BTG: March 2025 Discussion Thread

[Chris B]

But this is so common on American soaps. This isn't like UK or Australian soaps where people are allowed to age normally. Every US soap on the air has the exact same thing, in some cases much worse.

I go based off what I see on screen and I find it to be working, for me at least. I was worried about Dani having kids in their 20s but on screen I find the chemistry believable. Nicole feels natural with Martin and Smitty. Plus Black people tend to look younger than their natural ages so without it being brought up I really don't think I would've given it much thought.

[janea4old]

 

 

Martin didn't say *when* specifically that he'd be running for president.  He didn't say  2028 or any election year.  Maybe he is sharing a longterm plan with his mother.   Like maybe he'd be in Congress so many terms, then run for senate or governor, then president?  Or maybe set up a preliminary exploratory committee (informally for now) for running in 2032?

Edited March 6 by janea4old

[dc11786]

Despite really enjoying Karla Mosely yeterday, it was a pleasant reprieve to get a break from Dani's antics. It was also a nice place to rest for her. 

It was nice to explore more of Nicole's sphere, which is a story I am more intrigued by. The layers to this show are always astounding me. The setup of Eva and Kat was wonderful and I felt the conflict between Kat and Nicole felt genuine. While Kat did catch Eva in the act of being snooping, there was clearly some bias on Kat's part based on Eva's social economic status, which made Nicole look less foolish to me for ignoring Kat's warning. Kat googling Eva was just a refreshing common sense thing that soaps don't do. The Nicole / Kat dynamic mirrored a bit of the Anita/Dani relationship with its own shadings. Colby Muhammed and Ambyr Michelle  easily could carry the third generation of the Dupree clan. 

Michelle did very well with Eva meeting Ted and learning about the Laura's accident. I was genuinely shocked that Eva confronted Leslie about the accident looking for assurance that her mother hadn't crossed the line. These are the sort of beats one needs to make the characters seem astute and not look like complete fools. Leslie's manipulation of Eva is something I could watch all day. 

I was happy to get more of the McBrides, but I am going need a bit more progress before making any final decisions. Elements of the story seem to be a bit Alan/Monica Quartermaine, which I love. I am just going to need to see some meaty scenes between the two. Diego is a nice catalyst for drama while Doug is off loosing money. 

The Martin / Smitty story is starting to shape up. I don't think we will see the presidential bid come to fruitition because of the obvious murder in the background. I don't really get what Martin knows of the night of the murder. It sounded like Bill's very open threat about the murder would suggest he knows, but I have to wonder if Martin doesn't truly remember everything  and is not completely aware of the outcome. Maybe he thinks the person lived and was paid off. I just don't understand with anything he remembers why he would look to move forward knowing Bill is looming in the background livid with the Dupree clan for the travesty that was his recent wedding. I am curious if the comment made about Bill wanting Naomi to be president was a throw away or if that will lead somewhere in this story.

Mona is still a nice perspective. I am hoping Mona's loyalty leads to some sorta of poisoning Katherine Bell style plot twist where she turns out to be behind something protecting the Richardsons. 

[wonderwoman1951]

look, i get that watching drama requires the suspension of disbelief, and as i mentioned upthread, i don’t object to the inevitable handwaving that comes as characters are sorased.

but there are limits — it is possible to insult the intelligence of viewers — to have this happening as a new show opens is really pushing the envelope, at least for this viewer.  

Edited March 6 by wonderwoman1951

[Taoboi]

I mean I ain't having a problem with ages yet because...well...black don't crack. 

 

That said though I am curious how Martin and Smitty will look around their teenage kids.

[kalbir]

Kat vs. Eva is the sister feud I'm waiting for. Are they going to fight over a guy?

[Taoboi]

They might.

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And side note...yes, I'm checking for Diego.  

 

 

[MichaelGL]

I think it’s inevitable…

 

the question is who will be the guy?!?

[Vee]

I have my doubts Eva is Ted's. He walked right past Dana at the hospital and didn't blink. But I do think she's related, and I do think a triangle will come.

[Cheap21]

The issue with Nicole isnt that she looks too young. Its that her eldest son is too old and he has kids that are going to college in 1-2 years. She's one teen pregnancy away from being a great grandmother

[skiman12082004]

I loved today's episode. So happy we're getting to know more of the characters. I loved Kat, Eva, Dana/Leslie, Nicole, Smitty and Vanessa. Martin wasn't as insufferable as he's been. 

Nice to see more of Doug and Jacob's world too.

[YRfan23]

Omg I howled, when That guy came onto Vanessa and at first she acted shocked then started making out with him!!

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it was definitely a nice break from Dani today, and it did give room to see more of the other characters and stories come to play. 
 

I really like Kat so far but she came off a little too overly bitchy at Eva and a bit snobby. I guess it’s a nice change of making her naive and dumb if this was another soap, but it definitely was a little too much, although I do see the making of a sisterly rivalry! 
 

I’ve decided Nicole is my favorite, just because I guess it’s actually nice to see a very stable soap character; which I get is boring to some but we definitely need those more grounded characters. I don’t know if this was intended this way but some of the dialogue between Nicole and Smitty about him missing journalism kind of seemed like it would be taken from the “older woman” soap character lecturing the younger character. Of course with how young DD and Nicole is; it’s definitely a bit offbeat. 

[wonderwoman1951]

exactly! and remember, anita and vernon already are great grandparents  

[Vee]

IRL Daphnee already has adult children. But I agree her soap kids do not need teens themselves. It's too much.

[Chris B]

Nicole is one of the bittersweet pinch me moments in these early days as I adjust to us having this new Black led soap. Seeing how natural and strong Daphne's performances are make me think of the amount of time that has been wasted that she could've been leading a soap. It's sad to think of how much Black talent has been neglected in the soap community.

I feel the same way when I think of MVJ headwriting this show. Sure it's not perfect and has room to grow (what soap didn't at the beginning?) but she's made so many strong choices in building a solid foundation for the show that I can only imagine what she could've given *any* of the other soaps as they rotate the same few white HWs back-to-back. And not just Michele, but all the other talented Black soap writers or people who wanted to get into soaps but couldn't because of the color of their skin.

Whenever I get these feelings I just remind myself of what a powerful moment this is. Not just for the soap opera genre, but for representation in general. This is a huge step forward and I'm happy that soaps are finally starting to catch up with primetime, cable and streamers. 

I hope that the next time one of the other soaps looks for a new HW they look to BTG and consider everybody who is qualified regardless of the color of their skin and give their vision a chance.