2 hours ago, Vee said:

I don't, but I do think MJ was wooden in places. Robinson's Ted is just kind of sad and pathetic to me. I keep calling him Kermit. My Kirk Van Houten references re: him and Doug are also real.

How much of that can be attributed to the writing though? 

As a Black person who grew up watching daytime soaps, it has been very interesting speaking with other Black people who have no history with this genre. I get the sense (actually, I don't have to sense anything...people have flat out told me that their interest in the show is waning) that some are torn between wanting to support this show, watching with the hopes that their loyalty will be rewarded with a better show or do they just cut their losses. I too am tired of watching the seeming sad sack demeanor of Doug and Ted. I mean...the writing and characterizations on this show is not great. Yes, the actors who portray Tómas and Ben are struggle actors but the writing is not doing them any favors.

And although I really think Jon Lindstrom is a talented soap veteran, I am tired of watching Joey Armstrong play puppet master in the lives of this supposedly powerful and influential family. Maybe with Guza gone, Joey Armstrong will recede into the underworld from whence he came.

Edited September 14, 2025Sep 14 by DramatistDreamer

3 hours ago, Aback said:

But then again Daphnee said in one of those YT interview that she met Maurice at an event a few days into the recasting, she approached him and gave him the chance to address the recast but he avoided the subject... Had it been an HR issue she would've known and she would've avoided him. I dunno.

Not necessarily, it could have been about something totally not related to her. An HR incident usually isn't something the entire workforce ever knows the details about. Him avoiding the issue with her makes me think he's embarrassed by something he may have done.

Edited September 15, 2025Sep 15 by alwaysAMC

1 hour ago, DramatistDreamer said:

How much of that can be attributed to the writing though? 

I just think he's weaker period. But the writing for Ted has not helped, in part because I think they are simply not invested in Ted long-term.

I think the reality is different people in the audience (all audiences) want or expect different things. I'm sure some are ready to check out, but for others it's just apples and oranges. The dialogue often vacillates between arch/expository or classical and hyper-modern, with only occasionally any nuance in between, which as a student of the genre is endlessly fascinating to me even when I groan. (Though some of it I do like) It's often like watching Irna Phillips or Bill Bell writing for Prospect Park. But a lot of audience members are either used to that from certain soaps (like B&B) or expect it, or just don't notice. I do, and it's one of many things I'd work on - including the hokey therapy-speak - but I think the bones of the show are good and it has made real improvements. And I think it will keep growing and improving. It's got a long way to go lol, but most soaps did in six months.

As for Lindstrom, I didn't buy him at all early on and found him stiff and creaky in the role. I do now largely because of his heat with Lauren Bugliogi and her amazing performance, and I think he has settled in quite a bit and the puppet master stuff has largely worked for me even when other stories don't. Still, I think Joey will (and should) eventually meet his end while Vanessa takes his throne. Which I am all for. Her character is the most Guza-coded for me, but in a way I find complimentary.

Edited September 15, 2025Sep 15 by Vee

That was a good interview.  Enjoyed the rapport between Miss Daphnee & Keith.  

I certainly don't "like" the Joey Armstrong character (and I'm not fond of the actor who plays him either).  But I believe he's made the Dupree family more complex.  Sometimes when they want something done, they call the assistant director of the FBI; other times they rely on a crooked cop & a gangster to help them.  To me, that makes them more relatable.  

Robinson is by far a much superior actor than Johnson ever could hope to be, and Robinson's résumé proves that.

6 hours ago, Liberty City said:

Robinson is by far a much superior actor than Johnson ever could hope to be, and Robinson's résumé proves that.

Which is why I personally believe that this is a writing issue. I noticed that Robinson first came onto the show, he seemed to elevate the performance of some of the actors, even those that did not display strong ability. To me he is definitely a step up from Maurice Johnson. 

22 hours ago, Vee said:

I just think he's weaker period. But the writing for Ted has not helped, in part because I think they are simply not invested in Ted long-term.

I think the reality is different people in the audience (all audiences) want or expect different things. I'm sure some are ready to check out, but for others it's just apples and oranges. The dialogue often vacillates between arch/expository or classical and hyper-modern, with only occasionally any nuance in between, which as a student of the genre is endlessly fascinating to me even when I groan. (Though some of it I do like) It's often like watching Irna Phillips or Bill Bell writing for Prospect Park. But a lot of audience members are either used to that from certain soaps (like B&B) or expect it, or just don't notice. I do, and it's one of many things I'd work on - including the hokey therapy-speak - but I think the bones of the show are good and it has made real improvements. And I think it will keep growing and improving. It's got a long way to go lol, but most soaps did in six months.

Before the series debut, I remember MVJ saying that she hoped the show would appeal to viewers who would not ordinarily watch as daytime soap, as well as the viewers who did (remember the tag line "...not your grandmother's soap"?) At this point, I think it might be better to let go of the idea of bringing in and maintaining viewers who are not ordinary daytime soap viewers.

1 hour ago, DramatistDreamer said:

At this point, I think it might be better to let go of the idea of bringing in and maintaining viewers who are not ordinary daytime soap viewers.

Except I think they definitely have gathered that audience? And it's been very notable, particularly online and anecdotally IRL. That's why they're in a tricky spot re: how the storytelling is done - as Ducksworth has said, they are caught between classical pacing and writing for a new demographic unfamiliar with the rhythms of daytime and expecting something faster, trying to thread the needle, and it shows onscreen.

Edited September 16, 2025Sep 16 by Vee

23 hours ago, Broderick said:

That was a good interview.  Enjoyed the rapport between Miss Daphnee & Keith.  

I certainly don't "like" the Joey Armstrong character (and I'm not fond of the actor who plays him either).  But I believe he's made the Dupree family more complex.  Sometimes when they want something done, they call the assistant director of the FBI; other times they rely on a crooked cop & a gangster to help them.  To me, that makes them more relatable.  

I feel that as well...so it's no wonder that it seems like the writing is angling to make Joey their prime nemesis while giving SilkPress a rest wiggle room.

7 hours ago, Vee said:

Except I think they definitely have gathered that audience? And it's been very notable, particularly online and anecdotally IRL. That's why they're in a tricky spot re: how the storytelling is done - as Ducksworth has said, they are caught between classical pacing and writing for a new demographic unfamiliar with the rhythms of daytime and expecting something faster, trying to thread the needle, and it shows onscreen.

Purely anecdotal for me but I know several people in my life that don’t regularly watch soaps and are completely hooked on BTG. It was funny talking to my 50 year old black co worker during the kidnapping story as opposed to reading peoples thoughts here. It’s actually been nice having people in real life to talk about soaps with as that’s been pretty rare for me outside of one of my white friends who grew up on GH and loves Brenda the way some of yall do 😂

Edited September 16, 2025Sep 16 by Antoyne

18 hours ago, Antoyne said:

loves Brenda the way some of yall do 😂

Hehe.

On 9/15/2025 at 9:12 PM, Vee said:

Except I think they definitely have gathered that audience? And it's been very notable, particularly online and anecdotally IRL. That's why they're in a tricky spot re: how the storytelling is done - as Ducksworth has said, they are caught between classical pacing and writing for a new demographic unfamiliar with the rhythms of daytime and expecting something faster, trying to thread the needle, and it shows onscreen.

Hopefully the people I know stick with it but most say they're giving it until the end of Season One.

29 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Hopefully the people I know stick with it but most say they're giving it until the end of Season One.

I don't even know when "Season One" ends for a daytime soap opera. For me it is simple as watching or not, or stopping watching, coming back, quitting, etc. Happens all the time. Either way, time will tell.

Lawrence St Victor is in Atlanta for an event for CBS

 

I can't upload the video but mentioned he was gonna see Karla and Jeresa while he was there, he's right outside of where BTG films