Writers:
Teresa Zimmerman
Jazmen Darnell Brown

Director:
Sonia Blangiardo-Goins

original release date: Monday, March 9, 2026 | writers: Teresa Zimmerman, Jazmen Darnell Brown | director: Sonia Blangiardo-Goins

Thoughts:

• Chelsea, the outfit for Naomi is so unlike her, but maybe it could work!!

• I think it is adorable that Bradley is helping Samantha by proofreading her essay. That is amazing detail.

• Joey does not seem to like the idea of meeting Deanna, but it seems like Vanessa is ready to truly set up Joey in the next phase of this plan I truly believe she has.

• Nicole deserves a hearty round of applause for finally breaking it down for Katherine. It is time that she hears what Nicole is telling her.

• It is enjoyable seeing Ashley sharing her past errors with Grayson in the hopes of helping him with what he is going through.

• Ow ow! I love Nicole and Vanessa gossiping like this, although I do wish it were not in the country club. Surely this could have been done in a more private setting.

• Not the walls closing in around both Grayson and Jacob, respectively, as they suss out each other. This is good!

• Despite their reunion, I am not surprised Katherine is still moving out... however, is it on her own, or is she trading out Chelsea for Naomi? Hmm....

Notes:

• Zimmerman and Brown wrote a solid script. It blended well and carried its own.

Undercover Jacob

3 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

he looked hot as hell in Friday's episode.

Same.

3 hours ago, Soapsuds said:

Now that is the type of Friday cliffhanger I've been waiting for the show to do. Something to make you want to tune in the following week.

Also same. They have been taking forever with the specifics on this particular storyline, but that Friday cliffhanger definitely have me hoping we get movement finally and also wondering what will happen next.

2 hours ago, Liberty City said:

• Zimmerman and Brown wrote a solid script. It blended well and carried its own.

Just finished watching. The show flowed very well.

Just now, MontyB said:

Just finished watching. The show flowed very well.

yes it did! So well.

One thing I can say...Zimmerman is especially good at episodes that flow and they usually have given her the episodes that tie multiple story threads together. So if something has not made sense, it's usually one of her episodes that clear it up. And when they put her on back-to-back episodes...simpatico. I do believe it was her that was in charge of May's anniversary party if I'm not mistaken.

-- The episode did have a strong flow.

-- I don't understand the decision to have Kat and Chelsea get all kumbaya so quickly.

-- The execution of the blood plasma story is still awful. The meeting place for Jacob and Smitty is ridiculous, and they have conversations that require NO meeting at all. It coulda been an email.

-- Are Jacob and Smitty the only people trying to take down the blood plasma ring? There's NO ONE else involved? HUH? Is Jacob reporting to anyone? Is Smitty?

-- This blood plasma ring isn't very big if Grayson turns over only a small bag to Jacob.

3-3

Remember when I said I was circle back around to all the hot men and bubbles on display on Tuesday. lol.

Yeah, I started my rewatch yesterday. Not that most weeks aren't great. But I must admit the week before barely got a rewatch out of me. I'm just over Cartoon Leslie who took up most of that week.

This past week really went off on a good start for me. It looks like they are trying to develop their B plots more. Some work better than others. And I really feel (we'll see if I feel the same this week) that the writers are going to do what they did last year where now until May was in hindsight...and I enjoyed it mind you...it was a lot of table setting for the anniversary party episodes. Mileage varied on that. On one hand, several stories got developed during that time period. And it helped there were enough events going on and story progression that it was fine. Or they focused on their solid B plot (which last year it was Doug/Joey/Vanessa with a side of Martin's Secret with also June's storyline). On the other hand, they really IMHO had only one solid B plot that could carry and IMHO did...namely Doug/Joey/Vanessa. They were smart to have other stories around that since they were holding off on their better stories. And this year seems like that is going to be the same. So hopefully it will be better written if they are going to use that strategy again this year. Right now, the most developed of the B plots is the cotillion and we all know the tea on that. Hayley and the walls closing in is also currently in the place of where Doug/Joey/Vanessa was at...in that it started kinda disjointed, but it actually appears to be building to Tomas's exit storyline something. And it can DEFINITELY hold a week together.

That said...what I love so far this particular week...

MONICA. I loved how they did her. Not only is she a mentor to Smitty and has interacted with Naomi to keep her secret afloat, but she's Shanice's aunt, too, and she was giving sooooo much Mama Joyce to Ted that I did holler. Which Todd...Ted...you get it...if you know, you know. I can't believe to talk about how much I love that Shanice has family around. AND hints of other family members, too. That said...More of her please.

CARLTON VS KIAL. We all know I'm here for Nicole having a storyline. But you also know I enjoyed her men getting into it. Openly at that. Cuz Chase vs Michael on GH can't have all the fun. lol. Both foine. Both bubbled. And I loved their verbal catfight on the unseen (ugh) basketball court. And like we discussed earlier...Kial clocking Carlton's personality (and Carlton clocking Kial) along with the episode with Carlton going off on Shanice is foreshadowing. I would like to add him just explaining how he's been waiting forever for Nicole. Uh oh.

NOW...KRISTEN DIMERA. Speaking of Hayley, I continue to love how people are slowing putting the screws to her. First it was Lynette the week before and now it's Joey with what he knows about Sammy. Just like a good soap villainess. And Tomas has already been sniffing around for weeks. And Bill is slowly getting a clue, too? What will she do next really has me intrigued. Who is going to figure her out first?

That's what I've coming away with so far from last week.

The problem I notice that doesn't seem to have been fixed thus far in season 2 is that each episode seem to have strong conversational scenes, but there is little to no action on a consistent basis.

The Friday cliffhanger was good because something was actually happening that could potentially advance the plot. Otherwise, I've noticed a lot of building and talking with little to no action (in other words, all talk/no action).

Hopefully Deanna will bring a bit of spark when she shows up and I'll reserve judgement till I see the full scenes of her character in action since the snippet I saw seems to be making her Kat redux. I was hoping she would be more cold and withdrawn since the mentions of her have indicated she had withdrawn after Doug's death.

Nicole's first love getting a name was very telling. Anthony just might play a part at one point or another and perhaps it will turn out that Ted was really just a second choice.