original release date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | writers: Sara A. Bibel, Judy Tate | director: Steven Williford

Thoughts:

• Saltwater taffy? I am not a taffy fan in the slightest, but good on Anita for liking what she likes and for Vernon continuing to uphold tradition.

• Va-va-zoom! Dommy mommy Vanessa is very demanding and is red-hot in the red 'fit with her dark wig! Yes, ma'am! I will put that on immediately!

• Good for Nicole for denying the double date idea; both Bradley and Martin deserve to have their own Valentine's Day date night, especially since last year was such a difficult one for them.

• Ms Anita? That voice is divine and what a beautiful present but to show the love she has for Vernon by way of song.

• I admire Dana for trying to lure Marcel into a date night with her... but she is also delusional.

• Ted and Shanice preplanning for a 2027 Valentine's date night is admirable, and I hope they do get to that point within their relationship.

• Bradley, you can pause your story for a trip to Costa Rica with your husband for some romantic time in the sun.

• Joey does not like being in control, but control sure as Hell fits Vanessa like a damn glove!

• Wow. Bill did get the house. I am shocked he was able to secure it.

• Dani and Shanice teaming up? Against Dana? Oh, this is going to be juicier than a freshly squeezed citrus.

• I am howling at Marcel turning down Dana for her invitation at Uptown. And here she comes trying to one-up Shanice with her nastiness.

• Witch of a thousand names? Dani continues to be an excellent wordsmith. And I hope she never loses that spitfire spirit she has.

• That last scene was... chilling. It does not look like Ms Dana likes being denied the things she wants.

Notes:

• Bibel and Tate did an exceptional job with today's script. Held some promise of the past and a glimmer of the future. And Williford's eye was very clear with the direction, especially with the final scene with Trisha Mann-Grant (Dana).

• Lauren Buglioli (Vanessa) was HOT HOT HOT in today's episode. You can tell she was having a lot of fun working with Jon Lindstrom (Joey) in today's episode. Plus, brunette works exceptionally well on her! Giving me Britney Spears' "Womanizer" in that wig. And their scenes were some of the steamiest I have seen on American daytime. I love that we are getting these kinds of scenes. Reminds me of the "Get it On" promos from the 1990s/2000s that CBS Daytime employed.

• Lami (Izaiah) is still bobble-headed and it's nauseating at this point. Good actor but unwatchable.

• The continued weaving of characters into cross-storylines is very exciting, and I hope it continues to happen. It sets this soap up in brilliant, classic ways.

Oh that ending was good!

Really great Valentine's Day episode... had romance, eroticism, family, disappointment, flirtation... great stuff!

Yessssss lets wake Leslie UP !!!!!

1 minute ago, alwaysAMC said:

Oh that ending was good!

Really great Valentine's Day episode... had romance, eroticism, family, disappointment, flirtation... great stuff!

Agreed on all points. Their themed episodes have been so great.

21 minutes ago, Rmodelboy said:

Yessssss lets wake Leslie UP !!!!!

She's been watered down. She's become annoying instead of a true villain.

Ted's red suit🔥🔥🔥🔥