10 minutes ago, Vee said:

I'm kinda talked out about it as I went over Max's reintroduction a while back in here when I watched this stuff. Shouldn't be too far back in the thread lol. JDP is so dynamic and vibrant at this point as opposed to Nicholas Walker that I am enjoying having him back immensely. I like the story turn with this renewed feud so far much more than I liked NW's bizarre, effete "Max Buchanan" and Asa's inexplicable devotion to him even after learning they weren't blood. I think Max and Asa's love/hate relationship is a unique throughline in some ways, but it is tedious that they kept revisiting this same well over and over particularly in the JFP era.

I tried to keep up with some previous posts but I find it difficult to search through on mobile, I re-read often as this is my favorite soap anyway haha

JDP is absolutely killing it though, Asa depressed back in Llanview is yawn worthy.

PS-hoping to catch up to November and looking forward to seeing your reviews again!

Up to December 21th, 1992

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"Die, ASA, DIE!"

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Oh my GOD! Guys, I don't know where to start. These past few episodes have been WILD. Probably the wildest of the entire year. 1992 is ending with a BANG.

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If you thought cold, plotting Blair was dangerous, you haven't seen what the triggered, angry one is. Dorian opened Pandora's box... taking away Addie from Blair was the last straw that made Blair go to the DARK side completely. Addie was the one thing keeping her empathy in check. With her gone... now Blair has absolutely NOTHING more to lose. And what followed were some of the best moments of the entire YEAR! Blair taunting Asa... verbally assaulting him... basically to death. Leaving him on the ground begging. She was vicious, brutal and she used the truth to try and finish him off. YES, I hate you. Yes, you disgust me. YOU ARE AN OLD UGLY MAN. YES, I f-cked MAX on OUR WEDDING DAY. Over MY WEDDING DRESS. YOU all need to see this scene. Mia Korf is GIVING he best.

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In another corner of Llanview... at "The Banner", Sloan surprised Viki with a manipulative Christmas present - a framed picture of herself in her youth. Wanting to remind her of the carefree and unburdened woman she used to be and offering her a similar existence. Viki... after protesting too much... gave in and they both started kissing. Jesus, Viki... Clint's aftershave is still lingering in the air, he's been gone for like a day... and you are already kissing Sloan. Dorian Lord may turn out to be right - Adulteress is not that far from reality. But listen... there was a bigger reason Sloan was there. A very haunting twist that made me love this show so much more, because I love organic moments like this. And that brings me to...

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Bo... standing on the edge of the building, remembering Sarah... and getting ready to jump. Like a guardian angel, Nora Gannon (who I remember you guys told me would be very important to him) came in the right moment, seeing all the letters he had written, rushing to "The Banner" to look for him. There she found Viki and Sloan who were salivating over each other and told them about what she saw at Bo's place. Realizing what was about to happen, Viki, Sloan and Nora ran to Bo's office which was LOCKED. Sloan managed to break the door and get in... Well... I guess the universe had a reason of keeping Sloan in the building all night long. It's that type of symbiosis between situations and characters that I treasure in soaps.

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So for the final cliffhanger... we had Sloan trying to reason with Bo, standing next to him talking to him man-to-man and very lightly manipulating him in order for him to get back inside. But just as he was having some success, Bo slipped and was left hanging... with only Sloan's hand holding him. Now I think I know where this is going to - either Sloan will save him and that will make Clint learn that he was with Viki AGAIN deep into the night at The Banner. Because how WILL THEY HIDE this fact... or Sloan will get hurt in the process which will make Viki all that more willing to pick him instead of Clint. We all know she loves to nurture people back to health. Maybe even both scenarios will happen. But I can just sense and feel how they'll use this situation to further split Clint and Viki.

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IN GENERAL- Full of drama, suspense, darkness and themes that are very triggering, that's why I'm keeping my discussion about Bo (suicide, PTSD) at a minimum and won't say anything more than what I already did... other than repeat that Robert S. Woods's performance is impressive. But keep in mind when you are watching the late December 1992 episodes - watch carefully because the show is very triggering in many ways. If you feel like you can't take it - stop watching and skip forward. It's too much at times. Some could even say it's trauma porn. I hope they will visit lighter places in 1993.

P.S. Oh... I almost forgot - Luna is having her premonition moments that something bad is going to happen to Max. Well.. with Blair on the loose now... I guess she might be right.

Overall -  10+/10 - It is almost too dark... and too disturbing... but I can't give it less than a perfect 10, because there was not a SECOND that I was not on the edge of my seat!

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Clip of the day

Blair leaves Asa to DIE.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Maxim

I can’t wait to see those Mia Korf scenes.

I love your very organized reviews.

I have never seen the Bo scenes but often forget as they aren’t discussed often in the grander history of the show, as far as I know, barely mentioned on air.

Thanks @Maxim

Amazing how much Mia looks like Elaine Princi in those scenes.

Blair listing out every lie she told all seems a bit rushed but I prefer it to a story dragging out the beats. You almost feel sorry for Asa as he cared about Blair in his own Asa way, but Asa's idea of "caring" is extremely damaging.

I'm not a big fan of the whole trope of mwa-ha-haing as someone is trying to get their pills, but Mia does a great job and I did enjoy the last moment where she gave him her birth control.

I'm sure Phil Carey crawling all over the floor made some blooper reels.

I appreciate all the time and effort on your part but if you ever need to step away from so much dark material, as plenty more is on the way, I'm sure we will all understand.

1 hour ago, DRW50 said:

I appreciate all the time and effort on your part but if you ever need to step away from so much dark material, as plenty more is on the way, I'm sure we will all understand.

It’s incredibly kind of you to warn me ahead... about more dark material coming up... thank you. The reality is... Bo's storyline is too much at times... How on Earth were they thinking this is a good idea to air in the weeks before Christmas? The last thing people want to see on their screen is a man in this condition just before the Holidays. My father lost his best friend to suicide earlier this year, and I was there for him every single day on the phone, giving my support whenever I could. So all of this brings back too many memories from that time, and I want to move forward. However... I’m ready to endure pretty much anything just to find out what happens with Viki and Sloan. They have truly captured my heart and soul.

4 hours ago, soapfave06 said:

I love your very organized reviews.

Hahaha, thank you... I think it's over the top at times, especially the flamingo on the top, but I just have fun making it.

I'm also excited for you to catch up to these episodes in the future. You have the entire Blair arc ahead of you and I'm jealous!!!!

11 minutes ago, Maxim said:

It’s incredibly kind of you to warn me ahead... about more dark material coming up... thank you. The reality is... Bo's storyline is too much at times... How on Earth were they thinking this is a good idea to air in the weeks before Christmas? The last thing people want to see on their screen is a man in this condition just before the Holidays. My father lost his best friend to suicide earlier this year, and I was there for him every single day on the phone, giving my support whenever I could. So all of this brings back too many memories from that time, and I want to move forward. However... I’m ready to endure pretty much anything just to find out what happens with Viki and Sloan. They have truly captured my heart and soul.

I'm so glad you were there for him. Kudos for even being able to watch these moments.

Not to change the subject too much, but the part where Sloan gave Viki a photo of herself in younger years to reconnect with happier times - it's interesting as that is his idea of Viki, rather than the reality. Viki was never happier. I suppose Viki and Sloan have such a passionate relationship because they can make each other what they need them to be, not having any awareness of who they actually were.

28 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I'm so glad you were there for him. Kudos for even being able to watch these moments.

Not to change the subject too much, but the part where Sloan gave Viki a photo of herself in younger years to reconnect with happier times - it's interesting as that is his idea of Viki, rather than the reality. Viki was never happier. I suppose Viki and Sloan have such a passionate relationship because they can make each other what they need them to be, not having any awareness of who they actually were.

I completely agree! Just yesterday, I was thinking the same. It's all part of that initial stage of love... Infatuation, where the illusions and perceptions of the other person are so detached from reality that they resemble a character from a fairytale. I believe that once they take their relationship to the next level or get married... many cracks will begin to surface, and she might end up regretting leaving Clint. Clint may have his flaws, but he is fundamentally a good person. He may not be as clever as Sloan... yet he has a good heart, which I believe is even more valuable than brains. Sloan has the potential to become quite menacing. He likes to control people.

Edited 29 minutes ago29 min by Maxim