original release date: Thursday, March 12, 2026 | writers: Natalie Minardi Slater, Judy Tate | director: Anthony Pascarelli

Thoughts:

• Dana, it is tacky going after someone Nicole is interested in. Your tactics resemble those of a naive, exhausted, and absurd individual.

• Oh no, Vanessa! Deanna is making direct eye contact with you while kissing Joey. You could not even walk away from the entrance of Uptown?

• Good on Nicole for noticing Deanna's body language. She is fully aware that things are likely not solid for her following Douglas' death.

• And I am gagging at Deanna. Whew. Yup. She is Vanessa's daughter, without a doubt!

• The earth-shattering look on Vanessa's face, the absolute disgust on Deanna's, and the hurt on Donnell's are all just... whew. I am overcome with emotion.

• Deanna blaming Vanessa for Douglas' death feels quite real, and it is humanly understandable.

• I love that Donnell is spitting some hard truths to Deanna, and they are truths that she needs to hear.

• I love seeing Kial and Nicole open up to each other. There is a genuine connection that is slowly burning between them.

• That is my girl, Vanessa; get some new information out of Joey. Find out what you need to know. Do it!

Notes:

• Slater's influence was throughout this episode. The pacing felt like a classic soap opera in 2026, and I love seeing that continue to happen. The best breakdown writer that could have been hired at this soap. Condensing a lot of the stories into one set (Uptown) is excellent. So many moving parts without having to leave the scene. That is classic.

• Pascarelli's eye was very apparent in today's direction. I liked it a lot.

• While I am disappointed we are not seeing the clinic just yet, I am hoping that it becomes a fixture at some point.

• Resounding round of applause to Lauren Buglioli (Vanessa), Alex Cheeks (Donnell), and Angela Fairley (Deanna) for their outstanding work today. That was incredible.

Donnell tried REALLY hard not to break when Deanna read Vanessa for filth and told her (about Joey) "Clearly you're serving it up."

Whew baby. Deanna gave her momma the business and deservedly so.