12 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

At least you didn't bury the lede. She's 16.

I’m being genuine: it escapes me what the problem is with a 16-year-old wanting to have protected sex with a fellow 16-year-old. 

You do make some good points, but there's context -- and in that context, Samantha makes really poor choices, and there's nothing mature about her thinking.

The poorest choice she’s made so far was helping a stranger, Kenny - the guy whom her father basically had someone else kill - download an app.

We've seen nothing to indicate "no one cares" if Tyrell kisses or has sex with his girlfriend. I don't see Smitty or Martin as supportive of Tyrell having sex at his age with a girl he just met.

The writers not even hinting at Tyrell listing after that girl is another major problem. 

47 minutes ago, Aback said:

One thing is mentioning random relatives, another thing is them playing a role on the storyline while we've never seen them.

What are the active roles they are playing in the storyline?

10 minutes ago, Aback said:

The writers not even hinting at Tyrell listing after that girl is another major problem. 

Tyrell has had a thing for Jessica since late spring.

10 minutes ago, Aback said:

The writers not even hinting at Tyrell listing after that girl is another major problem. 

I assume you mean lusting. Regardless, these are disagreements with the writing. I'm already on record as having problems with the way Samantha is moving and with the things she says.

That being said, we can only go with what we're given. So far, Tyrell's "relationship" with Jessica is in the sweet stage. Should we have seen him lusting after her as soon as they got together because teens hook up in real life? I say no. That's not Tyrell and it's not Jessica.

 

15 minutes ago, Aback said:

I’m being genuine: it escapes me what the problem is with a 16-year-old wanting to have protected sex with a fellow 16-year-old. 

We'll have to disagree on this. I know teens have sex at 16 and even younger. I'm not prude and I don't think they're bad people.

But that's not what I'd want for my daughter or my son. Even protected sex leads to pregnancy, and a sexual relationship is also tougher for young people to handle. Their brains are still forming, and they aren't emotionally capable of handling all that comes with it.

 

19 minutes ago, Aback said:

The poorest choice she’s made so far was helping a stranger, Kenny - the guy whom her father basically had someone else kill - download an app.

And? Even if I agree with you, that doesn't make your argument that this girl should be having sex. If anything, it reinforces her immaturity.

 

The dichotomy between Samantha and Tyrell is very deliberate. The writers have gone out of their way to present Samantha’s impulsive streak and want for attention versus Tyrell being more sensitive, happy to keep his head down and being studious. The former being something I suspect will be linked to June and her own past, despite her being completely spot on about Nathan on first sight.

I’d have to reserve judgement on the slightly subtle aspect of the story that Tyrell is being impacted by Samantha’s actions (I wouldn’t be surprised if this story sees Tyrell lose Jessica again, on top of him already nearly catching a beating from Nathan trying to ‘defend his sister’s honour’ when she herself seems ‘less concerned’ about it).

The only reason I will never say that Tyrell is atypical of a teenage boy is because I was exactly like him at his age. 

As the preview for next week shows, this story has a way to go and I have a feeling that after a number of near-misses, Samantha will find herself in a position that she won’t be able to get out of as easily. Whether Nathan-related or otherwise.

Edited November 2Nov 2 by LondonScribe

11 hours ago, P.J. said:

Is it just me, or does it look like Samantha is stuffing her bra to look more mature?

Samantha is actually 30 years old and fully developed. 

that somehow is even more disturbing...

14 minutes ago, P.J. said:

that somehow is even more disturbing...

https://www.linkedin.com/in/najah-jackson-60352199/

Considering what type of person Nathan is it's clear that Samantha is making a poor choice. She's expecting to have an experience like Chelsea and Kat, but she's being set up to be used and talked about around school. Being talked about as a conquest is not a respectable way to be treated, especially if a person has led you to believe that they respect you. I cannot speak for others, but at 16 I know that I shouldn't have been having sex. Plus, Samantha showed her immaturity by throwing her aunt under the bus and insinuating that she told her to this.

I agree that 16 yr old shouldn't be in sexual relationships. My reservations with the story so far is the attitude of her parents whose response and attitudes  seem certain to drive her further into that behaviour. 

We've seen in the past that they have a good enough relationship to be able sit down with her, hear her out and provide support rather than condemnation and punishment.

Edited November 2Nov 2 by Paul Raven

7 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

I agree that 16 yr old shouldn't be in sexual relationships. My reservations with the story so far is the attitude of her parents whose response and attitudes  seem certain to drive her further into that behaviour. 

Which I think is quite deliberate on the story's part, and an old soap staple.

I'm one of the few who doesn't think the actress playing Samantha looks her age but I can't say I find this story to be super engaging. I don't mind it and there have been some fun moments but it just makes me wish she was younger. Maybe had they kept Tyrell the age he is and make Samantha 13-14, it would be more impactful and fresh for a US soap. 

I always struggle with any of the teen stories because watching Eastenders and Hollyoaks has completely spoiled me in that regard. I don't think a US soap has done teens well since probably around 2010. 

11 hours ago, Vee said:

What are the active roles they are playing in the storyline?

Yolanda, Dante have both seemingly driven story without being seen not even in pictures. We had Alan being mentioned multiple times.  I’m sure there’s more I’m missing. I’m not saying this is a mistake or it has never been done. I’m saying that there have been too many instances in 8 months. 

11 hours ago, Vee said:

Tyrell has had a thing for Jessica since late spring.

Let me rephrase my thoughts: no one worrying about Tyrell’s virginity - because he’s a male - while everybody is riled up about Samantha’s virginity is the problem. 
 

11 hours ago, ranger1rg said:

We'll have to disagree on this. I know teens have sex at 16 and even younger. I'm not prude and I don't think they're bad people. But that's not what I'd want for my daughter or my son. Even protected sex leads to pregnancy, and a sexual relationship is also tougher for young people to handle. Their brains are still forming, and they aren't emotionally capable of handling all that comes with it.

First of all sex is a basic human need and a human right. You admitted that teens are having sex at 16. So you might as well teach them what’s fair game and what isn’t. Who decides when you’re mature enough for sex? Is Dani mature for sex? This attitude from Sam’s parents (and the writers) is hypocritical, sex negative and it’s honestly the foundation for any sexual related trauma. 

9 hours ago, LondonScribe said:

I’d have to reserve judgement on the slightly subtle aspect of the story that Tyrell is being impacted by Samantha’s actions (I wouldn’t be surprised if this story sees Tyrell lose Jessica again, on top of him already nearly catching a beating from Nathan trying to ‘defend his sister’s honour’ when she herself seems ‘less concerned’ about it).

The only reason I will never say that Tyrell is atypical of a teenage boy is because I was exactly like him at his age. 

The thought of Samantha’s ‘honour being defended’ honestly scares me. We should be past that in 2025. As if having sex with a guy, as questionable as he may be, would say anything about your honor. It doesn’t. 
 

As for Tyrell, I agree guys like him exist. I like him. My problem is that the show has not worried once about his virginity being taken. Why? Because he’s a man. Double standard much?

7 hours ago, ReddFoxx said:

She's expecting to have an experience like Chelsea and Kat, but she's being set up to be used and talked about around school. Being talked about as a conquest is not a respectable way to be treated, especially if a person has led you to believe that they respect you. I cannot speak for others, but at 16 I know that I shouldn't have been having sex.

Everybody was happy to have sex at 16 and now in their conservative adulthood want to forbid teens from living their life. It’s absurd to me. 
 

Being talked about as a conquest is outside Samantha’s control. One progressive and adult alternative to Martin’s parenting is helping their kid realize that sex and love are different things and expectations can lead to disappointment. It’s better than treating sex as a sin. 

7 hours ago, Vee said:

Which I think is quite deliberate on the story's part, and an old soap staple.

I agree - that’s the story. But it’s slanted in favor of Martin’s parenting and Sam being portrayed as a sinful, manipulative, immature brat. When in reality her desire to have intimacy is perfectly normal and should be fulfilled. It makes me really uncomfortable. 

1 hour ago, Aback said:

Yolanda, Dante have both seemingly driven story without being seen not even in pictures. We had Alan being mentioned multiple times.  I’m sure there’s more I’m missing. I’m not saying this is a mistake or it has never been done. I’m saying that there have been too many instances in 8 months. 

Dante Green is not driving any current story. He is backstory from the past for the Articulettes. Alan is a dead man who has never driven any onscreen story. Yolanda is Izaiah's ex who he has parted ways with upon arriving in town. That's a common plot device on soaps. Despite offscreen Yolanda sending a text message, these offscreen characters are not driving any major onscreen story in the present day. If Yolanda is terrorizing Izaiah via SMS in a month, then we can talk.

As for the Richardson kids, I don't think there is anything sex-negative or regressive about Martin and Smitty being protective and concerned about when their daughter loses her virginity. It also isn't a story about characters like Jason and teenaged Robin on GH deciding when and where and how to have sex in a safe way, Sam's behavior is distinctly different and so is the boy.

Edited November 2Nov 2 by Vee

1 hour ago, Aback said:

Yolanda, Dante have both seemingly driven story without being seen not even in pictures. We had Alan being mentioned multiple times.  I’m sure there’s more I’m missing. I’m not saying this is a mistake or it has never been done. I’m saying that there have been too many instances in 8 months. 

Let me rephrase my thoughts: no one worrying about Tyrell’s virginity - because he’s a male - while everybody is riled up about Samantha’s virginity is the problem. 
 

First of all sex is a basic human need and a human right. You admitted that teens are having sex at 16. So you might as well teach them what’s fair game and what isn’t. Who decides when you’re mature enough for sex? Is Dani mature for sex? This attitude from Sam’s parents (and the writers) is hypocritical, sex negative and it’s honestly the foundation for any sexual related trauma. 

The thought of Samantha’s ‘honour being defended’ honestly scares me. We should be past that in 2025. As if having sex with a guy, as questionable as he may be, would say anything about your honor. It doesn’t. 
 

As for Tyrell, I agree guys like him exist. I like him. My problem is that the show has not worried once about his virginity being taken. Why? Because he’s a man. Double standard much?

Everybody was happy to have sex at 16 and now in their conservative adulthood want to forbid teens from living their life. It’s absurd to me. 
 

Being talked about as a conquest is outside Samantha’s control. One progressive and adult alternative to Martin’s parenting is helping their kid realize that sex and love are different things and expectations can lead to disappointment. It’s better than treating sex as a sin. 

I agree - that’s the story. But it’s slanted in favor of Martin’s parenting and Sam being portrayed as a sinful, manipulative, immature brat. When in reality her desire to have intimacy is perfectly normal and should be fulfilled. It makes me really uncomfortable. 

My assessment of why nobody has been concerned about Tyrell losing his virginity is because he hasn’t been shown trying to lose it. There’s nothing to suggest there has been a ‘boys will be boys’ approach, in fact Martin’s approach has touched on Tyrell (with Jessica cheekily trying to joust with him about curfews, etc).

If the next stage of their relationship is explored, and there is a more ‘hands off’ approach from the other characters, then I’ll be the first to point out a double standard that has not yet been shown. 

I think it was you who referenced Eastenders and Hollyoaks as examples of soaps that depict a more ‘realistic’ approach to teenage sexuality? 
That is true, but even they broadly take a didactic approach to that. Rarely does underage sex go without consequence, especially for the female. 13-14 year old Lily Slater has a 1 year old daughter after her first time with same age Ricky Branning. 

Hollyoaks is absolutely THE show that shows (British) teenagers as they are with full agency. It’s also a show that skews younger and targets teenagers and young adults.

And for all that BTG is doing to modernise its presentation, I think American daytime skews older and more conservative, so a kid gloves approach may be what is happening here. The story is still young.