BTG: April 2025 Discussion Thread

[INFJWill]

Does anyone else find the number of parties/events kinda off putting? Especially since in the grand scheme of things they're ultimately inconsequential and aren't really moving the story along.

In the course of a month we've had a wedding, medical association gala, charity gala, fashion show, birthday party, anniversary party, & Anita's return to the stage. 

Now it's certainly better than the aimless milling about on Y&R or B&B, but none of these "big" events felt all that big or special. 

[Vanguardian53]

Yes. I'm noticing the constant parties/events too. Almost like they're using them because they got no real stories to tell and nothing to write.

Edited 9 hours ago by Vanguardian53

[GLATWT88]

Even though there's a lot going on, it sometimes feels like nothing is happening. 

[Vanguardian53]

Precisely! Which is why I say no REAL stories. Everything is so bland.

Edited 9 hours ago by Vanguardian53

[Forever8]

What is that old saying? You can't please everybody.

I'm still enjoying BTG, but I do see some issues that already have been pointed out. But hopefully we'll see some improvement coming soon as it has been teased.  

 

 

Edited 8 hours ago by Forever8

[janea4old]

I don't think all of these parties/events are supposed to be life-changing or advance story.  Some will, but not many. I think the entire point is that these are wealthy people who throw fancy parties all the time.  This is how they live.  I think it's more about the lifestyle.   It's not a working class soap.

Edited 8 hours ago by janea4old

[Paul Raven]

Maybe not politically, but it seems he's right leaning. Just a head(s) up...

Edited 8 hours ago by Paul Raven

[1974mdp]

ITA. The show is missing that star-crossed couple that meets and is kept apart. There is definitely a lack of new romance.

Ashley/Derek could completely disappear off the canvas, and I wouldn't even wonder what happened to them.

I'm still not sure why I should care about Doug and his gambling debts. We REALLLLLLLY need to know what Joey's plan is at this point which I think gets back to another point. We've seemed to be in a holding pattern with stories for weeks now with no real twists or "a-ha!" moments. We need more dramatic story beats to keep a new audience entertained. The show can't afford to be like Y&R which seems to AVOID conflict much of the time.

I'm still watching every day, and I want this show to succeed so badly! But, I notice that my attention is drifting away more and more with each episode.

It feels like nothing may happen until Ted and Nicole's party for May sweeps. I understand wanting to save that for then, but, again, we need entertaining story beats to keep us hanging in until that time.

Chelsea could find Andre in Dani's bed, for instance. It wouldn't wrap up that story but give it a twist with some fallout.

Bill should have had at least a mini heat attack OR a bigger scare with Naomi in his office. Dani could have rushed to his side and beefed up the feud between her and Hayley and give Naomi a bigger excuse to drop out of the case.

Hayley should definitely have found out she was pregnant with that news spreading across the neighborhood.

 

Edited 7 hours ago by 1974mdp

[GLATWT88]

I think that would have made more sense as to why Naomi would drop the case versus the numb hand and no actual doctor follow-up that played out. 

Bill could have had the mini attack as you mentioned and Naomi drops the case. Then, in a twisted way he convinces Naomi to take the case back on. Maybe Naomi feels some guilt that her soror wasn't really doing the job against the great Bill Hamilton and Bill, himself, also missed having that back and forth/debating cases with his daughter like they used to. Thinking he would still win the case, he nudges her into taking it back on so he could have that connection with his daughter which he's been missing since the divorce. 

Then, at trail Bill could have had a major attack and this could have led to Naomi feeling guilt as well as creating ripples that could impact the rest of the canvas.

I feel like at times, some of the creators may be too close to their characters/actors where it becomes difficult to write them messy or ugly - really dig into those not so pleasant places, because all of the characters seem too safe sometimes aside from Dana. I'm still hopeful tho. My being critical is because I really want this to go well.

All they need her to do is go into the hospital for some screenings and have Shanice find out. She can then conveniently drop that information into the hands of someone who will let the Duprees know. However, it would probably need to be someone overhearing a conversation between Shanice/doctor/scheduler and Hayley at the hospital. Like I get this soap wants to be real and not make it where characters are just out here violating every ethics code in their profession, all medical staff just disregard HIPAA, etc. However, the Duprees seem to be a big deal in the community and our girl Shanice likes to talk. It wouldn't be so far fetched to think she would pick up the phone to her bestie and be like you're not gonna believe this...Hayley is pregnant! Another character could easily overhear. 

This is another instance of the show playing it very safe. Nicole and Ashley never discuss their patients around their family and are very by the book with it. Firstly, that's not real. We all know a spouse is going to come home and let their SO know all about some crazy stuff that went down at work. They may not say names, addresses and insurance info. but they're going to speak on it. Some of these characters are painted like the most uppity goody too shoes you've ever seen. It's a soap...we need mess.

Edited 7 hours ago by GLATWT88

[ReddFoxx]

I noticed the same thing. It wasn't bad but it was giving the same height and shape as last week.

[MontyB]

Can you scream this to the folks in the nosebleeds? 

It's amazing to me how some people want the same old soap tropes over and over. 

I concede there are some technical aspects of the show than can be improved, but we're only three months in and they taped a few months ahead (which I don't think is a good idea) so I'm sure they're looking at what's working and what's not and they will correct it. 

[Maxim]

Aren't we only 2 months in? 

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 Don't rush my months, please, because I'm getting old! 

[MontyB]

Haha! Yeah two months. Yep, don't want to rush that. 

[Maxim]

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[janea4old]

Rosanne/TheConnors - show about working class family stuff, where the struggle to pay the bills and just function is a major part of the show
(ignoring the weird lottery-win era)
but the storylines are about family emotional stuff, but against a background of being interrupted by financial stress and exhaustion from working at hard jobs.

Beyond The Gates is about family emotional stuff, but against a background of every day being filled with champagne and caviar parties.