BTG: Encore Discussion Thread

[Faulkner]

Yeah, the Bell style is not easily imitated. Even Bill Bell’s own son can’t manage it. We see how anemic Josh Griffith’s feeble attempt at it feels. The only person who has been relatively successful at it was Kay Alden, and she was treated like yesterday’s trash. Bill Bell’s touch made that style feel mythical yet still somehow modern. It’s a balance no one else has come close to achieving. 

Way too many Duprees introduced all at once, and they are very imbalanced gender-wise. ATWT had a gazillion Snyders crawling out of the woodwork, for sure, but you still had a lot of other characters who were tentpoles because of the Marland-style deep canvas that soaps can no longer afford to maintain. I appreciate the idea of a multigenerational Black family, but the execution leaves much to be desired.

We’ve said ad nauseum that Martin should have been Anita and Vernon’s (they’ve basically written him that way in terms of behavior). Kat/Eva are one of the show’s strokes of genius, but we could have done without Naomi and Chelsea for a while, if we needed them at all. Dani being childless while Hayley is “pregnant” could have been an interesting complication, especially if she’s plotting an Annie Dutton-type deception.

This is an intriguing experiment of a new soap in 2025, and I hope somehow they continue to defy the odds. But there’s a lot of work to be done. 

Edited July 6 by Faulkner

[Vee]

I don't think what BTG is doing is the UK style. I think it's about their budget and breakdowns, and what the show is prioritizing. At times those are inconsistent. I do think its style is, as I've said before, a pastiche of something very modern combined with an emulation of the Bell/B&B classic style. And I think all that doesn't quite work, for many of the same reasons Faulkner has mentioned as well as ones I've talked about in the past.

I think there's a ton of criticisms to give the show, and I've offered my share. I don't think valid criticism shouldn't be given to BTG and I've never said so. But I do think the impatient, dismissive attitude that treats the show like a lost cause less than half a year in and gives it less grace than really lazy or cooked shows like B&B (or over many years, DAYS) is a double standard, and IMO that's because some viewers are far more comfortable with the rot of those familiar shows whereas a new show is seen as an interloper or 'putting on airs'. I don't have time for that kind of attitude anymore than I have time for the tr0ll (because banning the word does not in any way eliminate the larger problems on this forum) that has been cheering for its demise since before the show first aired.

It's clear BTG is very earnest, and wants to both educate and provide something a bit elevated in tone and build characters while growing story and pushing the envelope in some areas. You can do that if you're Y&R in the '90s, but this show ain't that. And I just don't necessarily think that idea of elevating or slow character-building are working with the story pace they need atm. I also think educating has to come with enough sizzle for the steak. Right now more stories need to go for the throat.

And I do think the family/relations structure is a real problem for all the reasons other posters have indicated. Most of all I would like to see a serious reconsideration of the day to day writing staff, and consider moving the scripts towards the tone of '90s GH vs. a wan emulation of classic Y&R or the B&B of the last 20 years. All in all I think there are a number of good bones/structural elements for the show, but it needs to tighten up a lot of other things.

Edited July 6 by Vee

[ranger1rg]

I co-sign this entire post.

[TEdgeofNight]

I disagree with Vee’s epistle. Good lord. HUGE thumbs down.

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[ReddFoxx]

Within the writing there does seem to be intent to give an aged feel to the show which explains some of the family structure. It is the newest soap, but the writers don't want it to feel like that and would rather give the illusion of being well established.

[DRW50]

I'm curious as to what the similarities may be as I find the UK soaps very bad most of the time now and from what I've read no one would really say BtG is bad. I also don't see them as using simple music cues as I feel like they (especially Corrie now) go the opposite way. I am biased, admittedly, so maybe those who are enjoying the UK soaps at the moment are finding those same positives in this show.

[bongobong]

Come on now, even Tucker Carlson couldn't state that B&B is given more grace than BTG on this board with a straight face.

[INFJWill]

Exactly! The legacy soaps get dragged mercilessly, day after day year after year. Just search the names Frank Valentini, Ron Carlivati, Jill Farren Phelps, or Brad Bell. The BTG fans have created this toxic positivity echo chamber where even the slightest criticism is brushed off as hating or trolling.

[ranger1rg]

Would be nice to know what you disagree with.

 

Vee didn't say that. You're ignoring the entire context of that post.

The fact is that B&B and Y&R are given more grace here in the sense that they are practically IGNORED rather than have their problems aired out and detailed.

I've tried to get people to discuss those shows, but almost no one cares enough to do so. With Gates, we're zeroing in on every thing and every little thing.

So yeah, when your mess is ignored -- like B&B's is -- that's giving more grace.

 

[BoldRestless]

I don't comment much on B&B anymore because I have zero expectations. At this point it's like, shame on me for watching. 

[Vee]

No? People are either super invested in those couples or it's just sunk cost fallacy, so they keep watching year in, year out.

The issue for me is that B&B (or DAYS) being bad is taken for granted at this point as people continue to watch, whereas if BTG has flaws it's time (from some people) for severe condemnation and an inquest every day. That's the disconnect for me. People still want to monitor what happens to Liam or Steffy or the latest disposable twunk Brad hired, but BTG is on the air less than six months and it feels like it gets more daily smoke from some.

The exact opposite of what I said in my post you clearly didn't read.

He's just here to try to get me to notice him, which is a pity since I don't see 99% of his posts. He should've been banned years ago for abusing other posters (it's most of his posting history) but as you may have noticed, we don't do that here and he counts on it to embolden his behavior.

Edited July 7 by Vee

[Maxim]

God, they should have an encore every few months, so that we'll get these entertaining reactions more often. (don't listen to me, CBS) 

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Listen, I love how passionate everyone is about this show. With 1 or 2 exceptions, I think everyone is honest in their opinions and their critique is constructive. We all want this show to be good and to stay on the air. That's why we care. I think it's not adequate to compare the level of critique to this new show to the every-day flak the ancient soaps get. It's absolutely normal for us to WANT this show to be better and to have a knee-jerk reaction when we see disgusting patterns or bad dialogue that reminds us of the trashed soaps. We want a better written soap than Bold, that's why we care more. We have bad-writing PTSD.

And... if I have to be honest... I've never trashed any soap more than Bold... and I've never cut any soap more slack than BTG. If I open my mouth and start really saying what I think about some of the atrocious dialogue and trashy character decisions... I'll probably trigger a looot of people and that's why I prefer to be more diplomatic and just... wait till I give my final review.

This doesn't stop me from agreeing with more critical opinions, BUT from people who actually watch the show and have something to say. There has been a persistent attempt to paint this show negatively from the beginning by a person/persons who I doubt even watch this show. They just want to hate on it. That's something I despise and find incredibly time-wasting to read or engage with. That's why I personally don't fuel their nonsense every day by giving it more and more attention. There should be a clear line between this nonsense and the rest of the people - 99 percent of them in the forum... who are passionate soap opera fans, have taste and give their take on the show - the good and the bad. I want this to continue. I'm not a fan of statements that we should just be happy that we at least are getting a new soap and etc... or an attitude that every critical comment is hate, because it isn't. 

I'll become harsher when the 1 year mark approaches. So far I'm 50/50 - I like half of the storylines, characters, dialogue... and 50 percent... is just... not good. We'll see how this percentage changes in the coming months. 

 

Edited July 7 by Maxim

[dragonflies]

I have NEVER been able to get into UK soaps at all

[Soapsuds]

Same     They've never appealed to me.

I'm glad they actually took the week off. I'm still behind on my other soaps that aired last week. Hopefully, I'll catch today's episode of BTG tonight.

[dragonflies]

I don't get how you can't just as easily get caught up with the show on P+? lol, I mean on there you can watch at your own leisure lol