7 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

The writing change definitely harmed that. Cuz as soon as CVE came back, Ava stopped being cunning and crafty. A shame because I was liking her with Wagger and how she had him wrapped around her little finger. They could have even had a flawed good guy/bad girl pairing there.

They really could have but it also seemed like Cates was against Ava for his own good. I mean, he was going to have her killed, IIRC? It's all so, chaotic. This is why two writing regime changes in ONE YEAR is one of the most insane things I've ever seen/witnessed/heard of.

I still believe Maura and Ava were being set up to be a major player again without getting rid of her. Mulcahey worked on GL with Roger who was never redeemed. I think if anything we might have gotten a Who Shot Roger storyline and not actually killed her off. I think Valentin was the goal as far as a big bad that would eventually be gotten rid of permanently, and that all changed as soon as it started.

For all the faults of this terrible year, I have forgotten the bright spots of being rid of Valentin and Finn.

18 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

The writing change definitely harmed that. Cuz as soon as CVE came back, Ava stopped being cunning and crafty. A shame because I was liking her with Wagger and how she had him wrapped around her little finger. They could have even had a flawed good guy/bad girl pairing there.

I, too think we were headed for a Who Killed Ava story. They obviously changed their minds, as they seem to on a number of things. Instead we got a Who Cares Who Killed Jagger Cates story. Pretty much a gyp. 

8 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

They really could have but it also seemed like Cates was against Ava for his own good. I mean, he was going to have her killed, IIRC? It's all so, chaotic. This is why two writing regime changes in ONE YEAR is one of the most insane things I've ever seen/witnessed/heard of.

So much. Ava has broken greater men. She be a maneater. lol. 

 

And then...he came across cray cray, she came across dumbfounded. And then that could have been played if the ending was the same. 

 

7 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

I still believe Maura and Ava were being set up to be a major player again without getting rid of her. Mulcahey worked on GL with Roger who was never redeemed. I think if anything we might have gotten a Who Shot Roger storyline and not actually killed her off. I think Valentin was the goal as far as a big bad that would eventually be gotten rid of permanently, and that all changed as soon as it started.

For all the faults of this terrible year, I have forgotten the bright spots of being rid of Valentin and Finn.

I was thinking you were one of the people that mentioned that. lol. Lack of coffee brain over here waiting for it to kick in.  I still feel the same re: Maura/Ava. PM was wise to plan Val as the goal. It's a shame someone *cough*frank*cough* felt differently.

 

Yeah, easily a bright spot. And I really thought Finn's spiral was great if slightly rushed. And now we have Frank teasing out a Val return and I just RME. 

4 minutes ago, Contessa Donatella said:

Instead we got a Who Cares Who Killed Jagger Cates story.

lol. I love how you worded that. 

12 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

I still believe Maura and Ava were being set up to be a major player again without getting rid of her. Mulcahey worked on GL with Roger who was never redeemed. I think if anything we might have gotten a Who Shot Roger storyline and not actually killed her off. I think Valentin was the goal as far as a big bad that would eventually be gotten rid of permanently, and that all changed as soon as it started.

For all the faults of this terrible year, I have forgotten the bright spots of being rid of Valentin and Finn.

I don't know; it felt like a backed into the corner kind of story, re: Ava. Everyone was raging against her, she lost her friendship in Nina and even Trina was beginning to see Ava in a different light than she had for years. It was giving "scarlet letter" kind of thing.

Just now, Taoboi said:

So much. Ava has broken greater men. She be a maneater. lol. 

And then...he came across cray cray, she came across dumbfounded. And then that could have been played if the ending was the same.

It was just nice to see an actor, Adam Harrington, finally match West in terms of acting. It really worked between the two of them. The chemistry sparked for once!

1 hour ago, John said:

Making Alec , Gio could work. Maybe there is still a threat from Balkan associates and Brenda did this to protect him? Id watch that story. 

John, no. This was as ridiculous as people suggesting Oscar or street urchin Dev could somehow be her kid and not living with her or going by some other name with other parents. Brenda Barrett is an international celebrity and the Balkan is long gone. She is not losing her child to the streets or having them live under an alias after claiming them.

We do not have to prefab already existing characters into being everyone's clumsy secret child from some legacy character or family. It comes off stupid as hell 90% of the time, just like Sasha. The only time to do a story like that is when there is an immediate baked-in purpose from the beginning as opposed to some clumsy retcon edit long after they appear. If Alec ever appears he should purely and simply be Alec. I like Gio but I have no need for him to be Brenda's magic kid or some other such bullshit. I don't even like the idea of him being Dante and BLQ's kid. Whatever options were on the table at the beginning with the character is what I'd like to know about, but beyond that I don't need anyone to claim him for him to be viable.

24 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

I still believe Maura and Ava were being set up to be a major player again without getting rid of her. Mulcahey worked on GL with Roger who was never redeemed. I think if anything we might have gotten a Who Shot Roger storyline and not actually killed her off. I think Valentin was the goal as far as a big bad that would eventually be gotten rid of permanently, and that all changed as soon as it started.

I think it could've gone either way with Ava earlier this year tbh. But I do think Ava is best as being a major dark player, and I think there is still mileage to be had from that if she is properly insulated via a power base. The issue is that the show and CVE's regime in particular seems loath to play too hard with Ava because they love Maura, and that (as I said before) her fanbase squawks when Ava is written too much as Ava and doesn't have enough friends and fluffy happiness on the canvas. For these stans suddenly it's all about the 'character assassination' of the woman who shot Connie Falconeri in Reno just to watch her die, to turn a phrase.

If Ric and Ava were to couple up properly and Ric was to take back some power in town with Robert gone I'd think there is something with potential there, but as it's playing now it just feels like lighter, sillier fare to me - two schemers clucking about at each other and complaining about the town, but not doing much. This court case with Kristina is going nowhere. And I think treading water like this a lot is what this creative team (and much of her fanbase) is comfortable with, just so Ava can stay 'viable' and Maura can stay safe on canvas. Except there's other ways to do that.

I will believe Valentin is gone when he's gone a few years. I think FV is just waiting out JPS' latest other opportunity. It's clear Jason and Anna aren't done with him, sadly.

Edited November 18, 20241 yr by Vee

16 minutes ago, Vee said:

will believe Valentin is gone when he's gone a few years. I think FV is just waiting out JPS' latest other opportunity. It's clear Jason and Anna aren't done with him, sadly

I get it. It will take me a couple of years to think Michael Easton is gone for good too.

3 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

I get it. It will take me a couple of years to think Michael Easton is gone for good too.

Yeah, I definitely think he is done but I'm holding my breath a little there lol. It's Violet I think will be back soon frankly.

23 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

It was just nice to see an actor, Adam Harrington, finally match West in terms of acting. It really worked between the two of them. The chemistry sparked for once!

The magic of Maury West, hunni!!!  

6 minutes ago, titan1978 said:

I get it. It will take me a couple of years to think Michael Easton is gone for good too.

I also think he's gone. Now Violet...like Emma all the time before her...might pop up for a visit.

 

Val on the other hand...too many mentions for my liking.

11 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

The magic of Maury West, hunni!!!  

She is magic.

Jens Austin Astrup, the actor playing Kai Taylor, was revealed to the newest contract player in the credits on Friday.

These thirteen characters can go without me caring:

Sonny, Ava, Drew, Portia, TJ, Brook Lynn, Trina, Willow, Dex, Gio, Olvia, Stella, and Cyrus.

Edited November 18, 20241 yr by Aragorn

Credits for Monday, November 18, 2024:

Created by: Frank & Doris Hursley
Executive producer: Frank Valentini
Head writers: Chris Van Etten, Elizabeth Korte
Writers: Celena Cipriaso, Cathy Lepard, Anne Schoettle
Director: Denise Van Cleave

Drew looks like he has been in a damn car accident. He can't put some makeup on for Sam's funeral?? He looks like Martin after getting beat down.

WHAT is it with these awful extreme angles?!!! I hate the visual. 

3 hours ago, titan1978 said:

I still believe Maura and Ava were being set up to be a major player again without getting rid of her. Mulcahey worked on GL with Roger who was never redeemed. I think if anything we might have gotten a Who Shot Roger storyline and not actually killed her off. I think Valentin was the goal as far as a big bad that would eventually be gotten rid of permanently, and that all changed as soon as it started.

For all the faults of this terrible year, I have forgotten the bright spots of being rid of Valentin and Finn.

I would say that under Mulcahey's pen Roger was written much more sympathetically than he was at other times. I never saw that with Ava. But Ava is just a shell anyway, so who knows. Either way, I felt like she was on borrowed time. 

I don't think Valentin is gone, but Finn does seem to be, along with Howarth, unless ABC lets Frank do whatever he wants again.