Writers:
Michael Montgomery
Jazmen Darnell Brown

Director:
Anthony Pascarelli

original release date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | writers: Michael Montgomery, Jazmen Darnell Brown | director: Anthony Pascarelli

Thoughts:

• I love that Chelsea just assumed there was a fabulously dressed stranger in her grandparents' home. And her emotional reaction to Anita's new look is absolutely natural. All too natural, but I appreciate that Anita is trying to keep things on the up and up.

• Sounds like there is some sexy time planned for Bradley and Martin, and I love that for them, especially after how rocky last year was for them. It is high time that they get their groove back, officially.

• Caroline is very perceptive to see that Bill ushered Hayley out of the office like a bat out of hell.

• Andre, it may not mean the end for you right now, but I am sure by the end of the year, you will have one ex-wife under your belt.

• A Mercedes Benz on her birthday? Damn. Bill is one helluva boss if I do say so. Sign me up for that kind of reward, although I would prefer the money that the Benz costs over the car itself.

• Damn. Max is fully out of breath. And to be requesting multiple shots? Damn. What did he see?

• The sibling banter between Izaiah and Jacob is great. Goes to show they have that strong connection to each other.

• Bradley's passion for this new story is amazing. I just hope it does not ultimately get him into trouble or worse... dead.

• The more Anita talks about her history with the Articulettes, the more I fall in love with that whole era that we will never get to experience firsthand.

• Hayley is being extra messy, but thankfully, Izaiah can handle his own. And now she is sneaking in a nude image of herself for Izaiah to see. She is messy.

• Ashley and Shanice randomly enjoying a glass of wine at Uptown, gossiping about the workday, is simple, yet effective. Brilliant.

• That is right, Dani, act as the judge, jury, and executioner with Bill. Lay it all out for him. BAM!

• So Jacob is about to go fully undercover within the plasma ring? That is going to be massively intense.

• Go on, Miss Anita! Get on that piano and work those poses! Yes, mama!

• I think it is sweet that Madison is willing to try out the long-distance thing. This will be a great test for their relationship.

• Bill, neither you or Dani are going to be able to stay away from each other for very long.

Notes:

• Montgomery and Brown did an outstanding job continuing where Natalie Minardi Slater and Cheryl L. Davis left off yesterday. That is what we love to see from a solid, cohesive writing team.

• Love how we are getting stories interwoven in this episode. It feels like a much better balance than we had during Monday's episode. And it is nice seeing family relationships be established a bit more (e.g., Martin/Naomi).

• That photoshoot montage was outstanding, and Tamara Tunie (Anita) is fabulous!

• DAMN! Timon Kyle Durrett (Bill) and Karla Mosley (Dani) have the best chemistry! It is just electric between the both of them.

So we know The Impaler is a guy. My money is on Carlton. He's a little to good to be true. I also feel like Grayson is involved but no voluntarily.

Love the Chelsea/ Anita scenes and her photoshoot. The short pixie cut looked so good. I hope we see her in that style some more.

The cousins scene was cute.

I was screaming for Dani to run out of that office because I was sure that they were gonna kiss again.

I knew exactly what Hayley was trying to doing when she started showing Izaiah pictures of Winterfest. No dignity at all.

Naomi's comment about Martin having staff to write postcards reeked of being privileged and elite.

Chelsea is not going to do well with a long distance relationship.

19 hours ago, ReddFoxx said:

Sean Freeman is presented on an awards show on BET. I just heard my mom say "That's Andre" lol.

Love that 😍

-- I did enjoy the mix of conversations between pairings we're not used to seeing. However....

-- They're relying way too much on that out-of-the-way coffee set. I guess we have to ignore that it makes no sense for those people to go there/be there. I'd rather Orphey Gene's and Uptown be used repeatedly than to see that mess.

-- I also think it's a mess that this undercover police work is done in such a public way. This Max is afraid of being beaten to death, so he meets Smitty at Uptown? Huh??? This is a potentially good story, but these meet-ups (like those with Hayley and Randy) are nuts.

-- Andre was way too kind to Dani when she confessed to kissing Bill. She CHEATED on him, and I don't think Dani has learned her lesson. She IMMEDIATELY went to see Bill, where she spent too much time throwing shade at him and Hayley.

-- Yes, Dani walked out before again falling into Bill's arms, but has she really learned anything? Her marriage was a series of dumpster fires caused by a man who consistently cheated on her. Yes, I know it's a soap, but I want a heroine who doesn't constantly reflect on the good times with a POS.

17 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

-- I did enjoy the mix of conversations between pairings we're not used to seeing. However....

-- They're relying way too much on that out-of-the-way coffee set. I guess we have to ignore that it makes no sense for those people to go there/be there. I'd rather Orphey Gene's and Uptown be used repeatedly than to see that mess.

-- I also think it's a mess that this undercover police work is done in such a public way. This Max is afraid of being beaten to death, so he meets Smitty at Uptown? Huh??? This is a potentially good story, but these meet-ups (like those with Hayley and Randy) are nuts.

-- Andre was way too kind to Dani when she confessed to kissing Bill. She CHEATED on him, and I don't think Dani has learned her lesson. She IMMEDIATELY went to see Bill, where she spent too much time throwing shade at him and Hayley.

-- Yes, Dani walked out before again falling into Bill's arms, but has she really learned anything? Her marriage was a series of dumpster fires caused by a man who consistently cheated on her. Yes, I know it's a soap, but I want a heroine who doesn't constantly reflect on the good times with a POS.

All she and Bill do is reminisce about their past, it’s so obnoxious.

20 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

-- I also think it's a mess that this undercover police work is done in such a public way. This Max is afraid of being beaten to death, so he meets Smitty at Uptown? Huh??? This is a potentially good story, but these meet-ups (like those with Hayley and Randy) are nuts.

This is one reason I've always felt -- if BTG is not going to do regular and frequent scenes on location (outside), then they need to create a couple of "outside" or "park" sets on the sound-stage, as all the other soaps do. That would give some of these clandestine meetings a little believability and legitimacy. Having supposed "secret" and possibly "dangerous" meet-ups at Uptown and at the coffee shop is just silly, and the viewers obviously sense that.

18 minutes ago, Antoyne said:

All she and Bill do is reminisce about their past, it’s so obnoxious.

It is. I hate it, and it makes Dani look weak af.

2 minutes ago, Tisy-Lish said:

This is one reason I've always felt -- if BTG is not going to do regular and frequent scenes on location (outside), then they need to create a couple of "outside" or "park" sets on the sound-stage, as all the other soaps do. That would give some of these clandestine meetings a little believability and legitimacy. Having supposed "secret" and possibly "dangerous" meet-ups at Uptown and at the coffee shop is just silly, and the viewers obviously sense that.

Exactly right. I'm not calling for some grand, expensive set -- just something that looks much more private and hidden. That along with the wretched coffee shop set are seriously taking away from good stories.

-- I'm typing this post on my laptop. Is anyone else getting CONSTANT pop-up ads from Azamara telling us to "Discover Alaska"? It's SO much worse than anything I've ever experienced on this site, from audio that I don't want to hear to the entire page being overtaken by an ad that I have to X out of.

38 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

It is. I hate it, and it makes Dani look weak af.

Exactly right. I'm not calling for some grand, expensive set -- just something that looks much more private and hidden. That along with the wretched coffee shop set are seriously taking away from good stories.

-- I'm typing this post on my laptop. Is anyone else getting CONSTANT pop-up ads from Azamara telling us to "Discover Alaska"? It's SO much worse than anything I've ever experienced on this site, from audio that I don't want to hear to the entire page being overtaken by an ad that I have to X out of.

Omg we had such good times on the days you weren’t cheating on me. Let’s get those back!

41 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

Exactly right. I'm not calling for some grand, expensive set -- just something that looks much more private and hidden. That along with the wretched coffee shop set are seriously taking away from good stories.

I was watching SFT from 1960 on YouTube and 2 characters met up at a coffee shop. It was a wall and a booth and looked fine. BTG could put up a fake wall behind the booths at OG's or Uptown and redress the tables and voila a meeting place for Randy/Hayley etc

But the mystery remains as to why they are not shooting outside the studio...

Dani is full of sht! How she go from confessing about her cheating to crying about how she was cheated on? Without even letting Andre process what she told him, she makes herself the victim so he cant get upset. F her!

Oh, no one told me that Chelesa was going to run into Hayley today. You know she loves to read Hayley down. lol.

10 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

Dani is full of sht! How she go from confessing about her cheating to crying about how she was cheated on? Without even letting Andre process what she told him, she makes herself the victim so he cant get upset. F her!

I admit she is bugging me today.

I am confused by everyone's reaction to Chelsea moving to Copanhagen. If the pandemic taught us anything is that for most jobs you can work from anywhere. Also, Anita wants her to keep living her life and not put it on hold for her illness. While I totally get that the timing is difficult with her grandmother having cancer and her father's abnormal test results, my understanding is that this fellowship isn't starting tomorrow. The most frustrating part is that everyone is acting like this move is permanent. It's for a year! Like Kat, how selfish of you to want to prevent your friend from living her best life for a year. The only reason Chelsea should want to stay is because of her grandmother.

I used to want Dani and Bill to reignite whatever it was they had, but it was mostly because I wasn't feeling Andre. Now that I have warmed to him, this Bill and Dani thing is not it for me. Dani is looking like a fool, especially the way Bill talked to her at the office. Sounded more manipulative than regretful. Is this the same man that told Vernon he had second thoughts? Maybe it was all part of his game.

I have to agree that this show needs another set. It is quite obvious when dinner plans get dropped every time, because clealry there is no set for it. How many times now have characters intended to have dinner at Obekisk that then fell through for one reason or another. Also agree that these private conversations in public places is getting a bit ridiculous.