BTG: March 2025 Discussion Thread

[Taoboi]

TBF, Martin saying that was like the rest of Martin's personality...an a$$.

[DemetriKane]

I find Martin to be very interesting. I just don't know where the writers are taking him, are we supposed to like him or hate him, I will say the stage is set for organic conflict with members of his family though. 

[Vee]

I think Cady's often affected post-ATWT acting works for this character, tbh. Arch and posh.

[Taoboi]

Yeah, I thought today's episode was sooo much better than Friday's. I guess going forward when I see a certain name...lol.

 

It felt like a Monday episode in that they were setting up the week, but at the same time it felt like it was moving so many plots and still giving some development. And there was just so many nuggets to taste on, I really don't know where to start because I felt all the main plots (outside of Martin's secret) was touched on (sorry you were C story today, Silk Press!), but they all had some movement of a sort.

 

And while it's public record at this point how I feel about episodes that have a slapsticky tone to them, I didn't mind Dani/Pamela's scenes today at all. It was giving more I LOVE LUCY escapades than silly for silly sake. It was also the first time I really felt the friendship between the two of them being on the same level as the Dani/Vanessa friendship. Cady definitely was finding that character and was more interesting to watch.

 

And yasss!!! to Hayley's progression. I've been saying that Marquita Goings has been slowly bringing out the claws and toughness since Hayley married Bill. Because Dani has been making it no contest when the two of them have sparred with each other. It was nice to see some of her toughness come through with the Hayley vs Dani scenes. I still feel Dani will eat her again, but now I feel she will give as good as she gets. A true soap rivalry where it does not feel like the writing is going to be slanted toward one woman over the other. 

 

And if there was an A story today, I felt it was more of what was going on with Derek/Ashley/Andre than Dani. No wonder everyone was buzzing this weekend. Somehow on first viewing, I didn't realize Andre finally tried to kiss Ashley. Oops. That said...I loved that this episode brought back up what I thought I heard in the first week...that Ashley and Andre were longtime friends. Definitely longer than the two years Ashley has been dating Derek. And it was good to see everyone getting comfortable with their roles in that triangle. Jen Jacobs was doing some subtle things with the guilt Ashley was feeling at not telling Derek what happened with Andre that I liked. The actor playing Derek was better. And I lived for Nicole using those skills of hers to see that Andre was coming by to talk out his feelings. But I love seeing the Nicole/Andre dynamic, another new relationship to play with and good to know the 'player' only chases (usually) single women. And then that coda with Andre and Dani just being together, no sexy time, just two hurt people together in their hurt and closeness...yes, please. They are finally bonding. 

 

And look at Ted sweating. lol. Nicole's determination to find Sherry and Eva's presence (and jealousy of Kat's life) kept Silk Press Sheila's storyline alive and active. I'm curious to see if it makes it all the way to May Sweeps (with at least one more near-miss or a partial-reveal) before we get the whole truth? If so...that will be two months and a week of story and I bet it will be well-paced all the way through if that is the case. 

 

I almost forgot. Love the Martin/Smitty family scenes. They really did feel like a real family. Brandon is also finally settling in. And as parents with kids, both actors had a chemistry while they were talking to the kids. And I already feel invested in what's going on with the son. Martin, of course, is still an a$$. 

[Chris B]

I think they're setting him up for a big fall. I'm interested in seeing who he is once his secrets are revealed. I don't believe the Martin we're seeing is the Martin that Nicole and Vernon adore or that Smitty fell in love with.

I feel like as much as Smitty is putting up with him now there had to have been a major spark to make him put up with this. I'm curious how he will handle it once the secret is revealed and how supportive he'll be.

[Taoboi]

I would say they will keep the characters as gray or with nuances as possible IMHO. 

 

I totally agree on organic conflict. Part of the reason I've been looking the show...besides the nuances...has been the drama has been for the most part organic. 

Good list.

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lmao

 

 

[kalbir]

Do you think Andre/Dani hook ups are going to turn into love?

[Taoboi]

She did. Love that. 

Hmmm...it would come with its own drama for sure.

 

But I would say no. I'm not against it, but sometimes you have that FWB who can be there for you when the world is being crazy...which is why I loved them at the end. So I could see them having that kind of a relationship or even Andre turning into another one of her partners-in-crime...someone that lets her be her, but hopefully allow Dani to grow. 

Yasss!!!!

 

 

[Soapsuds]

Martin has no parenting skills. That's why Smitty raised them, plus Martin was too busy with his career. You can tell the kids favor Smitty over Martin.

[Taoboi]

Oh, yeah, it's clear that the kids favor Smitty over Martin and he primarily raised them just off how well he can tell there is something wrong. Martin is giving strict dad...which I know VERY well what that is like when Dad and Mom are in the room with their kids. Those scenes...at least for me...rang true which is why I love them. 

[Soapsuds]

What father or dad tells his son that?

[Contessa Donatella]

I see no point in going back & forth just saying our perceptions & your edit of my quote distorts what I said. I'd appreciate your not doing that kind of misquoting,  if you don't mind. What you have here makes  it sound like "no matter what" when instead it should say "if nothing changes" which  is quite different. to me it is logical to think that she was possibly 14. If she was 23 why did she need to be welcomed into anyone's home.

Now today I have been behind & am only now seeing this. Just saw today's episode. 

Loved her today, especially liked this voice that she's using for Pamela. Also good writing. Can't wait for more.

[Taoboi]

*sips*

[AmandainNC28655]

Yesterday's episode was interesting. The Dani/Hayley showdown was blah to me.  We got to see some grit come out in Hayley, but I wish she would unleash more.  I am wondering if we are ever going to have a Hayley/Naomi showdown, since they were best friends at one point. 

Andre/Ashley- Loved this and even though she says she loves Derek, I do think that Ashley is starting have feelings (or maybe they are coming back) for Andre.  I wish they would show us the past between the 2 of them through flashbacks.  Could they have been together before and Derek left Ashley to go on his jaunt around the world, breaking her heart. Is that why she is afraid to admit her feelings again, for fear of getting hurt. 

I am wondering if they are going to turn Derek CRAY CRAY.. Elements are there and it may make the character and actor come out of their shell more (which I did see some of yesterday). 

Cady McClain... LOVE Her as Pamela yesterday.  I hope we see more of her and learn more about the character and her backstory. I would LOVE to see her have her own storyline as well.  Is Cady on contract or recurring?? 

Ted/Nicole/Eva- Enjoyed this yesterday. Ted trying to keep Nicole from finding Leslie/Dana.  My fear is that Eva is going to start bonding with Ted and Nicole and end up being deeply hurt when the reveal comes out that Ted is NOT her biological father. 

Martin and Smitty- It's obvious Smitty is the more involved parent.  I am still on the fence regarding Clayborn in the role of Martin, but I am willing to give him more time. 

Why do I feel that we may be setting up a Kat/Tomas/Eva triangle.  I would love to learn more about Tomas and his background. 

Dani and Andre- Why do I feel that Andre is going to end up being devastated by Dani in the end??  

 

 

[Vee]

They have got to recast Tomas if they want anything to happen there. Which is why I feel they're heavily hedging their bets on any heavy new romances/non-established couples - they are waiting to see what happens with some of their younger and very green cast. Tomas is terrible and needs a recast or to go, and several others are stiff, bland or just bad.

The only new connection that revs my motor so far is Andre and Dani, which is clearly not meant to last and keeps repeating the same beat as they sort of tread water trying to figure out what will work chemistry-wise on the show. I think they put a lot of thought into the Dupree family and establishing that vs. setting up any major young couples. Which I can understand to a point, but a lot of anything romance-related feels like a testing lab right now vs. anything overly pushed or predestined. And that's good to a point, but couples need to start to emerge and I'm not talking the boring and wooden Jacob/Naomi, Tomas with anyone or the perils of Ashley.

Equally awkward is the fact that Eva has significant chemistry with both Andre and Ted, and her scenes/fantasies with Ted are very charged. The fantasy she had was like she was his new younger bride a la Hayley. If she turned out not to be a Dupree and something happened with those two I would not hate it.

Also, it was mortifying for me to watch Martin tell his kids about 'their grandmother' and it took a few minutes to remember he was referring to Nicole and not Anita. This SORAS is too much, he should be Anita and Vernon's youngest. @Darn said this first but I will not squawk if they decide to have Martin and Nicole turn up tomorrow suddenly talking about brother and sister instead of parent and child. Just have Daphnee Duplaix turn to the camera, glare and be like 'what?'

Edited March 18 by Vee