-- Bill took Hayley to the hospital for a HEADACHE?

-- Mona has been given a huge glow-up since the show started. She looks good, but I'm not sure I like the change. They've done it with Jan, too. I think I'd like more separation between the haves and have-nots.

-- The religious stuff from Mona was too much. Hitting Randy like that within a minute of seeing him? She proselytized like a Jehovah's Witness showing up at your house.

-- And Mona knows Randy is a good man? What?

-- 20 minutes after Bill makes a donation to cancer research, Madison gets a job offer? Uh....ok.

-- It's hilarious that Golden Corral Casino Mobster Joey's #1 guy is dumbass Randy, who he continually threatens and warns.

13 hours ago, ranger1rg said:

-- Bill took Hayley to the hospital for a HEADACHE?

-- Mona has been given a huge glow-up since the show started. She looks good, but I'm not sure I like the change. They've done it with Jan, too. I think I'd like more separation between the haves and have-nots.

-- The religious stuff from Mona was too much. Hitting Randy like that within a minute of seeing him? She proselytized like a Jehovah's Witness showing up at your house.

I think the actress playing Mona is talented and I'm thinking she must have gotten a raise from Nicole hence the upgrade. In regards to Jan, she should think about saving her coins in case her boss Vanessa decides to play house with Joey permanently.

I hate having religion forced down my throat and with it being both Lent & Ramadan.. it's hitting on all fronts.

I think showing how religion has made Mona a good person rather than telling the audience would be a step in the right direction.

Edited 13 hours ago13 hr by Soaplovers

On 2/19/2026 at 6:19 AM, ranger1rg said:

-- Slater is fine, I guess. I'm still a blockhead on breakdowns. None of them seem bad to me and I didn't know what's good.

I’m no expert in script breakdown, but I was thrilled to see Natalie Minardi Slater’s name on the episodes. I remember her from my favorite Y&R era (1999–2001), and every time she reminds me what a good breakdown looks like. I’ll try to explain what I mean:

• Every scene needs to end on a high note—call it a mini-cliffhanger. And it should flow organically into the next scene whenever possible.

• If you have two separate groups of characters involved in the same storyline (for example, Hayley and Randy at that hideous mall café, and Bill and Tomas at Bill’s office), their scenes should be paired and structured as part of a compound sequence.

• Soaps operate like a chessboard—scenes are theoretically happening simultaneously. But sometimes too much happens in Scene A for Scene B to convincingly feel like it’s occurring at the same time and it’s a continuation of their earlier scene. Or maybe there’s a commercial break in between scene A and scene B. In that case, Scene B can’t just pick up exactly where it left off—you need to signal that time has passed. A strong breakdown writer would insert a phone call or another device to subtly indicate that a bit of time has elapsed since we last saw those characters.

Further random thoughts:

• I thought Dani mentioning that Shanice was gifted a dress worth more than her monthly salary was incredibly crass. Shanice’s contribution to society is far greater than that of socialite and former model Dani, yet here we are—living in a world where a nurse working in a wealthy gated community is probably struggling to make ends meet.

• The Valentine’s episode was a chore. It took me three days to finish it. And Vanessa in that wig? Obscenely vulgar. The hottest couple on this show is the town’s white ho and a white octogenarian mobster. Gag me.

• Derek’s date looked exactly like Ashley. The man clearly has a type.

• Based on next week’s preview, there are still zero stakes in sight. I’m curious where Ted will have lunch next.

• Happy to see Donnell again. And as over-the-top as Anastasia and Chessy can be (I hate that nickname), I actually enjoy their presence.

• Mona is insufferable, and her religious preaching is deeply problematic.

4 hours ago, Aback said:

• The hottest couple on this show is the town’s white ho and a white octogenarian mobster. Gag me.

Jon Lindstrom is 68 going on 69 so not exactly octogenarian.

46 minutes ago, kalbir said:

Jon Lindstrom is 68 going on 69 so not exactly octogenarian.

He's not, but he's also not the one I want to see playing sex games and undressing.

Gates has all these hot and beautiful people, and instead we get Joey and Vanessa in heat? Spare me.

1 hour ago, kalbir said:

Jon Lindstrom is 68 going on 69 so not exactly octogenarian.

Not at all; love seeing him get to have these scenes. Truly.

Nice to see CBS finally post this week's episode.

I am going to give credit where credit is due.

The adventures of Kristen Dimera...I mean Hayley has been feeling disjointed to me. That said...it does feel like the pieces are coming together. I don't think the reveal will beat out Kristen's eventual reveal to the town at Graceland on DAYS...and no secret room in sight...but darn if it is doesn't give the build of a 90s DAYS plot these days to me.

The increase presence for Lynette. The near-misses. The fact her antics are now increasing the chances of Hayley being found out. Bill inching closer to the truth. Tomas (of all people) itching toward the truth. The whole Sammy thing coming back up.

Speaking kind meh on this part of the storyline...I am liking the all the movable parts.

Oh...and any scenes with SPS around Vernon/Anita...is dangerous close to joining Tracy/Martin scenes on GH...on mute. Perhaps if Trisha played that as SPS still feeling a way about VD, it might have worked, but it was cartoony, silly, and I even yell at my tv to just oh, SHUT UP.

Why are Hayley and Bill scenes everywhere but their living room set? Is the set getting an upgrade? Is it going to be repurposed? The whole "updating the security system" seems like a plot point to fit the whole not filming there, because it makes little sense. Bill could easily have guards posted at his home just like he does at the hotel. Also, why does updating a system require multiple days?

I am not feeling Anastasia. I like the idea of Anastasia - an uppity old money snob. However, the performances read Disney Channel mean girl character and not soap.

10 minutes ago, GLATWT88 said:

Why are Hayley and Bill scenes everywhere but their living room set? Is the set getting an upgrade? Is it going to be repurposed? The whole "updating the security system" seems like a plot point to fit the whole not filming there, because it makes little sense. Bill could easily have guards posted at his home just like he does at the hotel. Also, why does updating a system require multiple days?

It makes no sense. She's afraid to be home even though it's secure and guarded like Fort Knox, but she's fine being in a hotel and going to Uptown. Maybe we're just supposed to see how stupid Hayley is.

11 minutes ago, GLATWT88 said:

I am not feeling Anastasia. I like the idea of Anastasia - an uppity old money snob. However, the performances read Disney Channel mean girl character and not soap.

She's just OK to me. I have more problems with the writing. Every point she makes is so ridiculous that I can't take her seriously -- nor do I understand why anyone would entertain her.

I felt the same about Leslie sitting down with Anita and Vernon at the club. In what universe would they put up with her, and for that length of time?

9 hours ago, Aback said:

Further random thoughts:

• I thought Dani mentioning that Shanice was gifted a dress worth more than her monthly salary was incredibly crass. Shanice’s contribution to society is far greater than that of socialite and former model Dani, yet here we are—living in a world where a nurse working in a wealthy gated community is probably struggling to make ends meet.

First of all, thanks for the info on breakdowns. Interesting stuff.

I thought Dani's comment was below the belt, too.

9 hours ago, Aback said:

And Vanessa in that wig? Obscenely vulgar. The hottest couple on this show is the town’s white ho and a white octogenarian mobster. Gag me.

Vanessa looked like Elvira, and that is not a compliment. Even worse is that they returned to the sex games a day later. I just have no interest in watching sex scenes with Joey and his whore.

9 hours ago, Aback said:

I’m curious where Ted will have lunch next.

Same. I like Ted the character and the actor. I also like Shanice. I don't see the fire others see in their relationship. At all.

9 hours ago, Aback said:

Happy to see Donnell again. And as over-the-top as Anastasia and Chessy can be (I hate that nickname), I actually enjoy their presence.

I just wish I understood how far away Banneker is supposed to be. Izaiah works there, so it's close, right? Yet Vanessa the Ho acts like her kids go to school in Siberia.

9 hours ago, Aback said:

Mona is insufferable, and her religious preaching is deeply problematic.

I do not like this religion-heavy turn they've taken with her. It's especially ludicrous when she's flirting her ass off with a criminal who's a possible killer while saying things like "I know you're a good man."

And no, I don't need lessons about Lent.

13 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

I just wish I understood how far away Banneker is supposed to be. Izaiah works there, so it's close, right? Yet Vanessa the Ho acts like her kids go to school in Siberia.

My understanding is Banneker is at 2400 6th Street NW, Washington DC (a fictionalized version of Howard University). Can't understand why Vanessa acts like her children are thousands of miles from home when they're at good ole Banneker U.

The absence of Bill & Hayley's house is baffling. Not that I miss it. It's ugly.

I wish they'd tone Anastasia and Francesca DOWN some. Anastasia works well as a snob, but every line she delivers shouldn't be snobbish and petty; it becomes difficult to comprehend why she has friends who actually sit down and eat a meal with her. In real life, people like her typically wear out their welcome pretty fast.

They're writing and playing Anastasia way too broad. She would be more effective if the actress and her dialogue was more subtle.

We did see a new set in the BTS video from a few weeks back. Wonder who will claim it?