GH: November 2024 Discussion Thread

[ranger1rg]

Way too many writing agendas. I feel like the Keystone Cops are in charge.

[AbcNbc247]

It always makes me want to do the exact opposite lol 

[Contessa Donatella]

Wait. If I understand, you're saying you resist thinking Drew is being cringey & stalkerish? Is that it? 

[Vee]

The problem with a lot of modern soap social media is that most fanbases of characters simply want all things to go their way or for them to be safe and insulated within the show and have lots of friends, regardless of whether some of those moves or relationships make sense for the character. If they're actually played true to character sometimes those fanbases squawk.

The Ava Jerome fanbase is near the top of that list for me, along with the frankly probably meager but loud Nina fanbase on Twitter (most Twitter fanbases in this day and age are small but act like they're huge). They want Ava to have friends it makes no sense (IMO) for her to have, they want her to be on top but stay in enough people's good graces. There was so much talk about how Ava or Nina's characters were being 'assassinated' in the spring. First of all, Ava is not Carly Snyder even though her fans often act like she should be a slightly elevated version of that. She is a stone cold killer. She is bad news and the show was again writing her true to who she really is, not just keeping her relationships civil and her actions soft to keep her safe. And her relationship with Nina, which spanned decades of psychosis, was always inexplicable to me. I tolerated it (and do again) because Maura and Cynthia Watros are fun together and both characters were strange enough to make it work, but I wasn't weeping for it being gone at the time. Then there were the people who only cared about Sonny and Nina and claimed she was 'ruined' by being moved to Drew, when Nina has barely ever had a viable and coherent character to speak of under two different actors over a decade on the show. Don't get me started.

The point being, yes I agree with all of the above re: what was done for MW, Watros and CM under Mulcahey (and definitely Kirsten Storms). I think both Cynthia and Cameron could've had a real future on the show together as daffy socialite Nina and that schmoozing politico Drew Q. Structurally little has changed for the characters since, but the focus and tone is off now and Drew just comes off slightly skeezier, the whole thing feels just slightly off the rose and spoiled. So at this point I'd probably do Who Killed Drew Q? in a splashy setup and move on, and write Nina out too.

Edited November 16, 2024 by Vee

[carolineg]

To me the show feels directionless right now.  There is a lot going on, but I personally feel like nothing ever happens and when it does it's unsatisfying.  Most of the characters are just aimlessly moving along with no real motivations.  Lately, I have just been coming away from watching the show and thinking "well, that happened today" and little else.  It's not even enjoyable to make fun of lately.

[Vee]

Same old show from last year, then.

[Liberty City]

As a Maura West fan, I can agree to all of this. However, Carly Tenney & Ava Jerome are two very different characters, despite being played by West, and that goes to West's exceptional talent as a performer. I can look at Ava and not see Carly, and vice-versa.

As for the friendship between Ava & Nina, I too, am baffled at its existence, but also thoroughly enjoy it nonetheless. When it dismantled, it did feel natural and a return-to-form for both characters. And I think West said it best, in explaining the friendship:

❝ It certainly helps that this is a new and different incarnation of Nina. I think it would be more difficult if it were still Michelle Stafford playing her. It’s the same character. Of course, it is the same character but it is a different person and she brings an entirely different energy to the character than Michelle had. I believe that they could be friends, personally. Maura West believes in forgiveness. I believe in second chances, I believe in open-heartedness. And so, I’d like to think that even though Ava is a badass bitch, she also is capable of great compassion and empathy, and forgiveness. And, these two women are, and have been sort of outcasts, right? So, they have that in common that they’re always frightened. They’re always scraping to get by. And so, that’s a good friend to have someone who shares that experience with you. ❞

And I have to agree with her sentiment: I do think the friendship works because Cynthia Watros came into the role; I couldn't see the friendship between West's Ava & Stafford's Nina, at all.

Edited November 16, 2024 by Liberty City

[carolineg]

Basically.  The show will have a string of good episodes like Sam's death and then move back to the same weird or tedious things and loss all momentum.  I can't even think of a single couple on this show I root for.  Maybe Maxie/Spinelli and Mac/Felicia, but they are peripheral at best.  It's strange a show with so many good characters and actors on paper can be so thoroughly mismanaged in almost every way.

[Taoboi]

I know that I have not at all missed the propping that the New/Old Writers have gotten back to.

[DRW50]

I didn't understand anything being done with Ava (it felt like they were mostly rushing to her death), but then Ava is not any coherent character so what else is new. I do think Cynthia Watros finally got some wonderful chances as Nina. I know a lot of Nina fans hated what the show was doing with her, but I do wonder how they feel now.

I hated the treatment of the Quartermaines (the same few scenes of banter followed by "good" characters degrading them, often while living under their home), but I suppose I can see why people miss those days compared to how barren the atmosphere at the mansion is now - I'm very glad the place is still being used but it feels like a community center more than a home.

I give more credit to the Q actors (well the older actors, anyway) from that era than anyone else, and beyond Jane Elliott, they're all gone. 

(I know Wally Kurth is still there - not a big fan, sorry)

Edited November 16, 2024 by DRW50

[Taoboi]

So directionless that Wagger's murder upped and vanished.

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[Liberty City]

Honestly.... not complaining. LMAO. Let's move on from it right now.

[Jdee43]

Without nuance, the characters are either all ruined, or just cardboard cutouts. It seems like Mulcahey was the only writer working there that  got that. They really need to hire a new writer who can do strong character work; that weakness is so glaring.

The new writers have tried character stuff with Lucky and Sam's goodbye tour, but it all felt so hollow, boring, and paint by the numbers, with no fun, no life, no quirkiness.

 

[Taoboi]

But there was so much momentum from that...starting from Kristina falling through Ava's window. Which actually also starting from Wagger's relationship with Ava. Built upon built upon built. And now...just the vapers.

 

Howso? If anything, Ava had clear direction again...even if it was leading to her death or a redemption tale under a writer who would know how to do one and still keep Ava's edge.

 

[Liberty City]

I'm all for moving on, because Sonny would never be held responsible in the way he should have... so I'm okay with us DNI'ing it.