14 hours ago, ranger1rg said:

I did. I loved Gina as Phyllis, and thought that Y&R really did her dirty.

I know it's been 7 years, but I never miss her more than I do now -- when we're getting all of Michelle Stafford's worst acting tics all the time and all over the place. It's just lazy to me, and I don't care how many Emmy noms they throw at her.

She did such an amazing job as Phyllis and actually made the character likable. Now, on the rare occasion I turn into Y&R, I find the character irritating. Of course, the writing doesn't help in the least.

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

than is a strange character to bring back. He has ties to the canvas of course, but I don't think he was utilized well the first time around either. He lingered on the canvas for a while with a fairly boring pairing with Maya and mostly hung out with Johnny Z toward the end. NP(D) is charismatic enough as an actor, but I don't think he had a huge fan base or anything. His entire existence and back story are fairly polarizing.

As much as I loved him on ROSWELL, it does feel weird to have Nathan Dean back. And moreso after the misuse of JJ and Lucky. Cuz surely they are not going to use the 'fake' Spencer brother better than the real Spencer brother, right?

Oh, well...he will be pretty to look at from the one picture I've seen, still sporting the short do he had on the last season of ROSWELL where the storyline gave him some actual swagger.

1 hour ago, Taoboi said:

As much as I loved him on ROSWELL, it does feel weird to have Nathan Dean back. And moreso after the misuse of JJ and Lucky. Cuz surely they are not going to use the 'fake' Spencer brother better than the real Spencer brother, right?

Oh, well...he will be pretty to look at from the one picture I've seen, still sporting the short do he had on the last season of ROSWELL where the storyline gave him some actual swagger.

I don't really have an issue with Nathan Dean. I think he's good and has charm. The character just isn't my favorite. I am going out on a limb and assuming ND is a bit more easy going as far as storyline choices than JJ. JJ seemed to have a very specific idea about what he wanted Lucky to be and for whatever reason that wasn't accomplished. Ethan was never as iconic as Lucky so it's probably easier to write for him.

I do think Ethan is a pretty blatant Lucky replacement, both back in the day and now lol. Once JJ returned Ethan didn't really have much to do and became superfluous.

If you put a gun to my head I'd rather have Jonathan back, but ND/Ethan I don't mind having around. I think he could activate some characters and shake things up a bit. I just wish it wasn't at Lucky's expense.

31 minutes ago, carolineg said:

I don't really have an issue with Nathan Dean. I think he's good and has charm. The character just isn't my favorite. I am going out on a limb and assuming ND is a bit more easy going as far as storyline choices than JJ. JJ seemed to have a very specific idea about what he wanted Lucky to be and for whatever reason that wasn't accomplished. Ethan was never as iconic as Lucky so it's probably easier to write for him.

I didn't pay Ethan any mind until he cut his hair myself, but why use a knock-off Lucky when the real Lucky can be used was how I always saw Ethan...which is nothing against Nathan who grew on me from his stunts on THE ORIGINALS and ROSWELL. And don't get me started on how Ethan should be Robert and Holly's kid anyway. Basically my way of saying...just like a certain brunette...we are both on the same page when it comes to Ethan.

I mean that does make sense. JJ has known the character of Lucky forever. And while not all actors should be dictating stories, I feel he would know better than the writers what the audience would like from a return. We even have his latest return as a case in point. But...Frank is gonna Frank.

I fully expect that whatever was being planned for Lucky will now be what Ethan will be getting story-wise. If so, expect shade from this corner. :)

I mean, I think it was obvious they were going to attempt Kristina/Lucky, so Ethan fits in for that purpose lol. A messy Kristina/Michael/Ethan/Jacinda quad isn't the worst idea except for Jacinda lol.

We can go on and on about the show squandering JJ, but it is what it is. I appreciate JJ tried to stand up for the character's integrity at least.

The one thread I would like the show to pick back up was Laura/Ethan. The few scenes they had I really liked. Laura being kind to him and Ethan being awkward about his whole existence worked for me.

And, yes, if they were going to give Holly/Robert a kid it should have been Ethan.

14 minutes ago, carolineg said:

A messy Kristina/Michael/Ethan/Jacinda quad isn't the worst idea except for Jacinda lol.

You know me sooooo well.

14 minutes ago, carolineg said:

We can go on and on about the show squandering JJ, but it is what it is. I appreciate JJ tried to stand up for the character's integrity at least.

I will never not have sour grapes about that...the very year that I wished that all of Laura's kids were back in town at the same time. Not to mention a single Liz with her also-single main love interests being back in town at the same time, too. Given how it was fumbled, Frank deserves all of my wrath. He's lucky I have calm down enough to only give 'a little bit' lol.

17 minutes ago, carolineg said:

The one thread I would like the show to pick back up was Laura/Ethan. The few scenes they had I really liked. Laura being kind to him and Ethan being awkward about his whole existence worked for me.

Just because I have sour grapes doesn't mean that I don't find this intriguing. And possible. Because Lulu and Ethan had a good brother/sister relationship so it should be easy to rope Laura into scenes as well.

18 minutes ago, carolineg said:

And, yes, if they were going to give Holly/Robert a kid it should have been Ethan.

Amen.

44 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

You know me sooooo well.

I will never not have sour grapes about that...the very year that I wished that all of Laura's kids were back in town at the same time. Not to mention a single Liz with her also-single main love interests being back in town at the same time, too. Given how it was fumbled, Frank deserves all of my wrath. He's lucky I have calm down enough to only give 'a little bit' lol.

Just because I have sour grapes doesn't mean that I don't find this intriguing. And possible. Because Lulu and Ethan had a good brother/sister relationship so it should be easy to rope Laura into scenes as well.

Amen.

Lol! We all can have sour grapes about JJ's return. I just suspect we will never get real answers on why it all fell apart.

Havins does really well creating the feeling that she has known these people for years. She immediately clicked with her entire family and it's so rare to see. But, you know, she gets awful writing.

I am not saying Laura should really even have a huge part in Ethan's story, but I loved how magnanimous she was with him and Ethan was slightly disarmed she was so gracious. It was a nice change from his sometimes goofy swagger. It was a real moment instead of Luke repeating Laura trapped him and dragged him down.

7 hours ago, carolineg said:

7 hours ago, carolineg said:

Jacinda being in Australia isn't a new thing. It was established she went there after Nina paid her off for drugging Drew, but you are probably right about her and Ethan.

Ethan is a strange character to bring back. He has ties to the canvas of course, but I don't think he was utilized well the first time around either. He lingered on the canvas for a while with a fairly boring pairing with Maya and mostly hung out with Johnny Z toward the end. NP(D) is charismatic enough as an actor, but I don't think he had a huge fan base or anything. His entire existence and back story are fairly polarizing.

Jacinda being in Australia isn't a new thing. It was established she went there after Nina paid her off for drugging Drew, but you are probably right about her and Ethan.

Ethan is a strange character to bring back. He has ties to the canvas of course, but I don't think he was utilized well the first time around either. He lingered on the canvas for a while with a fairly boring pairing with Maya and mostly hung out with Johnny Z toward the end. NP(D) is charismatic enough as an actor, but I don't think he had a huge fan base or anything. His entire existence and back story are fairly polarizing.

I personally really loved the potential of Kristina and Ethan during his original run, and I think it’s one of GH’s biggest fumbles in recent memory. I don’t know if I can stomach them finally doing that pairing with Kate Mansi’s version of Kristina because I find her insufferable in the role.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by SamandWillowFan

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

We all can have sour grapes about JJ's return. I just suspect we will never get real answers on why it all fell apart.

You're right that we won't get real answers. I might be completely off base, but I blame both JJ and Frank/TPTB at GH. I think this is what happens when you give actors a say in their story.

I think GH wanted Jackson back so badly that they gave him as much story approval as possible, as well as the ability to reject whatever he didn't like. This is prime evidence that never works. The entire canvas that character come in contact with is affected.

We've suspected multiple actors over the years have been given this story approval, and this isn't something we really accuse other soaps of doing. Where there's smoke, there's fire -- whether it's with wardrobe or sex scenes or wardrobe worn during sex scenes, or who characters are paired with romantically. Some days I wonder how they write around all these demands and requests and contract items.

So I blame the show and I blame JJ. I have no doubt his return would have been better if he'd made no requests or demands. The show would have been better, too.

And yeah, I know the Academy threw another Emmy at him, but that's another story -- just more proof that the Daytime Emmys will always be a mess.

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

Havins does really well creating the feeling that she has known these people for years. She immediately clicked with her entire family and it's so rare to see. But, you know, she gets awful writing.

I'm not an AH fan, but even I can't fathom why Frank insists on giving her the shaft when it's clear she has many, devoted fans and appears to be clicking with her on-camera family better than anyone else who's played Lulu.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Khan

2 hours ago, carolineg said:

The one thread I would like the show to pick back up was Laura/Ethan. The few scenes they had I really liked. Laura being kind to him and Ethan being awkward about his whole existence worked for me.

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

I am not saying Laura should really even have a huge part in Ethan's story, but I loved how magnanimous she was with him and Ethan was slightly disarmed she was so gracious. It was a nice change from his sometimes goofy swagger. It was a real moment instead of Luke repeating Laura trapped him and dragged him down.

I think one reason why those scenes might have worked was due to Laura's own, complicated history of learning she'd been adopted and that Lesley, and not Barbara Vining, was her biological mother. But that might be just me reading too much into things, lol.

And I think JJ's most recent return fell apart the same way a lot of things that FV engineers with actors fall apart. He promises these actors the moon and stars, but the actors realize too late that he's basically playing a shell game with them. Just ask Susan Haskell, lol.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Khan

1 hour ago, carolineg said:

Lol! We all can have sour grapes about JJ's return. I just suspect we will never get real answers on why it all fell apart.

Havins does really well creating the feeling that she has known these people for years. She immediately clicked with her entire family and it's so rare to see. But, you know, she gets awful writing.

I am not saying Laura should really even have a huge part in Ethan's story, but I loved how magnanimous she was with him and Ethan was slightly disarmed she was so gracious. It was a nice change from his sometimes goofy swagger. It was a real moment instead of Luke repeating Laura trapped him and dragged him down.

As much as I love Rory and Van, Alexa has gone down as my favorite of the recent recasts. You know I rag on these writers, but the Lulu return arc was near perfection for me. I agree Lulu woke up, and Alexa acted every inch of what JMB Lulu used to be. A strong, resourceful Spencer! Also a maddening one....lol. And Alexa has continued to act like she has always been Lulu. And Alexa really knows how to emote. I had hoped the next step in her story would be Lulu adjusting to the fact that four years had passed since she was in a coma and life still went on. Alexa was killing it with what little they had on the screen about it and she definitely played the subtext of it...which came in handy when the writers went ahead and started Lulu vs BLQ leading to the Gio secret. It was really the only way to humanize Lulu which I felt (even when Lulu was irking me during the Gio stuff) Alexa did superb throughout.

Oh. I see. That just intrigues me more. I've never seen scenes between them.

Wasn't JJ's return greenlit while PM (and whoever was in charge unseen to make PM return to GH happen) was in charge? Same for the Lulu recast. Perhaps a different kind of plan would have happened if PM had still been writing?

I think the rumor was someone higher up forced FV's hand to hire JJ back and recast Lulu and he wasn't thrilled about it.

@ranger1rg I do think JJ was very particular about his wants and needs for Lucky. I don't know if it was right or wrong, but it was clear the writers/Frank and JJ weren't on the same page. There was also the very last minute recast for arguably the biggest Lucky/Liz scene in JJ's entire return.