3 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I think the homophobia even could have gotten a pass from a lot of viewers - it's not like we're watching with tiktok users (the ones who aren't burning Pride flags, anyway). It was more the clear dithering with the character and the DOA material with Sonny that finished her.

People were viscerally pissed about her being an unctuous, proudly homophobic busybody, not just on LGBT issues but re: pushing her way into Deception, etc. They were also pissed Ava took the blame last summer for exposing Natalia's own words. However bigoted some of the audience may be in their everyday lives, onscreen among the characters they've watched grow up or cared for they just wasn't there for it.

I do think Natalia the obnoxious, overbearing stage mom and schemer had a short shelf life but was worth watching if she'd actually gotten up to more trouble sooner. The problem is FV clearly wanted it both ways shortly after hiring her, to test her with Sonny, etc. whereas I think Mulcahey (or whoever was in the mix when she was first hired) had intended her to simply be exactly what she appeared to be initially, and ended up as.

Edited July 1, 2025Jul 1 by Vee

1 minute ago, DRW50 said:

I don't think Eva has ever been a very likeable screen presence (Maria was at her best when they allowed her to be harder - I'm one of the few who preferred her spotty second run for that reason). They could have run with that. I think the homophobia even could have gotten a pass from a lot of viewers - it's not like we're watching with tiktok users (the ones who aren't burning Pride flags, anyway). It was more the clear dithering with the character and the DOA material with Sonny that finished her.

Eva is a little cold on screen.  She's in the same vein as Robin Christopher to me.  I don't think they are bad they just aren't inherently likeable either.

9 minutes ago, Vee said:

It was way back in the Primetimer/PTV archives. I'll see if I can find it. Chad's expression is hysterical.

Meanwhile, these are a thing of beauty. I have absolutely been drunk texted like this.

My best friend from college has been saved in my phone for 20 years completely misspelled because I added him when I was wasted and never corrected it 😂

1 minute ago, Vee said:

People were viscerally pissed about her being an unctuous, proudly homophobic busybody, not just on LGBT issues but re: pushing her way into Deception, etc. They were also pissed Ava took the blame last summer for exposing Natalia's own words. However bigoted some of the audience may be in their everyday lives, onscreen among the characters they've watched grow up or cared for they just wasn't there for it.

I do think Natalia the obnoxious, overbearing stage mom and schemer had a short shelf life but was worth watching if she'd actually gotten up to more trouble sooner. The problem is FV clearly wanted it both ways shortly after hiring her, to test her with Sonny, etc. whereas I think Mulcahey (or whoever was in the mix when she was first hired) had intended her to simply be exactly what she appeared to be initially, and ended up as.

They should have made her a drunk earlier.  Explain some behavior. Again, it wouldn't make Natalia likeable but it would have gone a bit of a way to understand some of her obnoxious takes.

Just now, carolineg said:

They should have made her a drunk earlier.  Explain some behavior. Again, it wouldn't make Natalia likeable but it would have gone a bit of a way to understand some of her obnoxious takes.

She definitely should’ve been a drunk way sooner than her last 2 weeks on the show.

26 minutes ago, carolineg said:

Well, now I think we all need to see that.

You're welcome. I had to dig up the old promo.

3 minutes ago, Vee said:

You're welcome. I had to dig up the old promo.

Thank you!  No wonder Chad quit.  It's like at this moment he was resigned to his fate at GH and decided to just be actively bored from this point on.

Chad is clearly contemplating if his contract pays him enough.

Just now, carolineg said:

No wonder Chad quit.  It's like at this moment he was resigned to his fate at GH and decided to just be actively bored from this point on.

There's definitely a touch of a "Mad World" montage in his eyes.

12 minutes ago, Vee said:

People were viscerally pissed about her being an unctuous, proudly homophobic busybody, not just on LGBT issues but re: pushing her way into Deception, etc. They were also pissed Ava took the blame last summer for exposing Natalia's own words. However bigoted some of the audience may be in their everyday lives, onscreen among the characters they've watched grow up or cared for they just wasn't there for it.

I do think Natalia the obnoxious, overbearing stage mom and schemer had a short shelf life but was worth watching if she'd actually gotten up to more trouble sooner. The problem is FV clearly wanted it both ways shortly after hiring her, to test her with Sonny, etc. whereas I think Mulcahey (or whoever was in the mix when she was first hired) had intended her to simply be exactly what she appeared to be initially, and ended up as.

I think if she had been going around calling Lucas a groomer, people would have been up in arms (well, some people), but going into it with a not that popular Kristina recast and day player Blaze, I don't know. I think the show could have moved on. They did try. They just didn't know how or didn't really care. I think as you or someone else said, there were likely writers who just did not like the character, and didn't have the friendship with Eva that Frank has.

1 minute ago, Vee said:

There's definitely a touch of a "Mad World" montage in his eyes.

Do we even want to talk about James Franco at this point?  I am still traumatized over the scene with Jason and the M&M's.

7 minutes ago, Vee said:

You're welcome. I had to dig up the old promo.

They are probably waiting for Parsons to come back and relieve them.

25 minutes ago, carolineg said:

Do we even want to talk about James Franco at this point?  I am still traumatized over the scene with Jason and the M&M's.

It’s still wild to me that Roger Howarth’s Franco is the same person as James Franco’s. The bleach blonde hair to make him not Todd only added to the absurdity of the recast.

I mean I thought it was clear she was to be the spoiler between Kristina and Blaze. And then at some point...the brother would appear to keep her around.

 

But we all knew it was love at first sight for Frank when she was put in between the more fascinating to watch Ava and Sonny during the tale of the drugged meds.

51 minutes ago, Antoyne said:

She definitely should’ve been a drunk way sooner than her last 2 weeks on the show.

Very. And then shading ex-stars at the same time? Yeeeah NO.

5 hours ago, Taoboi said:

Sidwell will be next. Even if it's by January of next year.

Let’s hope 😂😂😂

There's something hilarious about Natalia being all "I'm going to have leave my entire life and family behind for you" and a disinterested Sonny is like "but you're going to have a really pretty house and the weathers nice".