BTG: May 2025 Discussion Thread

[MontyB]

I like Pamela too.

At risk of sounding like a "Pollyanna", story and actor wise, I love the show. The hour flies by.  My only true dislike is the way it's edited. The sudden drop offs to commercial needs to be worked on. 

[Vee]

I think there is plenty to critique and/or roast about the show, but I think there's also good bones and a lot of progressive improvement. It's the Bell/B&B formula and house style that is hardest for it to shake and the most necessary IMO, as well as some dead weight actors or characters, but that formula also apparently works for a lot of general viewers and I suspect CBS. OTOH it's also very modern in certain ways (sometimes overly hip dialogue, and some story) that still make it feel like a show that's bouncing between distant past staples of soap opera fundamentals and the present moment. And the old fashioned product placement is fun but also so goofy, while material like June is hysterical. Imagine leading with 'the underpass is where I live, and I like it there!'

It's an unusual show in that way, because its identity and tone is still not fully formed. You don't know what it'll be. But that's normal at this juncture. The closest thing to a glimpse of the future foundation, I think (besides the obvious core family setup that's been there since Day 1), is the rivalry and future familial bond - and likely love/hate relationship - between Kat and Eva. A la many central sisters or siblings throughout soap history.

Edited May 31 by Vee

[DeeVee]

I love many things about BTG very much. For me, it's greatest strength is how the family relationships are so beautifully written. The deep love between family members while acknowledging each other's flaws--it's SO GOOD. 

The best of the best is the two sister relationships: loving but very different sisters Dani and Nicole and adversarial sisters Kat and Eva. These two relationships can anchor the show for many years to come, in my opinion. (The one caveat is that the young and very talented Colby and Ambyr may want to leave the show sooner rather than later, but that's to be expected).

My biggest problem with this show is this:

Where are the romantic love stories? Where are the star-crossed lovers?

Almost every character on this show is married, or in a committed relationship, or just fooling around.

Right now the only potential for this are in the Ashley/Andre/Derek and Kat/Tomas/Eva situations. Like a lot of people, I feel the sooner they ditch Ashley and Derek, the better. I hate picking on actors, but the characters are so blah and bland it's like they're a parody of soap characters. I like Andre, and there's some indication they might have him become more serious about Dani, but I don't see that becoming a big love story. I could be wrong.

Kat and Eva fighting over a man would be amazing. Over Tomas? No. 

I've noticed on social media some people are starting to ship Kat and Jacob. I think that shows how much viewers long for a messy love story.

There is much I enjoy about BTG and I have no intention of bailing on it. But over all my many years of watching soap operas, the thing that always got me the most excited about them was the question: "When are those two finally going to get together?"

[Vanguardian53]

I'm going to respond to you about this show. I've been accused of hating on it for some reason or another. But as a 53-year-old black man I do not hate this show at all. It heavily represents people like me, but I want it to be treated well and not just pushed with half-assedness, which is what I feel has happened on several occasions so far. Bad editing, bad cliffhangers, or no cliffhangers at all, disappearing characters with dropped storylines, etc. I can understand shows no longer wanting certain characters or  storylines, but why the "Judy Winslow" effect? I'm really finding it weird that Jacob doesn't mention his father or his detective partner. Jacob was smack dab in the middle of them both.

Edited May 31 by Vanguardian53

[ranger1rg]

The last thing I want on a new soap -- or on any soap -- is an actor thinking she's a kid in a candy store. I know Cady has plenty of fans, but I'm just not fond at all of all these accents (and accent changes) and tics.

The show should INSIST she settle on a consistent character for Pamela -- now. The idea that these established soap actors get to play around like it's a game is bizarre. I don't like what she's doing at all, and the fact that I can't tell you what she's doing makes it even worse.

 

The hour does fly by, and I do enjoy the show. I'm no longer on a high with the show and screaming "I love this show!" though. That's not a bad thing. We can't forget we're still in the first 6 months and every soap had to deal with first-year struggles and changes. I'm willing to give GATES time on all of it.

In the meantime, though, I have to call out the stuff that isn't working. Yo're exactly right about the editing. Those "sudden drop offs to commercial"? I hate them. I think they're awful and poorly executed in all phases -- the timing, the music, the fade itself. I have no idea what they're doing.

I've said this before: I think it's intentional. It's not just one director, and it's clearly a production choice. I think they want to be "the different soap." Sorry, this ain't the place to do that.

They have not only ruined scene endings galore with these fades, but they have ruined cliffhangers.

Ending a show with something dramatic followed by an "Oh, well" fade makes no sense to me.

[Taoboi]

OMG! Yes!! Best of the episode and double so after my rewatch. She got Anita ALL...THE...WAY...TOGETHER. I can't wait to get caught up and see Sharon.

 

Now you.  re: Samantha.

 

Same. I was so annoyed with Month 2 for stalling on Martin's Secret, but in hindsight...that was perfect because I got used to their characters and their lives so NOW I feel so much more invested when the Secret comes out. And how it's been done as a slow burn during May Sweeps with Bill toying with them keeps Bill in villain mode while giving organic conflict for Martin and Smitty due to what's been written for them building up to this month. Bonus...it's clear the actors are soooo much more comfortable with each other. 

 

The one thing that I looove about Vernon is that while that is very much true what you said...when need be...he shows very brief moments of an edge. CHOOSE SILENCE...like BE STILL...lives rent free in my head. lol. I can't wait to use that on someone. 

You wouldn't be alone in that. While not perfect...and haters are going to hate...if you get enjoyment even with flaws, why does anyone have an issue with Pollyanna? I see people are enjoying GH, and I have well documented reasons for liking and disliking it. And I don't at all hate on everyone who have been enjoying it and regularly watch it. It's like seeing a tweet you don't like on the Twitter. You see it, have no need to add to it, and keep scrolling. 

Same. But tbf...is ANYONE screaming that now...or just naturally liking the show? 

Same. But I am a sucker for bangs.  

[Cheap21]

I just read a theory that Hayley is Sharon's daughter and she sent her to Fairmont Crest and told her to get that bish (Anita) by infiltrating her family. LOL...Im not sure I believe that but it would be wild if they go that route

[Gatecrashers]

That would really just be a redux of the Leslie/Eva story. I really hope they don't go there.

My guess for the storyline with Anita that we have "never seen before on daytime" is that it may be a "me, too" story. Anita did unspeakable things to get ahead because of some disgusting producer, and the other person she left behind was a boyfriend who cared about her very much.

[DemetriKane]

 

I watch every day as well, and I am enjoying the show. There's always room for improvement. TBH, things are much different from what I expected reading the character breakdowns. That could be a good thing! I'm willing to let them find their groove and figure out what kind of show it wants to be. The core and underlying theme.

-I echo what a few others have said: The show is lacking in real romance and cross-starred lovers. But that tracks from (MVJ) experience cause the bell soaps are not good with romance IMO.

-I have a feeling it's being built before our eyes, but we're missing that rival family.

-I would prefer more variety of storylines. Good ones that could weave together the whole town.  

-I struggle connecting to the male characters. So I hope they get a clear handle on them soon. Most of them feel underwritten and one-note.

-Find a better purpose for Naomi. I fear she will be the first Dupree dumped.

I completely agree. June's story does nothing for me. And what if she turns out to be Tyrell and Samantha's mom? They are very close to leaving high school. why should I care? If she turns out to be related to Hayley also, what's the long-term story, and why should I care? I believe Hayley can work on her own as a vixen. Does she need a sounding board? Sure, but you can accomplish that with an outsider's friend group.

I didn't think I would be saying this, but I would entertain Kat having a forbidden affair with Jacob. Both Naomi and Jacob need something to do other than case-of-the-month storylines. 

Edited May 31 by DemetriKane

[Paul Raven]

The show is only a few months in and still finding it's footing.

I'm hoping MVJ has years of story in place for these characters and will pretty much stick to that plan (obviously with tweaking along the way)

I do have some issues with the initial structure.

Making the Duprees the centerpiece and not having a male with that name. Making Martin Vernon and Anita's would have solved that and made the age of the character more appropriate.

I agree about not having a young couple in the beginnings of a romance.

And having too many married couples. Jacob and Naomi could be just living together. That makes the possibility of other relationships more viable than within a marriage.

Same with Smitty/Martin. Having them married with kids limits the story especially in terms of them as a gay couple. 

The white characters existing in another universe is also a problem.

That ties in with the workplace/job issues.

I don't think they needed the hospital-instead the police station/real estate office or Martin's workplace could have utilized and have Derek/Ashley/Vanessa/Smitty/Shanice etc working and interacting there.

ATM too many characters are meeting up in cafes etc-we're not seeing them at work.

We needed to see more of how various characters interact eg Jacob/Bill, Ted/Bill. There were a lot of extended family scenes but there should be more one on one to get a sense of character and family dynamics.

Leslie is a great character but her bag of tricks is getting over exposed. I would hate that she is kept on and other character's made to look like idiots by accepting her presence. They'll need some good writing and twists to keep her around.

We can only hope some of the lesser actors improve as I don't want too many recasts or writeouts.

So it's early days and I look forward to seeing the show evolve.

And give the Duprees some staff!

[Gatecrashers]

I would make Jan, Ashley's mom, Anita and Vernon's maid. It would lock in to why Leslie would choose to befriend both her and Mona. It also gives Ashley a connection to the Duprees and explains how she befriended Naomi. I would have had Derek start the show as a cop to explain his connection to Jacob.

Kat needs to realize that she is MADE to be a detective. Have her go through police training, making the appropriate comments about the uniform along the way. Have her prove she is so much more than a rich princess, even to herself. Then, when Jacob's partner is proven to be dirty, Kat is assigned as Jacob's rookie trainee. At the same time, Naomi does finally get a case she can follow through on. Her client is a person that Jacob arrested. This puts them at odds because Jacob knows this person did it, as does Kat, but Naomi only sees the extenuating circumstances and believes he deserves a lighter sentence and a second chance. THAT is when Jacob will turn to Kat in frustration and she will lose her virginity to him. 

[Cheap21]

I can not see Kat as a police officer and do not want that for her. Thats not her passion nor does she care about that stuff. The stuff with Eva and Leslie is specific to her life and wanting to protect her family. Her "detective" skills have more to do with her business background, which makes her very analytical and pay close attention to details. If this show had a corporation, she'd make a shrewed businesswoman and CEO

I definitely dont want to see her sleep with her cousin's husband. That would be too much of a Hayley redux which ironically you dont want with the Sharon/Hayley theory

Edited June 1 by Cheap21

[Soaplovers]

The Duprees as the main family isn't the problem, but the fact is that over 3/4 of the cast are Duprees.. so it limits coupling potential and also keeps the canvas too closed in.

Too many female Duprees and no hetero, nor gay, male Duprees is also a problem.   I also agree with @DemetriKanethat the male characters are one note, and not very layered/interesting... outside of Bill, that is.

To me, I would have focused on either Nicole's family and dynamics or Dani's family and dynamics instead of trying to introduce/develop both families at the same time.  Nicole's family is more developed and interesting with loads of storyline possiblities then Dani's family right now.

And because MVJ and co decided to feature so many Duprees... we're less likely to be free of any outside characters like Ashley/Derek since they're the non-Dupree part of the canvas.

[melanatedbtgfan]

A black family having a white maid would be a good subversion of stereotypes.

Also want to say that while the overall show has many flaws, the biggest one that's legitimately stifling is the lack of a rival family.

[janea4old]

That's what happened with Hope Williams Brady on DAYS.  Started as rich princess, went to the police academy.   Became a cop.  Now consults for the I.S.A.