BTG: July 2025 Discussion Thread

[Marco Dane]

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[Taoboi]

I love this!!

 

Exactly! As umbrella stories that bleed into other stories go...it ain't bad. I can't wait to see how the fallout will go. 

[janea4old]

In my opinion there was no need for p*rn or escort services as a "twist" to make the storyline "exciting".

This was about a hate crime and that shouldn't be diluted with sensationalism.

Edited July 16 by janea4old

[All My Shadows]

If they think those kids aren’t listening in the hallway…and if those kids really aren’t listening in the hallway…

I wasn’t being serious.

[GLATWT88]

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[janea4old]

Martin told Smitty everything! Smitty understands, as I knew he would!

Edited July 16 by janea4old

[All My Shadows]

Spoke too soon

[janea4old]

yeah I spoke too soon.

Smitty understands about the past two years ago and the cover-up and the nightmares and the plastic surgery and ALL of that.

But Smitty is now upset because ---- Martin didn't warn Smitty and the kids after Martin realized Kenny the busboy was the guy from that night and has been in town for weeks.

Edited July 16 by janea4old

[GLATWT88]

That's fair, but then why not play it as the serious story it is instead of making it some big secret to the audience involving most of the men in town including Joey Armstrong. Armstrong's involvement just seems dumb at this point. You have two police officers and Bill why get your hands even dirtier with a mobster? 

I feel like the reveal was pointless, because to me at least, that is exactly what I was imagining at this point anyway. There was no surprise. As soon as they revealed Martin with a lug wrench I had assumed that he killed the brother and disfigured Kenny. I also knew it would be self defense because Martin is too central of a character. I feel this went on too long for little payoff...but let's see what happens. 

 

[Liberty City]

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date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 | Christoper Dunn, Jazmen Darnell Brown | Steven Williford

• MOMMA DUPREE IS HOME! It's about damn time, too, and looking fabulous!! Time to put your family back on track, momma!
• If looks could kill, Bradley's anger and hurt would absolutely destroy Deadbeat (which deserves to be destroyed).
• Ms Vanessa is using her wiles to get her way (as she should). But Joey, sir, you're in public... remember this.
• So, is Gordon the contact that Bradley got Kenny's information from? Or...?
• Well, Deadbeat is onto the question I had: is Kenny really, truly dead, or is it a staged photo to stop him from doing something as reckless as he's been this entire time?
• The spiral is coming... Joey telling Vanessa, maybe Deadbeat [finally] telling his husband (and children?). Let's see this happen!
• Good on Bradley for standing his ground where Deadbeat is concerned and for not allowing him to dismiss the children. They deserve to know as much as he does.
• Well, murder doesn't make Vanessa hot and bothered... just bothered.
• When Vernon's voice deepens, it means business... and it carries.
• Automated door openers... convenient for the lazy or hands-filled... but slower than dirt!
• So... that's it...? That's part of the beginning of the reveal? Interesting... so the attack was actually on Vernon predominantly, and Deadbeat defended him? Oh, okay...
• Oh, Vanessa is eating this up! But here comes Joey threatening, in less than a few words, to end Vanessa's life.
• Dani, mama, now is not the time to sulk back into the Country Club and tease Bill.
• So Ted got involved to fix Kenny's face... interesting.
• Poor Bradley... my heart is breaking for him. He's been lied to and put in immediate danger... he and his children. CALL HIM OUT! CALL DEADBEAT OUT ON HOW TRASH HE'S BEEN!
• Oooh... did Vanessa just put Joey on notice? I think she did. The icon that she is.
• Not going to lie, I kind of love this banter between Dani and Bill. It shows there is something still there.
• The look of horror on Anita's face says it all... this has been an unspoken burden and dark cloud in the Dupree family, and one that's about to explode.
• Oh, Bradley is not doubling down on Deadbeat's mistakes and secrets. Good on him. That's what I like seeing.

Notes:

• Did we go from daytime/early dusk to flat-out nighttime? Whew.... chile.
• Glad the story is being told via flashbacks and not by just stating what happened. More gratifying this way.
• Lauren Buglioli (Vanessa) perfectly embodies her character. She dominates.
• Brandon Claybon (Martin) is not selling this as much as someone should... he does not seem shaken enough and feels like he's forcing himself to feel something. Mike Manning (Bradley), on the other hand, is OWNING these scenes.
• Timon Kyle Durrett (Bill) and Karla Mosley (Dani) have some fiery chemistry. No way they won't be put [back] together by the end of 2025, or the top of 2026.

[janea4old]

The ongoing anguish was the point, and also Smitty being angry that Martin didn't warn him about Kenny.   If Martin had told Smitty right away, there would not have been everything Smitty is feeling now.

[dragonflies]

That was a damn good episode, like holy sh*t that was a soap!

[janea4old]

I think Brandon Claybon is doing a great job.

Edited July 16 by janea4old

[All My Shadows]

Yes. I’ve been watching only here and there for a while now, but this was set up in Week 1, and I feel like by Week 2, most of us here at least knew that Martin killed someone either accidentally or in self defense. All we learned today was that they were racists. In the beginning, my expectation was that there’d be some hidden twist in the event itself, a connection to another character or story that we didn’t see coming but still makes sense. What carries on from this is wondering if Smitty will stand his ground and really leave Martin and will they all get off for Kenny’s murder. What we learned today has no bearing on either thread.

[Rmodelboy]

Seconded. I also love that a gay man has been front and center on a soap.