Finally recovered from a hectic couple of weeks (big project at work)... today. And tonight I'm finding myself STARVED for OLTL. It's like I've never had a drop of drama in weeks chileeeeeee. I swear I've never missed a show so much in my life. Countdown to pressing PLAY on that youtube episode in...

Miss Lord, I'M COMING back to you my looove. Viki, you too... naughty girl! Y'all... expect my craaaazy posts about the show to resume very soon. I'm saying sorry in advance! ❤️

Up to April 6th, 1993

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"We only have... one life to live."

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I can't believe I'm sitting here typing this after nearly 2 months without my favorite show. I've been postponing coming back to it, because I didn't have the mental energy for anything besides work, work, work. But I knew this time would come. Let's dive in, shall we?

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I'm going to start with the strong stuff at the beginning. These two episodes were like a slap across the face, emotionally speaking. We learned that in life... nothing is guaranteed. Everything can flip in just a few seconds. A romantic, sexy rendezvous turned into a terrifying night for my girl... Dorian Lord. Jason told her that he... felt "something" - a lump in her breast, while they were being intimate. Dorian was taken aback at first, and then... she checked. And from the expression on her face, it was clear that something very concerning crossed her mind. Suddenly, the queen of mean was faced with her own mortality, and her emotional reaction was to rush to her daughter. It felt a bit... foreboding, as if she was trying to fix her past mistakes in order to make that scary possibility disappear. Robin Strasser was amazing in these two episodes. First... we saw the sensual, playful Dorian, seducing Jason, and then after the shocking realization - the look of fear and confusion. Robin made me feel for Dorian in these scenes. I felt like I was RIGHT THERE WITH HER. This has the potential to be a really impactful storyline. I can't believe that I ever doubted if I would be able to adjust to Robin in the role.

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Marty Saybrooke is a girl... a woman... caught between past and reality. Caught between DARK and LIGHT. She is a bad woman on the edge of becoming good, or perhaps more accurate to say - of finding her better self again. She has everything she needs for this - people who care about her, a new friend - little Jessica, and even a new guy who's romantically interested - Suede - who showed up at her door with flowers and made he open up and share a beautiful melody she composed on the piano. We're seeing glimpses of a heroine - someone with a heart and a potential to grow. Not the miserable witch we had to endure for the past year. Or maybe WE HAD to see that witch to be able to appreciate what we are seeing now. The contrast. But then there's the other side, still very much ACTIVE - the dark energy that continues to pull her back. The old habits and ways that are almost impossible to shake off. And a new monster hiding in the shadows - Todd, who the writers are giving more and more material with each episode. Now we're starting to see what this creature is - a spoiled rich male bitch who believes he can use and abuse anything and anyone he desires. And now he just wants to take advantage of a destructive alcoholic woman, who is trying her hardest to recover. Marty is torn between these two worlds and it's captivating to watch. And a bit disturbing, not going to lie. But the whole show is a bit disturbing.

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Now let's talk about a few things that just DON'T WORK. I'm going to keep repeating this because I can't ignore it. Mortimer, Tina... the whole mess with Alex and whether Carlo is alive or not is really bringing the whole show down. Every time we have a scene where Tina is yelling at Cord or Cain or... Mortimer acting like some character from an action spy movie - it makes me cringe. I really hope that since so many new storylines are starting, at least that's how it seems to me... it means we're finally moving towards an END for Mortimer's weird journey. And seriously, can we just have TINA choose which penis she wants and get it over with? PLEASE JUST GET IT OVER WITH, before I come and take Cord away from her. AND I MEAN IT.

P.S. Andrew and Cassie are discussing having a baby. We're getting to see the reverend more often without his shirt, and it's quite a sight. Those pecs were kept from us for so long. 😁 The idea that they are writing this future baby plot alongside Dorian potentially facing a cancer diagnosis is... very interesting. A new life being brought into the world while someone else is fighting for theirs. It sound very powerful... if that's where they are headed. And it really makes you realize - we all have just ONE LIFE TO LIVE.

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Overall - I'm so happy to be back. I'm going to be having a free week from work, so I'm going to be binge watching OLTL a lot probably. Now with the Dorian storyline... I am SO HOOKED back on the show.

Overall -  7/10

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Clip of the day

Dorian deals with a frightening possibility

Edited Monday at 12:50 AM2 days by Maxim

Welcome back @Maxim great to see your reviews again.

Welcome back!! These were reviews were missed!

Missed you @Maxim !!

7 hours ago, DRW50 said:

Welcome back @Maxim great to see your reviews again.

Ah! Thank you for the warm welcome @DRW50 🤗

5 hours ago, mar4331 said:

Missed you @Maxim !!

And I missed you guys! And the show! ❤️

6 hours ago, soapfave06 said:

Welcome back!! These were reviews were missed!

Thank you! Looking forward to catching up with your OLTL journey too in the future. 😊

@Maxim you are a bright light not only of this thread, but the entire SON community

2 hours ago, yrfan1983 said:

@Maxim you are a bright light not only of this thread, but the entire SON community

I’m speechless. You made my day. Thank you. ❤️

I echo everyone's sentiments - so happy to see you're back and enjoying your show again @Maxim :)

1 hour ago, alwaysAMC said:

I echo everyone's sentiments - so happy to see you're back and enjoying your show again @Maxim :)

You cannot imagine how much you guys's positivity means to me. I am genuinely grateful to be back among you all. ❤️

Edited Monday at 09:36 PM1 day by Maxim

Up to April 9th, 1993

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A "peace" offering.

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We are so so back. 2 more episodes... in the crazy wicked world of Llanview. Let's dive in, shall we!

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Anyone who thought that Dorian would wake up a completely different woman after yesterday's distressing situation... well... I will have to disappoint you. Her plan to change her ways lasted exactly until morning. She started her day by reading a negative article... this time not written by her, but about her (Clint's response to her previous attacks)... and of course, Mommie dearest was not happy. She bounced back quickly however... once she found out that the Society Slut Buchanina is currently on the same train as her lover. Oops. Then came the strangest "peace offering" I've ever seen.. 😄 She dangled the fact that Buchanina might be enjoying not only the legendary train… but Sloan Carpenter's legendary (cough, cough) as well. Poor Clint. Thank God he had the vulture Lindsay waiting in the corner... ready to pick up the pieces. And then there was Dorian’s denial about her potential cancer diagnosis. She lied to Jason about going to the doctor, insisting everything was fine, fine, fine. I love that they’re letting this unfold slowly, letting her move through the stages instead of rushing it. You can already feel the tension building... she’s going to unravel more and more as the episodes progress I'm sure of it.

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Speaking of our naughty girl Viki - after a few steamy sessions in the luxurious cabin, the girl got hungry and thirsty (sex does that to people) and simply had to eat something in the train’s restaurant. And that’s when one of the first real Anna Karenina‑aftermath moments happened. She liked touching Sloan, holding his hand… but she liked doing it in private. The moment an acquaintance saw her, she slipped her hand away from his. It’s not easy living the life of a ho, Viki… I know it myself. And then she had to make a choice - she would either keep hiding her silver fox in the closet… or finally let him out into the open and officially present herself as his lady. Sloan was, as usual, quite manipulative - showering her with compliments and letting her believe she had all the control. So... Viki decided she wouldn’t hide the affair anymore... they would even go to an event together. Little does she know… Lindsay and Clint are also planning on attending that same event. I CAN’T WAIT. I think this is what some of you mentioned to me weeks and weeks ago about Lindsay winning something over Viki. I think we’re getting there. I’m honestly surprised Lindsay has survived this long - meaning she hasn’t already been written out.

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They’re really trying to reinvent Marty Saybrooke. They’re giving us her backstory in small bites. Today we saw her defend little Jessica - who is starting to look like a spitting image of Erika Slezak (amazing casting)... against her music teacher, who accused the girl of cheating on her assignment. While standing up for her new friend, we learned what kind of girl Marty used to be… before tragedy struck and left her in the hands of her wicked aunt Kiki. She used to be one of the brightest, most talented children, full of potential. When the teacher asked her... "What have you been up to all these years?"... I got goosebumps. The truth is - drinking herself into pathetic, self‑destructive binges, sleeping with whoever asks, and trying to destroy people’s lives. Of course she didn’t say that… but we all know it. We saw that huge abyss between what could have been and what she has become. But we’re also giving her a second chance. The writers are telling us - this girl used to be a star. Then life turned her into a monster. But that little girl is still alive somewhere inside her. And she can come back. Will she? We’ll see.

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We got a Leanne Demerest sighting, y’all! I can’t believe it. The writers have dropped the ball on this character ever since she kidnapped her baby - she was interesting for a few weeks and then completely flatlined. After breaking her and Jason up so fast (after investing in them for soooooooo long), everything unraveled. This time, I think we may actually be seeing her last scenes. I have a huge problem with the way they’re writing her out - if they really are. Suddenly she needs to leave Llanview to recover from her breakup with Jason, but she has to take Demerest with her… and Kevin, out of absolutely nowhere, tells her he’ll "think about" letting her keep the child. I was like... WTF is this? This is Bold and the Beautiful... style erasing of history, motivation, and logic. If they truly make Kevin change his mind and let the child go with her... after making us watch him fight for that kid for months... I will scream. I don’t like this. They haven’t done it yet, so I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt, but it really seems to be heading in that direction. So lazy. I’ll forgive them because the rest of the show is great, but these "small" things aren’t actually small. I loved that Kevin was so stubborn and protective as a father. I don’t want to see him leave Demerest with the stupid, irresponsible Leanne. That’s not the Kevin I know. And that's not the Kevin they wrote for months and months.

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P.S. We’re also seeing Cord unravel after his split with Tina... and that ominous blonde woman Angela, who was acting like a saint. We saw the creature driving into Llanview… and why do I get the vibe that she’s going to sleep with Cord, get pregnant in a few months, and turn out to be a complete psycho or something like that? This woman is giving me Single White Female vibes. So Tina… beware. Yet another psycho is coming to town. (If I'm not wrong about it)

Overall -  8.5/10

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Clip of the day

Edited Monday at 11:22 PM1 day by Maxim

Up to April 12th, 1993

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WINNERS AND LOSERS

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I'm using this free week to recover from overworking myself and catch up with OLTL. And what a ride these past few episodes have been! Let's dive in!

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Just picture this. You've just stepped back into society with your LOVER by your side, and you think you’re about to TAKE an award for the article "Homophobia in small towns"... but then comes the unexpected twist - your greatest enemy is drunk as a pig and shouting at you (Dorian Lord)... and your soon-to-be ex-husband is NOT alone - he’s with the woman who snatches the award from you and takes it INSTEAD - for her work on"homelessness". Well... It’s not something we've ever heard Lindsay talk about, but we trust the writers that she did a good job, LOL. 😆 So SURPRISE SURPRISE! Viki Buchanina was a TOTAL LOSER tonight. She felt a sting of jealousy as Lindsay stood on the podium accepting the award and thanking CLINT of all people! I could almost hear Viki’s inner monologue - God, this could have been me! But IT AIN'T YOU, SWEETIE. IT AIN'T YOU. So now you have to lick your wounds and keep your prize of a man - they guy for who you wrecked your entire family. HOLD ON TO HIM and LOVE HIM, because he might just be the only thing you have left in the end. KARMA is SUCH A BITCH, bitch.

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Talking about LOSERS, Dorian Lord was feeling like "Llanview's biggest loser." She was practically channeling Marty Saybrooke - drinking non stop, being aggressive and taking her frustration out on those closest to her - Cassie and Jason. She acted as if it was because NOBODY thought to nominate her for this prestigious award (LOL), but we all knew there was something deeper bothering her. I can't help but praise Robin Strasser again. Sorry if this becomes too repetitive of me, but I can't stop being in awe of her. While I was watching... my husband walked in and paused for a moment, then asked - Who is this? Is this the same Dorian we saw last time? And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why this woman is pure GENIUS. I told him immediately - the fact that SHE IS SO DIFFERENT in every single episode, showcasing so many variations of Dorian Lord all the time... is something I've never seen by any other actress on any other show I've watched. One episode we have flirty girly Dorian, the next we have gloomy, dark Dorian, then there's the bitchy Dorian, followed by the fatalistic Dorian, and then the plotting, calculated Dorian... ad now we have the unhinged drunk Dorian... and I could keep going on and on. One moment she appears as a 50-year-old broken woman, and the next she’s smiling and you’d swear she’s not older than 30! I swear it. And tonight was all about her coming to terms with the fact that life isn’t eternal and that she might not get the chance to fix her mistakes and herself. She feared being remembered as a wicked woman instead of the person she aspired to be - someone who receives awards and is loved by others. She cried out to Jason, expressing her fear that if something were to happen to her, nobody would care. I had a tear trying to come out of my left eye at that moment... I swear.

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But honestly, what brought me to tears in these episodes was Marty F-CKING Saybrooke. What a transformation! WHAT A DIFFERENCE. We finally witnessed her opening her heart and truly SHINING. A night out with Suede (who they've also revamped, by the way... he's turned into this new, polished, and respectful guy - they really switched him up) was spent discussing her past, her love for music, and everything she once was, finally opening about her parents. Then we got to see the dynamic fun woman she is... dancing in the tavern with Suede, lighting up the entire room with all the extras going crazy around them (the clip of the day for sure). And then... when they parted ways at the end of the night - that brief moment when she just... looked at her parents picture... walked over to the piano and began playing WHILE CRYING... I absolutely WEPT. MAN! I couldn't help it, my husband was laughing at me because my eyes were all red. They did it. They f-cking did it. They made me care about Marty Saybrooke. And like in a twisted fairytale... I just know deep down that this is going to lead to something terrible happening to her. Fans have warned me to brace for this, but even if I hadn't been told - it's so CLEARLY written and hinted at even NOW. In soap operas, you never experience this kind of LIGHT and happiness without some kind of danger coming your way. I'm genuinely worried about Marty. Something will happen to her... just as she is about to turn to the good side.

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One more thing I have to add. @mar4331 - Nora and Bo are truly the gift that keeps on giving. He reserved the entire Serenity Spa just for her, and they enjoyed a steamy night together. BTW... I just noticed how hairy Bo's chest was - that was a surprise! Anyways... their love feels so contemporary. So genuine. So smart. I realize this might sound a bit stupid... but that's how I can describe it. It lacks the banalness of most typical soap opera romances. This isn't about two young people foolishly in love... it's about two mature individuals who have faced a lot in their lives... and they are BEST friends first and foremost. They are already formed people and it's not like there can't be drama there, but it's different kind of drama. I'll always remember what Nora told him - Whatever we do to each other... we just have to make sure we never HURT each other. And this is how true love SOUNDS.

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P.S Almost forgot - Cord was left in a skimpy tank top in one of the Serenity spring tubs... licking his wounds... when suddenly that blonde witch Angela appeared out of nowhere... kicked off her gross white shoes and stepped into the tub with him... starting to stroke... his face. SHE IS literally one second away from doing something more. WHAT A DANGEROUS WOMAN. This bitch is seriously giving me chills. The actress is fantastic, but that hair definitely needsurgent attention. It looks awful. No sane woman has a hair like that.

Overall -  9/10

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Clip of the day

35 minutes ago, Maxim said:

Up to April 12th, 1993

But honestly, what brought me to tears in these episodes was Marty F-CKING Saybrooke. What a transformation! WHAT A DIFFERENCE. We finally witnessed her opening her heart and truly SHINING. A night out with Suede (who they've also revamped, by the way... he's turned into this new, polished, and respectful guy - they really switched him up) was spent discussing her past, her love for music, and everything she once was, finally opening about her parents. Then we got to see the dynamic fun woman she is... dancing in the tavern with Suede, lighting up the entire room with all the extras going crazy around them (the clip of the day for sure). And then... when they parted ways at the end of the night - that brief moment when she just... looked at her parents picture... walked over to the piano and began playing WHILE CRYING... I absolutely WEPT. MAN! I couldn't help it, my husband was laughing at me because my eyes were all red. They did it. They f-cking did it. They made me care about Marty Saybrooke. And like in a twisted fairytale... I just know deep down that this is going to lead to something terrible happening to her. Fans have warned me to brace for this, but even if I hadn't been told - it's so CLEARLY written and hinted at even NOW. In soap operas, you never experience this kind of LIGHT and happiness without some kind of danger coming your way. I'm genuinely worried about Marty. Something will happen to her... just as she is about to turn to the good side.

Clip of the day

Reading about the Marty transformation is very interesting (I only have vague memories of OLTL at this time - mostly Tina/Cain/Alex/Luna/Max). I definitely remember Marty, but not in the way she was in 1992 from your prior recaps. Anyway, can't wait to read more about your thoughts in this area! I love that you can feel it.

That clip of the day was SO fun. Such Dirty Dancing-vibes and I love scenes like this on soaps. Around this same era, there was a similar dance video of Dixie and Craig on AMC. It was way more sensual/sexual, but still similar in nature, and boy do I remember watching that as a kid, as if it were yesterday. I feel like had I seen this Marty/Seude scene as a kid, I would remember it just as well. Thanks for clipping this one.

I love that you @'d me for your review about Bo and Nora lol! Is Bo's hairy chest good or bad? I say good ;)

are there any archives from OLTL back in the 70s someone is saying that Erika Slezak’s first air date wasn’t March 17, 1971 but when she taped her first episode. Also that she actually debuted on episode, #703, which was presumably broadcast on Thursday, March 25, 1971 since the show was taped a week before the airdate.