I enjoyed that other stories/characters were focused on that weren't tied to the cancer story.  And Friday's episode had a new breakdown writer.. one of the long term veterans of breakdown writing that was on Y & R during the Bill Bell era.

The one thing I wish this soap would fix would be to stop having just Dupree only gatherings.

When people say that this show has P & G elements, I can't totally agree because most of the gatherings seem be Dupree only events when the great soaps like GL & AT& T were all about the community gatherings/events.

Also, I see Derek looks to be resuming his gradual path to being a darker character.  It's been in the works on and off going all the way back to the first time he had a frantic/jealous look on his face the second he laid eyes on Ashley/Andre interacting with one another.

His scenes with Jan told me that he's playing the remorseful guy that is telling Jan about Ashley's new man out of 'concern', but I think it was done in order to cause a bit of trouble for Ashley post break up.   I have to say I find this gender reversal to be refreshing since this type of play is usually reserved for the third party female character as seen from infamous 3rd party female characters like Kristen Dimera, Sami Brady, Annie Dutton, etc.

On 1/14/2026 at 4:43 PM, Vee said:

It was very interesting how they contrasted Nicole's minor crashout with Dani and Andre coping maturely while blissfully in love. You compare that to a little over a year ago where Dani was binge-drinking and passing out daily.

Good comparison.

On 1/15/2026 at 12:34 PM, Antoyne said:

Moving Leslie over to the Joey and Marcel world and away from Ted has done WONDERS for the character. THIS is how you keep a bad girl Viable on canvas.

I'm up for all the mess that Joey, Marcel, and Leslie are gonna bring. Leslie becoming a female gangsta in her own right would be a good way to get an individual rivalry between her and Vanessa to escalate.

On another note: I want a episode or two of June, Regina, and Samantha spending time together.

2 hours ago, Soaplovers said:

Also, I see Derek looks to be resuming his gradual path to being a darker character.

I sooooooooooooo thought of you as I watching Friday's episodes.

1-14

Well-timed.

The Anita's Cancer Storyline is off to a good and strong start as an A story. But yep...that subject matter is heavy and/or triggering for some. And for it to work, it does need to have some side-stories. So I liked that while there were echoes of it, the episode was about other stories.

I shouldn't be surprised. For better or for worse Joey was the most solid of B stories last year. And no shock that that train is still going. And Joey vs Silk Press Sheila has been building nicely this year. And Marcel and Vanessa being mixed up in that...with all the stories they are tied...makes it very fun to watch. And now Bill has been added, too? Bring it!

I enjoyed the friendship scenes. Since this show is very good at people popping up when it gets mentioned on here a lot

like Kial popping up next week and Donnell down the road allegedly.

hereeee's PAMELA. I liked her scenes with Dani. And I liked Vanessa's with Nicole. Though we know my friendship preferences. I also saw some people discussing Pamela. Well, there's that Vanessa/Pamela rivalry they teased a while back so...if they want to use her more...it IS possible.

And wait a minute! A double date for Vanessa and Nicole. I feel like that is going to be trouble. I don't mind it though. The Joey/Vanessa storyline has been mostly backburnered. Part of that I feel has been that they want the secret of Doug's death to grow and that needs time to breathe. But they really have not done much since they came public. So I'm here for Nicole being a spoiler short-term for them.

Hehe at Hayley. That said...with her poisoning Bill over the last few months, I take it this part of her story will go on until February Sweeps. Perhaps a climax with a remote?

Dani, Dani, Dani. But that ending...classic soap.

Monday Jan 19 is special episode with cast talking about Season One of the show.
link to Errol's article

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by janea4old

1-15

Yep. Last week I hoped that it was not a flop. But this week...yeah, the writers have their rhythm again and I'm loving it. This episode was prime A story with other stories going on. And I liked that. I guess my only problem now that we are on Thursday is they still have not looped around to the cliffhanger with Tomas overhearing Kristen Dimera...I mean Hayley.

I've liked that they have been exploring all angles of the Anita's Cancer story. But it was nice to see Anita post-first treatment. And I loved how throughout the episode that you got to see Anita struggle. And there is still her being mean with Vernon. TT is doing great, but I do worry about the overkill of it. But I feel them beats are getting played. As long as other stories are going on, it won't be too depressing. Speaking of...

I'm kinda really excited for Cotillion. It's slowly moving from a background C plot to a solid B plot. We haven't really had a teen story since Ty and his bullying and Samantha's sexual awakening urges. So...overdue. And I do like how this is fleshing out the drama already going on between Ty and Jessica. So I wonder with all of this build-up, are we going to actually see it? Like a Teen story, it's overdue for another event.

Ashley bring GOOD C plot wasn't on my bingo card. I can't believe that she's being somewhat fun again. I loved her scenes with Shanice (so cute that she was out of the gossip loop) and Naomi. It was truly girl talk and the ice cream (while I was actually eating ice cream) took me out. Made Shanice frisky and got her to make a move on Ted. Got Naomi to be nice. And got Ashley ready for a Round 2 with Greyson...who I'm loving her with. And Mmmm Jordi. lol. But...uh oh.

SIDE-NOTE...something else I've noticed. The episodes have gone back to ending on nice little cliffhangers again. And sometimes not just one. Keep going.

So...we might be getting Dark Derek after all. Uh oh now.

I don't know what to think about Hayley. lol. I thought she was sincere when she text messaged Naomi. And Naomi thanking her in front of Bill was well-timed given Bill and Hayley had just fought. Now I wonder...did she plan that? But every scene and thing involving Hayley/Bill/Dani was giving me Kristen/John/Marlena circa 90s DAYS.

The best thing about Eva for me is Ambyr's hair. Kat called her out for being fake. And KAT WAS NOT WRONG. If Ted didn't ask her, Eva wouldn't have done it. Be sincere, bitca.

I can't believe how well June has managed to fit in.

19 hours ago, Taoboi said:

I sooooooooooooo thought of you as I watching Friday's episodes.

IMHO, Derek turning to the dark side has most likely been in the plans since day 1 of the show.

I know someone in this board mentioned there was an interview they saw where it was mentioned that the first six months were mapped out when production started and that the show pretty much followed those plan.   So when I looked at episodes 120/121 (the six month mark), I saw that the plan was still for Andre/Ashley to be end game with the implication being that he was sticking with Dani because she needed him after Chelsea's kidnapping and she was sticking with Derek because he couldn't walk. The scene was presented/acted as if they were being kept apart due to obligations and misunderstandings.. not because they weren't interested in one another.

I think had Andre/Ashley been popular with viewers, the whole Derek faking his recovery angle would have played out a lot longer, but because he and Dani were so popular together, the story ended suddenly. Now the show is regrouping by establishing Ashley as a single woman slowly getting back out into the dating field while a jealous Derek is looking to sabotage it.   

Let's see if the writers actually follow through on this new set up, or if they'll drop it like they've dropped so many promising threads when it comes to Ashley thus far.