21 hours ago, GLATWT88 said:

Is it dropped? Or is this another case of a storyline going away to resurface again?

That's what I want to know. Because every time I've mentioned it, it does feel like the first dropped storyline on the show versus a storyline that will pop back up...which always have a hint of about to come back around in dialogue.

I loved the bell ringing scene - it was needed to close out the storyline and it was emotional. Jen Jacobs did a great job explaining it too, while tearing up.

I’m a few episodes behind and I have to say the writing for Ted has ruined any love I had for the Ted/Shanice romance. At one point he’s completely into her, then he will tell anyone who will listen that just kinda likes Shanice, he’s back to making googly eyes at Nicole, and NOW suddenly he wants to romance Shanice again. This is so dumb. How are we supposed to root for them? Or maybe we’re not.

Nicole acting like she should’ve been with her creepy stalker all along and it’s so good they can be together now 🤦🏽‍♂️ but wait she still wants Kial too. Carlton will never not be the creepiest character to me. There is no way to romanticize lusting over your best friend and business partner’s wife for over 20 years.

I hope all of this stuff with Grayson means we’re headed to the end of the plasma story.

June held her own with Leslie and didn't give her the satisfaction of letting her push her buttons. Leslie didn't know what to say.

Further movement in the plasma storyline was a relief. Ashley knowing that Lia Whitmore is dangerous gives the story a big leap forward. Not a spoiler but I will cloak it anyway

I sense that Derek or Grayson might end up dying in the process of saving Ashley. That scene with Derek exiting on the elevator seemed like foreshadowing of something.

Derek having to come grovel to Ashley 🙄. I will always enjoy both of them so much more away from each other.

I still think they need to work on the scene endings. eg When the family was gathered around Anita and she stated she's learned that she loved her family and Vernon more than ever, there was a distant group shot and the scene stopped.

For the culmination of the story I would have liked to see reactions from Dani & Nicole, some sweeping music and finish with a closeup of Vernon/Anita embracing. The scene feels underwhelming because of the direction.

9 hours ago, ReddFoxx said:

June held her own with Leslie and didn't give her the satisfaction of letting her push her buttons. Leslie didn't know what to say.

Further movement in the plasma storyline was a relief. Ashley knowing that Lia Whitmore is dangerous gives the story a big leap forward. Not a spoiler but I will cloak it anyway

I sense that Derek or Grayson might end up dying in the process of saving Ashley. That scene with Derek exiting on the elevator seemed like foreshadowing of something.

If I had to pick one regular/recurring cast member to bite the bullet in the plasma storyline, Derek would be the most obvious choice. He doesn’t have a storyline except as Ashley’s friend and he occasionally spars with Leslie. His character has “heroic death” written all over him.

And if the “Hayley trying to kill Bill” storyline needs a casualty, the writers MUST use the opportunity to kill off Tomas.

Written by:
Teresa Zimmerman
Jazmen Darnell Brown

Directed by:
Steven Williford

original release date: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 | writers: Teresa Zimmerman, Jazmen Darnell Brown | director: Steven Williford

Thoughts:

• Joey, perhaps it is just people being people, or perhaps you should employ a different type of person.

• Looks like Lia's history is coming undone.

• Ashley, I am going to need you to control yourself; now is not the time for you to be losing your mind over this situation.

• Wow... so Madison's suspension did not last that long, did it? If she is back at work, then she should be happier than she appears.

• Well... hello to a creep from the past! I did not expect to see Mike back, and as Hazel Harcourt's attorney? That is a major development.

• Naomi doing her Olivia Pope thing? Are things going to be handled? 🤣 I really wish Ashley would be a bit more logical about things right now, though.

• Bradley, those are famous last words. Be careful about making statements like that, because the opposite tends to happen in reality.

• Not Joey insinuating that Rashad is hooking up with men. That would be an... interesting twist. But Shaquayla is leading Randy to believe otherwise.

• It is good to see that despite his so-called retirement, it did not change how scummy Mike just happens to be. Whew... he is as gross as he was when he was groping female coworkers.

• Homeslice, you are going to press charges when you were the one to instigate the situation? Hilarious. Sir, you are the one who should have charges filed against them.

• Grayson, it is not the right time to place your hand on Ashley's while Lia is overlooking you. No bueno.

• Joey... you are a dirty dog. I just hope that Bradley knows how to get out of this situation; otherwise... it will not end well.

• Ew... it definitely looks like Mike's scummy, low-life ways have not changed at all. Imagine pulling the same s**t that got your ass fired with your former boss' daughter. So gross.

• The idea that Joey is comparing himself to that of Superman is absolutely hilarious.

• Damn. Ashely landed that slap on him. Good on her. And I am surprised Lia stood up for Ashley. I really, really am.

• $40 million? Damn. Mike is ridiculously delusional. He should go smack his empty head on some pavement.

• What is Ashley doing...? And it does not seem like Bradley is entirely picking up what she is poorly hinting at.

• Not both Bill and Naomi turning their heads at the news of Chelsea almost being arrested. That was hilarious and a good way of showing us their relation.

• Lia is wasting zero time getting Grayson into the clinic. The walls must be closing in on her.

• Not Carlton and Nicole skipping work for some afternoon interaction. I mean, good for her! Get it!

Notes:

• Zimmerman and Brown continuing on the high that Natalie Minardi Slater and Judy Tate established yesterday. Great story movement with some great dialogue, as well. Solid work.

• Returning Pierce Lackey as Mike was a great use of history, especially given his involvement in the law firm. That is what I love seeing. No need to introduce someone new; instead, bring in a former actor/character and use that history. Yes!

• Cecelia Specht continues to be chilling in her portrayal of Lia. She was perfectly cast in this short-term role.

At least the writers have finally given Lia a motive for her involvement with the plasma ring. As we know, she is Chief of Staff, so she is both a successful and respected physician and a high level administrator. Until today, I found it difficult to believe someone with such a successful professional career would risk everything on a two-bit plasma smuggling scheme. Now, it makes a little more sense. I only wish the actor would stop telegraphing guilt in every scene. As Chief of Staff, she does have actual duties and responsibilities, and it would be nice to see her occasionally attending to those. Plus she is probably a fairly nice person who's caught in a difficult and unexpected financial situation, and she has chosen an illegal path to regain her retirement fund as she approaches the end of her career. It is really unnecessary for her to be played like an evil mustache-twirling villain who does nothing but harass Grayson and Ashley. Why not let her play some subtext in the form of conflict over her choices?

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Tisy-Lish

Well, I finally made it through the weeks of half week episodes. And just...meh for me.

I will stand by what I said about the plasma storyline. I don't at all like it. AT ALL. I however do like and continue to like the various pieces that are sure to play off from the storyline once it's over. The impact on Martin/Smitty and Grayson/Ashley was what was mostly on my mind. Not to mention the tension between Grayson and Jacob since Jacob is very against Ashley/Grayson. Add on how Naomi and Ashley are BFF...that looks to be messy once the storyline is over. And given the issues that Martin and Smitty had in the first year over secrets, it was great to see the shoe on the other foot with Smitty being the one with a secret. When it comes out, that will lead to trouble for him and Martin and they are overdue some drama this year. Lia is definitely a good villainess and I had liked how they have organically revealed things about her. I had hoped she was the elusive Amanda Lewis, but that appears to be wrong for now. All of these interesting parts, but the storyline is just not interesting as a whole. That it's the main B story over the more interesting (IMHO) cotillion storyline is only reminding me of how last year they put the June B story as a focus over the more developed B story of Doug/Vanessa/Joey to just as mixed results.

And I almost forgot, but Joey entering the plasma storyline as an offshoot of the Martin owing Joey a favor due to Kat and the Chels's kidnapping was surprisingly unexpected, but a good way to keep that plot thread (and Martin's Secret) simmering a little closer to the front burner...especially given the forthcoming crossover that is coming up.

I was here the other day and saw the comments about Andre, Bill, and the investigation and commented. But that was before I saw the Dani/Andre scenes. I didn't mind the fantasy scenes though I'm ready for both of them to have more story meat to chew on. So given how the fantasy scenes started and the dialogue...don't tell me they are about to circle back to that plot thread with all the 'spy' talk. Not saying Andre is a spy, but a spy by their nature is a person with secrets so...hmmmm.

And TeamKat over here. They could never make me hate her. And she had me hollering as she very quickly put a pulse...not only in the plasma storyline, but in the Hayley storyline as well. I loved every minute of her gathering Bill, but I love Bill/Kat scenes in general and have loved the increase in them. Kat stays giving black Veronica Mars and Colby looks great doing so. If they are not going to play the rivalry between her and Eva, at least they are playing up other parts of Kat...her amateur detective skills and how intelligent she is is something that I don't mind seeing. Also...it moves the other plots which have been needed to be moved. I love her more in the Hayley storyline than the plasma storyline, but I really love that her involvement is forcing those stories to move after being stalled since February. She can stay the 'force multipler' (HW fans know) all she wants.

My love of Ted/Shanice continues to drop. I'm sorry, but the Shanice we were introduced to...professional or not...would have snatched Silk Press Sheila up by now. And them having Shanice act like a late 80s/early 90s soap heroine that is scared of her and meek in scenes where she catches her around Ted is not it. And Ted going back to being straight man or just stupid period does not work for me.

Nor does Nicole starting to daydream about him. It is plausible. And quite a few of you made mention in the past about Nicole was just spinning out with Carlton and Kial and eventually her mind would land back on her 30 year marriage. So not surprising. On the anniversary to boot. Nicole just deserves better than Ted. And hahahahahhaah at the information that Carlton barely missed Nicole due to Ted's antics. Which means that yes, Carlton actually did see her first. Makes all of their interactions to date take on a whole new light.

As those were the main stories in the past two half weeks, all I have to say is...when is cotillion? Cuz the struggle is real.

PS. Unless CBS is dropping both episodes later today, I see I will be app watching at some point which means I'll get to this week at a later (and hopefully free time) date.

The Cotillion has lost momentum for me, it should have been a Feb sweeps focused event instead of being dragged to May. With that said, even if it had played out in Feb, I don't really care because it's focusing on two pointless characters (Tyrell & Samantha) when it would have worked better if the show had thought to have Donnell & Deanna be a little younger and on the show from the start so we could have seen the dynamics between Doug/Vanessa/Donnell/Deanna before Doug's 'death' (I still said he's alive out there).

The Plasma story also seemed to hinge on the free clinic, but we've yet to see the clinic nor the players involved in the clinic in a consistent way (i.e. Derek). With Derek being friends with Jacob, it's odd that Derek was kept out of the undercover story.. but being that he's the only one with a working brain.. it's probably why he was kept out of most of the action. Just the way he and Ashley interacted on Monday's episode makes me think Derek is going to be the one to suffer an untimely ending (hopefully as a hero saving everyone).

Another good show today.

Joey and Randy had me chuckling about what they thought was going on in the hotel room.

Ashley needs to learn about discretion.

Mike, wow. He's out of control, but entertaining.

Edited 55 minutes ago55 min by MontyB