The playlist I am using has back tracked incredibly, so I have gone from arriving to the Halloween costume party to moving prior to Max returning I believe.

This led me to watch the Viki exposes Cain/Tina visits her pirate past life episode again and I think it really may be one of my favorites of all time. Karen Witter has me laughing out loud and Erika slays those scenes exposing Cain, I wish it was a bigger moment but I know he has more up his sleeve.

I can now quite literally not get enough of Jason Webb. This man is so real. He broke my heart when he realized he gave Wanda the wrong medication and I could only laugh when he taunted Kevin that “Mommy’s here!” as Viki paid a visit to LeeAnn, which were also nice scenes.

I am back and forth on the Bo and Cassie stalker story. Maybe it’s the editing, but also the episodes move very differently, and it could be the pacing of the show as they experiment.

I actually love how well used Viki is across the canvas, this could’ve done well for them in later years even in simple ways. She has exposed Cain Rogan, aided Bo and watched Porter die, confronted LeeAnn, gotten herself involved in the Jane Ebert drama and unknowingly tied into Blair’s upcoming schemes.

I don’t mind this Kevin, but he’s just there, and I imagine a lot of his scenes with the upcoming Kevin (Kirk) playing them and I think they would hit a lot better.

She is used well so far, but my only complaint is that Sheila Price/Valerie Pettiford should have been a LEAD on this show. I will never drop it.

I'm just sorry we couldn't help you watch it in order. That took me a few weeks to figure out and do properly. The numbering rights itself after Halloween.

Edited yesterday at 10:22 AM1 day by Vee

8 hours ago, Vee said:

I'm just sorry we couldn't help you watch it in order. That took me a few weeks to figure out and do properly. The numbering rights itself after Halloween.

I appreciate that! I am glad I made it through the hurdle and am now enjoying an era I have long ignored.

I have made it through the 11/5 and I really can’t get over how on fire the show is. I think they are handling the transition from old to new and getting their bearings while keeping Llanview feeling like a community and it still feels like a soap, I really don’t get all the hate from the press at the time.

I loved the Halloween episode: the costumes, LeeAnn and Luna, Jessica as Dorothy and getting spooked by Addie, Roger in the clown costume to track down Jane, etc.

Cassie faking her breakdown to lure out the stalker is both interesting but moved at odd pacing. I wasn’t expecting the charade to continue through an episode and a half and thought it would just be one big moment. She did take it a bit far, poor Bo, Herb and Dorian.

The fire at Llanview was very cinematic, especially the exterior rooftop window scenes and everyone slowly running down the alley. Great work by cast and crew.

Max’s return from start to current has been great-loved seeing him back with Megan and then reaching LeeAnn and at her side.

1 hour ago, soapfave06 said:

I have made it through the 11/5 and I really can’t get over how on fire the show is. I think they are handling the transition from old to new and getting their bearings while keeping Llanview feeling like a community and it still feels like a soap, I really don’t get all the hate from the press at the time.

I loved the Halloween episode: the costumes, LeeAnn and Luna, Jessica as Dorothy and getting spooked by Addie, Roger in the clown costume to track down Jane, etc.

Cassie faking her breakdown to lure out the stalker is both interesting but moved at odd pacing. I wasn’t expecting the charade to continue through an episode and a half and thought it would just be one big moment. She did take it a bit far, poor Bo, Herb and Dorian.

It was Doug, but yes we all thought of Roger!

I don't get the hate either - I think so far the overall storytelling shift have been overstated re: the novella-type stuff. It is still following the fundamental framework of a year-long soap opera with larger storylines and throughlines running alongside or above the shorter-term stories (Doug and Jane, or the Wanda medical stuff which is more a B or C-plot). OTOH Gottlieb and Malone did change a lot about the show very fast, and the Eber (I don't think there is a 't') saga does get much more prominent very quickly and becomes a bit tedious so I can understand some of the critique. But in the end this story is going to both begin and wrap in about a month or less and it's far from the only story on the show, all of which are paced and plotted like normal soap opera.

Laura Bonarrigo was done no favors in '91. First she looks like RSW's midlife crisis made manifest when she comes on as a notably young love for Bo under Rauch, then she spends this back half of the year howling, shrieking and sobbing while 'pretending' to go crazy (sure, Cassie). It's been driving me up the wall, and I am someone who grew up adoring LB and Cassie on the show for years and think she was deeply underrated. This stuff is a rough ride for her even though it seems like someone new at the show must've seen her talent and thought the way to use it was to keep giving her very big, broad material to showcase her chops lol. Instead whenever she starts to lose it I cringe and go for the volume on my remote. She's definitely playing it to the hilt but it's exhausting. Laura is lucky she survived this period and got better story.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by Vee

7 minutes ago, Vee said:

It was Doug, but yes we all thought of Roger!

I don't get the hate either - I think so far the overall storytelling shift have been overstated re: the novella-type stuff. It is still following the fundamental framework of a year-long soap opera with larger storylines and throughlines running alongside or above the shorter-term stories (Doug and Jane, or the Wanda medical stuff which is more a B or C-plot). OTOH Gottlieb and Malone did change a lot about the show very fast, and the Eber (I don't think there is a 't') saga does get much more prominent very quickly and becomes a bit tedious so I can understand some of the critique. But in the end this story is going to both begin and wrap in about a month or less and it's far from the only story on the show, all of which are paced and plotted like normal soap opera.

Laura Bonarrigo was done no favors in '91. First she looks like RSW's midlife crisis made manifest when she comes on as a notably young love for Bo under Rauch, then she spends this back half of the year howling, shrieking and sobbing while 'pretending' to go crazy (sure, Cassie). It's been driving me up the wall, and I am someone who grew up adoring LB and Cassie on the show for years and think she was deeply underrated. This stuff is a rough ride for her even though it seems like someone new at the show must've seen her talent and thought the way to use it was to keep giving her very big, broad material to showcase her chops lol. Instead whenever she starts to lose it I cringe and go for the volume on my remote. She's definitely playing it to the hilt but it's exhausting. Laura is lucky she survived this period and got better story.

Ha! Really shows what an icon Roger was. I was waiting on Doug to have a big moment in the costume.

Oops, I wish we had closing credits for the spellcheck reasons.

There is no balance to Cassie faking the insanity, she isn’t quite coming off as a strong woman which considering she battled Mitch Laurence and was nearly burned alive tied to a tree doesn’t add up. Also, the way she says Sarah kills me, I’m not hating on it though.

I have made it to episode dated 11/8 (the dates don’t add up though when I checked the weekly ratings) and I see what you mean about Jane and Roger. I wouldn’t have hated if Jane was less one note, she could’ve been a background character, longterm waitress, something. But I won’t miss Jane or Roger. Not hating the story though. Roger confronting Viki in her office and Blair coming to her aid was quite chilling, the background score was great.

I’m actually missing Jason, he’s gone more to the background, and the scene where LeeAnn called out for Max as he sat vigil with her in the hospital made me feel for him. This actor is phenomenal.

I am LOVING the ongoing work life at The Banner and Blair making her moves. Cord comes off icky flirting with Blair constantly, although I would’ve liked to see them in the absence of Andrea Evans.

Yawn at Max vs Asa.

PS-

Stephanie is now leaving, they are making moves fast. Kevin left for Texas, I’m assuming that’s the end of that Kevin?

Also, were their any other characters pre-1991 that could have taken the place of Jane and/or Roger to avoid them being randoms?

27 minutes ago, soapfave06 said:

I have made it to episode dated 11/8 (the dates don’t add up though when I checked the weekly ratings) and I see what you mean about Jane and Roger. I wouldn’t have hated if Jane was less one note, she could’ve been a background character, longterm waitress, something. But I won’t miss Jane or Roger. Not hating the story though. Roger confronting Viki in her office and Blair coming to her aid was quite chilling, the background score was great.

Stephanie is now leaving, they are making moves fast. Kevin left for Texas, I’m assuming that’s the end of that Kevin?

Also, were their any other characters pre-1991 that could have taken the place of Jane and/or Roger to avoid them being randoms?

Doug, lol.

Like I said, it was weird about Stephanie. They added her, Joey Thrower's Kevin, Lee Ann and Jason to the final Tour of Llanview opening in September, played her a fair amount that month with Jason in a very Malone way, and then had her trading barbs with Lee Ann and closer to Joey in October. Then with no preamble they very abruptly write her out in a single day to go to Chicago, and Robyn Griggs is immediately removed from the opening as JDP is re-added (the final change to the 80s opening, I think - strangely Luna and Blair are never added despite it being the same timeframe).

A lot has been said about Griggs alienating people BTS at her various soaps and Joey Thrower talked about her being an issue at OLTL, so I assume that between her initial story pre-Gottlieb/Malone being so lousy, their adding a bunch of new people plus her offscreen behavior, they just quickly did a 180 and decided to cut bait on Stephanie in this period. I don't know if Stephanie comes back before the spring '92 story where she returns following Carlo's death (and is used simply to end that story). I suspect not. I do know Thrower's Kevin is back shortly. Why they sent him away for a few weeks I really don't know.

I know Pat Elliott (Renee) said they should've told the Eber story with Asa and Renee so the audience could invest in it vs. two new people. Asa and Renee's relationship was growing very toxic at this point but I don't think that would've worked - I understand her point but it would've ruined Asa permanently, and the audience didn't want to watch him do that. I do think some of the stuff with Doug and Jane is well-written especially as she talks about how their relationship first turned abusive, and how she can't remember if it hurt the first time he hit her. Gottlieb was very clearly trying to educate during this period with this story and the Wanda subplot about female medical care, and it's always admirable for daytime to do that and was well-scripted but a bit too didactic, especially in the Eber story with random all-new characters. Maybe they could've brought back some minor past players instead to do the same short story, like one of the O'Neill girls or (shudder) Wade and Mari Lynn.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Vee

Up to December 31st, 1992

🦩

🔷

I did it! Woohoo! One whole COMPLETE year of OLTL is behind me! My journey into "classic soaps" started off with "Guiding Light" and "The Doctors", then I dipped my toes into "The Edge of Night", had a quick experiment with "Another World" till I finally landed at my home base with "All My Children" and... the show that has my heart - "One Life To Live". Who would have thought that at 30 years old, this grown a-s man would discover his all-time favorite soap? I was convinced I had already seen the best and that nothing could ever top the 1992-1993 era of "The Bold And The Beautiful". But guess what? 1992 OLTL totally did. From Blair and Dorian's gothic drama at the start of the year... to Andrew and Billy and the culmination of the AIDS Quilt... and then the precious "Anna Karenina in Llanview" - Viki and Sloan. WHAT AN AMAZING YEAR this has been! Let's finish it off with the last 2 episodes!

🔷

First... what a New Year's Eve party!!! I think these might be the most entertaining final episodes of a soap opera year I've ever seen! I'm not exaggerating. BTG should totally throw a ball like this for New Year's 2026. It was a glorious party full with everything you could dream of - drama, intrigue, surprise twists, love, disappointment, betrayal, and even a couple of outcasts peeking in...

🔷

I would like to note a few things about the Viki/Sloan/Clint situation. Sloan is playing Viki like a violin. He knows exactly how to push her buttons, and that KISS with Dorian when the clock struck midnight on January 1st, 1993... oh boy, that was the cherry on top! Viki basically died inside. Like, she absolutely DIED! Of course she hid it well and kissed her own hubby while totally staring at Sloan the whole time. This woman has totally fallen and I LOVE IT.

🔷

Nora and Bo are the latest duo in town. They aren't dating or romantically involved, but they are forming this amazing friendship. I adore them together. I never thought I would view Bo positively after what his did to Cassie, yet here I am... cheering for him to heal and find happiness. Spending the night in jail while all kinds of eccentric characters clashed with them, was very entertaining and provided the much needed comedic relief. Very Woody-Allen-esque. But this time it worked. They even managed to spoil Hank and Sheila's night. While Hank was taking care of them, Sheila was left all alone, with no one to kiss or hug her when the moment arrived! Poor thing.

🔷

In a very touching twist... Leanne and Jason, who were meant to work as servers that night... received an unexpected gift. Renee invited them to the party as guests. GOD I LOVE RENEE. She is the HEART of this show. To top it off, they were crowned Queen and King of the night, and it was heartwarming to see the two individuals who are struggling the most financially take center stage... glowing and in love. Meanwhile, Kevin observed them from afar, with Rachel by his side, serving as a good distraction. I wish he would recognize Rachel for who she truly is, rather than merely using her to boost his ego after Leanne.

🔷

The meat and potatoes of these episodes... was the unwelcome guest, THE PERSONA NON GRATA, also known as Blair Cramer, who crashed the party with a shocking bombshell. She grabbed the microphone and tried... and likely succeeded in humiliating Asa Buchanan in front of everyone, making him appear like the biggest CUCK of the year. The crowd was cringing... I was worried that Asa might suffer another angina attack. Later... Karma struck swiftly and coldly, like a knife piercing her heart, when Blair invited Max to a dance. This was the moment we had ALL been waiting for y'all. After witnessing this man BEG her for attention and LOVE throughout most of 1992... it was such a beautiful sight to see her get rejected as if she meant NOTHING to him. Even though we know deep down that Max still has feelings for her... this was KARMA... a year in the making, and I relished seeing her left ALONE and isolated from the entire community on New Years. She earned it after everything she did. Actually... almost everyone received their karma that night.

🔷

The more unimportant characters and events - Idiotina said YES to Cain's marriage proposal and then f-cked him in one of the hotel's rooms. God she's so cheap. And Mortimer presented himself to Renee as Carlo in a pathetic attempt to get her attention. Alex was left all alone, "glued" in her tacky apartment by Morty. Even these confused characters (Alex, Cain, Mort and Idiotina) were bearable on those 2 episodes!

🔷

And with this I'm stepping into 1993. I have grown to love this show and the standard is now pretty high. They did it to themselves... now I have HUGE Expectations. Cheers to a great... if not even better 1993 in Llanview!

Overall -  10+/10

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Clip of the day

Blair drops a BOMBSHELL on New Years Eve.

"I'M GOING TO OUTLIVE AND OUTLAST ALL OF YOU"

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Maxim

1 hour ago, Vee said:

Maybe they could've brought back some minor past players instead to do the same short story, like one of the O'Neill girls or (shudder) Wade and Mari Lynn.

Wade always seemed like a nice guy (I know abusers can start out that way but we wouldn't have had the buildup) but Mari Lynn returning with a new, abusive husband would have made sense to me, especially as she was friendly with Megan.

Brad Vernon and whichever O'Neill he was with (Connie?) also would have made sense. I don't think Steve Fletcher had started on AW at that time. I know it could have "ruined" his redemption, but the character was a rapist and horrible to multiple women for years.

Thanks @Maxim .

I like the setup of the peanut gallery commenting on Blair's big arrival and her roasting Asa (the "Scarlett O'Daimler" line, not so much). Asa won, of course, as it's not a huge surprise the Blair we saw as having every base covered early on was never able to play in the true nest of vipers of people like Asa or Dorian.

I love Phil Carey's delivery of the "horns in hell" line.

Mia Korf did a good job of keeping dignity as Blair was humiliated.

I didn't care for the Max scenes as I don't think Max was any prize worthy of degradation and I did not feel some warm moment for Luna "winning" either. I would have been much happier if Luna had seen how much Max is still hung up on Blair and walked away.

I think Max's hair kind of sucks here too, which just makes him an even more dubious prize.

The best I can say is the wardrobe department managed to make Luna look lovely while still being true to her roots.

Edited 49 minutes ago49 min by DRW50