BTG: May 2025 Discussion Thread

[Antoyne]

Blair Waldorf was my spirit animal in college. I was OBSESSED. The slow burn of her and Chuck omg. 
 

Also she has clear influences from Hillary on Fresh Prince of Bel Air as well.

Edited 8 hours ago by Antoyne

[Taoboi]

And both knew how to dress. 

I feel Kat is a good mix of both. 

 

[Antoyne]

It’s a 2025 spin and meshing of both. I love that it also makes her stand out in comparison to all the other women. Like she and Chelsea could not have more differing styles. I applaud the costume designer.

[ranger1rg]

-- The coming out stuff was well-written and acted, but can't we at least hear someone tell Chelsea she needs to find a girl (or boy) who isn't frickin MARRIED? How is that not a huge fail on her part? She was willing to wreck a marriage to get herself a new boo.

-- Dani can't have it both ways -- wanting Andre when she wants him but not wanting a relationship. He needs to leave her dry.

-- The Dani/Pamela kiss was a plot device, but I get why they did it. I still think Cady McClain is overacting like crazy.

-- Sean Freeman is good as Andre, but geez, his expertise on how relationships work is hard to listen to. He is not that guy.

-- Ashley continues to be horribly written and badly played. I've grown to really dislike the character to the point of supporting Derek.

-- The closing montage with Ashley and Derek looking at their phones was cool out of context. In context? We just saw Naomi lecture Derek about what to say to Ashley and how to move forward. So why in the hell did he go back to the fire station? Why not go back home? Made no sense.

-- The writers are not giving Hayley enough. She's islanded.

-- The Leslie/Eva scenes are still great. We get to see this complete mind control that Leslie has over Eva. We know that everything Leslie says is selfish and incriminating and awful, yet it's easy to understand why Eva falls for it.

[kalbir]

I wonder who Andre was thinking about when he was lying in his bed.

Kat gives me feels of Y&R early Christel Khalil Lily, and her being a virgin is a throwback to the 1980s prized virgin heroine ie. Y&R Cricket, B&B Caroline, As the World Turns Lily.

[ranger1rg]

I meant to mention Kat on my list. I think the actress is killing it, and I love the way Kat dresses. I can't understand having a problem with her wardrobe, which completely fits the character.

[DemetriKane]

Good catch. More Bell parallels.

ICAM! With both statements.

Same. It doesn't seem like they even enjoy writing for her. They may need to change her career to move her around. 

I hope it's only for flashback scenes. Not every character needs a family member, especially the villains.

That's how I felt, too. It ruined the coming out moment for me. I still liked the moment, but it was more like a plot device instead a more natural time.

Edited 6 hours ago by DemetriKane

[Paul Raven]

I'm that person and I own it. 

I just find that look so performative. She comes across as playing dress ups.

Will anyone back me up? ....anyone??

[ranger1rg]

Paul, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but isn't Kat a larger-than-life personality? She is performative, and playing dress up seems in character for her.

[janea4old]

This is the style the show has for Kat
https://wornontv.net/beyond-the-gates/kat-richardson/
and
https://www.shopyourtv.com/tag/kat-richardson/

It seems to be an intentional look with an aspect of men's tailoring as part of the style of most her outfits, with miniskirts

Edited 4 hours ago by janea4old

[Paul Raven]

Point taken. It will be interesting to see as time goes on whether her look is modified/matured.

[janea4old]

adding onto my thoughts, she always has a purse with a design that matches one of the patterns in her wardrobe of the day.  Everything seems very thought out and put together as her character's choice of look for the day, and Kat wouldn't be caught dead any other way. In her way of looking at life, that is what one does.

Edited 4 hours ago by janea4old

[Paul Raven]

I agree that the costume designer has done well in giving characters a specific look-I just don't like Kat's! But I will concede defeat on this one...

Now that the show is well established I am thinking about some of the choices mad re occupations and settings.

I don't expect a soap to be a documentary but the workplace can be fertile ground for story, character interactions and to add a sense of realism.

It's getting a little Y&R with people meeting up at eateries.

Making Derek a firefighter seems pointless-he should have been a cop working with Jacob.Would have given him more airtime and purpose.

Martin is supposedly an up and coming politician but we have no evidence of that. Maybe his office should have been a set-and some other characters work there. Jan could have worked there in some capacity, or maybe Ashley instead of being a nurse. Vernon could spend time there offering his expertise-which could lead to conflict with his grandson.

Same with the Real estate business-we don't see Vanessa in that role. She would have more credibilty if we saw her at work. Ashley or Smitty might work there etc, with discussions of the business -listings, attending viewings etc Andre does real estate photography.

Maybe Naomi could work for her father and they could have workplace battles. Discussing cases with Tomas and her dad.

And we need to see Nicole at work. Finishing up with a client etc

And for Chelsea and Kat some actual evidence of setting up the'purse line'

Realizing how difficult it is to get a foothold.

I like the idea of having a server at Orphey's being a wise 'talk to' for various characters.

Just more effective use of the characters...

What are your thoughts after several months of shows?

Edited 3 hours ago by Paul Raven

[Gatecrashers]

Since we need to see Tide placed in the show at least 4 times a week, Derek should be acknowledged as what happens when one accepts the Tide Pod Challenge.

[Forever8]

I think what they're doing with Hayley being isolated with Bill goes back to when he wanted her to quit her job at the firm and become a “Real Housewife of Fairmont Crest.” But we've seen she hasn’t, so she should be out there mingling—maybe with Caroline—or deciding to join some league or chapter, involving Dani, Anita, or Nicole. I also wouldn’t mind seeing her in more scenes with Derek, since she’s one of the few people who can make him tolerable and less dull. Or what if she bonds with Eva? They’re both outsiders in the community and constantly made to feel like trash by the Duprees.

 

I’d love to have my theory finally come to light—that Leslie’s mother is actually Sharon. Maybe Leslie is bitter toward Nicole and the rest of the Duprees because she believes her mother should’ve had the kind of fame and fortune Anita has if things had gone differently, especially if her mother had the vocals—i.e. Dreamgirls, Effie. I remember Leslie saying she listened to the Articulettes growing up, and she also mentioned she lived in Chicago—where, guess what? The Articulettes are from.

Edited 16 minutes ago by Forever8