9 hours ago, Vee said:

I think the show is fairly character-driven, and I agree with others that MVJ (or someone BTS, anyway) is overly preoccupied with the show not being too driven by plot or stunt action, possibly c/o her years under the Brian Frons regime at GH. She watched the Wards she helped create get wiped out there too. To say nothing of her years dealing with the Forresters on B&B.

The bigger issue is not whether a show is character-driven. It is that many of the characters who are driving daily episodes are not that interesting. Or rather, they haven't been allowed to be. They often speak in platitudes and grand pronouncements (or therapy-speak) while they always reset back to loving their family, their sister, their cousin or spouse or whoever they're with. Eva and Izaiah should be hot, heavy and volatile but they are played like Kristy dating a boy in The Babysitters Club. Jacob and Naomi should be beyond crashing out by now but she vacillates between whining about him and pining for him depending on the day while homeboy is wandering these brick-walled streets looking like Lobot from Empire Strikes Back and telling everyone he is not undercover!

(Lobot a.k.a. Jacob)

I think the show has good bones, many good actors and a lot of raw potential. I agree with @DeliaIrisFan that a lot of the expository, etc. dialogue has been a huge issue from Day 1; it would be one thing if we were getting the long, involved almost one-act play scenes Claire Labine's team used to write with MVJ and co. at GH in the '90s, but nothing here is on par with that, even the better dialogued scenes (which do exist, there's just not enough of them).

I think there's also a very real (and valid) concern about what images they're presenting with the characters with a predominantly Black and Black-led soap, and that may be part of the stumbling blocks in story so far. But on the other end of the spectrum I definitely don't think there is any answer to be found in getting rid of TMG or Leslie lol, one of the few plot activators on the show. The new segment of the audience unused to watching annual year-round soaps will get over living with a regular villain. But I do think it is past time she paid for Laura, and I think someone needs to allow many of the rest of these characters to stop being purely sacrosanct or at times idealized, and let them start getting much messier and much more flawed.

And for Christ's sake, end the Hayley story. This should've reached a climax two months ago. Enough.

Calling Leslie/Dana or even Hayley irredeemable was a poor choice of words on my part, especially because I didn't mean it from a moral standpoint. I'm certainly not saying the characters need to die or go to prison in order for their stories to reach a conclusion that would satisfy me. What I meant was that anyone who is capable of doing what they've already done, especially in such cold and calculating ways, is not going to stop. If anything, they would further escalate, and they're both so self-destructive in different ways that they eventually they would trip up. My issue is that the show seems to be trying to delay and/or prevent that by reducing them to this broad/bumbling "comic relief" material, but in the process we're being deprived of actual story payoff.

It sounds like we're in agreement about Hayley, so I'll limit this to Leslie/Dana. I think there is more pathos there, and certainly more emotional reasons for why she does what she does that we could explore for at least a year or two (certainly for however long soap contracts are now). I'm not sure of the logistics but I could also see her coming and going on a recurring basis like a James Stenbeck or Carl Hutchins, especially now that she has the resources to fake her death, etc.

To play devil's advocate, I could even argue that maybe there is an aspect to her character where she would draw the line at going after someone like Laura, whom she looks down upon, while she might tread more lightly with someone like Nicole or Anita out of self-preservation. And that could realistically extend her shelf life as a main cast member. But I'm not seeing that in how the character is written now - from my perspective, she's gone from dangerous to annoying for no reason other than so we can avoid dealing with the amazing drama the stage was all set for.

I wonder if TPTB's valid concern that you lifted about how Black characters are presented may also be related to to this. I meant what I said about crediting BTG with creating breakout roles for both these actresses. BITD the (almost exclusively white) up and coming performers who burst onto the soap scene as memorable villains could go out in an on-screen blaze of glory and try their luck at primetime or movies, and worst case probably resurface on one of the 10-15 other soaps. I'm not saying either MG or TMG could not go on to even greater success, or that anyone at the show thinks that. Far from it. I'm just recognizing that, especially because of what BTG represents, if a beloved cast member whose career the show helped launch/rejuvenate was written out for story reasons and subsequently got treated badly by the industry, that would really suck. There is no easy way around that, and I also hope this didn't come out wrong...

Writers:
Jamey Giddens
Skyy Sandifer

Director:
Michael V. Pomarico

original release date: Monday, March 30, 2026 | writers: Jamey Giddens, Skyy Sandifer | director: Michael V. Pomarico

Thoughts:

• Naomi, it might be best to reconsider your attempts to see Jacob. She is going to end up putting him in a body bag herself.

• Good on Grayson for trying to preoccupy Ashley from recognising Jacob, as he is disguised as Rashad. Close enough call. This is why the drops should not be in the hospital elevator.

• Not Hayley accusing Tomas of being Mike 2.0, but with clients instead of in-office employees. Girl. You are engaging in a highly risky game.

• Not Bill slamming his phone onto his desk. I was surprised we did not hear that shït shatter into pieces, given how shoddy smartphones are.

• I love how supportive Ashley and Naomi are with each other; they lift each other up and definitely are the best of girlfriends, which everyone should have!

• Oh no, Tomas. Buckle up... because it looks like Hurricane Bill is rolling into town, and you have a one-way ticket to be beneath Dorothy's house in Oz.

• Yes, Lynette! Eat up Katherine and her snot-nosed attitude. Eat. Her. Up.

• Not Martin collecting everyone's cell phones. That is hilarious.

• Katherine genuinely believes she is assisting Tomas, but her actions have only exacerbated the situation.

• Not Grayson letting it slip that his boss is a female... not a good sign. He is becoming too distracted and is letting vital information slip too easily.

Notes:

• UGH. Just when I thought we were in the clear, writer² showed up, and it is a shame that Sandifer has to endure such crap.

Today was good and messy just how I like it

3-25

Now that I had the wiggle room of time to get on CBS app start to finish off last week's episodes...

Anita vs the main Duprees felt a little too real. That said...I loved it!!! I thought everyone brought it. And I loved how the confrontation showed so much of their character. Anita being stubborn and defiant. Dani bringing back that marvelous tension she had with her and Anita when the show first started that the show does not touch on anymore. Nicole and the verbal chess of words that was going on with Anita and some of Daphne's inflections gave me the shivers. And Vernon...poor Vernon.

I had seen some comments about Hayley. And I definitely didn't like the abrupt story shift back to Bill, Hayley, and baby making. And I liked that Hayley (thank you MG!) has gone back to showing the audience how she was NOT for wanting another baby again...the real thing that made that story shift abrupt. That said...I wanted to point out two things.

1) YES, I already said it, but mention again how annoyed and irritated I was that they did St. Barts off-screen. That should have been the climax for that tale (with Dani and Andre roped in if only because of the triangle and the fact that Bill/Dani appear endgame-y). And I love that others have agreed with that thought and run with it. Thank you.

2) That said...the show DID say in story that Hayley had (temporarily) stopped poisoning Bill. There was the scene when Madison brought up there being odd things in Bill's bloodwork and how he had to stop everything...including Hayley's 'herbal tea.' MG did a good job of conveying how she was almost caught. I had hoped that Madison would be the first to start to get clued in to Hayley, but Madison got spun off to Chels drama instead and forgotten. That was followed by Hayley and Randy having a scene where she said she stopped to keep Madison or anyone else off from suspecting what she was doing. She has not ever since. At least...not on screen. It was part of the reason I had hoped that story thread would pick up when Hayley and Bill made it to St. Barts. Adding on Tomas's suspicions and Lynette's involvement and even Bill's attempts to figure out who had 'attacked' Hayley...it was a perfect storm of story...that was mucho ado about nothing. BUT again...one of those moments that it's been mentioned on-screen. But the follow-up writing has been sloppy.

But back to this episode...did they forget that Randy is married? But he's sleeping with Lynette already??? Lord. smh. But it does seem that Lynette is a great vixen for the show which I love. However, it does feel like she is stealing Hayley's thunder...and I wonder if that is intentional. In terms of...Lynette's villainy is going to be used to redeem Hayley's villainy or a way to keep her on the canvas post-climax.

I also loved that Veronica Mars...I mean Kat was back on the case again!!! I love that side of Kat, so I really loved that only after a scene of Tomas talking about how the case of Lynette was closed that she started to figure out what was up with Lynette. And it also gives another character that is slowly clueing into Hayley indirectly. Cuz there's Bill slightly, Joey, Lynette of course, and Tomas. Now...Kat? I hope we are not waiting all the way to May though.

I continue to be shocked at how much I love Shanice and Ted together. I also loved Ted's talk with Anita. But I really liked how much Anita/Bill scenes are bringing back his layers as well.

Serious week so far, but I can't say that I'm bored. And definitely feel invested.

33 minutes ago, Rmodelboy said:

Today was good and messy just how I like it

Same! I loved this episode.

Hey Tomas

43 minutes ago, Cheap21 said:

Hey Tomas

Hahahahaha!!! @Maxim come get your girl!!!

I'm glad Kat has something to do besides hate on Eva and be jealous of Chelsea. She was becoming insufferable as someone who is miserable in her own life so has to be mad and petty at others. Also, the romance with Tomas just isn't there. Tomas just needs to be her monotone gay best friend that works at her uncle's firm - I'm over his ass. Now, Kat can go on and do her little Nancy Drew-ing and put two and two together on Hayley since Bill can't seem to figure it out.

Naomi is just dumb. I get she misses her man, but do you want him killed? The fact you are getting a response on a burner should suffice.

Martin (Lawrence) and (Will) Smitty are supposed to be giving relationship drama, but I really don't care. Maybe that can blow up at the cotillion too.

On a positive note today's show good.

Haley is so dirty, I can't wait until Bill finds out he was duped.

I hope they plan on keeping Lynette around. She's dirty too, but in a good way.

Edited March 30Mar 30 by MontyB

3 minutes ago, MontyB said:

I hope they plan on keeping Lynette around. She's dirty too, but I'm a good way.

Well, the show will always need a scheming Have-Not and she's giving that and looking good, messy, and fierce doing it.

-- Lynette is a good new character, and I want her to make Hayley miserable.

-- I still love me some Kat. I love the way she gets messy with other people.

-- Tomas is a complete nerve tap, but I find myself siding with him when Hayley starts with her lies. Bill comes off like a buffoon for believing her and for believing in her.

-- Naomi is ridiculous. Between her constant calls to Jacob and Jacob's own stupidity....well, you know. If only Naomi cared about him this much during the show's first year.

-- With Ashley's and Grayson's main desk kiss at the hospital, we're still getting ridiculous HR violations at Garland. It's all beyond inappropriate.

-- The plasma exchange at Garland is SO absurd that I have no words. On the elevator? On the floor where the main desk is? Where Ashley works? It's all so poorly written.

-- The more scenes we get with Jacob, Grayson, and others standing by that brick wall, the more laughable it all becomes. Isn't this why people have burners? They need to move quickly on this storyline, because it's awful.

-- The family scenes with Smitty, Martin, Samantha, and Tyrell were cringe, from the pizza night that wasn't to all of them giving up their phones for 45 seconds. Their scenes usually play better than this, so I have to blame the script. None of it felt real.

-- And just why is Smitty always on his phone anyway? Makes no sense.

6 hours ago, DeliaIrisFan said:

It sounds like we're in agreement about Hayley, so I'll limit this to Leslie/Dana. I think there is more pathos there, and certainly more emotional reasons for why she does what she does that we could explore for at least a year or two (certainly for however long soap contracts are now). I'm not sure of the logistics but I could also see her coming and going on a recurring basis like a James Stenbeck or Carl Hutchins, especially now that she has the resources to fake her death, etc.

I would not write Leslie out in that way myself. Unlike Hayley who I think could come back for future on/off stints but needs to leave the regular canvas, I don't think TMG needs to become a recurring player as she's been one of the breakout stars. The issue is simply making Leslie pay for some of her crimes. She could easily do a white-collar Martha Stewart prison or a sanitarium arc as part of that while remaining on contract.

The other problem with what they've done with Leslie is how janky the writing can be day to day. Leslie vacillates between a) genuine tears and emotion about her hard-done life, upbringing and struggles as a young parent and b) mustache twirling camp often in the same episode. Plenty of soap villains or antiheroes have fluctuated from day to day, but there is no real transition for Leslie allowed in the writing. She is either in Gear A or Gear B depending on the day or even just the scene, like flipping a switch. TMG can play all of it, but the writing has not allowed for nuance. There's simply a) "here is a scene where Leslie is being wacky and conniving" or b) "here is a scene where Leslie is showing pathos, sympathize with her". It's awkward.

Like, say what you will about Ron Carlivati's messy work at his other soaps but even he allowed some air and subtlety between his scenes where he expected people to feel for his crazier villain characters at GH or OLTL. It's not great when I'm looking back at his less than stellar tenure with Robin Mattson's Heather Webber or Kathleen Gati's evil Dr. Obrecht and the beats where he'd allow them to be human that I used to roll my eyes at, and suddenly I'm thinking 'yeah, that's what Leslie needs.'

6 hours ago, DeliaIrisFan said:

I wonder if TPTB's valid concern that you lifted about how Black characters are presented may also be related to to this.

tbqh I wonder if it's an NAACP note.

2 hours ago, ranger1rg said:

I still love me some Kat.

You're not alone. I am never not TeamKat.

3 hours ago, GLATWT88 said:

I'm glad Kat has something to do besides hate on Eva and be jealous of Chelsea. She was becoming insufferable as someone who is miserable in her own life so has to be mad and petty at others. Also, the romance with Tomas just isn't there. Tomas just needs to be her monotone gay best friend that works at her uncle's firm - I'm over his ass. Now, Kat can go on and do her little Nancy Drew-ing and put two and two together on Hayley since Bill can't seem to figure it out.

If they are not going to keep with nuances with the character when it comes to her rivalry with Eva...then same. I do love that they have continued with Kat's throughline of loving true crime so much that she comes across like a black (and rich) Veronica Mars. That was one of the best things about her going against Silk Press Sheila. It's almost a shame that she is not in story with her sidekick Jacob. Well, yet.

23 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

You're not alone. I am never not TeamKat.

If they are not going to keep with nuances with the character when it comes to her rivalry with Eva...then same. I do love that they have continued with Kat's throughline of loving true crime so much that she comes across like a black (and rich) Veronica Mars. That was one of the best things about her going against Silk Press Sheila. It's almost a shame that she is not in story with her sidekick Jacob. Well, yet.

Yes! I was like come on Kat let's see you dig up that dirt on Lynette and Hayley. It was fun.