GH: July 2024 Discussion Thread

[Vee]

Unlike the GL story I think the characters here are at a disadvantage bc a lot of what they are and have been for years is ciphers, that much is true. But I do think the show and the outgoing recent writing team played to two key strengths in two longtime soap stars, namely Watros and Cameron Mathison. Watros is great at manic screwball comedienne stuff and histrionic behavior, and Cameron IMO is always at his best when he is being the debonair schmoozer and sort of cocky, mischievous man about town, which is what this team rapidly transformed Drew Q into. It's shades of the early Ryan Lavery on AMC and what I think people loved about him. Has the whole mother-daughter thing and political saga further turned off people who were already tired of his Drew, or couples fanbases like the Sonny/Nina loyalists? Sure. But it's a character shift that makes sense for me and I think CM has more than sold it. We now have another scheming, gladhanding suave Quartermaine power broker in the classic mold. It also helps that as I've said before, Cynthia and Cameron know how to bring heat onscreen and fúck on camera in a way that much of the anodyne, flavorless modern GH has long since left behind in search of being safe and merely staying on the air.

Katelyn MacMullen is no great shakes from what I've seen, but she's not a terrible actress and she does have chemistry with CM and can play a different role here than say, Blake on GL. I suspect in the case of this story Drew and Nina would/would've been endgame. I think PM and co. made the best and most interesting material from a barren situation on the ground with much less rich or layered characters than say, classic GL. But somehow that's how you inherit a show and you just have to build. And I think despite all the controversy enough people have responded to it, particularly to the Drew/Willow kiss, because they're just happy to see scandalous soap opera on GH again vs. microchips and the latest OLTL returnee. It'll be a shame if they walk it all back in favor of bland factory settings, but that's what I expect.

Edited July 11, 2024 by Vee

[DRW50]

It is interesting in that characters are taking action based on emotions rather than what moves the plot along or in cases like Ava, whatever the Magic 8 Ball says that day. So Willow and Drew taking action based on the connection that has built up between them for a while now does feel refreshing. Or has the potential to be. At least they finally have moved forward in a way that can't be entirely walked back.

It helps that Willow has cheated before.

I agree this is the best use of Cameron Mathison. The decision to make Ryan a bland and aggressively self-righteous leading man was the death of that character. 

Edited July 11, 2024 by DRW50

[Dion]

To be fair, Maxie found out she was pregnant shortly before the extended break due to COVID and that's partly why the pregnancy went on for so long.

That said, Brook-Lyn slept with Valentin many many many months (like pretty much half a year) after Maxie found out she was pregnant and yet they had Brook-Lyn passing off Maxie's child as her own with Valentin even though the math didn't math lol.

Edited July 11, 2024 by Dion

[Contessa Donatella]

I am a fan of Wes, from GL, from CHARMED & from VENICE. To me the problem with Peter was not with the actor but some truly awful, abysmal, appalling, seeming to go on forever & ever, ... writing! The character was horrible! Also I questioned his motivation. By the end poor Wes was pretty much twirling moustache. Kinda UGH. He was one where we literally could not wait for him to be dead. 

As for Maxie, so much more like our Maximista from before, I am so pleased that Kirsten is doing so much better. From what she has said, recovering fully from the brain surgery was a  long drawn out thing. Now she is obviously enjoying herself & we get to reap the benefits! I am all in, once again, for Spixie! I realize that Bradford does not have much in the way of guarantees & Kirsten can appear again & again so that's a problem, but only for Spixie fans. I was tickled yesterday that her impulse was to meddle in things between Cody & Mac. That to me will be a good thing. 

[Aragorn]

The show has been below two million viewers for eleven straight weeks, but I think last week's excellent episodes will finally end that streak.

I think Maurice Bernard was terrible yesterday. He looked sick.

Do you think that Cody appearing without his shirt will attract viewers?

I support Laura in her crusade for Heather because I think the writers have a good storyline planned.

[John]

7.11.2024

HW: Patrick Mulcahey & Elizabeth Korte

BDW: Suzanne Flynn

SW: Peter Killeen

DIR: Denise Van Cleave

Peter Killeen the new SW at GH was a producer and writer for the Rosie O'Donnell Show

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1097794/

[DRW50]

Working on that show would certainly help with high pressure situations.

[Contessa Donatella]

Gained viewers the past 2 weeks reported, in a row. 

 

[dragonflies]

 

[John]

I could see Laura resigning as Mayor. Ever since the death of Spencer & Nikolas in jail, she seems lost.

[ranger1rg]

Laura should be recalled as mayor for spending most of her day on Heather Webber.

[BetterForgotten]

Laura is stupid, but I can’t take more of a Brook Kerr’s yelling and flailing her hands in every scene. Probably an unpopular opinion here, but I do not think she’s a strong or even charismatic actress. 

Edited July 11, 2024 by BetterForgotten

[Contessa Donatella]

Maybe it's just me but it seems to me that we've just come to a logical conclusion with this story. I said all along that I didn't think they would end up freeing Heather. Several different perspectives have been represented. I believe there's a fairly nice symmetry to what I hope is this ending. Curtis, whose perspective was markedly different than Portia's, went & talked to Heather. What he said was compelling to her apparently, which gave her the motivation to ask Laura to leave things alone as they are. Jordan supported Laura's premise & approach. Portia had & expressed the most extreme POV. Trina, on her own, spoke to Laura, at a bit different point than either Curtis or Portia. Liz only got marginally drawn in. Now, I'm left still wanting Portia to be called out on her hypocrisy so I don't get what I want but it looks like most people will end up happy. 

[BrendaB]

They should reveal Portia's real name:  Karen.  The actress isn't great (like most of the terrible Passions cast), but the character is even worse with constant hand-wringing and needless histrionics.  The show gives her way too much airtime in general.  The most improved actress/character is Maxie.  She's dressed better, has her comedic chops back and love that she's the connective tissue between generations.

The last few episodes after the Fourth of July have been great with the Cody/Mac/Felicia/Maxie storyline and the sizzle of Drew/Willow/Nina/Michael/Sasha soapy scandal that I'd asked for months ago.

The most comforting part of all is how the show is using the Quartermaine estate and how it's been re-populated with people after decades of it being hollowed out.

[Contessa Donatella]

Brooke Kerr is a beautiful woman & I used to love her character. Now, they've gone & done it. Turned me completely around. Used to always dislike Curtis. So, now I'm liking Curtis & want to slap Portia!!! 

Must agree, on everything else.