Y&R: Episodes discussion., Week of July 6

[DRW50]

Heather has a personality. A dim bulb who makes herself the whipping girl for the Newman family. The show's lack of respect for the Williams family bleeds through in every scene she has.

Rafe didn't have a personality even before he hooked up with Adam. I think they deliberately made sure Rafe was blank, to make viewers focus only on the shock/horror of Adam debasing himself with a man.

I have a more difficult time with Neil than I do with Lily. His caveman reaction never fails to throw me right out of a scene. I just hit a wall with him. I cannot stand watching anything with him, he has become such a completely irrelevant and forced character. And then we hear all about his great work at Chancellor. When was the last time we saw the Chancellor offices? I can't remember. Is that like his version of Wonder Woman's invisible plane?

[brimike]

Have we ever seen Chancellor Industries? I mean, scratch that. I know we must have before. I can picture Kay and Jill working at the Jabot offices, but I'm trying to remember what the Chancellor offices even looked like.

[DRW50]

I don't remember either. I thought we saw some board meetings there several years ago, but I'm blanking now. It's just bizarre when they tell us what a great business dynamo Neil is, because all I ever saw him do at Newman was kiss up and then throw a fit every few years.

One thing I will give LML credit for is that she (unless it was Jack Smith) reminded viewers that Katherine does have some power at a huge company, as I think many fans may have begun to assume Chancellor Industries was just some fly on the wall or that they just wrote Katherine a check every month. There's still great potential to be had with the company, especially with so many corporate characters floating around aimlessly.

Is Neil going to be as furious at Tyra for deceiving everyone on her blood ties as he is at Cane?

[Cashton]

Interesting theory bout Rafe. i think they don't want any rooting power behind Rafe and Adam.

Neil just made me want to go "How old is Lily?" I know she acts like she's 13 but she's a grown woman and Cane is still her husband so go take a hike pops.. And Devon got on my nerves too. Gosh I SO want someone to slap Devon. But at least this whole debacle has truly galvanized Cane. He's a bona-fide character now!

I do think though that him marrying Chloe by being trapped in his own lie is clever. That was my beef with the whole retcon - why would Cane use Phillip's blood then act crazy about having to marry Chloe. And acting SO hurt when he found out the baby was Billy's. But it all works. Not organically, but it fits.

[Soapsuds]

Thank goodness Adam and Rafe arent in a "real" relationship because MM and YG have zero chemistry. CE and YG had ooozes of chemistry.

[Cashton]

i think it's purposefully/rightfully awkward chemistry. After their last - "encounter" Adam made it clear that he didn't want anything else from Rafe. Yet Rafe still called and said he had no feelings. Adam doesn't want any more peen, yet he's trying to save his ass. They meet up again for the first time, and Rafe is trying to be professional and get at the truth - Adam sets up another "detour". Messy...awkward...confusing...

[Soapsuds]

Another thing...MM isnt working for me as Adam. He just comes off too cold. CE had a softer...vulnerable side to him no matter how evil he was. MM seems like a nice guy...have him on my Twitter list..LOL..but not a very good Adam. I actually hope they write Adam off. I'd rather see CE in the role.

[DRW50]

I think it's just a matter of time for Adam. 6 months, a year? Even if CE had stayed in the role. I do miss CE.

I forgot to say that I liked how they had Olivia treat Katherine and then immediately worry about Lily. That was a nice little reminder of the close bond between them. I'm even starting to get used to Olivia's Vampira hair.

I agree with those who say the little moments are what work best.

[Soapsuds]

The Adam story seems to be in a stand still for me. I dont care what happens to Adam anymore. Now with MM in the role I have lost all interest in the character.

Seeing Olivia is great....LOL..about the vampira hair comment...lol

[Y&RWorldTurner]

Pretty much, Adam is ruined and I no longer give two sh*its about that character. I have no faith in any redemption arc. Look at the way this writing regime constantly botches executions of its storyline or blatantly drops certain aspects of every character/storyline. In this daytime climate, no one is going to waste time on a long and complex redemption arc.

They knew exactly what they were doing when they made Adam intentionally stab everyone in the back, including all of the people who were nothing but gracious and kind to him. I fully expect the "Who Killed Adam Murder Mystery" courtesy of Scott Hamner's contribution to take over this show soon enough...

[lmfan]

I agree. I buy Rafe more than I do Adam. It might play out differently if Adam was played by CE still, but this story just makes me feel uncomfortable and it is not because of the gay context and not the way the writers intend. I like Rafe and he can't be that big of an idiot or that desperate not to realize Adam is playing him. Any time Rafe questions or pushes, Adam fakes the attraction and boy does it feel fake. We know Adam does not have sincere feelings for Rafe, but he is supposed to be acting sincere and I don't feel that. Nelson will support MM because he was so vocal against CE, but I don't like him as Adam.

Plus NuAdam looks so much older than Adam should be. I never really was a big fan of CE but now I can see why he brought such an interesting mix to this role. Adam is manipulative and sick but with CE's boy next door looks and vulnerability he was much more convincing. NuAdam looks like he could have taken care of himself in prison. Heck, he looks like he belongs in prison, but Adam looks like he would have been a victim. Weaker in a way, but because of his persona and looks, I can see how he could manipulate people.

[DRW50]

Yeah, I don't think they had any plans for a redemption arc, with or without CE. They started making Adam irredeemable last year and I think only CE made him sympathetic for as long as he was in the role. I am not knocking MM, he has a thankless job, but I think he's just not playing a sympathetic character and that makes it even easier for the show to kill Adam off.

They have a hard enough time making the characters who are supposed to be sympathetic seem sympathetic.

I just hope they will try to keep Mary Jane around, but I know with budget issues that's not likely. I still say it's worth dumping a few cast members and making a full-fledged effort to turn MJ from a nut into an antiheroine.

[lmfan]

I agree and there are plenty of potential suspects for a "Who killed Adam Murder Mystery". I think MJ is ruined as anything other than a psycho, a modern day Sheila, if you will. She is an animal killer, potential child killer and shows no remorse because after all you have "to crack a few eggs to make an omelette" even if it means sacrificing a child or animal.

Matching Adam and MJ will result in both of them going down eventually.

[Soapsuds]

Very well said and I agree. MM comes off too wooden for me as Adam. I miss the vulnerable side CE brought to Adam. I just think this was a bad recast.

[lovely_m]

If they get rid of MJ and Adam here's what I don't get: Why can they redeem Kevin and Jana but not 2 characters who are core related? Before anyone says it, I don't consider the Fisher-Baldwins core.