On 1/22/2026 at 3:12 PM, skiman12082004 said:

Jacob & Smitty reunited and it feels so good.

IKR!!!

On 1/22/2026 at 2:57 PM, Antoyne said:

Finally Smitty and Jacob reunite. I loved them as a team last year.

And might be teaming up again. :)

3 hours ago, Taoboi said:

tbf, it's giving good solid C story for now and I don't mind it. Joey vs SPS is giving enough great B story so there's not overkill on the Anita's Cancer A story so a story not completely connected to the main story is a nice one. Moreso because while this story isn't connected, the show has done a good job of keeping Ashley connected to the main characters/story, but not hitting us over the head with her.

And now we are about to get another C plot that MIGHT be connected at some point with Jacob going undercover, too.

I have a feeling that the Ashley/Derek/Grayson thing will tie into whatever Jacob is going undercover for. And I wonder if the twist will be that Grayson is the one we should keep our eye on and not Derek.

Call me crazy but dare I say the Jacob/Naomi/Smitty and Grayson/Ashley/Derek stories are two of the most intriguing for me right now.

Opinions are mixed on Jacob and Naomi but they remind me of Tom and Margo, a couple I loved on ATWT (all the actor combos btw). I love that they're inherently good and moral people who want to do the right thing. Naomi hiding her diagnosis is 100% on brand and also makes sense when you consider Jacob is going undercover. The only time I enjoy Smitty is with Jacob so throwing him into this story is another win. I'm also happy to have our first real mystery brewing.

Now with Grayson/Ashley/Derek, Jen Jacob needed a strong acting partner and she got it. Jordi feels natural in the role and the chemistry is there. I didn't know what would happen to Derek but he's the most interesting he's ever been. I like the sly manipulation and am very curious to see where it's going to go. I'm glad MVJ finally found something for her muse that is interesting to watch.

Also: In a fantasy world, Smitty/Jacob and Ashley/Naomi would be gold as romantic pairings.

3 minutes ago, Chris B said:

they remind me of Tom and Margo, a couple I loved on ATWT (all the actor combos btw).

Ha! But understand.

3 minutes ago, Chris B said:

I love that they're inherently good and moral people who want to do the right thing.

I know I'm in the minority, but that's why I like them as well. You do need one of those couples on soaps.

4 minutes ago, Chris B said:

Now with Grayson/Ashley/Derek, Jen Jacob needed a strong acting partner and she got it. Jordi feels natural in the role and the chemistry is there

1 hour ago, Soaplovers said:

I have a feeling that the Ashley/Derek/Grayson thing will tie into whatever Jacob is going undercover for. And I wonder if the twist will be that Grayson is the one we should keep our eye on and not Derek.

I like them re: Ashley/Grayson so far. And the chemistry is there so I hope it's not a set-up to a twist that he's evil or something.

30 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

I like them re: Ashley/Grayson so far. And the chemistry is there so I hope it's not a set-up to a twist that he's evil or something.

If Derek were played by a better actor I'd make Grayson evil just for the shock of it but with what we have it would probably be better to let Derek go to the dark side since we can afford to lose him.

1 minute ago, Chris B said:

If Derek were played by a better actor I'd make Grayson evil just for the shock of it but with what we have it would probably be better to let Derek go to the dark side since we can afford to lose him.

Agree. And I find IMHO that the best moments that Ben has been good has been when Derek has been dancing with his dark side. So I say, let him do it if that is the direction the writers want to go.

Just now, Taoboi said:

Agree. And I find IMHO that the best moments that Ben has been good has been when Derek has been dancing with his dark side. So I say, let him do it if that is the direction the writers want to go.

One thing I do hate is that they gave Jan a little off screen love because I'd LOVE for Derek and Jan to get together. That would drive Ashley crazy and be such a wild way to stay in her life.

2 minutes ago, Chris B said:

One thing I do hate is that they gave Jan a little off screen love because I'd LOVE for Derek and Jan to get together. That would drive Ashley crazy and be such a wild way to stay in her life.

It would drive Ashley crazy, but NO. And yeah, I see the chemistry. And that would be crazzzzy.

But I admit...I feel like the reason Owen is off screen is because he's going to turn out to be someone important. That I am probably wrong.

2 hours ago, Chris B said:

One thing I do hate is that they gave Jan a little off screen love because I'd LOVE for Derek and Jan to get together. That would drive Ashley crazy and be such a wild way to stay in her life.

When he met with Jan to talk I thought he was going to work his way up to seducing her as a way of getting revenge. He seemed a little disappointed when she said she was seeing someone and then pivoted towards telling Ashley's business. Jan is such a Derek cheerleader it was giving "then you marry him, Mama!".

Maybe Owen will turn out to be a loser and poor Jan will be distraught, turning to Derek for support and then....

A bit of spec. They've already said in advance interviews with JV that Grayson is

SPOILER

driven to caring for his sick mother and will go to any lengths. This will set him up as a clear red herring for the Impaler, suggesting he is funding her care with the plasma trade.

I am hoping Grayson is either innocent or some sort of reluctant accomplice. Both he and Rollins will be clear suspects (Kial is a traveling orthopedic surgeon and nomad) but I still suspect it's 100% Carlton.

Fri ep was good, they have a nice mix of stories.

My continual complaint is the lack of attention played to work/business.

Shanice and Ashley spent every scene chatting. At least start the scene with them discussing a patients-throw in some medical jargon to make them seem competent and then segue into the personal stuff. Have the convo interrupted by one or the other having to deal with some issue etc

Then we have the Pam/Dani modelling agency which seems to be running itself. Is Pamela doing the bulk of the work? If so have her mention some stuff to Dani.

Isaiah is talking about Bannecker but seems to have time to chat in Orpheys and meet Eva, who supposedly is running Ted's office.

And so on...

It's time to see a) Banneker and b) more of Pam and Dani's new business, as well as a proper business story for ChelseaKat. But Chelsea getting deeper into drugs wouldn't be bad either.

The obvious (and best) route next is for Eva to get involved in a business venture that runs counter to ChelseaKat. But if it was modeling I don't think Dani would ever do that to Kat, at least not at this juncture. They bonded over the Eva issue very recently.

2 hours ago, Paul Raven said:

Then we have the Pam/Dani modelling agency which seems to be running itself. Is Pamela doing the bulk of the work? If so have her mention some stuff to Dani.

I admit...I found that abrupt. Because we had been watching it slowly form over the last year. But now it's up and running? WHHHAT???