preparation for (hopefully) streaming.

1 hour ago, All My Shadows said:

I thought I had timed it right to get home for the series finale, but I guess not. What a ride this has been! For a solid week, I was stranded in Knots Landing, a show I’ve wanted to see more of for years and years, and it was an incredible time. I really have no interest in Sisters, so I’ll be taking a break from the Primetime Soaps channel. In the mean time, it’s back to Falcon Crest on DVD as well another watch of Knots’s first two seasons in preparation for (hopefully) streaming.

That's my plan, LOL. I am watching Falcon till Knots is on again so I'm able to record the first 6 seasons that I missed and then start watching!