GH: January 2025 Discussion Thread

[Vee]

I think Katelyn MacMullen can absolutely play bitch Willow. You used to see those flashes in her all the time back in the era when Korte had Willow and the rest of the cast humiliating Nina twice or three times a week. There's a reason half the forum wanted the storyline of Willow faking her cancer.

I would still get rid of Willow down the road, but there's plenty of mileage to be had in the scheming wife of the Q scion raising hell for awhile. And in a better world you could then bring back a recast Michael to wreak classic Quartermaine vengeance in a year or 18 months. Hell, you could even still do the fake cancer story as Willow tries to get folks back on her side. (While long-suffering Nina, of course, knows the truth.)

Nonetheless they'll surely squander this like they have much of the gold in this story. One thing is on point though, it's clear they want Drew and Willow to be the heavies and bad guys, not the pure love match and heroic couple.

Edited January 14 by Vee

[DRW50]

Willow and Carly have so many things in common. I wonder if the show will acknowledge that. They did many years ago with Monica and Carly, and I didn't even think they had as much in common as Willow and Carly do. In many ways you could do a story where Willow is Carly's karma. The low blow to Sasha about her dead baby was very Carly.

As has been said here before, the dialogue in some of the recent confrontations remind you of what the show lost when "Cartini" ran off most of the writing team. There's a lot of juicy material that could be even better with sharper lines. 

[Vee]

I think some of the recent analysis of Willow's past and character by the other characters re: her cult background is actually fairly incisive conceptually. It could be much smarter in the actual dialogue, though. And explored more deeply onscreen going forward.

[DRW50]

That's true. I suppose they are showing up when they have the chance to do so. They did with Drew and Carly a bit too. I miss some of the old bite in the confrontation scenes, but I guess at least they aren't having a lot of "bitch" and "whore" anymore like some of those JFP/Guza-era lowlights.

Edited January 14 by DRW50

[Taoboi]

I thought the Joss vs Willow had some bite. Even if it was mostly one-sided, but that potential was there. Now if Willow goes bad...

[detroitpiston]

Michael getting char broiled has put the show on an excellent run, these last few episodes have been

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lol

Laura Wright, Steve Burton, and Eden McCoy have given really excellent performances and Jane Elliott, Cynthia Watros, and to my surprise Katelyn McCullen are also holding it down well

Now that they’re leaning more into playing up the psychological layers of Willow and Drew and having them be openly antagonistic I find them both 1000x more interesting.

Drew’s confrontations with Carly and Nina have showcased what a narcissistic slime ball he really is and I’m loving it. He’s like a devil whispering in Willow’s ear helping her play chess against Michael’s families, who you can argue are themselves sick versions of manipulative cults. When he pointed out Carly was being emotionally manipulative I couldn’t really say he was wrong but she had him pegged pointing out his obvious control attempt. For all of Nina’s disgust she’s essentially doing the same thing too, its just Drew has Willow dickmatized so he’s more successful at it.

What I really like is that Willow’s not coming across as a sad manipulated wallflower. She is returning serve in all verbal spats and playing a strong chess game vs anyone trying to keep her away from her kids and doing it in a way I wasn’t expecting the character or the actress to be able to deliver. Her fights with Carly, Joss, and Sasha have been entertaining as hell and well balanced.

Laura Wright is killing it playing Carly’s devastation and mama bear anger. Her scenes with Drew and Sonny at the chapel, confronting Willow after the medical proxy reveal, and various moments being comforted by Lucas, Jason, Joss, and Diane outside of Michael’s room have been solid work. That “we we we” clip posted earlier wasn’t bad in full context and I wouldn’t say it was poorly acted or a set up against LW at all. She’s delivering great performances and selling the whole storyline for me.

Steve Burton has been playing Jason’s guilt excellently too and I like that all of this mess has made Jason stand firm in he and Sonny needing an exit plan from the business.

Tracy getting involved with the custody fight and making it all worse is great usage of her. The scenes of her and Stella discussing Monica being ill were eerily timed but provided great motivation for her to invest in not wanting Willow to run off with the children. I really enjoy JE and MEK together btw and it was nice seeing him and Alexa Havins reunited.

Speaking of Havins I like that they’re allowing Lulu to be told by pretty much everyone she’s acting too rash trying to run after Charlotte and Valentin. Its in character for her to be doing this but its also good that they’re not just making her out to be right as a form of cheap propping.

I love the slight animosity still being played with Joss and Lucky watching them and the GH staff slowly figure out Cyrus’s involvement in the hospital deaths has been fun though, I just wish the show had left some more mystery

[Taoboi]

Or synchronicity. 

[Contessa Donatella]

That, too! I don't know why I didn't think of it. 

Also, and I know most people wouldn't notice but Jarly fans were rewarded with a HUG. We've been horribly hug deprived. It's been weeks! And, of course, we also had the reward of them talking about Michael as their 'chosen family first born.' And Jason remembering that Michael was the first baby he ever held. 

Edited January 15 by Contessa Donatella
more more more

[Taoboi]

1-14

 

Omg! Not everything actually coming together. The mention of Lulu's equipment being messed with. Lucky vs Cyrus when Lulu woke up. Joss and Lucky starting in two different spots, ending on a collision course and comparing notes. I love seeing Liz, Lucky, and Lucas bringing their heads together and their conclusions leading right to Cyrus. And it making sense with the pace is a bonus. 

 

I loved Nina vs Drew. I hollered at CW putting her wrist into it making that door slam in his face and hearing that sound. I didn't get any subtext myself though she was reading him down good enough for me. Because he hasn't told Willow they were sleeping together, either. He is so in a house of cards that are easy to fall. I mean if they wanted to go soapier, Drew could seduce Nina again, but alas.

 

I loved Willow vs Sasha. Given today and yesterday's discussion...yeah, I'll change my mind. I could see Willow being a better person to go bad. Their fight did not start good, but once Willow got to making the comment about Sasha wouldn't know what it's like since she doesn't have kids and Sasha responded, something came over Kathlyn M. The look. The inflection. That bitca/vixen-in-training that was peeking out of her face. Yeeeeah I could see potential. Now write her that way against Carly and Kat hold up her end.

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All right, Lulu...now you are getting annoying. And I guess it says something that her scenes with Tracy resonate more than her scenes with Laura. And I did like Tracy called her out. But of course, they were interrupted by the joke that Martin was used as. That said...Tracy blocking Willow/Martin from taking the child. Go 'head, Matriarch. And I liked that brief moment where Martin's words hit Lulu cuz it is the same thing she's going through and AB played that so well across her face. 

 

And speaking of resonating, it's funny how all of the aftermath with Michael, what really resonates is all the Carly/Jason scenes over the Carly/Sonny scenes. LW and SB really are acting circles around MB. But I was a more regular viewer during most of the AJ/Michael stuff up to the first Michael recast so it just rings more true to me I guess in this situation. And they are really setting up for Michael's exit...and sadly a Valentin return. 

 

And we know I'm always here for Dante/Sonny scenes. And that coda at the end. Oooo. Tune in tomorrow indeed.

[Aragorn]

After a year of being boring, Josslyn is getting good again.

[Liberty City]

Today is likely pre-empted, due to ABC News breaking in the first minute of show.

Episode back on about 30-minutes in.

[Taoboi]

I will agree with that. re: Joss. She's been surprisingly good.

[detroitpiston]

Can’t wait to see the episode in its entirety because those Tracy/Jason/Sonny scenes in the last half were fantastic. I never thought I’d see the day where the show would have Jason side with Tracy over Sonny. JE and SB delivered excellent performances.

[glfaninnyc]

For those keeping track, Emily Culliton and Scott Sickles wrote the episode and Robert Markham directed it.

[Contessa Donatella]

We had been talking about the fact, going by spoiler/previews, that Jason was about to make a decision that would 'let Sonny down' & what if it gave him a heart attack. And, then, boom. Woah. Jane E so amazing today & Steve B stepping up. YES! Plus, the continued "Monicaness" of so much dialogue. 

Carly MUST get on the phone to Diane & get her underway challenging this health care proxy!!!!!

Edited January 15 by Contessa Donatella