1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

Dorian has a very interesting journey through the early to mid '80s - she schemes and her schemes backfire, as always, but as time passes, she does mellow and becomes more respected. I think when she leaves, she is even on good terms with Viki. They replay a lot of the beats with Dorian in later years that were originated in those years, but they're difficult to replicate.

This sounds like a character arc I'd enjoy watching. Thanks for telling me. 🙂 You remind me of an aspect of soap operas I love and hate at the same time: the recycling of storylines. I dislike it for making the shows repetitive, but I appreciate it when the replicated version is the only version I can see (since for example the classic years are long lost). I think soap operas can thrive when they thoughtfully steal from their own history. The issue is they rarely manage to do it well... as you said - it's difficult to replicate.

1 hour ago, Vee said:

I don't agree with the people who claim Robin's second run was that messy, but I will grant her first year back has its issues until the Victor saga reaches full tilt. The writing went off a cliff in the late '90s but Robin never did for me. It isn't until her third run, starting in '03, that she came back clearly (and by her own admission) scarred by her last exit and overly anxious to impress. Something that remained with her until the end of the show, though I feel she still gave many fine performances even amidst histrionics.

A couple of weeks ago, while I was browsing youtube, I believe I caught a glimpse of what you refer to as the Victor saga (I may be mistaken), and it gave me goosebumps. Although I didn't fully understand the situation, it seemed to me they were diving into what began with Blair suggesting Dorian might have killed Victor Lord. This was one of the most interesting moments of 1992... and I felt left out in the cold when they didn't finish it or do anything with it for the second part of the year. There was even an old nurse that Dorian bought off and made disappear. I hope they come back to it soon.

I have now watched from Luna’s arrival to early October, getting very close to Blair’s arrival, where I hope things take off.

Of what I have seen of 1991, I will say Luna actually brought a breath of fresh air to Llanview and it was quite nice to see her. This was a fun way to challenge Tina and Cord, although I’m such a big fan of Andrea Evans Tina that I can’t get invested in Karen Witter, though she isn’t bad. It was great to see Megan and Cord as siblings dealing with Luna as well.

I’m sure I have said this before but wow, this show wasted Valerie Pettiford. I would hardly call it a story but the medical crises Sheila and Viki faced, it was great to see Erika and Valerie side by side and what could have been.

The transition period is also interesting: Luna and Jon on a date? Rafe still around? Ken Meeker (?) who plays Rafe is so handsome but I’m not sure with whom he would have had chemistry. Sheila? Brenda? I guess Rafe fades away in these episodes same as Brenda.

Also interested in Eddie and Quincy, The Banner employees? Do they just fade away as Bo leaves The Banner? Maybe this was just a test period.

Unfortunately I just can’t seem to get invested in LeeAnn and Stephanie as young leads, I can’t judge this Kevin or Jason. I am bored in all of their scenes but interested in certain moments as they pass.

Just now, soapfave06 said:

I loI have now watched from Luna’s arrival to early October, getting very close to Blair’s arrival, where I hope things take off.

The transition period is also interesting: Luna and Jon on a date? Rafe still around? Ken Meeker (?) who plays Rafe is so handsome but I’m not sure with whom he would have had chemistry. Sheila? Brenda? I guess Rafe fades away in these episodes same as Brenda.

I like this testing ground too. And I love Luna in this period, but I always loved her BITD.

Sheila is so underrated. I cannot wait to watch the triangle with Hank. I couldn't stand the Stephanie Williams recast, but with Valarie Pettiford I like to think Hank and Sheila are back together today.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Vee

I may have missed where Alex was during the Sarah mystery before appearing with Porter, but this entire mystery is a snooze fest. Maybe it would be better if Cassie wasn’t so whiny, instead confronting Alex and accusing her of manipulating Bo, which leads Alex to prove Cassie wrong, getting her involved in bringing Sarah back at the upcoming wedding? There is little movement or actual mystery in the air and I actually don’t hate these soap tropes.

2 minutes ago, soapfave06 said:

I have now watched from Luna’s arrival to early October, getting very close to Blair’s arrival, where I hope things take off.

Of what I have seen of 1991, I will say Luna actually brought a breath of fresh air to Llanview and it was quite nice to see her. This was a fun way to challenge Tina and Cord, although I’m such a big fan of Andrea Evans Tina that I can’t get invested in Karen Witter, though she isn’t bad. It was great to see Megan and Cord as siblings dealing with Luna as well.

I’m sure I have said this before but wow, this show wasted Valerie Pettiford. I would hardly call it a story but the medical crises Sheila and Viki faced, it was great to see Erika and Valerie side by side and what could have been.

The transition period is also interesting: Luna and Jon on a date? Rafe still around? Ken Meeker (?) who plays Rafe is so handsome but I’m not sure with whom he would have had chemistry. Sheila? Brenda? I guess Rafe fades away in these episodes same as Brenda.

Also interested in Eddie and Quincy, The Banner employees? Do they just fade away as Bo leaves The Banner? Maybe this was just a test period.

Unfortunately I just can’t seem to get invested in LeeAnn and Stephanie as young leads, I can’t judge this Kevin or Jason. I am bored in all of their scenes but interested in certain moments as they pass.

So happy to hear your are watching again.

Stephanie was horrible. I almost forgot that she existed but now you reminded me. There was a brief period when they were trying to make her happen...

1 minute ago, Vee said:

I like this testing ground too. And I love Luna in this period, but I always loved her BITD.

Sheila is so underrated. I cannot wait to watch the triangle with Hank. I couldn't stand the Stephanie Williams recast, but with Valarie Pettiford I like to think Hank and Sheila are back together today.

I am with you there, I’m unsure she would have stayed if they put her at the forefront, but I would have loved to see Sheila, Viki and Nora in a friendship and at the forefront together.

I’m interested in seeing the triangle too, hoping to see some chemistry between Troy and Sheila, I’ve seen some but not much over the years.

Valerie is just captivating.

1 minute ago, Maxim said:

So happy to hear your are watching again.

Stephanie was horrible. I almost forgot that she existed but now you reminded me. There was a brief period when they were trying to make her happen...

Haha I know she is gone soon, but wow. Carlo is also so…just there in this time period so she makes that worse too. It’s a miracle what they did building the teen set after a long slump in younger leads.

I love the 80s Max-Gabrielle-Tina-Cord-Viki-Clint focus but wow they failed to continue building the world of Llanview and the next generation to move into the 90s.

10 minutes ago, soapfave06 said:

Haha I know she is gone soon, but wow. Carlo is also so…just there in this time period so she makes that worse too. It’s a miracle what they did building the teen set after a long slump in younger leads.

The stuff I have seen of Kevin and Stephanie pre-Malone in summer '91 is just unbearably bad. But I think the Jason/Stephanie hook-up on Malone's first credited day (and Luna's parachuting arrival) in September was legitimately hot, and their connection after had some appeal. I also thought some of the stuff with Stephanie the society girl needling Lee Ann in October(?) was also good. But it's clear OLTL had their fill of Robyn Griggs' alleged IRL behavior quickly because no sooner did any of that stuff go into motion that they sent Stephanie away, presumably until Carlo's demise the following spring (where she is just a plot device to be disposed of). She gets her face in the opening and then gets it quickly removed again. Which is just as well, really. I don't think RG could stand up against a lot of the talent coming in, or even Yasmine Bleeth for long.

16 minutes ago, soapfave06 said:

I’m interested in seeing the triangle too, hoping to see some chemistry between Troy and Sheila, I’ve seen some but not much over the years.

They gave a lot of quotes in the press at the time about hiring a Black writer for the story (I know, one Black writer, stop the presses) and IIRC Gottlieb said something about Hank being an 'unreconstructed Black male' vs. the most straitlaced Troy. What exactly that means, or how well it succeeded per a white producer's POV, remains to be seen. But it beats the totally colorless characters we now see on GH or most soaps.

10 minutes ago, Vee said:

They gave a lot of quotes in the press at the time about hiring a Black writer for the story (I know, one Black writer, stop the presses) and IIRC Gottlieb said something about Hank being an 'unreconstructed Black male' vs. the most straitlaced Troy. What exactly that means, or how well it succeeded per a white producer's POV, remains to be seen. But it beats the totally colorless characters we now see on GH or most soaps.

I wish we had interviews with the hired writer, and how far the collaboration went.

15 minutes ago, Vee said:

The stuff I have seen of Kevin and Stephanie pre-Malone in summer '91 is just unbearably bad. But I think the Jason/Stephanie hook-up on Malone's first credited day (and Luna's parachuting arrival) in September was legitimately hot, and their connection after had some appeal. I also thought some of the stuff with Stephanie the society girl needling Lee Ann in October(?) was also good. But it's clear OLTL had their fill of Robyn Griggs' alleged IRL behavior quickly because no sooner did any of that stuff go into motion that they sent Stephanie away, presumably until Carlo's demise the following spring (where she is just a plot device to be disposed of). She gets her face in the opening and then gets it quickly removed again. Which is just as well, really. I don't think RG could stand up against a lot of the talent coming in, or even Yasmine Bleeth for long.

I do actually remember those scenes, where she had a scar on her face, and was wondering where that would go, the next thing I know Joey is pursuing her 😂

I will say what I presume to be the build-up of Jason’s learning to read and his frustration at how LeeAnn is treated and concern for Wanda is making me a fan of him. The actor is great and raw, not sure he ever has chemistry with anyone though?

2 minutes ago, soapfave06 said:

I will say what I presume to be the build-up of Jason’s learning to read and his frustration at how LeeAnn is treated and concern for Wanda is making me a fan of him. The actor is great and raw, not sure he ever has chemistry with anyone though?

I actually think he has chemistry with most of his partners, from Griggs and Bleeth to Elaine Princi (and later Robin Strasser and Susan Haskell). And yeah, the matching scar bit with Stephanie was a clear sign at the time.

I forgot about Jason and Stephanie too. Thank God I did.

43 minutes ago, soapfave06 said:

Haha I know she is gone soon, but wow. Carlo is also so…just there in this time period so she makes that worse too. It’s a miracle what they did building the teen set after a long slump in younger leads.

I love the 80s Max-Gabrielle-Tina-Cord-Viki-Clint focus but wow they failed to continue building the world of Llanview and the next generation to move into the 90s.

The period you are currently watching... up until at least February-March 1992 is quite the transformative phase. People dying, leaving, new people coming in. That continues through 1992, but the first months are WILD change after change. Following that, the show truly finds its footing. And the moment the Blair/Dorian storyline really takes off... is when 1992 begins to reeeally shine in my opinion. Then we dive into the Billy/AIDS storyline (Malone's best work so far), and by the end of 1992 - Viki's Anna Karenina era (guilty pleasure). It's absolutely fantastic. I have just a bit left of 1992 before I jump into 1993. From what I've heard of people telling me... 1993 sounds like a very interesting year.