I thought that was more so the audience would hate Jessica so that her recast would come in and be easier to accept. The character of Jessica got so awful towards the end of ET's run that it all seemed deliberate

I never really paid attention to the backstage stuff during that time, but was Tomlin planning on bringing in a re-cast even before Erin decided to leave?

It was a pretty solid episode today! Loved the Bo/Natalie/Tea/Dani, Viki/Clint/Jack, and Nora/Destiny scenes, and it was also nice to see Cutter outside of Shelter for a change interacting with other characters like Vimal and David at The Coffee Shop! Too bad that we will only get only two new episodes a week now starting next week! UGH!!!!

I never really paid attention to the backstage stuff during that time, but was Tomlin planning on bringing in a re-cast even before Erin decided to leave?

yes. Writing her out to London was done specifically to give them time to find a recast. Jessica was right in the middle of a heavy storyline with Mitch's return (whom was just revealed as her father) to just abandon the character

Edited May 16, 201312 yr by Cheap21

I actually loved today's episode. I thought it was one of the best so far.

Also, I really wonder who it is watching the Lord/Manning clan. It looked like a dude's arm and hand. So, I'm ruling out an Irene return. Unless she hired someone to do her dirty work while everyone thought she was dead. And, I'm ruling out Allison. Since she don't have man hands.

It looked they had cameras on all of Llanview.

I agree I thought it was a great episode--lots of natural and good character dialogue, even if not all that much happened--I liked that.

Liked seeing Nora with Destiny but I would not be refusing anything from Bo/Nora. Her kid is a Buchanan and should get all the advantages that Matthew, Jessica etc. grew up with (Asa was always giving them ponies and other insane gifts), even if Matthew doesn't want to be involved. Hell, she should be yelling for stock in BE & Drew's proxy for voting until he's 18 & a suite in the apparently vacant Buchanan mansion. I appreciated that she's sweet enough to let Nora gush about Matthew as a little boy without reminding her that her sweet little boy grew up to be a deadbeat.

But, but but... She did accept the gifts for Drew. She only turned down the gift for herself Nora offered--that's completely different, IMHO.

But, but but... She did accept the gifts for Drew. She only turned down the gift for herself Nora offered--that's completely different, IMHO.

Very true. I guess I just clearly don't have the moral fiber of Des because I would be all about taking any and all extravagant gifts from the millionaire Buchanans (even if there house is now tiny!) who raised this jerk. Its not like Matthew was taking Drew shopping for Mother's Day.

Very true. I guess I just clearly don't have the moral fiber of Des because I would be all about taking any and all extravagant gifts from the millionaire Buchanans (even if there house is now tiny!) who raised this jerk. Its not like Matthew was taking Drew shopping for Mother's Day.

That's fair enough, and I admit my reaction was completely "You fool--just take the damn gift." But I can understand if everytime she sees Nora, perhaps Nora gives her something after a while it would just feel like a charity case thing.

I like the direction they're taking with Destiny. Her single mother story is so much better than Starr's. Destiny wants to be truly independent which means not taking money from her parents or the Buchanans except for child support. She has a job ( though I question what her job truly is). Most importantly she is raising her kid. She may go out at night but she's with him during the day.

Starr didn't have a job. She barely went to school. She was still living off her parents.

When it comes to motherhood Destiny > Starr

I like the direction they're taking with Destiny. Her single mother story is so much better than Starr's. Destiny wants to be truly independent which means not taking money from her parents or the Buchanans except for child support. She has a job ( though I question what her job truly is). Most importantly she is raising her kid. She may go out at night but she's with him during the day.

Starr didn't have a job. She barely went to school. She was still living off her parents.

When it comes to motherhood Destiny > Starr

I HATED everything about Starr having a kid. Particularly how once she was discovered alive, we rarely saw Hope unless she was in peril. Starr was always singing or starring in a musical or chatting up Langston or running around with James with barely a mention of the kid. With Destiny, her whole life centers around the baby, which is way more real. Destiny/Matthew sharing a kid seems to amp up the drama majorly in this younger set whereas with Starr it really didn't alter anything after the pregnancy story.

Hope didn't change Starr's life in the slightest It's so refreshing to see the opposite with Destiny. Her life revolves around Drew and as a result her past friendships have suffered. Her and Dani aren't as close. Matthew hates her and is step away from calling her a whore/slut/bitch.

Today in her scenes with Nora I got the sense she was struggling a bit.

Edited May 17, 201312 yr by Dee41

I HATED everything about Starr having a kid. Particularly how once she was discovered alive, we rarely saw Hope unless she was in peril. Starr was always singing or starring in a musical or chatting up Langston or running around with James with barely a mention of the kid. With Destiny, her whole life centers around the baby, which is way more real. Destiny/Matthew sharing a kid seems to amp up the drama majorly in this younger set whereas with Starr it really didn't alter anything after the pregnancy story.

well look who was writing the Starr as a mother story vs. this one with Destiny..

Hope didn't change Starr's life in the slightest It's so refreshing to see the opposite with Destiny. Her life revolves around Drew and as a result her past friendships have suffered. Her and Dani aren't as close. Matthew hates her and is step away from calling her a whore/slut/bitch.

Today in her scenes with Nora I got the sense she was struggling a bit.

And yet I'm still kind of shipping this 2.0 version of her and Matthew, which probably explains my own terrible track record for picking boyfriends.

(But I don't think he hates her really). Although with 2 episodes a week, Drew is going to be 12 by the time things soften between them.

I'm torn between Matt/Dani and Matt/Des and Jeff/Des myself. I think I prefer the new pairings. People are settling into a series of rote complaints about too much of Matt, Dani and Jeffrey but I say don't knock it if the [!@#$%^&*] works. They've got tremendous chemistry and the writing is good.

As to today's show, I LOLed when they opened Matthew's stuff on him staring longingly at the peanut butter. Perfect. The cutting is rough on the shift to Destiny and Nora, but the stuff with Bo, Natalie and Tea is gold, as is Jack and Todd. AT really has improved. He can get through scenes and he is engaged. Also, Natalie looks amazing and I love that someone caught onto Dead Guy Down By The River.

Edited May 17, 201312 yr by Vee

I loved this show!

I finally got some scenes between Viki and Clint that I've been waiting on and I finally felt them as a couple. I enjoyed the brief Viki/Jack scene, they need to have more of those, they were pretty decent.

I'm not a fan of Destiny (and I'm trying) but today I did like her with Nora. Maybe that is what the "A team" need, more scenes with the vets because it seems like the only time I can tolerate them. And I really need to see Dani get out there and look for a job, and Matthew needs to be SEEN actually working besides trying to find his next lay.

Sure looks like Todd to me is the one that is watching them but can't figure out why he'd be doing that.

Always enjoy scenes between Natalie and Bo, just not enough Natalie on air for me.

Is Natalie ever going to have a scene with her mother? It's starting to grate on my nerves.