On 2/26/2026 at 6:59 PM, Ryanc2 said:

Buuuuuut… I really wanted to stop here for a second before I lose my thought because this episode in particular really stood out to me with the “fantasy” sequences JER was obsessed with doing. It really ruined the show IMO. Here in this episode we have a ton of fantasy sequences of Charity and Miguel being in love.. so we are seeing their love story play out in a fantasy sequence except it’s not actually happening in reality? And Theresa is fantasizing about being with Ethan when Gwen barges in and they have a cake fight. I just feel like this takes away from when the Theresa and Gwen confrontation actually WILL happen. And there are plenty more examples of this over the years on this show that just literally ruin an entire storyline for me. It’s like, if you’re already gonna show us all the characters reactions why should we care to keep watching to see when it ACTUALLY happens? This happened a billion times around 2002/2003ish with Eve having visions of TC finding out about her past with Julien and when the big reveal actually happened it was super underwhelming because the audience felt like it was already spoiled.

THIS TROPE! Oh, how this used to infuriate the hell out of me. I always thought it was cheating. If you're having a fantasy sequence, it either needs to last no longer than one segment, or it needs to be apparent that it is a fantasy. I used to hate how we'd seem to get some progress in, say, Luis & Sheridan's storyline, they'd cut over to whatever stories really were happening that day, then we'd cut back to Luis & Sheridan's for the reveal that we were being played.

On 2/27/2026 at 7:52 PM, Franko said:

THIS TROPE! Oh, how this used to infuriate the hell out of me. I always thought it was cheating. If you're having a fantasy sequence, it either needs to last no longer than one segment, or it needs to be apparent that it is a fantasy. I used to hate how we'd seem to get some progress in, say, Luis & Sheridan's storyline, they'd cut over to whatever stories really were happening that day, then we'd cut back to Luis & Sheridan's for the reveal that we were being played.

It’s the only time I ever kind consider skipping through scenes is when that happens. It literally takes up an entire episode sometimes but I refuse to skip scenes. I will sometimes go on my phone or do something else while a fantasy scene happens because as far as I’m concerned, if it’s not progressing the storyline then I genuinely don’t care. It does sometimes feel like it spoils the end result of the plot too though which is the worst!

Episodes up to September 20th 1999 -

It’s dawned on me today that all the members of the Russell family are all playing supporting characters. Simone with Kay, Whitney with Theresa.. and Eve with Grace and their storylines. They are yet to expand on the Russell’s and give them their own story so I am looking forward to when we can see more of them. They have hinted at a possible romance between Whitney and Frank (Ethan’s private investigator) and he’s HOT. I wonder why the show didn’t decide to continue on with that? I know Chad will come in later but they could have easily given this Frank character all the same storylines they gave Chad.

Now begins Tabitha’s mission to try and kill Charity which I know never ends up being successful but it will be fun to watch her try 😂 and I think we are seeing the beginnings of Timmy’s crush on Charity. Kay’s crush on Miguel is absolutely delusional and ridiculous but I have to again compliment Taylor Ann-Mountz in this role because she has surprised me more than any other cast member for being so much better in this role than I ever gave her credit for. I haven’t watched these episodes since I was about 14 so I don’t recall finding her that great in the role but she absolutely is.

It seems like the show was beginning to give Hank a backstory and he apparently has some kind of secret that Luis is starting to become suspicious of but it hasn’t been revealed yet. He’s a character who should have stuck around and been a main character like the others.

Sheridan is just a poor tortured soul and can’t catch a break (and never will, unfortunately). She knows she killed someone but can’t recall who or why it happened. Although, I think Pilar knows based on the conversation they had at her cottage. I am excited for that to be revealed.

I am just at the point now where Theresa is about to be exposed for being Ethan’s stalker.. (Frank just revealed it to Ivy) and I am really excited about how it plays out because I honestly forgot how that ended up being addressed in the show. Did they just brush all of Theresa’s “crimes” against Ethan under the rug? I know Theresa does end up lying about having a boyfriend and will try to make excuses all the time for why her boyfriend isn’t around. I’m just gonna be happy for them to get Theresa out of that awful wig and frumpy clothes.