It hit a rough patch for a while with Cole on drugs, Starr trying to seduce Schuyler and the Gigi/Rex/Stacy triangle but the show has definitely pulled itself out of its mini slump. The diversity, like you mentioned, is extremely impressive, especially since there's more than "just one" Latino family and black characters that aren't one big working class family. Ron Carlivati introduced the Rivera and Evans family the right way and wrote compelling materia lfor all involved. The rest of the show is on a roll too, with the Bo/Nora/Clint story about to take off, Gigi and Rex about to reunite, the baby switch resolved and Viki and Charlie getting engaged. And I'd be lying if I said the upcoming Fish/Kyle story wasn't intriguing me.

Exactly!

Other than Rex/Gigi/Stacy OLTL's almost as good as it was last spring & if Ron could get Blair away from Todd/Tea/John/Marty & with Kevin or Joey it would be even better.

I am so glad I'm not the only one who like Cristian/Layla. I even loved the whole cheesy stuck-in-close-quarters thing they had going on a couple of weeks ago.

Oh, and if OLTL goes ahead and makes Matthew and Destiny a full-fledged couple, I would probably bow down to whoever is in charge. That would be 100% new and fresh for daytime.

Once this Stacy stuff winds down and Todd/Blair/their hoes aren't as in-yo-face!!, I might come back full-time.

There's a lot to love on OLTL and I can't believe I am going to say this but the minorities on OLTL are kicking some daytime ass. We have gays, latinos and African-Americans and imo they aren't being used as tokens.

Rachel's re-introduction to Llanview has been handled right. My only complaint is that she didn't have scenes with RJ and Hank but they made up for it by showing the bond she has with her mom. And now she has a story with Shawn and this new doctor. But I am pretty sure I am going to love the new doctor. He's gorgeous and I loved him on Guiding Light.

Markko Rivera and Langston. I like they are finally focusing on them. I've always thought they were the more interesting teens and anything that gives us a break from Starr and Cole is welcome. Markko's parents are Catholic. How often do we get a chance to see a religious perspective.

Kyle and Fish's story is developing nicely. The KAD story was a red herring that hid the tension between these two. I like them so far and I know they aren't core character but sue me I like Fish and enjoy Kyle. I think it was smart to envelope Cristian and Layla into this story. They are wonderful together and I am loving them.

Everything else on the show is working for me except Stacy. I'm liking Gigi with Schuyler but it saddens me because I liked her with Rex. I find myself looking forward to the summer. Then again, I looked forward to last summer and was pretty disappointed.

Well Rachel did have a few scenes with Hank...he was the one who brought her back to Llanview. But it is a shame that she didn't have any scenes with Uncle RJ, or Hank and RJ together. It's also a shame that they didn't have the whole extended Gannon family (including Nora) together in at least one scene.

After watching yesterdays and today's episodes I'm really starting to get into this show again. Langston and Markko have so much potential. I find them refreshing after all the drama of Starr and Cole. I also like the twist of Markko's parents being the roadblock in this relationship as opposed to Dorian. The script writer for Wednesday’s episode deserves a gold star for Dorian's line to Markko where she apologized and insulted him at the same time. Telling Markko she was sorry about spilling the beans about him and Langston having sex and then following it up with a sly ding for not realizing that ”not everyone can have as open a relationship as her and Langston” was priceless.

I also really like the character of Greg. It's been a long time since I have been this intrigued by a new character. The fact that the writers are playing the cards close to the vest as to whether or not the good doctor has good or bad intentions is helping. I think there is chemistry between him and Rachel and I love the set up of a possible triangle between Shaun/Rachel/Greg, if that is what they have planned.

Jess and Brody are HOT and so are Cris and Layla and I’m interested to see how the Fish/Kyle thing plays out. I agree that this story would have been more meaningful had it been played out with a “legacy character” such as Joey or C.J., but nonetheless I’m willing to follow the writers on this one.

My only gripe with this show is this whole Stacy/Rex/Gigi mess. Crystal Hunt finally had a scene she could have knocked out of the park when she had her melt down at dance class. Unfortunately, she didn't. Consequently, I feel nothing for this character now. Hopefully they cut the character soon or find another actress to really play this part because IMO in the hands of a skilled actress I could like this character now that the part is finally being fleshed out.

I am so glad I'm not the only one who like Cristian/Layla. I even loved the whole cheesy stuck-in-close-quarters thing they had going on a couple of weeks ago.

Oh, and if OLTL goes ahead and makes Matthew and Destiny a full-fledged couple, I would probably bow down to whoever is in charge. That would be 100% new and fresh for daytime.

Once this Stacy stuff winds down and Todd/Blair/their hoes aren't as in-yo-face!!, I might come back full-time.

I'd love that to happen, but I hope it takes a long time. Maybe even a full year.

Other than Rex/Gigi/Stacy OLTL's almost as good as it was last spring & if Ron could get Blair away from Todd/Tea/John/Marty & with Kevin or Joey it would be even better.

Oh, how I wish. Joey and Blair would be good. I can work with Blair and nearly anyone but Todd at this point. I fear this contrived forced cohabitation is the set up for one more round of T&B. Blah!

I don't know if having Joey or CJ in the story would make it more meaningful. Joey hasn't been an important character in over ten years. We've never seen an adult CJ, and when we did see two young adult Sarahs, they were never in any meaningful stories. I think someone at OLTL realized the only way to get this type of story through Frons was to sell it as being a smaller part of a straight romance (Cris/Layla). Then if the story is popular, they can do more. If not, then Fish and Kyle will both vanish, or have quick exits.

I agree that the show's gotten better. If not for horrible Rex/Stacy (and Rex/Gigi), John/Marty, and Todd, I think they'd have a solid program.

Oh, how I wish. Joey and Blair would be good. I can work with Blair and nearly anyone but Todd at this point. I fear this contrived forced cohabitation is the set up for one more round of T&B. Blah!

I don't think they have any desire to write for Blair as a character in her own right. She's only there to support Todd (or John, when Todd was with Marty).

Edited June 25, 200916 yr by CarlD2

Man Stacy is a bad dance teacher. I hope the parents of those kid's got refunds.

Well Rachel did have a few scenes with Hank...he was the one who brought her back to Llanview. But it is a shame that she didn't have any scenes with Uncle RJ, or Hank and RJ together. It's also a shame that they didn't have the whole extended Gannon family (including Nora) together in at least one scene.

I remember Hank and Rachel's scene. I'm a dork, I meant to say what you posted. I wanted to see Rachel with both Hank and RJ.

I am so glad I'm not the only one who like Cristian/Layla. I even loved the whole cheesy stuck-in-close-quarters thing they had going on a couple of weeks ago.

Oh, and if OLTL goes ahead and makes Matthew and Destiny a full-fledged couple, I would probably bow down to whoever is in charge. That would be 100% new and fresh for daytime.

Both couples are a bit unconventional for daytime but especially Matthew and Destiny. I am so glad that they chose this route. Their all interesting pairings.

Once this Stacy stuff winds down and Todd/Blair/their hoes aren't as in-yo-face!!, I might come back full-time.

Stacy is the only thing that I can't abide. Todd/Blair/Tea is redundant but watchable if they would go in a new direction with them.

My only gripe with this show is this whole Stacy/Rex/Gigi mess. Crystal Hunt finally had a scene she could have knocked out of the park when she had her melt down at dance class. Unfortunately, she didn't. Consequently, I feel nothing for this character now. Hopefully they cut the character soon or find another actress to really play this part because IMO in the hands of a skilled actress I could like this character now that the part is finally being fleshed out.

They hand-delivered those scenes and she dropped the ball.

The script writer for Wednesday’s episode deserves a gold star for Dorian's line to Markko where she apologized and insulted him at the same time. Telling Markko she was sorry about spilling the beans about him and Langston having sex and then following it up with a sly ding for not realizing that ”not everyone can have as open a relationship as her and Langston” was priceless.

I saw Aida Croal's name in the credits.

I also really like the character of Greg. It's been a long time since I have been this intrigued by a new character. The fact that the writers are playing the cards close to the vest as to whether or not the good doctor has good or bad intentions is helping. I think there is chemistry between him and Rachel and I love the set up of a possible triangle between Shaun/Rachel/Greg, if that is what they have planned.

I love Greg already. I think he has great potential and I love that he is layered.

I don't know if having Joey or CJ in the story would make it more meaningful. Joey hasn't been an important character in over ten years. We've never seen an adult CJ, and when we did see two young adult Sarahs, they were never in any meaningful stories.

I am inclined to agree with you. Joey was back temporarily for Asa's funeral. I like the idea of CJ and Sarah but I haven't embraced them as individual characters enough to know if it would add meaning. I realized after two Sarahs that both CJ and Sarah have been off canvas for so long that they are in need of a lot of development.

I think someone at OLTL realized the only way to get this type of story through Frons was to sell it as being a smaller part of a straight romance (Cris/Layla). Then if the story is popular, they can do more.

If the story is written well and the actors involved can handle the material, then I think they will do more. Then again, I also thought they would do more with the BE takeover story with Jared, Natalie, Clint and Dorian.

I agree that the show's gotten better. If not for horrible Rex/Stacy (and Rex/Gigi), John/Marty, and Todd, I think they'd have a solid program

I couldn't agree more with you. I just hope they continue with the trend and I think this summer's stories "sound" better than last summer's stories.

Edited June 25, 200916 yr by Leia

LOL! It seems a lot of us are enjoying the "side" stories and that's what keeps us engaged through the torment that is swallowing the show.

I am also enjoying OLTL's B and C stories more than their A stories. Cristian/Leyla, Matthew and Destiny, Shaun/Rachel/Greg and Markko/Langston are very entertaining relationships. Each stories does not get a lot of time, but put together, they have been getting me through the rest of the tedious show.

Edited June 25, 200916 yr by Ann_SS

What was Langston wearing yesterday?

It looked like Little House on the Praire on Crack.

Oh, how I wish. Joey and Blair would be good. I can work with Blair and nearly anyone but Todd at this point. I fear this contrived forced cohabitation is the set up for one more round of T&B. Blah!

Exactly.

Blair is such an underappreciated character & Kassie is way too awesome to be stuck propping Todd/Tea/John/Marty.

But that will never happen since TPTB only keep Blair around to be the third part of contrived triangles.

What was Langston wearing yesterday?

It looked like Little House on the Praire on Crack.

I couldn't tell if it was Martha Stewart or Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I am also enjoying OLTL's B and C stories more than their A stories. Cristian/Leyla, Matthew and Destiny, Shaun/Rachel/Greg and Markko/Langston are very entertaining relationships. Each stories does not get a lot of time, but put together, they have been getting me through the rest of the tedious show.

It's almost like RC throw us a lifeline with those stories. I appreciate it.

Edited June 25, 200916 yr by Leia

I couldn't tell if it was Martha Stewart or Laura Ingalls Wilder.

It's almost like RC throw us a lifeline with those stories. I appreciate it.

So do I and it excites me to think of the coming months. RC usually writes long stories and if that stays true then these B and C stories will eventually become A and B stories, I hope. With that in mind then this show has solid footing for the coming months.

Ugh, Rex & Stacy