Today was a solid episode and one of the main reasons for that was because there was no major and exhausting exposition dumps.

Overall, I have to agree people in Salem are sharper these days, and the older women are being given great dialogue and interesting stories.

It was a particularly good day for Maggie. I love when a character reacts to the same visual cue the audience uses to spot a lie. I also liked the quiet implication that Maggie already knew who Xander was. She was just waiting for him to say it out loud. And of course, nothing is more soap-operatic than Sarah walking in at that exact moment. She was just in a hospital scene, so I can’t tell if that was a deliberate misdirect or just one of those storytelling quirks where people magically appear wherever the drama needs them.

I'm sensitive to concerns about comments on a lovely actress's appearance, but @brisbydog pregnancy theory made me take a closer look at Sarah. Amy Choi looks younger than Sarah, even though she plays a grandmother. And it is not just the racial differences between their features. Meanwhile, Sarah might be facing another unplanned pregnancy. Beyond, the idea of the impending pregnancy pandemic in Salem, stories about fertility and motherhood are being recycled across characters aged 30 to 50 in ways that don’t really fit. Chanel, who’s young and healthy, is struggling to conceive after one radiation exposure. But Sarah and Cat, who are at least a decade older, are sexually active, single, and professionally stable, yet birth control never seems to enter the conversation. It’s not just unrealistic; it erases the nuance of age, experience, and choice. They ignore the biological and emotional differences between a woman in her early thirties and one approaching fifty. Instead of tailoring arcs to character and context, the show treats fertility like a plot device that can be dropped on anyone, regardless of logic.

Given, everyone may or not may be infanticitpating, so that criticism is jumping the proverbial gun.  But, Brady’s storyline is another example. He’s a grown man, a father of two, living in his stepmother’s condo, and yet he’s spent weeks dithering about what to do with his inherited wealth. It’s not endearing. Watching a privileged character with no financial pressure wander around aimlessly doesn’t build sympathy. There’s no urgency, no consequence, and no real reflection. For a character in his fifties, the lack of direction isn’t charming—it’s a failure to evolve. Especially, when Johnny and Brady virtually share the same plot. 

Why haven’t they figured out that Sophia started the fire? Holly shouldn’t be facing probation. Sophia was the one who committed arson and attempted murder. But everyone’s focused on the text she sent of Holly’s bra. The priorities are completely off.

Still, credit where it’s due. That tear running down Sophia’s cheek was beautifully done. Whether it was camera/makeup trickery or not, it worked. A quiet, effective send-off for the character.  And an important reminder to wear moisturizer daily for a dewy complexion.

 

 

Edited October 23Oct 23 by j swift

Still watching yesterday's episode. It's great to see Mark back again.

20 minutes ago, Soapsuds said:

Still watching yesterday's episode. It's great to see Mark back again.

I think Mark looked hotter before he left. This new hairstyle doesn't cut it.

3 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

I think Mark looked hotter before he left. This new hairstyle doesn't cut it.

I'll take him either way.😂

2 hours ago, j swift said:

I'm sensitive to concerns about comments on a lovely actress's appearance, but @brisbydog pregnancy theory made me take a closer look at Sarah. Amy Choi looks younger than Sarah, even though she plays a grandmother. And it is not just the racial differences between their features. Meanwhile, Sarah might be facing another unplanned pregnancy. Beyond, the idea of the impending pregnancy pandemic in Salem, stories about fertility and motherhood are being recycled across characters aged 30 to 50 in ways that don’t really fit. Chanel, who’s young and healthy, is struggling to conceive after one radiation exposure. But Sarah and Cat, who are at least a decade older, are sexually active, single, and professionally stable, yet birth control never seems to enter the conversation. It’s not just unrealistic; it erases the nuance of age, experience, and choice. They ignore the biological and emotional differences between a woman in her early thirties and one approaching fifty. Instead of tailoring arcs to character and context, the show treats fertility like a plot device that can be dropped on anyone, regardless of logic.

Why haven’t they figured out that Sophia started the fire? Holly shouldn’t be facing probation. Sophia was the one who committed arson and attempted murder. But everyone’s focused on the text she sent of Holly’s bra. The priorities are completely off.

 

Chanel's not "healthy".  She had cancerous cells that is making it unable for her to have a viable pregnancy.  It's not forever because they are gone, but Kayla advised her to wait.

Who's 50 here?  LG is 37 and ALM is 38 lol.  The actress that plays Amy appears to be 44, so she isn't much older but Sophia is 18 so her being a grandma is easily plausible?

Even if Holly didn't start the fire.  She was drinking underage, so, yes, in a college dorm that's enough for probation if you get caught at the least.  Especially since I doubt Salem U is launching a huge investigation about who knocked over the candle since Holly believes she did and said as much.

1 hour ago, Soapsuds said:

Still watching yesterday's episode. It's great to see Mark back again.

Hope and praying for #Mavi 🙏

I even have a fanfiction idea already 😂😂

1 hour ago, ranger1rg said:

This new hairstyle doesn't cut it.

Agreed. He needs a haircut.

In my fanfic aftershow, Maggie dissed Marlena, by suggesting she got Xander and Sarah to admit the truth to each other in under ten minutes, while Marlena's been trying to do: couples therapy, hypnotherapy, and anger management all at once.  😎

Also, I really liked Rachel and Belle today.  Even though they still dress Rachel like she's going to a gothic tea party, Belle's dress was very pretty on her.  I enjoy Rachel's vibe with Belle and Sarah.  And how she's still a little naughty toward Marlena. IYKYK, but I don't think Thomas should pin any romantic hopes and dreams on that one just yet..

Maybe: 

Spoiler

Marlena thinks she's experiencing grief induced sleep issues, but she was actually exposed to something by working at the hospital and being in proximity to EJ's lab?  Like maybe there's something there that is making her sick, everytime she visits the hospital?

Also, I'm so dense, I hadn't even considered the possibility of Mark and Javi.  Did we ever get Mark's direct comment on his sexuality, or was he just accidentally flirting with Leo last year because he prefers ugly shirts regardless of gender?

Finally - @carolineg not to be agist but 😉 - In the US, approximately 7.9% of babies were born to women over the age of 38 in 2023, based on the most recent data from the CDC. This figure is a combination of the birth rate for women ages 35-39 and the rate for women age 40 and over. More specifically, women ages 40 and older accounted for about 4.1% of all births, and women ages 35-39 made up the remaining 3.8.   So, it stretches credulity that Sarah AND Cat would get pregnant after a one-night-stand.  Given that there is less than 8% chance that they would conceive naturally at their age after a single interaction with a sperm.  Wheras, a woman Holly's age has 60% chance of conception after a single sexual interaction.

Edited October 23Oct 23 by j swift

19 minutes ago, j swift said:

Also, I'm so dense, I hadn't even considered the possibility of Mark and Javi.  Did we ever get Mark's direct comment on his sexuality, or was he just accidentally flirting with Leo last year because he prefers ugly shirts regardless of gender?

They hinted at it briefly, but it was completely dropped when it was revealed that Mark and Cat were brother and sister and working for Clyde.

54 minutes ago, j swift said:

In my fanfic aftershow, Maggie dissed Marlena, by suggesting she got Xander and Sarah to admit the truth to each other in under ten minutes, while Marlena's been trying to do: couples therapy, hypnotherapy, and anger management all at once.  😎

Also, I really liked Rachel and Belle today.  Even though they still dress Rachel like she's going to a gothic tea party, Belle's dress was very pretty on her.  I enjoy Rachel's vibe with Belle and Sarah.  And how she's still a little naughty toward Marlena. IYKYK, but I don't think Thomas should pin any romantic hopes and dreams on that one just yet..

Maybe: 

  Reveal hidden contents

Marlena thinks she's experiencing grief induced sleep issues, but she was actually exposed to something by working at the hospital and being in proximity to EJ's lab?  Like maybe there's something there that is making her sick, everytime she visits the hospital?

Finally - @carolineg not to be agist but 😉 - In the US, approximately 7.9% of babies were born to women over the age of 38 in 2023, based on the most recent data from the CDC. This figure is a combination of the birth rate for women ages 35-39 and the rate for women age 40 and over. More specifically, women ages 40 and older accounted for about 4.1% of all births, and women ages 35-39 made up the remaining 3.8.   So, it stretches credulity that Sarah AND Cat would get pregnant after a one-night-stand.  Given that there is less than 8% chance that they would conceive naturally at their age after a single interaction with a sperm.  Wheras, a woman Holly's age has 60% chance of conception after a single sexual interaction.

You are literally being ageist because as a woman in that age group I can still totally have kids.  I hate kids so it's not a big deal. So maybe chatgpt and wiki isn't the best resource lol

On soaps where both these women are like 32-35 on Days that's ridiculous to say they can't get pregnant.  Like that's highly uniformed at best and misogynistic at worst

36 minutes ago, carolineg said:

You are literally being ageist because as a woman in that age group I can still totally have kids.  I hate kids so it's not a big deal. So maybe chatgpt and wiki isn't the best resource lol

On soaps where both these women are like 32-35 on Days that's ridiculous to say they can't get pregnant.  Like that's highly uniformed at best and misogynistic at worst

I absolutely agree with this. The ageism is beyond gross.

28 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

I absolutely agree with this. The ageism is beyond gross.

I honestly don't know why this is even a topic.  No one would even blink an eye if Sarah or Cat were pregnant.  They aren't old lol.  

7 minutes ago, carolineg said:

I honestly don't know why this is even a topic.  No one would even blink an eye if Sarah or Cat were pregnant.  They aren't old lol.  

Are you sure they're not? I mean, they're beyond a certain age.... but in reality, if either were pregnant, that'd be fine.

21 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

Are you sure they're not? I mean, they're beyond a certain age.... but in reality, if either were pregnant, that'd be fine.

Well, I hope neither are pregnant, but if they are God help their geriatric wombs. 

7 minutes ago, carolineg said:

Well, I hope neither are pregnant, but if they are God help their geriatric wombs. 

Oh, I know. Those babies will be deformed, right?