Derek is losing his mind and I am here for it.

original release date: Thursday, January 29, 2026 | writers: Jamey Giddens, Danielle Paige | director: Anthony Pascarelli

Thoughts:

• Zucchini fries? No thanks. Dana, that sounds beyond nasty.

• Derek, where the Hell do you get off acting in such a pestilent way? It is unbecoming and off-putting, but good on Grayson for standing his ground (and I see you, Ashley, eye-fücking Grayson when he does so).

• Derek has to return? Oh, that is too good to be true. 🤣🤣🤣

• Katherine, calm your ass down. You are doing too much (per usual).

• A massage? Oh. Sign me up! I could use me one of those.

• For a woman who wants her husband dead, Hayley is surely trying to get Bill in the sack as much as humanly possible.

• Yes, Dana, you are an old rock. One that should be tossed into the ocean and sink to the bottom.

• Good on Eva for not falling for her mother's tricks. She is learning to have her own voice and mind. We love seeing growth like that.

• As much as Bill wants to be re-included in the Dupree circle, Vernon is going to make damn sure he never will because of how hurt he is over Bill breaking Dani's heart. That is a father right there.

• Not Katherine's mouth getting her in trouble, AGAIN, at Uptown. She cannot keep her mouth shut.

• Dani's pettiness about Hayley towards Lynette was hilarious. Calling her AI and referring to her as broken? Hilarious. She is quick with her tongue. So quick. Brilliant.

• Eva, go get her. Claw her eyes out. Get rid of her! It is time!

Notes:

• writer² needs to go; his breakdowns are atrocious and bring down the quality of the writing team. He is the weak link.

• The continued improved lighting and use of light throughout multiple sets is stunning.

• The Washington Record seems to be the first fictional publication we have seen. Makes me wonder if the 2026 clearance they had is lessening?

• We keep hearing the name Lauren Fenmore, and it just makes me wish Tracey Bregman would show up!

• The continued shift they have done with Ben Gavin's Derek is insane to me. But it works.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Liberty City

32 minutes ago, Vee said:

Derek is losing his mind and I am here for it.

I am too! Although I wonder if that final scene with Derek/Ashley felt like a 'goodbye' or at least 'I'm going recurring now'... I guess we'll see. They did put Ben Gavin in the official cast photo, so maybe he'll still be around a bit?

I thought Dani was a little rude to Lynette. I get being rude to Hayley, but not a stranger/client.

I don't understand how writing a character that is supposed to be 50+ and acting like a teenager is someone to root for?

When Nicole dresses up in a sexy dress and goes out for a night as a single lady, she comes across as confident and sure of herself. Someone that you would want to have a conversation with and enjoy getting to know.

Whenever Dani does the same thing, it's giving off someone that is trying too hard and someone that doesn't value themselves or what they have to offer someone. It's why she relies so much on sex because deep down, she feels that is all that she has to offer.. and it wasn't helped by Vernon being patronizing and babying her (I cringe when he does the same thing to Anita).

To me, I would prefer she and Andre be focused on as a couple in love while Bill isn't the end game.

@Taoboi I'm not sure if it was you that said this, but someone had mentioned/joked that Ashley was a favorite of MVJ's.. and I'm curious if that was mentioned by MVJ.. or if it was just based on the fact that she's still on the show and being rebooted?

Derek going a bit unhinged is a nice change... usually it's the female that goes unhinged when they're scorned (i.e. Dani and SPS/Leslie).

Maybe Hayley's pushing the sex thing with Bill as a way to pretend to be into him.. and maybe hoping that he dies while making love to her. Would be the most effective way for her to off him and get the payout.

Edited 41 minutes ago41 min by Soaplovers