BTG: May 2025 Discussion Thread

[Cheap21]

Ive seen that theory thrown out but the one thing against it is that Leslie and her family lived in Chicago. She only came back to DC last year after her husband died. Unless they say Alan made a trip to DC and died while away, she wouldnt know about that. However I do think the angle of her finding out that Martin was involved could work as that gives her leverage against Bill too for covering it up. She'd want to get revenge on him by threatening to have him disbarred

[Soaplovers]

Within the Dupree family, I predict Vernon/Anita will be conflicted about what to do about Bill and his role in the whole Ted/Silk Press Sheila situation... especially since Bill knows where the particular bone about Martin is buried.

Dani, Chelsea, and Naomi's reactions to what Bill possibly did isn't hard to guess.. but Hayley's reactions will be interesting to hear.  Especially given her recent pregnancy scare.. she might not be so much on Bill's side, or she'll totally surprise us and be totally on Bill's side.  

Either way, I think Martin's secret will be the main focus in May sweeps.. with the fall out of the Eva secret playing out in the background... while the Joey/Vanessa/Doug thing continues to boil/develop.

[dragonflies]

Honestly who's to say Leslie even birthed Eva, I mean she's a liar, I wouldn't believe a word she says about Eva being Ted's(or hers)

[Vanguardian53]

Leslie and her family are from Chicago? Anita's background also includes being a former Chi-Town native? Might they connect this and go somewhere with it?

[kalbir]

Anita vs. Leslie, bring it!

[Chris B]

I feel like Vernon and Anita need to not be hypocrites and try and take the heat off Bill in this case. It's clear that the family used him as a fixer and especially knowing he helped with Martin's situation, they need to either be quiet or support him.

BTW...with Vanessa being in the hospital for food poisoning, am I the only one who thought Shanice was gonna say she's pregnant or had an STD? The only reason I say STD is because she hasn't had any memorable sex partners, but I definitely don't believe she just had food poisoning.

[Faulkner]

Ambyr Michelle continues to be *that girl.* She’s just a star, period. Elevates every scene she’s in on the sheer strength of her emotional realism and charisma. Can sell any dialogue.

I wish the show veered away from the B&B-style scripting. TMG/Leslie’s tirade stood out, I suppose, but she’s getting a bit mustache-twirly. And I wish DD had more to do in that episode than stand and sob.

[ranger1rg]

I agree -- I didn't suspect Ted, either. I think a lot of people are giving themselves way too much credit in predicting Ted's problems

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And can I have a different take on Ted here? Yes, he's made a huge mistake with this Leslie debacle, and yes, he has to suffer and pay for it. But does that make Ted a terrible human being? I don't think it does.

He made a horrific mistake over 2 decades ago, and as far as we know, he's been a good husband and father since. As far as we know, he hasn't strayed or violated his marriage since. He didn't know that he fathered another child, and thought he "removed" Leslie from his life.

I won't blame Nicole if she doesn't forgive him, but I also won't blame her if she decides what they have and what they've had more than makes up for what he did.

Ted is getting dragged far more than Bill is on these boards, and I think Bill is MUCH worse as a husband and father. How many times did he cheat on Dani during their marriage? How many times did he do vile things in his role as fixer? How much did he hurt his daughters by screwing their friend and marrying her?

With Keith Robinson coming in as Ted, maybe we'll see a character change in direction and we'll discover that Ted has many flaws and always had a dark side. For now, though, I'm inclined to both be angry with Ted for hurting his family while also sympathizing with him.

I know what you mean, but I do think that was intentional. So much was going on in that episode, and I think they decided not to let Nicole's reaction be lost in all that. Nicole will get those scenes that you're asking for.

 

[Chris B]

I felt for Ted early on but as the story unfolded it has changed my opinion on him. To know he was cheating while his wife was struggling to give him a baby is a lot to deal with. Plus, this happened ages ago and still he's paying Leslie off and threatening her to leave town. 

What really caused me to lose him in this episode was how even though he was busted, he still refused to take responsibility and come clean and the way he talked to Martin and Eva was terrible. To tell Smitty he better get Martin away from him when that is his SON who he used to cover up his affair? That is true dog behavior. Ted seems upset he got caught but I'm not seeing the remorse I would need to want Nicole to forgive him.

I'm curious how I'll feel after Ted gets to talk to Nicole but I need him to fix it with the rest of the family as well.

[janea4old]

There was a scene in the past week or two with Leslie looking at some papers and mementos, which included an invitation or souvenir (a memorial card) from Alan's memorial service or funeral -- it was dated as November 2024.

Me just guessing but it seems to me that Martin's nightmares about the accident are from something longer ago than November.

Edited May 4 by janea4old

[Forever8]

I said this on Twitter on Friday when Leslie mentioned Chicago, so perhaps she might be related to one of Anita's bandmates. In addition, Leslie did say she grew up listening to The Articulettes too.

Edited May 4 by Forever8

[skiman12082004]

Thursday & Friday's episodes were excellent. The build-up was most definitely worth the wait (2 months). TMG, I can't give her enough accolades. AM, was also absolutely incredible. I think the fallout is going to have a ripple effect. The little clues that have been dropped,  hopefully, will weave seamlessly to reveal even bigger bombshells for the Dupree's and Martin.

[Antoyne]

I genuinely thought when they said she had been throwing up, we were going to get a pregnancy story. I’m actually not convinced we aren’t. Especially the way she and Doug danced around her own infidelity.

[Taoboi]

Well...unexpected wiggle room is still wiggle room.

 

I went back and finally rewatched Friday's episode (along with Thursday's). And God, how those episodes flowed. It did help that Zimmerman did the breakdowns for both so the plot threads were cohesive. I do wonder if she did it today as well. Martin and Tate also of course did good scripts. And I might have to take back my earlier comment about the crowd. While it was not like Nicole's Award Event where I felt there were more extras (and was in the minority on that), I felt this one did not have enough (also in the minority). But on a rewatch, I did like that Production actually did a fairly decent job of covering it up so kudos. 

 

I also wanted to take the moment to say the majority of the week before last (and this past week) were full of cliffhangers. Perhaps not what is used to, but they were there. And I loved that since the majority of said cliffhangers were connected to Silk Press Sheila, it gave an intensity and build to the last week leading to this superb episode that gave us not only an old school soap reveal (complete with moments to let the scenes breathe, but annoyed in how other scenes which were also good did not compare...another sign of knowing when a reveal is great) but, THREE cliffhangers!!! Well-done, Cliffhanger Friday!!!

 

Ms. Mann and Ms. Michelle were clearly the stars. I've said it once someone mentioned it and I'll say it again...Ambyr just gives so much SMG's version of Kendall on AMC in Eva, and I love that. And that reveal on Silk Press Sheila...WOW. Great to have confirmation that BILL was the lawyer. Even better to see Silk Press interacting with all of the Duprees and not being a bit scared. And yes, I caught that she was preggers at the same time as Nicole. I also caught in the Martin vs Ted scene when he was talking about the timeline was another clue...since we discussed the timeline during Kat's birthday party episodes and how odd it was that Silk Press Sheila would celebrate Eva's birthday if the weeks were off. UNLESS...they're not. I just feel they would not be mentioning it unless SilkPress has a 90s DAYS Sami Trump card incoming. And 90s DAYS Sami Brady ALWAYS had a trump card. So...looking forward to today. lol. 

 

I'm also going to be in the minority about the next thought. I thought Maurice did a good job as Ted in the reveal scenes. Though I do agree that compared to everyone else...even his FOINE doctor friend...he was the weak leak. DD was giving and she was in the background reacting. The Avengers...I mean...the Duprees closing ranks...was great and also showed how in sync the actors were. Naomi being sure Chels was not filming THIS time was a hoot. And I lived for Kat's shade among the mess. I'm happy that we are here at this reveal with OriginalTed since the rumor (marking preemptions) we are a little under two weeks to go before he's out.

 

I liked the layers. One thing that I like about this show. We usually mention something here and then the show writers have it mentioned either in episode or immediately in the next. The SilkPress/Eva picture last week. Where is Naomi/Vanessa this week of episodes. And they got to it. Well-played. I also like the reveal that Martin knew SilkPress as a kid, calling back to that weird scene with the brownie. I mentioned the Bill-as-Lawyer scene, calling back to Bill/Vernon's first alone scene. The reveal of all of SilkPress's many names. The fact that Andre and Dani continue to grow closer and closer and had a near-miss...something this show knows how to do extremely well for me. Their near-misses built up the drama and story, and I see how much I'm invested when we have them. The whole Silk Press Sheila story being the best example. 

 

I see from a few of the comments some of you all are already thinking about those consequences toward Bill that I was thinking about on Friday.

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And while I did not like the Vanessa/Doug scenes at first view...though I love they followed up on her food poisoning phone call on Thursday...I liked it on second watch. Partly because it gave another hint that Doug has some idea of what Vanessa is doing...if not who.  Partly because I had assumed that Doug got poisoned, too. Seeing it was just Vanessa confused me since I thought they were out at dinner pre-party. That said...I go back to my original thought in that moment. Has Vanessa being having all this sex without protection and we are going to get a WTD with Doug, Diego, and whoever else she has been with? Uh oh? 

 

And I continue to also love how flashbacks are used. Rare do they show a flashback to a prior episode unless it's important so those are well done. And then you have the flashbacks like the one with Bill/Dani that informs the audience. And I loved that green dress. But tbf, I loved the feistiness of her red dress. Andre was not alone in taking her in. 

 

And someone mentioned it the other day and I wanted to echo it. One thing I like about this show that I don't see much in the other soaps to this degree has been that several of the characters have their own personal style for sure, but the men's style really have stood out for me since its started. Ted being a clear example with his turtlenecks and general...for lack of better word at the moment manly...to him. I like that about the men where other men styles on other soaps just blend together. 

 

Looking forward to Kat v Eva, Anita vs Silk Press Sheila, and Nicole vs Ted today. 

 

Did I mention I was happy Clifton was back?  

[janea4old]

I thought food poisoning was an odd reason for Vanessa to miss the party.  That's why I appreciate reading everyone's comments and theories on this thread.  Oh!!  It hadn't occurred to me to speculate that she might be pregnant. I figured that she and Doug ate different things.  But pregnancy fits better.  I did think Shanice's dialogue delivery was slightly awkward (unusual for her)... but that would make sense if Shanice knew Vanessa had a pregnancy test but Vanessa said don't tell Doug.  I love all this theorizing/speculating, especially since we have no idea what will happen.

Edited May 5 by janea4old