ALL: Storylines that started out being hated but ended up beloved?

[lucaslesann23]

Just was wondering this after being more active here and reading the old threads. What are some examples of soap storylines that may have started out being absolutely hated or disliked and it grew into being a favorite or atleast good.

Edited November 24, 2023 by lucaslesann23

[Maxim]

2001-2002 Brooke sleeping with Deacon and getting pregnant for sure started being hated and ended up favorite and most watched for a lot of people.

[Faulkner]

The introduction of Rose on ATWT. Seemed like it was destined to be one of those goofy, yuk-yuk doppelgänger/trading places stories (plus it was bogged down in Simon/Katie mess) but I remember many people preferring Rose to Lily before it was all said and done.

[Contessa Donatella]

Now, me, I loved Rose/Lily from the get-go & was only mad when they cut it short. The only thing about it that bugged me is this idea that this husband could have sex with the twin & not know it was her. That always bothers me. I just find it not at all credible. 

The late great AMC/OLTL crossover with baby swap, helicopter crash in the woods & 2 pregnant women giving birth under primitive circumstances when 2 babies were born but then suddenly there was only one. I began hating this because there was no way to keep up with it except to watch both shows. So for me, already busy with many soaps it meant I had to add OLTL. This really annoyed me!! But, it turned out to be SUCH a great story, told like it was a well-oiled machine. 

Edited November 24, 2023 by Donna L. Bridges
one thing more

[Khan]

Salvaging that storyline was one of the few things, I think, Hogan Sheffer did right as HW on ATWT.  Granted, he went the typical, "I must've passed out in between giving birth to twins!" route in explaining how Rose and Lily looked so much.

[soapfan770]

I was also going to add the Simon/Katie mess lead to Katie’s downfall/comeuppance at the WOAK at the Endicott Awards, and then Simon & Katie developed into a popular coupling once they were finally paired together late 2000-02. I never understood why the show later decimated their chemistry every time Simon returned. 


Another story that comes to mind is on Days the whole Subsex/Subspawn story with the JT/Zach paternity and baby switch was widely loathed and decried until the story’s final weeks/months when the story came to a surprisingly satisfying conclusion. 

On Y&R a lot of people found the Veronica Landers as Sarah the Maid story ridiculous but the moment Veronica lost it and shot both Joshua and Nikki, the rest is history. 

Edited November 25, 2023 by soapfan770

[Gideon58]

LOVED the story of Simon and Katie on ATWT

[titan1978]

Like Rose on ATWT, this is such a great example. The road to get there was rocky, but the climax was fantastic. And the follow up with Diane feeling betrayed.