BTG: June 2025 Discussion Thread

[ranger1rg]

Timmon is a really strong actor -- one of the best on this show -- but I agree with you about that "fixer" line. There's no need for hammer-to-the-head dialogue.

 

I am lost about this. He was not only using a cane, but was moving as if his mobility was limited. In one day, there was no sign that he'd gone through anything. Were scenes taped out of order or moved around? There's no continuity.

 

It's just odd. They seem to be doing that so others (like Leslie) see them and can confront them. I know that builds conflict and makes some interesting scenes, but wouldn't Jacob and Kat be a little less obvious that they were making all these plans? It also begs the question as to why Jacob would spend so much time talking to Kat about any case.

[GLATWT88]

I didn't care much for the outdoor shots they did week 1. It just looked like outdoor space of an office park. Those concrete common areas between buildings with a bit of greenery. I'm not sure what they wanted us to think that was exactly, but either way it was nice to see them outside. 

I know this won't be popular, but I wouldn't mind a town square set with some greenery and benches and maybe an outdoor cafe with seating. I've been to shops in NYC and Philly that you just order outside at the window. Maybe a few other places that can line the squars to change up meet up points for characters. Heck...add a food truck, too.  Sorta like what GL had at the end, but much better.  

Yes, they spent a bit of dialogue making the cane a thing and how Chelsea could zhuzh it up by adding a panther or lions head. Then from one day to the next, he's walking around like nothing happened. 

Edited June 30 by GLATWT88

[LostinHarmony]

So I'm reading Sweat by Marquis Kindrick (yes the gay urban erotica lol, don't judge) and was surprised to see a BTG mention and call out to Leslie and her many personalities. So random haha

[ReddFoxx]

Outdoor shoots should be done sparingly and reserved for climatic purposes. Guiding Light and to a far lesser extent As The World Turns used outdoor shoots and they looked terrible. Outdoor shoots are best left to primetime.

[Liberty City]

I'm tending to agree with you on this; it is jarring when they pop out of nowhere, especially during summer months, and then during winter they absolutely disappear. The only soaps I feel do it right are Australian/British soaps, especially British, as their sets are permanent fixtures (i.e., EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, etc.)

[Paul Raven]

Have to disagree.

No comparison to what ATWT and GL were doing a quarter of a century ago, compared to what BTG could achieve today.

The shots in the first week looked fine and with the studio facilities available it should be easy to incorporate some outdoor scenes each week.

I was surprised that they went to the trouble of taping that first scene of Nicole driving up to and entering the Country Club and not doing any more scenes there.

 

[melanatedbtgfan]

I love Eva and Leslie but overall the multiple episodes without them were still solid. This is how I know this show is good.

White characters like Pam, Vanessa, and Joey are awesome and they have proven they can hang with the other black characters. Derek and Ashley still suck and need to go.

I hope that Caroline can get more scenes because that asian actress has a good line delivery.

[Chris B]

The outdoor shoots on ATWT worked better than GL but even GL managed to nail it a few times. I feel like the biggest issue with GL was the vision, not the production model. The poorly chose locations of scenes, the shaky camera, the generic soft rock soundtrack which took all the drama out of the scenes, etc. 

I do think US soaps have shown they can do regular location shooting that works. The outdoor park on Y&R is a bit small, but works. I also feel like B&B has always had very seamless outdoor scenes which I hope continue with their new studio.

B&B is probably the best example of what I'd want from BTG (in terms of whats practical). For years they had that gym and a restaurant set and of course we knew it was just creative shooting at their studio but they made it work and when they did use those sets, they used them fairly regularly.

[Taoboi]

Hehe. That is cute!

[Antoyne]

Y&R doesn’t seem to use the real outdoor park they once had, I’m pretty sure it’s a studio set now. 

[Aback]

Same. I don’t care to see the actors thrown into a parking lot. Outdoor shots should be contextualized and useful to the plot. Those scenes in the first week were not - they were random and uncomfortable (I’m thinking of the Nicole and Ted shoot with Andre especially)

One day they should have taped outdoor was when Ted followed Leslie to her apartment. A little bit of context and mystery there would have been nice. 

[Vanguardian53]

The fourth of July is coming up. The perfect day for some exterior footage featuring the characters at a holiday picnic. But probably ain't gonna happen.

[Taoboi]

6-23

 

Another day, another great Jazmen scripted episode. And the week started off staying centered on Martin's Secret. And that I loved. From Bill vs Vernon to Martin's 'encounter' (pun intended because rewatching that you all are right how it kinda does play like a well...specific kind of entertainment.

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 ), it continued to be the best part of the show. Meanwhile, I actually liked that most of the subplots this episode were beats playing out from the SilkPress storyline. 

 

I was looking forward to see Bill vs Papa Pope Vernon again and it still did not disappoint. It holds up sooooooo well. And Clifton Davis inflected every line and word so beautifully. Did they both get good licks in? Yes. But I loved how Vernon let Bill get those licks in. And then? He completely walked him through what would happen if he walked out the door. And each possibility felt like he took a knife and sliced off another piece of Bill's armor. Vernon was menacing, but highly effective...and so different than the kindly man we have been seeing. Him in power was hot. Him being so arrogant that he did not at all try to use sugar to get Bill to his side with just an apology was not. That's just me focusing in on Vernon. There were just so many layers going on in that showdown because Bill was not completely in the wrong, either, and had a right to his opinion. 

 

Meanwhile...Kenny is running around trying to toy with Martin. Yeah, I didn't like the threat to Samantha at all. I also felt Brandon fumbled a little bit, but he will always be good at angry scenes as the end of the scene where he threw the bag showed. 

 

You know I enjoyed my Kat/Jacob Veronica Mars spinoff. But it is starting to feel like it's going to be a slow crawl. Hopefully, Kat will have the patience. That said...she got some good lines in on Silk Press Sheila. And that was funny. 

 

I liked they are starting on Eva trying to do Kat's job now. I didn't really feel her insecurity over it tbh. It felt like a way to have Eva be a Mary Sue. It also felt like a way to get to that Nicole/Eva scene which was nice, but still...let's not declaw Eva. 

 

Dani, Dani, Dani. I do respect that she is continuing to focus on moving forward from Bill. And she got to talk about her feelings with Pamela. I'm not one for the Billy/Dani/Hayley A story so it being in C plot mode works for me. However, I admit that I do appreciate that the struggle is real with Dani though. 

[Paul Raven]

At this point, the Articulettes reunion story has been a bit of a letdown. After the buildup, Anita goes out of town and we here about it through a phone call to Vernon.

Very Y&R. Now maybe, they will go back to it, but are we going to see them perform? I doubt it.

Seems to me like another case of reaching too high in the back story. Had the group maybe had one hit and a few minor follow ups (quite realistic) that would have been more believable and just as dramatically interesting.

And both actresses playing the other members were good but not dynamic enough to be a major rival/irritant to Anita long term.

I was thinking how Anita could have a housekeeper who would be revealed to be a former co member who fell on hard times and is grateful/resentful of Anita's generosity and success.

[Taoboi]

6-24

 

I thought it was another good episode. Teresa Zimmerman was the main breakdown writer behind the anniversary party reveal so I wonder if she will be connecting the dots in the Martin's story overall. She did that with the reveal and Brownie Boy. So I guess we will see. 

 

Another day, more pieces to the puzzle that is Martin's Secret. Now Smitty got a flashback? He continues to get closer and closer. And now Ted was involved...as if Nicole isn't mad at him enough. I do wonder if Ted recognized Kenny on sight...would that be the same for all his work? I also love how...with the Crooked Cop storyline connecting to it...we get Jacob's POV. In any case, I continue to love how more and more pieces are being revealed. 

 

This episode reminded me how much I've missed Kat vs Eva. They were both getting good digs in on each other. And what made it so fun is the fact that both of them know what the other is doing, they had to play it off. And lest, we forget...Tomas is in the middle of them. I do like Kat is driving the SilkPress storyline at the moment, but I do miss the young rivalry between the sisters. 

 

And continuing in C plot mode, I did like Bill and Dani having a moment where they came to an understanding. I know they will get back to A story soooon enough so Bill's comments about how Dani knows him better than anyone felt like foreshadowing. And I love how adult the conversation was between them. And for that reason alone, it is just more reason to believe that somewhere down the road, they will be circling each other again. And that would never happen without Bill apologizing to Dani to some extent. Also, he gave a bit of the truth to her. In a way he can't say to Hayley. So of course she had to show up and have drama.