36 minutes ago, Aback said:

• : another typo with their phone graphics. It's so amateurish.
  

  

Again, whoever's phone this is could be someone who does not know how to spell 'caffeine'.

1 hour ago, Liberty City said:

Again, whoever's phone this is could be someone who does not know how to spell 'caffeine'.

? Maybe I missed something but the message supposedly comes from the Caffeine Fix official number. Which the recipient has not saved which is why it says 'Maybe' first.

I don't think it's a secret how much I love BTG. I'm also aware that the show is not perfect but honestly what show is??? I watch the other four soaps but the difference with BTG is I'm entertained everyday and most definitely look forward to each episode. I can't say the same about some of the others. I watch more out of habit.

BTG has very much established itself as a real contender to becoming a cultural sensation IMO. I'm just enjoying the ride.

I do think there is a real aversion (maybe based on the later years MVJ spent at GH in the 2000s, which became mired in stunts, violence and misogyny) to having too much driving action in the show. The creative team clearly wanted to get back to doing a soap with heartfelt conversations, positive messaging and educating the audience, making sure the characters come off warm with each other as opposed to being cardboard cutouts or just stereotypes or certain soap cliches.

Those notions are all admirable to a point, and I do think a soap should have heartfelt conversations and strive to educate the audience as Agnes Nixon or Labine always did. But there's a difference between educating organically through story and being didactic, or having every third or fourth conversation come off like therapyspeak or an infomercial. Which a lot of material on the show often does. Or constantly reinforcing the positive messaging about how much the Duprees love each other and are there for each other, etc etc. I get that MVJ wants to make sure this family does not end up how the Quartermaines or Wards did on GH 20 years ago (whereas the Qs are replenished today), a bitter, desolate wasteland on canvas, and that they're important to her. And I understand the reluctance to lean into Fronsian stunts or too much macho action. But the show, while enjoyable for me, often seems to shun too much hard action or propulsive movement for fear it will come off stunt-happy, cliched or overly masculine.

The most exciting moment in ages was Jacob walking into that elevator with Grayson. And Kat and Eva should go at it hammer and tongs in a dedicated workplace storyline with their feud being the focus, but instead they just keep having the same conversations with or about each other. A lot of conversations won't cover for harder action and bigger moves - in business, against rivals, with the police or criminals, etc. That's what needs to ramp up for me, in addition to the set issues. Talking through it in the most positive and life-affirming ways possible while 90% of the characters make sure the other person feels seen is not gonna get you there.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Vee

I agree with everyone. We need movement. The show can drag, because we are often subjected to exposition rather than seeing things play out.

I really don't know what can be done about sets. I guess 27 is a lot, but the actual BTG world feels very small. Naomi and Eva have been at Orphey's so much lately. I'm also like dang how much Orphey Gene's do these characters eat? We know they're not ordering the salad.

Joey's backroom could have been Martin's campaign office. They gave Andre's set to Joey so Vanessa could sex him up for two episodes. Is the cabin where Chelsea was held hostage another set redressed? If not, why isn't that being used?

I'm not sure what sets would make this show feel more dynamic, but I think it would help a lot.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by GLATWT88

IA. It would've been a lot more meaningful to see the animosity on the court between Kial and Carlton, not be told about it second hand. It's always too much build up and not enough follow through. The gala Winterfest was a HUGE disappointment. And while I get that it's hard to predict location shooting, a couple of outdoor scenes would make a huge difference.

1 hour ago, Vee said:

do think there is a real aversion (maybe based on the later years MVJ spent at GH in the 2000s, which became mired in stunts, violence and misogyny) to having too much driving action in the show. The creative team clearly wanted to get back to doing a soap with heartfelt conversations, positive messaging and educating the audience, making sure the characters come off warm with each other as opposed to being cardboard cutouts or just stereotypes or certain soap cliches.

Those notions are all admirable to a point, and I do think a soap should have heartfelt conversations and strive to educate the audience as Agnes Nixon or Labine always did. But there's a difference between educating organically through story and being didactic, or having every third or fourth conversation come off like therapyspeak or an infomercial. Which a lot of material on the show often does. Or constantly reinforcing the positive messaging about how much the Duprees love each other and are there for each other, etc etc. I get that MVJ wants to make sure this family does not end up how the Quartermaines or Wards did on GH 20 years ago (whereas the Qs are replenished today), a bitter, desolate wasteland on canvas, and that they're important to her. And I understand the reluctance to lean into Fronsian stunts or too much macho action. But the show, while enjoyable for me, often seems to shun too much hard action or propulsive movement for fear it will come off stunt-happy, cliched or overly masculine.

The most exciting moment in ages was Jacob walking into that elevator with Grayson. And Kat and Eva should go at it hammer and tongs in a dedicated workplace storyline with their feud being the focus, but instead they just keep having the same conversations with or about each other. A lot of conversations won't cover for harder action and bigger moves - in business, against rivals, with the police or criminals, etc. That's what needs to ramp up for me, in addition to the set issues. Talking through it in the most positive and life-affirming ways possible while 90% of the characters make sure the other person feels seen is not gonna get you there.

ita with all of this. things can get very preachy, with a lot of telling rather than showing.

and the choppy pacing has been an issue from the beginning: stories are introduced then dropped, sometimes reappearing, sometimes not; characters not appearing for weeks.

17 minutes ago, P.J. said:

IA. It would've been a lot more meaningful to see the animosity on the court between Kial and Carlton, not be told about it second hand. It's always too much build up and not enough follow through. The gala Winterfest was a HUGE disappointment. And while I get that it's hard to predict location shooting, a couple of outdoor scenes would make a huge difference.

I didn't have an issue with not seeing the game; sports can be tricky to depict on a soap. WinterFest I blamed on the renewal period and their likely having to pivot from it being a possible end of the show to extending their storylines. But if they flub the cotillion (which is running long as an arc) or clinic stuff then they'll clearly have real issues with climaxes.

I have much bigger issues with their not yet being a Phoenix Street set or Leslie's mansion. Those need to happen. And the D'Angelo Barksdale Memorial Corner needs to not be the only dedicated story environment for the Impaler stuff. At least move more of it into the hospital.

2 hours ago, Aback said:

? Maybe I missed something but the message supposedly comes from the Caffeine Fix official number. Which the recipient has not saved which is why it says 'Maybe' first.

I wouldn't know anything about that, as most things come in as "spam" or "unknown number", but I do know Apple does misspell shït all the time, so it would not surprise me.

2 hours ago, skiman12082004 said:

I don't think it's a secret how much I love BTG. I'm also aware that the show is not perfect but honestly what show is??? I watch the other four soaps but the difference with BTG is I'm entertained everyday and most definitely look forward to each episode. I can't say the same about some of the others. I watch more out of habit.

BTG has very much established itself as a real contender to becoming a cultural sensation IMO. I'm just enjoying the ride.

^^ This. All of this. It is classic soap telling. It feels pre-Dynasty to me, which I like. Classic. Timeless.

1 hour ago, Vee said:

I didn't have an issue with not seeing the game; sports can be tricky to depict on a soap. WinterFest I blamed on the renewal period and their likely having to pivot from it being a possible end of the show to extending their storylines. But if they flub the cotillion (which is running long as an arc) or clinic stuff then they'll clearly have real issues with climaxes.

I have much bigger issues with their not yet being a Phoenix Street set or Leslie's mansion. Those need to happen. And the D'Angelo Barksdale Memorial Corner needs to not be the only dedicated story environment for the Impaler stuff. At least move more of it into the hospital.

Maybe a basketball court set is too big an expense for that specific of a function, but a couple of shots of balls going through hoops, guys dribbling and bumping into each other until some blow up happened between Kial and Carlton doesn't seem that hard.

Even the confrontation between Vanessa and Deanna was a let down to me. While Vanessa has gone on about Deanna for the past six months, that's not a substitute to seeing their relationship. I needed to see Deanna figure out that Vanessa was sleeping with Joey over more than three episodes. (or actually one)

I just need the plot over Leslie's mansion to disappear. It's stupid.

I hate to say it, but I kind of miss Bob Guza being a co-head writer on this show because during the first 150 episodes he was there.. there was definite movement/events happening mixed in with conversations.

I also enjoy BTG. I only make time for it and Y&R on a regular basis and agree that it is an entertaining watch.

Some great actors, strong scenes and interesting stories.

And the advantage of not being saddled with decades of plot and characters past their use by date.

But I'm not blind to the fact that there are faults that need to be addressed and corrected. It's frustrating when certain plot points are presented and you wonder-why did they make that choice.

Maybe I'm just more critical than others who seem to think the show can do no wrong and any criticism is hating and unjustified.

I think they fumbled all 3 big initial plots. There has been no fallout from the Martin story-his career should have been derailed and he has to win back trust etc.

Leslie had just become a nuisance-there should have some come-uppance. Having endless bags of money at this stage isn't working. It would have been more realistic had she spent up big and soon found out the well had run dry. That would have put her back in the have not category and scheming to get ahead.

And Bill/Hayley has fizzled out-the reveal of her true nature was good but the poisoning was never explained and the constant public meet up with Randy...Feb sweeps should have seen some drama with Hayley accelerating the plan and maybe accidentally taking poison herself or Bill discovering something about her past that she had to wriggle out of-something that would up the stakes.

And the couples aren't really facing any conflict. Kat /Tomas have a few minor disagreements as do Chelsea/Madison etc

We need some obstacles and couples torn apart fighting to get back together.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Paul Raven

I agree with a lot of that, @Paul Raven . I do think Leslie's comeuppance has been far too foreshadowed not to be coming eventually, particularly re: Laura. They keep coming back to that in dialogue week after week. But I think they should have given us a few more smaller losses for her before now. Yes, she's become a town buffoon who got stood up on Valentine's and is painted as a rich loser, but you can let her take some more solid hits before the big showdown. When you're dealing with a partially new audience who also isn't used to soap villains hanging around you should make some allowances. I don't want to lose Leslie and quite frankly neither does the audience, even the ones who think they're sick of her (soap 101), but I do want her to finally pay for Laura. It needs to happen in May sweeps, it's been long enough.

The Martin thing I think they are holding in reserve because Joey knows full well what happened and what the Duprees allowed him to do, and he is covering it up. When Joey goes down they do. So I'm fine with that.

Bill and Hayley are just spinning their wheels and I find that story tedious at this point. She should've ramped things up and possibly been exposed by now. What is that story even about at this point. She's back to whining about Bill every week.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Vee

20 minutes ago, Paul Raven said:

I also enjoy BTG. I only make time for it and Y&R on a regular basis and agree that it is an entertaining watch.

Some great actors, strong scenes and interesting stories.

And the advantage of not being saddled with decades of plot and characters past their use by date.

But I'm not blind to the fact that there are faults that need to be addressed and corrected. It's frustrating when certain plot points are presented and you wonder-why did they make that choice.

Maybe I'm just more critical than others who seem to think the show can do no wrong and any criticism is hating and unjustified.

I think they fumbled all 3 big initial plots. There has been no fallout from the Martin story-his career should have been derailed and he has to win back trust etc.

Leslie had just become a nuisance-there should have some come-uppance. Having endless bags of money at this stage isn't working. It would have been more realistic had she spent up big and soon found out the well had run dry. That would have put her back in the have not category and scheming to get ahead.

And Bill/Hayley has fizzled out-the reveal of her true nature was good but the poisoning was never explained and the constant public meet up with Randy...Feb sweeps should have seen some drama with Hayley accelerating the plan and maybe accidentally taking poison herself or Bill discovering something about her past that she had to wriggle out of-something that would up the stakes.

And the couples aren't really facing any conflict. Kat /Tomas have a few minor disagreements as do Chelsea/Madison etc

We need some obstacles and couples torn apart fighting to get back together.

You'll get pushback from posters who think everything is brilliant, from breakdowns to scripts to sets to acting to plotting and pacing, but you're correct about all of it.

I enjoy the show, but there are problems. I point them out on other shows, and I'm not going to pretend BTG is somehow doing everything right.

"No fallout" is a huge problem, and I'm just not a fan of dangling unfinished storylines and returning to them 6 months later. I expect to see Laura for a couple episodes every 3 months. I wouldn't be surprised if Allison walks back in, or even Doug.

MVJ seems to be infatuated with Jon Lindstrom, so I guess Joey will continue to crime all over town and control all the POC. Movement is past due on the Hayley story, as well as whatever is going on with Vanessa.

Meanwhile, new characters are added all over the place. Are we heading for cast bloat like at GH?