I agree that the writing seems to be all over the place. There doesn't seem to be a lot of continuity, more like, "okay, what can we write today". I like the Coop/Beth thing, but mostly because of the way Coop is playing it. He's falling hard, but Beth isn't in the same place. Love Bill/Lizzie, but would like for them to just be happy for a while. Liked Jeff/Reva before the pregnancy storyline, though it'll always be Bud as far as I'm concerned. Don't want Josh/Blake, would rather see Phillip/Blake. Let Josh be alone for a while. Interested in seeing where the Olivia/Natalia storyline is headed. I think they are both developing feelings for each other, but not realizing it yet. Of course, CC could have chemistry with a mannequin. Liking Shayne/Dinah too, but she belongs with Mallet. GT, like CC, could have chemistry with a mannequin. HATE HATE HATE all things Marina. Hate Grady. Hate Daisy. Like Ashlee, but old Ashlee. Really like her interaction with Doris. Miss characters like Wanda and the Spaulding maids. Excited about Phillip's return, just hope they don't botch it. Would love to see more Billy/Vanessa and an Alex/Buzz/Lillian triangle (though I miss the Alex/Lillian friendship). Wouldn't mind seeing them bring Fletcher back and throw him into the mix. Oh well, one can dream!

IA with just about everything you said, except I am mildly interested in Josh and Blake and I'm quite excited about both Olivia and Natalia and Shayne and Dinah. I'm hoping for a Phillip/Olivia/Natalia triangle myself lol.

Also, if Fletcher returns, Holly must also.

Edited December 30, 200817 yr by AllAboutAngst

I agree, the production model is fine, it's the writing that needs some work. I like that they're trying to be more real, but that doesn't mean you have to have pointless scenes where people say "um" a lot (latest example was the Matt/Rick stuff with the dinosaur).

When the writing is good, the show these days is amazing. I have been loving every single scene in the Coop/Beth story. It sent chills down my spine to see Beth reading Coop's novel's description of her character. Then in the later scene where Lillian pegged Beth, that was golden, when Lillian reacted to Beth reading the lines from the novel and "it's been so long since ..." by saying, "Coop is not Philip." Beth sees Coop as the young knight in shining armor coming to her rescue like Philip did with Bradley.

Beth says it is not about Philip, she told Buzz it is not like it was with Rick -- but Lillian is right, it is all about Philip, just like marrying Alan was about Philip and the affair with Rick was about Philip. Great foundation for Philip's return.

Edited January 1, 200917 yr by jfung79