If you refer to the Dar Salaam Bible storyline which I referred to as 'disturbing' (and I was very restrained in my characterization), then I agree things really went south from there. Yes, it was action packed with video shots on different locations, hot pursuits, twists and turns, mistaken identities what have you...it had almost the entire cast involved some way or another, but I think it drained the show's resources and seriously backfired in terms of viewing figures around late 83' and the first quarter of 84'.

It was also a time when we saw early departures of major characters who were there from the beginning and that was clearly an ominous sign. I don't think the idea to introduce the extended Carpenter family was particularly engaging, although the Peter-Courtney-Vaughn triangle was interesting up to a point. I didn't appreciate the fact that Carla and Lori's characters were reduced to being the dutiful wives to the point they were actually functioning as their respective husbands' personal job assistants instead of having a dignified storyline of their own, but since both were just after giving labor, there were no viable options for their character development. The Vanessa storyline was captivating and Vanessa's casting fitted like a glove, but its conclusion unforgivable, just like Jeff's miraculous healing through divine intervention wasn't something I could accept as a dramatic vehicle for a soap. I knew very well I was watching a Christian soap with clear subliminal and not so subliminal messages and indoctrinations. I had no problem with the premise, more with the execution at times.

I can think of many more underlining stories that bored me during the last year: I didn't like Nancy's lawsuit against Ben with Dan Meyers as the new shady lawyer, the marriage scheme, Miriam falling for Jeremy of all people as a parable for something... I know what the purpose was, but it was still unacceptable to me. And then we had Ben getting national recognition and media attention, leaving the clinic for the Bedford institute without knowing he's a pawn in Brian and Vanessa's deadly schemes. The campus fake shooting story was not one I particularly warmed up to. The paternity/pregnancy story seemed like an unecessary complication to get Dan and Gil's characters some 'action' after a long lull. I did like Tina's addition to the show from the moment she walked in, although her connection to John seemed completely random. She was a hoot...up to the point where things got more serious. If I had to watch those episodes again, which I probably won't, I don't think my mind would change about how I feel about those stories. There is more to unpack here, but that's for another occasion.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by YTG

I’m very early in the Lee Carrouthers episodes. I have very little sense of the character overall. He has political ambitions, but Sebastian Knight’s ambition seems much grander. Gleason is charming as Lee, and, on a network series, I imagine the story would have been a Kate / Lee / Amber triangle in the traditional sense. Lee seems found of Kate, but ultimately, he is not a one-woman man. And that they have made very clear. 

I have seen a few episodes much later in the run, and they rarely seem to have the same energy I find in the current lot, even when I have caught stuff from the lead up to the murder of Kate. I will be curious how I feel about the show by January, 1984. 

I also question some things in the long run. I like Kelly Gwinn as Lance, the enforcer, but I don’t think that is a character that needed to live on after the end of the storyline involving the mob. I know there was some chemistry testing late in the kidnapping story, but Burnett was a strong enough actress that she could have carried a story with anyone. Given her history with Nancy, I think pairing them with the same man would have made sense. I know the fate of Paul Mason, but I do think they should have tried to reunite Paul and Miriam as I think there was mileage to play there even without Paul being endgame for Miriam. 

I feel like Vicki Lang may have outstayed her welcome. The third actress has come on and I really just don’t care about her story. I think the second actress was miscast, but having her allow the falsified soil report go through was the beginning of the end for the character. With Gil firmly enmeshed in the Amber story, I just don’t see the need for Vicki’s story to continue especially as they seem to be attempting to move Peter towards Marianne. 

The Dar Saalam bible story was Vinley’s favorite, but I don’t think that it is anything I’ll enjoy. It seems very plot heavy. 

The DOMI story is something I am looking forward to in the final year, but I can see how the supernatural twist could be viewed as an about face on a fairly serious show. For years, I thought the idea of Russ going to hell seemed hokey, but seeing the build up now, I am understanding the deeper emotional and spiritual ramifications of that act. I still am deeply moved by Blue’s final moments. 

I will be curious to see how I feel about the other Carpenter clan. I do really enjoy Miriam and Charles, while also thinking it would be nice if Helen popped in more often. I imagine Randy Kraft and Ginger Burnett were considering leaving which is why that branch was added, but they were introduced many months before either actor left. I have to wonder how much steam that part of the show lost with Peter Davidson departing a couple months before the cancellation. 

Nancy’s best days do seem behind her, but I saw a few scenes of her explaining why she was suing Ben Martin and it seemed logical. I do think at some point Terry was going to have to distance herself from Nancy after all the terrible things she did. I am also curious to see her relationship with Doug Hughes, who I really liked in his brief appearances in 1981 during the Hollister Square storyline. If only Mitch Dunbar could have returned as well.