BTG: February 2025 Discussion Thread

[kalbir]

I take it Nicole is the older sister.

IRL Tamara Tunie is 65, Daphnee Duplaix is 48, and Karla Mosley is 43.

[Contessa Donatella]

19 when she married that lout.

[Joseph]

Ok, understood, feels very British soapy having the characters being older than the actors like that, but then that makes everyone older as well, Nicole must be in her 50s and Anita in her 70s

[Efulton]

I would be happy having an hour with that lout.  She had 30 years!  I completely understand why Hayley could not resit 

[Vee]

I am mid-show. Nicole's potentially evil husband is insanely hot and very, very good with her onscreen. They both make expository dialogue sing a lot better than Day 1 (and the dialogue itself is better, in almost every segment so far except Martin giving Epcot Center greeter while talking with his grandfather). If Dr. Ted turns out to be the next Carnation Killer, Jingles the Clown or the Carver from nip/tuck I would snap him up to play a slightly younger Justus Ward on GH (opposite Brook Kerr's Portia) before his last CBS check cleared.

The Dani/Anita scenes are also quite good, and better for both of them than yesterday.

Edited February 26 by Vee

[BoldRestless]

Is Chelsea the oldest? They really did not need to make it a 30 year marriage. I also thought it was implied she not only married, but started a family quickly and lost her career. 25 years would have been just fine.

[dc11786]

Second episode was solid. 

Daphne Duplaix and Tamara Tunie continue to be where the action is. I thought the Dani / Anita scene was very well done and, in contrast to the Vernon / Dani scene yesterday, showed a lot of layers to who each character is and their relationship. Anita pulled no punches with Dani, and that's honestly how you have to handle someone like Dani. She needs tough love, but the coddling that Vernon gave her. Tunie is still delivering exposition heavy dialogue like the pro she is. I am still waiting for them to try and give Dani another emotion for Mosley to play so we can see the range of the character, but I understand. I did think the Dani / Bill scene had the sorta heat that you can drive a show with compared to Dani / Hayley.

Duplaix sold it again today. I very much like her confrontation with Hayley. I do think Nicole will cave eventually because Dani is such a mess (or maybe I'm just hoping). Nicole identifying Dani's reaction as pain was smart, but I don't see Mosely expressing that. Nicole's relationship with Andre is also sweet. Hayley's situation is complicated. I don't get the senes they are going to tell her paternity story (they did seem to imply her mother was dead or gone). I do feel like the paternity drama is going in another direction.

Trisha Mann-Grant and Ambyr Michelle were also very strong. I wasn't expecting that connection between the Thomases and the Morgans, but I liked it a lot. The about face we got when they were back home was delicious. I am definitely invested in finding out what their end game is because we sorta know the plan based on the casting call and the trailers. I think Eva is going to be the force of nature among the younger group. 

I am still not thrilled with Ashley.  She did better than yesterday, but I am not invested. I don't really care for her and Sean. I thought the nurse she was paired with, Shanice, was very good. I know bubbly heroines can be hard to play, but I am not sold. 

Mike Manning also did little for me. I think his conflict (the offer he received) is a good way to keep Martin and Smitty in the thick of things. Given what we know about Smitty's career and Martin having mysterious dream as well as not being a fan of Bill, I wasn't surprised that Bill had something on Martin. I am just not clear if Martin knows it because I didn't get a clear sense from Brandon Claybon either way. 

I didn't think having the older adopted children was a problem, but this was mentioned months ago so I can't remember how I reacted when I first heard. I think it makes sense for Martin and Smitty to have settled down with kids for political reasons (i.e. Martin wanting to present the family man image). I'll be curious what happens when Smitty puts those journalistic skills to work and uncovers Martin's secret. I also was happy that there will be a teen storyline, but I seem to be an outsider which is fine. 

Bill maneuvering the Duprees to apease Hayley was a fun move to watch. I think I am too caught up in Clifton Davis' appearance on "Amen" to fully invest in the moment of his portrayal of the more stoic Vernon, but that seems to be a me problem. Vernon and Bill were a fun rivlary for a moment. Bill knows how to play games. 

I thought Mona and Laura were intersting enough. I am glad to see more of the "downstairs" element of the show today with all the working people. 

Looking forward to episode 3

[Cheap21]

the only reason 30 year marriage even matters i guess is to justify the daughters age. I wish Dani was Karla's age in her early 40s. The casting/aging of these characters is off

[Errol]

Mona Wilson is played by Karan Kendrick, but I couldn't tell because she looked different on the show compared to her official photos, or am I conflating two actresses with each other? I did that earlier with Bessie, thinking people were talking about Mona.

[Vee]

Once again the Token Whites tank a segment with the worst expository dialogue of the day - talking to Great Value Laura Wright as her mom about how hard she worked to provide for her, here in this hospital that we are currently standing in. Jen Jacob is flat but the introductions of the Thomases at the hospital were also painful. I'll be that guy: If Eden Riegel was a little younger (and she still looks it) they shoulda got her to play Nurse Ashley. Viewers Black, white and plaid would follow that woman anywhere. But she's a big enough name that she'd overshadow some of the new cast, so I get it.

[ranger1rg]

-- Like others here, I'm not feeling chemistry between Smitty and Martin. That was awkward, and I hope it was first-day jitters.

But blaming the lack of chemistry on Mike Manning? I'm out on that. If we don't see a spark in coming episodes, it's on both of them or on the writing, not all on Mike Manning. I also find it ridiculous to criticize his looks. I mean, come on.

I wanted a day one kiss between them, even if it was a peck on the lips. I'm worried that their story will have them at odds from the jump and that we're not going to see any affection.

Also a mistake, in my opinion? Making their adopted kids 16 and 17. WAY too old, and I don't understand the logic there.

-- Overall, a solid episode 2. Dani is hard to like even though she's been wronged, I'll say that. I like that, though. We don't need the woman scorned to be lovable.

-- I do think we should hold back at least a week before handing out Emmy nominations. Just a tad premature, don't you think?

[dc11786]

I thought someone else said she was Mona so I assumed. I may be wrong then. 

[Errol]

No, no. She is playing Mona Wilson, even her IMDb says so. I'm just saying that she looks different on the show than she does in her official photos. You didn't make a mistake.

[Joseph]

And would give her about the age of the actress what would be far more fitting

[Antoyne]

Wanted to mention I thought the nurse training the white nurse was really good. The actress has me wanting to see more of her on the show.