On 12/17/2025 at 4:02 PM, Soaplovers said:

Perfect example was the Doug/Vanessa/Joey story that had both of them slowly becoming ensnared in Joey's web with Joey using their addictions (gambling for Doug and Sex for Vanessa) to his advantage. Doug's 'death' with his son coming to investigate were the last episodes of Guza's stint and all of a sudden the son was sent back to school and Vanessa is now becoming pathetic without the cunning glint in her eyes that we saw in the first 150 episodes or so).

The Hayley bombshell was a great swan song for Guza's stint. but the aftereffects have been a bit lackluster with Hayley since episode 151 with her making such careless mistakes (no way would she be eyeing Jacob's brother in plain sight, nor talking to Randy in public, nor being overly insistent on Bill drinking a special tea, etc)... and now this random chick that came out of nowhere.

Yeah, I felt out of all the B plots introduced on this show in its first year, Doug/Vanessa/Joey was not only the best and most organic, but also the best paced. Solid enough to be a main story...which it showed the week of Doug's death or any week where it was the main story. It was just so well done to me, allowing for the characters to develop individually before the stories converged into something bigger. I loved Doug was over here dealing with a gambling addiction, but yet we saw a capable doctor who was loved by all his co-workers...some of my favorite scenes were him with Shanice, Ashley, random doctor at the nurse stand. Then you had Vanessa over there playing sex games with different men (hey, Diego, hey!), but you also saw her being a town gossip while being BFFs to Dani and saw she was a shark in her real estate business. Just the different sides to both characters. Then you had Joey in the background which made the fact that he was pulling the strings behind both of their vices just genius. And a cat and mouse game insured...right up until Doug's death. You said it perfectly...Vanessa currently would not bother me currently if she still had her cunning edge that had been established over the first 150 episodes, but she's little more than a weepy heroine and it does not ring true. The only thing saving her is the actress playing her putting in layers sometimes and that is stretching thin.

Yeah, the build to the Hayley reveal and how it made some of the odd things that came before it make sense was superb in hindsight. I'm still enjoying her channeling Kristen Dimera circa late 90s DAYS myself, but she's not coming across as being cunning right now either.

On 12/18/2025 at 5:00 PM, ReddFoxx said:

"I swear if you're trying to get out of St. Bart's!" was when I really understood the Kristen DiMera comparison. That's definitely how Kristen would snap at somebody.

Heheh. If they are going to make Hayley comedic, they pick the right villainess to do it from. I just don't want multiples of her.

On 12/18/2025 at 5:07 PM, Antoyne said:

Bill pisses me off so bad with these walks down memory lane like he didn’t cheat on Dani their whole marriage then married his daughter’s best friend. Like please give it a rest.

Same.

On 12/18/2025 at 5:33 PM, Antoyne said:

Leslie and Marcel as two evil hoes finding love works for me as well. Leslie needs someone who isn’t a law abiding citizen to match her and Marcel’s murdering ass is perfect. And they def have chemistry and unlike Ted, Marcel actually comes off like he’s interested.

And he be matching her step for step. I love they foreshadowed this months ago, but it is already paying off in spades. I want more.

On 12/18/2025 at 11:34 PM, YRfan23 said:

The Michael /Lauren shout out from Bill and Dani was very clever!

I forgot to mention but I loved that shoutout. It's nice to see how BTG connects to the other soaps and so organically, too.

On 12/19/2025 at 4:36 AM, Maxim said:

Just "The Articulettes" storyline could have gone 2-3 months longer if done right and given Tamara Tunie so much more material.

I love you, but no. That story still has been the only story on this show that has had a beginning (if slow start), middle, and end. It was just enough. And like all stories, there is still so much to mine from it, but I rather like the initial story just to see a mini-arc on a soap again.

On 12/19/2025 at 4:36 AM, Maxim said:

Of course, I’m still unsure where this is headed, but my immediate reaction was - oh, no, not now, please. I lost my grandmother, the person who basically raised me... to this wicked disease and I just can't take it around Christmas. That's just me. Maybe I'm too scared to face the reality. Maybe I need to see this more than anymore, but I can't.

Awww I am sorry for your loss.

I remember when Y&R planned to kill off Dina and my mother was going through medical issues on top of CoVid so as much as I like the character of Dina, didn't wanther to leave, and I'm sure Eileen Davidson knocked it out of the park, it was just too close to home for me. My mother thankfully recovered, but I still cannot sit through those scenes. So I feel that.

On 12/19/2025 at 8:37 AM, Melroser said:

I'm curious to see where Leslie and Marcel go. Are they really falling for each other or are they each trying to play the other? Will Leslie think she's smarter than the cop? Will Marcel be the first to get her to slip up? I'm here for it.

THIS.

12 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

That story still has been the only story on this show that has had a beginning (if slow start), middle, and end. It was just enough. And like all stories, there is still so much to mine from it, but I rather like the initial story just to see a mini-arc on a soap again.

I appreciate differing opinions... and honestly, I believe they aren't as different as they seem, because I simply wanted it to be longer... to include a few more beats... since I really enjoyed it. When something works... I think it's best to enhance and evolve it while it's still fresh... I wasn't fond of how the show introduced a new shocking headline every month during the first six months. I truly didn't like it. It's just not my preference. I found myself anticipating all those shocking reveals... whatever... to conclude and for a new one to begin. The suspense then just gets killed when I know a new one is coming. I would have preferred this storyline to last a few more weeks at the veeery least, with added beats and drama. That doesn't mean the storyline lacked a beginning, middle, and end. I just felt that Anita should have experienced even more dramatic... engaging moments throughout. The potential was there. I was STILL hungry after it wrapped up. I'm not sure if I'm articulating (HEY HEY Articulettes) this well. I needed that little something extra for dessert... But I'm not the typical viewer... I'm a very hungry for drama boy, so my opinion is not the final word on anything.😄 It's just my opinion. And I have even more reasons for saying this - I don't want the show to rely on these intense one-month storylines that leave the characters feeling exhausted and worn out after just a few seasons. A good story can span an entire year, filled with various nuances, problems, and issues... and so on. I don't want Anita to become a character who has faced 20 crises in just a few years. That's why I'm loving the lower speed they've gone for these past few months. That's my kind of soap, even though it's boring some people. I think everyone is looking for different things in a soap, based on their own taste and preferences and it's destined to have times where part of the audience is FED and loving it and part of it... isn't. But I always try to be as objective as possible and measure the good vs the bad. It isn't possible however to be completely objective and differing opinions are most welcomed. They are part of the beauty of it.

7 minutes ago, Maxim said:

I'm not sure if I'm articulating (HEY HEY Articulettes) this well.

hehe. You are. :)

8 minutes ago, Maxim said:

I was STILL hungry after it wrapped up.

Which is a sign the story did its job. ;) I think that's why I honestly liked it so much. The first months like you said was full of twist, turns, reveals...and this story...was slow and steady, but did arrive at an end so it stands out more to me because it did. Meanwhile, we are still dealing with SPS and Laura's accident, Dani/Bill, etc. Meanwhile that Articulate story did its thing. First we got Anita's anxiety about singing, but also how she missed singing. Then we got karoake night. Then the producer. Then the first phone call and hang up heehee. We got the Barbara note reveal. Sharon. Tracy adding to my lists of soap characters I love named Tracy (GH/Y&R shoutout). Tracy and Anita dealing with their issues. Sharon and Anita dealing with their issues. And then...the concert and resolution.

I also liked that while it was tied up in a nice little bow, there are still loose threads to mine from it like you mentioned. Of course, there's the obvious SPS as Barbara's daughter. And I still feel...well before Guza left...that the Devon/rerecording of songs with Barbara's voice would come into play. This silly Vernon/Sharon story...still behind don't spoil me! hehe. And Dante Green is STILL out there. And I am sure there's little bits of backstory that they can still use to keep Sharon and Tracy around or just have them pop in for another arc for. It was a good initial story with possibilities for down the road.

But hopefully you don't think I am trying to devalue your opinion. I wouldn't mind it being longer either, but as is, it's a nice little story gem in a rough first year. And that concert is soooo remarkable.

Yeah, you can count me in as one of those bored posters. Still enjoyable. And I'm happy to see that it has appeared to get some of its momentum back heading into the Christmas episodes which is good.

Just now, Taoboi said:

hehe. You are. :)

Which is a sign the story did its job. ;) I think that's why I honestly liked it so much.

I think you are correct in this actually... you articulated it so well (hey hey again) that I get your point completely. This is how I receive it - It's better to finish the meal before you are too overfed on it... that way you remember the best taste. I love this. But that little dramatic side of me wants moooore always. That's why I say I can't be objective about it. I know my strengths and my weaknesses, haha. But now you've managed to turn me over to your side on this subject. I'm going to agree with you.

3 minutes ago, Maxim said:

I think you are correct in this actually... you articulated it so well (hey hey again) that I get your point completely. This is how I receive it - It's better to finish the meal before you are too overfed on it... that way you remember the best taste. I love this. But that little dramatic side of me wants moooore always. That's why I say I can't be objective about it. I know my strengths and my weaknesses, haha. But now you've managed to turn me over to your side on this subject. I'm going to agree with you.

Hey. I was humming their song just the other day. Don't get it stuck in my head again. :)

I honestly do wonder if with Anita's current story if they will loop back to Devon at all.

1 minute ago, Taoboi said:

Hey. I was humming their song just the other day. Don't get it stuck in my head again. :)

1 minute ago, Maxim said:

Hollering.

But also about to watch. ;)

Just getting to the Christmas Eve episode. Ted is such a freaking dummy. He literally didn’t believe Leslie but then he still decided to tell Nicole like he was just so sure. What a moron.

3 hours ago, dragonflies said:

Good that MVJ continues to connect with her audience, but I wish -- especially in a holiday message -- she'd leave out the negatives. Why even mention those who "don't agree with or like what we're doing"? Why mention that at times viewers don't give grace?

I know it's not a big deal, but it does send a message that she's annoyed with viewers who complain. That comes through more than the thanks and best wishes. I don't think this is helpful.

I think it's a very tame and nice message. I don't think it comes off annoyed or angry. It's also acknowledging that specific fan podcast's critiques and their POV. The fact is when soap people (or any people working in media) engage online they get a lot of heat and critique, and she is simply acknowledging critique exists for a daily show. Engagement for BTG has been relentless on social media, and at times heated.

Anyway, it's not a patch on Ron Carlivati slagging off his haters on GH on Instagram during his post about its 60th anniversary lol.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Vee

As any sort of creator it is important to be realistic that critiques are not all positive. Some writers will pretend to only see the positive feedback.