Up to January 11th, 1993

🦩

"Something's OFF with the entire show."

🔷

I believe this will be the lowest rating I assign this show since I began watching. A lot is happening, yet none of it feels coherent or natural, in my opinion. It is quite apparent that the show is preparing to say goodbye to two of the main actresses, which is impacting the quality of the narrative. Let's discuss it step by step.

🔷

First, Dorian and Cassie found themselves in this incredibly contrived conflict regarding Blair's invitation to the wedding. It's clear the writers are trying to set things up... in order to send Dorian away before Strasser comes back. Dorian's histrionic behavior towards Blair in public, which disrupted Cassie's party, even though somewhat in character... felt RUSHED and lacking prior beats. I always believed Dorian was more clever than this. Why would she choose this particular event to bicker with Blair and then accuse Cassie of favoring her? It simply doesn't make sense. Dorian has done EVERYTHING she could to make herself close to Cassie and they've gone through so much bigger sh-t than this. How is that all of a sudden this (inviting Blair) is so WRONG and so OFF-PUTTING to her that she can't control herself for one day? Didn't she wish Blair happiness and prosperity during the Holidays? LOL. Furthermore, why would Cassie act so stupid and make Blair her matron of honor at that precise moment, seemingly to provoke her mother even more? They are behaving as if Blair is Cassie's DEAR beloved cousin, which is far from the truth. Why not pick someone else to stand by her side? Anyone would be a better choice than Blair. Even Alex Olanov would be a more suitable option. Just as they appear to manufacture artificial plot-driven tension to create a rift between Viki and Clint, they have done the same here. It's unfortunate, as this show has generally followed character-based storytelling to a significant extent.

P.S. I appreciated the later scene where Cassie and Dorian talked it out. I loved the exploration of Dorian's insecurity and fear of being chosen over by others. That reflects a borderline/narcissistic personality trait, which she certainly possesses.

🔷

Moving on to the second complete idiocy. In a silly twist... we see Blair returning to Asa's manor... like SHE OWNS IT... rummaging through his drawers, searching the entire house and behaving like Cruella DeVil. Chile.... don't tell me that Asa, the MILLIONAIRE Buchanan, wouldn't change his locks and would just ALLOW that monster to ENTER simply because they are still married?! When he returned... he accepted the fact that Cruella was there... without much resistance and, of course, chose to meet his business associates for work... just when it was clear even to my dog... that Blair is doing something nasty behind his back. The real Asa Buchanan would not compromise himself just to keep the plot goin. They are just giving Blair opportunity to fight back... come up with that secret card, she could play at the trial. Once again, foolish plot-driven writing designed to keep the door open for the character. And of course Asa decides to choke her in that EXACT moment he is leaving the house... ignoring the maid who is standing and observing everything. Okay, maybe he didn't see the maid. But it's just so foolish. Now Asa is a wife beater?! ANOTHER character we have to dislike so much?! We have accusations of homophobia, racism, sexual harassment and now domestic abuse flying in this show like it's NOTHING. I hate this sudden drop in the characters' intelligence just to serve what they want to tell plot wise. HATE IT.

🔷

And now the BIGGEST lunacy is Mortimer, who was stuttering and a virgin... getting jerked off under the table... weeks ago... now acting like HE IS THE powerful Carlo Hesser... trying to scare the whole town, buying restaurants to gift Renee and etc. I CAN'T WITH this nonsense anymore. It's a complete disgrace to have this storyline and to keep trying to push it again and again. What do these people want us to believe now? That Mortimer was really Carlo? Or is this some kind of philosophical idea I don't understand? It's not as foolish as it seems, for sure... but it's not as profound as the writers think it is. This isn't a Pygmalion type of story where Alex creates the perfect mob boss. It's a messy plot-driven writing to fix the killing of a major character. They love to create problems for themselves and then spend months trying to resolve them. Which can be a good thing, but here - it's not. UGH.

🔷

On a brighter note... Luna and Max's story is getting a bit easier to stomach. I appreciate the conflict that arose from his desire for sex and her reluctance to rush into it. At least this gives Luna some character depth, or else she might just be Max's servant/YES woman. AT LEAST that. Susan Batten delivered a beautifully nuanced performance that elevated the script. Her tears upon realizing that Max is still making excuses to sleep with her... were touching, even if the situation is somewhat reductive at this point. I still can't believe this is Luna Moody. She seems to have no other interests or topics in her life besides Max. Max this, Max that. It's too much. She's become like Tina, which was her biggest fear.

🔷

Oh and... Sloan is spending more and more of his free time with Dorian, which is pretty strange, since she was the one who took the pictures of him and Viki and he promised to make her pay just weeks ago. We know that he is using her to make Viki jealous, but still... it makes Sloan come off as the male Brooke Logan and less like a serious man... a general. But this I can accept as part of his GAME for Viki. So... OK. Dorian is getting used again... and will get dumped again.

🔷

Yikes. 1993 better get better soon. I hope this is just a short confused moment. They've had them before and quickly managed to improve.

Overall -  4.5/10

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Clip of the day

Edited Sunday at 08:57 AM2 days by Maxim

Watching the next few episodes on the TV... It's cozy and snowing outside... and it's already... times and times better. Thank God. We are back to the Anna Karenina storyline and Dorian just threw a wine glass in Viki's face. Viki is now in the position of the one staring at Sloan from a distance and fantasizing about him. He is playing her like a violin, sitting quietly next to Dorian. The Slut From The Valley style.

I am shocked to see the low rating, Maxim! I’m glad to see it improved quickly.

I am nearing the climax of the Doug Eber arc and what was the consensus of Jane, Tina and Luna coming to the rescue? If it was supposed to be told realistically, it’s gone batty at this point and poor Troy looked stupid. Sheila has also completely vanished from this story. Erika and Jessica are giving amazing performances as Megan falls ill and Viki fights for her.

I already don’t like Luna liking Max. They met, great intro, wrong character plus Luna knows Lee Ann has Max so why do your friend like that? Disgusting!

Did anyone else think that John Loprieno and Mia Korf had good chemistry? The scenes of Ilsa holding them at gunpoint and Blair tending to his wounds after, wow, maybe John just looked too good or maybe they had great chemistry.

I find this November Sweeps interesting though, as it uses Rauch era music and Gottlieb era music for two high suspense tales. Ilsa makes the Jaba City plot utter camp regardless of the potential for realism using The Banner while the domestic violence plot is more realistic but went insane with the botched police rescue. With that said, the Rauch era was full of villains and Gottlieb era not too many besides one. I will say I thought Rauch did a better job of displaying a villain, Doug is nowhere near as menacing as say Austin Buchanan.

Thanks @Maxim

I agree it doesn't make a great deal of sense for Cassie to fight so hard for Blair. I suppose the idea is that she's the good Cramer trying to bring the family together, which is preferable to the times she comes across as sanctimonious.

Elaine Princi gives a beautiful performance, especially the end when she asks Cassie, like a child, if this means Cassie isn't choosing Blair over her.

I always had mixed feelings about Laura Koffman's Cassie, and I'm reminded why here. I don't think she plays the scenes right. She's very shallow - her line readings at the end are more like something a mother says at the end of a sitcom episode.

12 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I always had mixed feelings about Laura Koffman's Cassie, and I'm reminded why here. I don't think she plays the scenes right. She's very shallow - her line readings at the end are more like something a mother says at the end of a sitcom episode.

Very spot on LOL!

Happy to hear it was a quick blip and things are getting better @Maxim .

I love LB but they didn't always give her the best material, especially early on.

12 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Elaine Princi gives a beautiful performance, especially the end when she asks Cassie, like a child, if this means Cassie isn't choosing Blair over her.

Knowing these are her last episodes... I'm trying to savor every single scene she is in. She is still giving 100 percent, even though at this point I'm sure she knows she is being replaced. If the situation is how people say it was... they did her dirty. I have to dive and look for her other roles. I saw she had a part in DAYS and I would love to see that. I just love her so much. She's become one of my favorites of all time. I feel like I'm starting to subconsciously hold a grudge against the show, because I know my two favorites are going away. I don't know how I'll be able to stomach seeing a white blonde woman play Blair in a few months. This thought already disturbs me. Nothing personal against the actress that is coming... haven't seen her yet.

12 hours ago, alwaysAMC said:

Happy to hear it was a quick blip and things are getting better @Maxim .

Yeeees! Thank God. Now as I think about it... the only reaaaaaaaally long period they flopped was around the Carlo murder mystery storyline.

13 hours ago, soapfave06 said:

I am shocked to see the low rating, Maxim! I’m glad to see it improved quickly.

I was shocked to write it myself. 😁

13 hours ago, soapfave06 said:

I already don’t like Luna liking Max. They met, great intro, wrong character plus Luna knows Lee Ann has Max so why do your friend like that? Disgusting!

Great intro, wrong character - is a great description! Restricting Luna's world to Max was a huge mistake. A year later it's even more apparent it was a mistake. It was more believable in the beginning actually. When she had that impossible crush, but was still in her own quirky world. It all went to hell... when they wrote that crazy Death storyline in order to fake some kind of "destiny" between the characters, when it was obvious all along she was a second choice. Not even a second, actually... more like that friend you kiss only when hardcore drunk and then don't even remember.

This storyline reminds me of these girls/women I used to know in my hometown when I was a teen - couple of them would be in love with the town's playboys and just wait their turn for years and years... and when that playboy finally gets older, uses up all the popular girls he wants to be with... starts balding slightly... and craving a home cooked meal... then these "waiting in the corner" girls would suddenly become their girlfriends. So it's not like it's not possible, but there is a certain amount of anti-climactic ANTI-romance... pity factor... that depresses me. Especially in the scenes when Luna looks desperate to serve and obey him. All the cooking, let me massage your feet scenes are cringe. Having in mind this is the same girl with the Goddess spiel.

I know they'll make it work because I see Susan Batten giving her ALL, but still it's one of the show's weaker spots. We have enough of romantic heroines, we didn't need Luna added in that mix.

Up to January 14th, 1993

🦩

"A jealous sociopath in Llanview."

🔷

Here we go again. The show is getting slightly better. It's not up to their full potential yet, but that's completely fine. Compared to the soaps of today, it's still masterpiece-hour. Let's get to it step by step.

🔷

We have the reactivation of Marty Saybrooke. That despicable, tortured, broken piece of sh-t that we are supposed to understand... because she doesn't have parents and her aunt is a neglectful witch. Yeah, I was neglected too in my childhood, but I didn't become a raging sociopathic evil... Cathy Ames from East Of Eden... CREATURE. John Steinbeck would have appreciated Marty Saybrooke. So now that she's seeing Andrew and Cassie happy, planning their wedding, the tr-ll is starting to lose it. She is self-destructing, drinking vodka and not taking her lupus meds. I can't predict her next move - perhaps she'll spread a rumor that Viki abuses her kids... or that Cassie is having sex with her mother. ANYTHING vile and repulsive this deceitful creature can concoct. Now... despite (or maybe BECAUSE of) my strong dislike for her... I MUST acknowledge the incredible actress who is EXECUTING HER ROLE perfectly... portraying a complex antagonist. Honestly, Susan Haskell is likely the most talented younger actress on the show at this moment.

🔷

We had these two slightly cringe... but still fun... bachelor/bachelorette parties going on simultaneously. The guys were at the roadhouse dump while the women were at Max's house playing games and smoking cigars. I really liked how they switched things up, making the girls seem like the tough... macho group. I also found the cartoonish twist of the stripper actually being a clown that Joey accidentally booked for the party... hilarious. It was definitely something different, even if it probably read better in the script than it appeared on screen. Sometimes they bite more than they can chew... trying to be overly original, but I give them credit for the effort. I'm not usually into these kinds of Woody Allen-style comedy routines, but I understand the appeal.

🔷

Now, let's dive into Anna Karenina. The Male Brooke Logan (Sloan) managed to make Viki jealous enough that she FINALLY dropped her cold facade. She turned madly bitter, and her usual high-and-mighty attitude was replaced with a more earthy... bitchy vibe. I loved witnessing how, when provoked, she could unleash her wild and dirty side. Her BRUTAL take on Dorian... how pathetic she was, how she was going to get dumped again... made me laugh. These moments in soaps are what I live for. Naturally... they had to escalate things and had Dorian throw her drink in Viki's face. That felt a bit excessive, but it was in line with Dorian's character. I would have preferred to see Viki react differently, though. It seemed a bit anti-climactic after that. She should have delivered a sharper comeback. Or maybe Renee should have had security escort Dorian out like a dog. Still... the Anna Karenina plot keeps on delivering. Now that I think about it, maybe it was for the best that Viki didn't react excessively... it made her appear like a victim in Sloan's eyes, which got his attention. And that was probably her main goal all along.

🔷

Other than that... we had Blair continuing rummaging through Asa's stuff. Seriously - why would he leave his things so accessible to her, knowing what she's capable of? This really irks me. I've lived with millionaires, and I understand how they value their privacy. You don't just leave your cabinet unlocked for your unstable soon-to-be ex to waltz in whenever she wants. You set up cameras, change the locks. You take the necessary precautions. It's just foolish to give Blair so many options to exploit. Honestly, it feels like cheap plot-driven writing. It would have been way more interesting if Blair couldn't just enter that house and had to find someone inside to help her out. Maybe she could have bribed the maid or threatened to report her for theft (like saying she saw her stealing something, anything to make the maid complicit) to gain access to the restricted areas. There are countless smarter ways to handle this instead of going for something so basic and sitcom-like. What a missed opportunity!

Overall -  8/10

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Clip of the day

Dorian throws a drink in Viki's face!

Thanks @Maxim

I wasn't sure how long into 1993 Mia lasts so I'm glad this daily countdown helps.

It will probably take a little while to get used to Kassie as Blair - I think it helped me that I had never seen Mia Korf in the part.

The scene with Dorian and Viki is entertaining, especially when Viki drops the mask and when she excuses Dorian with a "muscle spasm."

The tease at the end does tire me somewhat - they are making Viki a little too tee-hee and the story feels padded.

I’m nearing the end of November and the end of Cord.

Jason, Wanda, Lee Ann and Luna working at Wanda’s diner (anyone know what it’s called?) is truly my favorite part of the show and I am dreading to see Luna get stuck on Max, hopefully Lee Ann and Jason stay.

It is interesting to see the beginning Jason and Dorian, I’m not sure how to take his interest in her, but I understand he loves Lee Ann.

The climax to the Ebers worked better than I thought, I wish Jane had shot Doug straight out of Llanview.

I REALLY wish we could have seen where Mia Korf’s Blair and Cord could have gone. Wow. I’m into these two and Blair is fascinating. Interesting to boot Cord off around the same time he’s paired up with a newbie, chem tested and nearly cheats.

Viki telling Dorian off for expecting to help her make amends with Cassie (after losing Llanfair, being kidnapped, Clint being shot and Megan hospitalized) was GREAT and Elaine Princi is so good because I still felt for her.

I’m officially fast forwarding anything concerning Max vs Asa, I’m hoping I get more interested when the Blair angle comes into play.

Andrew slowly being worked into the fabric of Llanview has been great and what a welcome addition. Too bad they don’t give a single thought to Sheila (I know I’ve already said it, but wow, she’s been off nearly a month and totally erased from the Eber story she was originally featured in) and with a small cast there is really no excuse.

PS - I really always thought Erika Slezak faded to the background from the stroke story through Victor Lord murder trial, but between what I am seeing in Fall 1991 and Maxim’s recaps, she’s still very prevalent.

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by soapfave06

The show is moving so fast I can’t stop watching, but it doesn’t quite feel like any A story to me.

Cord’s death scene, which was new to me, was actually quite shocking and brutal. If I were spoiler free or watched live, I would have been STUNNED. Mia did a great job acting that out and the water pool stunts were great.

Viki and Larry telling Megan she has lupus was sad, given what we know. I’m not sure how Megan would have fit on the show in the future so this is best anyways.

Lee Ann telling Asa off was great, I could watch that all day and poor Kevin, watching as Max romances Lee Ann.

Edited 13 hours ago13 hr by soapfave06

20 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Thanks @Maxim

I wasn't sure how long into 1993 Mia lasts so I'm glad this daily countdown helps.

It will probably take a little while to get used to Kassie as Blair - I think it helped me that I had never seen Mia Korf in the part.

The scene with Dorian and Viki is entertaining, especially when Viki drops the mask and when she excuses Dorian with a "muscle spasm."

The tease at the end does tire me somewhat - they are making Viki a little too tee-hee and the story feels padded.

Speaking on that topic... I can't recall exactly whether I shared this fascinating conversation with Mia Korf. I think I did, but I'll post it again for those who may have missed it a few months back. She discusses her experience on the show, the topic of race, and how the role was recast with a blonde white woman.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Maxim

Re: Blair, Mia and Kassie were cute posing together at the OLTL/AMC reunion in 2018. Which is what gave me the idea re: how to use them both, in a perfect world were the show still around.

I had forgotten that KDP didn't even know Blair had been Asian until her third callback audition lol. That's when they dropped the bomb. She first appears in December '93, and took great pains in the early years to keep her Southern drawl out of her voice and sound more like Korf or a high society bitch.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Vee

1 minute ago, Vee said:

Re: Blair, Mia and Kassie were cute posing together at the OLTL/AMC reunion in 2018. Which is what gave me the idea re: how to use them both, in a perfect world were the show still around.

I had forgotten that KDP didn't even know Blair had been Asian until her third callback audition lol. That's when they dropped the bomb. She first appears in December '93, and took great pains in the early years to keep her Southern drawl out of her voice and sound more like Korf or a high society bitch.

Still wish they kept the character Asian. Just odd in this day and age when you look back at the characters origin.

5 minutes ago, Marco Dane said:

Still wish they kept the character Asian. Just odd in this day and age when you look back at the characters origin.

It's insane and it would never be tolerated today. I loved Kassie's Blair and you can't go back, but it's still shameful, especially getting to see Mia close up recently; she was a revelation. They were very lucky Malone still shepherded the character in both incarnations. I think KDP has said only he ever knew how to write for Blair.

What's almost as shameful is that daytime today would never cast an Asian woman in such a massive lead role. As far as I can tell it has not happened since. That was over 30 years ago.