original release date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | writers: Sara A. Bibel, Danielle Paige | director: Phideaux Xavier

Thoughts:

• Anita is right: Vernon is very selective with his words and how he does word things, so that little hint that Nicole's test results were positive, while leaving out that Dani's were not, tells all that Anita needs to know.

• It is nice seeing Carlton be present for Nicole in her hour of need, and seeing them together at Uptown is nice as well.

• Naomi is on the money: Ashley needs to take Grayson up on his offer to take her out on a date. I know it will be cold as fire, hot as ice!

• From the sounds of it from Chelsea, Madison, and Naomi, Grayson is gearing up to be Garland Memorial's McDreamy or McSteamy, and I am here for it.

• Chemotherapy has not diminished Anita's spitfire personality and I love how she is going head to head with Vernon; if I did not know better, I would swear this could be foreplay for them.

• Poor Josh is trying to do his job while Nicole's coming a bit undone. She holds everything in and together and does not allow herself these moments to allow herself to be a bit cracked and fragile.

• LMAO. Anita does not give a rat's behind if Dani is up there bare naked. I love it. She just wants to see her daughter.

• Not Nicole wanting her third (???) Long Island Iced Tea. That is hilarious but her fears are real, and she is fully in her right to feel the way she feels.

• Good seeing Elon finally being a father to Jacob and telling him to go see Naomi. That is what should be happening.

• No. Can we not turn this into another double date? Ashley, sweetie, you can handle this one on your own. I know you can.

• Good on Carlton for being a stand-up guy and not taking advantage of Nicole in her impaired state. That is what a man should do.

Notes:

• Bibel and Paige worked exceptionally well today. Loved the scriptwork of today's episode and the pacing was perfection.

• Xavier's direction, like yesterday, was outstanding! He knows how to shoot a soap, and it shows in the results.

• Welcome to Beyond the Gates Jordi Vilasuso! He is already charismatic as frick, and I sense that underlying chemistry with Jen Jacob (Ashley) already. Yes. This is a match made right. Oh yes, the chemistry is FIRE! I am liking this pairing already.

While I'm not here for Carlton/Nicole, it was nice to see him be a gentlemen there in the end. It was also nice to see Nicole let her hair down.

Jordi is a much better, more comfortable actor than Ben G, so I already thought Greyson/Ashley had more chemistry. It wasn't awkward like most scenes with Ashley/Derek have been.

Damn it! Im actually starting to find Ashley more likeable in season 2

Edited 27 minutes ago27 min by Cheap21

I'm sorry, but that Ashley/Grayson scene was pretty bad. I'm not too terribly impressed.