Can't believe I'm going to say this, but I do hope Derek doesn't die. It does not mean I want him and Ashley ever back together. I've just enjoyed him better outside the firefighter/Ashley orbit.

If Lia dies, it would bring up the opportunity for a new Chief of Staff at Garland...enter new character...possibly tied to Joey...who might still be the Impaler.

I can't wait to stop hearing Jacob's street talk. It's eye-rolling. At least Smitty wasn't at the warehouse and a potential casualty.

Today's episode was definitely one of the best the show has done from beginning to end. Other eps have had great moments, but not as cohesive throughout. It had better be submitted for the Emmys.

I even enjoyed the cotillion which I did not expect. After the Winterfest let down, I was prepared for this to be another blink-and-you-miss it moment. The whole thing was great considering the daytime budget.

June catching the kid drinking and then Tyrell and Jessica sneaking off. Why do I think a drunk-driving thing is going to come up? The kids shouldn't have snuck off. June should have done something about the drinking. Seems like it's a potential story. (I don't read spoilers so this is speculation on my part,)

Deanna showing up at the end was a surprise and I love the all-black. I thought it fit her "rebellious" streak. I was expecting her to call out her mom and Joey in front of everyone again. I guess there's always tomorrow. lol

Hey, the topic is off mac-n-cheese for a bit! lol

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Melroser

Lia doesn't need to die to be out of the job. She's done at Garland (and likely on the show) no matter what happens.

I do hope they install Monica permanently on the canvas, and maybe dig up her lost love who was 'unsuitable.' Possibly a black sheep relation of Vernon or Anita's. I could stand to see both Shanice/Monica and Mona's families opened up much more on canvas.

I also think Francesca has real potential. Ol' Sammy is only going to go so far.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Vee

52 minutes ago, Vee said:

I'll get to the rest of the show later but some of this stuff was really giving Wildwind days from AMC. IYKYK. Gorgeous.

Great call out here - I see it.

9 minutes ago, Tisy-Lish said:

I think the police officers outside were waiting for Jacob to open the door and leave it ajar. Wasn't that the agreed upon signal to move in and make arrests? But when they heard gun shots, they stormed in without waiting on the signal. Am I correct about this?

I think you're right, but I still don't think the story holds up under any kind of scrutiny, and no, "It's a soap" isn't enough.

When was Jacob going to crack that door? When all the VIPs showed up? Does he even know who the VIPs are? The writers are counting on us not to think about any of this seriously.

For months we got nothing but a brick wall. The huge warehouse is cool, but we needed to see it before, with a much better story. We never even saw Grayson or Jacob go to that warehouse or talk about it. And what has Smitty done except check his phone for texts?

As I've said, I appreciate production having a lot of action today to cover up the bad, bad story.

6 hours ago, Cheap21 said:

I think he's doing generic random man #3 hood accent

Today he sounded exactly like Quita from The Have and the Have Nots. I chuckled. Hopefully, Rashad is being put away for a long time being.

5 minutes ago, MontyB said:

Hopefully, Rashad is being put away for a long time being.

I'll miss him. Maybe he'll suffer a brain injury and suddenly whenever it's rainy or he hears a loud noise, Rashad will pop out mid-conversation or passionate lovemaking with Jacob's boring wife. "Fo sho! Bet!"

They did start showing the warehouse IIRC around the time Grayson got shivved. But that was not that long ago and they should've been putting it to more use before now.

9 hours ago, Taoboi said:

But I believe everyone around these parts know how I feel about ponytails...especially if there is a diva toss

A diva hair toss?

I can't remember the last diva hair toss on BtG. Chelsea maybe in a photoshoot early in the show's run.

10 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

I think you're right, but I still don't think the story holds up under any kind of scrutiny, and no, "It's a soap" isn't enough.

You will never hear me use the phrase, "It's just a soap", or "It's a soap". That's just a way of saying, "it's acceptable for soap operas to use bad writing, because it's just a soap." That attitude gets my panties in a wad...

When was Jacob going to crack that door? When all the VIPs showed up? Does he even know who the VIPs are? The writers are counting on us not to think about any of this seriously.

I'm no expert on police procedures, but I assumed Jacob had been trained in under-cover work, and would recognize when enough evidence had been exposed, and when to call in the outside officers (crack the door). Aren't all under-cover officers trained to do this?

For months we got nothing but a brick wall. The huge warehouse is cool, but we needed to see it before, with a much better story. We never even saw Grayson or Jacob go to that warehouse or talk about it. And what has Smitty done except check his phone for texts?

Agreed, the brick wall (day after day) soon became ridiculous. But if they had done some minimal location shooting, alternating with the stairwell and the brick wall, it would have been acceptable to me.

3 minutes ago, kalbir said:

A diva hair toss?

I can't remember the last diva hair toss on BtG. Chelsea maybe in a photoshoot early in the show's run.

I'm still waiting for a moment that gives us what Karen Huger did in this BTG promo at the 1:20 mark.

Saw mixed reviews about Deanna all dressed in black.

I loved it. She looked awesome and it was an obvious homage to Doug.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by MontyB

What impressed me the most --- aside from the choreography, of course -- is the realization that BTG has fleshed-out its recurring cast enough to build an entire HUGE event around them. Every one of those kids -- Tyrell, Samantha, Jessica, Donnell, Nate Dogg, Francesca, Deanna -- they're all recurring characters, but there they all were, in the biggest event of the year.

And I thought it was clever of the writers to build that whole arc around "where is Donnell?!" When he finally appeared, I was reminded again how much I like his character and the actor who plays him.

I thought Deanna was beautiful in her black outfit.

And I loved how Andre "rearranged" the tableau of Samantha's grandfolks photo so that Ted was next to Miss Beautiful.

Today's episode made amends for Winterfest imo. The cotillion scenes were fun and the intercuts with the warehouse scenes helped paper over the long-running deficiencies of the plasma ring storyline (which, thankfully, appears to be coming to an end). I know some believe all I do is critique but I am not going to critique how the actual scenes were filmed and edited. It's not 1980s soap operas, it is what it is.

There were mixed reviews on a few of the non-debs outfits but I thought they did well and was surprised to hear that some people didn't like Kat's look. Her eye makeup and silhouette definitely made me think of this video.

And I loved Deanna's Odile/"Black Swan" look. Very fitting and a nice surprise that she appeared.

I enjoyed Jamaica Craft's choreography, she was working with limited time and budget and made it fun and the overhead shots showing the formations were a nice touch. The camera work on the choreography wasn't bad, usually, with non-dance oriented camera operators, they cut off the lower half of the dancers at critical moments, which drives me crazy, but maybe Craft worked with the director. I thought there would be a Daddy/daughter dance like these balls usually have, maybe that's still coming? If not, those scenes with Martin and Smitty practicing would have wasted valuable screen time.

Hopefully Nellie Oleson, I mean Francesca doesn't get into a car with her drunken escort.

This is purely speculation but

Jessica might be forced to attend school closer to home at Banneker, if she's injured and has to do rehab with Shanice? Hopefully, there will be some investment in student lounge and small classroom for Banneker since we could have 5 characters and 2 faculty members attending.

Speaking of Jessica, her introduction reminded me of Miss Grand Thailand.

Ooooo loving hearing all of this.

And look at what looks ready on my system...

2 hours ago, Melroser said:

ey, the topic is off mac-n-cheese for a bit! lol

lol. Oh, you.

I knew once it was back on screen, the cotillion would give.

54 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Today's episode made amends for Winterfest imo. The cotillion scenes were fun and the intercuts with the warehouse scenes helped paper over the long-running deficiencies of the plasma ring storyline (which, thankfully, appears to be coming to an end). I know some believe all I do is critique but I am not going to critique how the actual scenes were filmed and edited. It's not 1980s soap operas, it is what it is.

There were mixed reviews on a few of the non-debs outfits but I thought they did well and was surprised to hear that some people didn't like Kat's look. Her eye makeup and silhouette definitely made me think of this video.

And I loved Deanna's Odile/"Black Swan" look. Very fitting and a nice surprise that she appeared.

I enjoyed Jamaica Craft's choreography, she was working with limited time and budget and made it fun and the overhead shots showing the formations were a nice touch. The camera work on the choreography wasn't bad, usually, with non-dance oriented camera operators, they cut off the lower half of the dancers at critical moments, which drives me crazy, but maybe Craft worked with the director. I thought there would be a Daddy/daughter dance like these balls usually have, maybe that's still coming? If not, those scenes with Martin and Smitty practicing would have wasted valuable screen time.

Hopefully Nellie Oleson, I mean Francesca doesn't get into a car with her drunken escort.

This is purely speculation but

Jessica might be forced to attend school closer to home at Banneker, if she's injured and has to do rehab with Shanice? Hopefully, there will be some investment in student lounge and small classroom for Banneker since we could have 5 characters and 2 faculty members attending.

Speaking of Jessica, her introduction reminded me of Miss Grand Thailand.

THAT'S WHO I WAS THINKING OF!!! re: Kat's look. I couldn't place it and it was my 2nd favorite so far. Love you. PS. Now I have that video in my head. lol.

But I was waiting for your comments given our talks about cotillion these last few months. :)

1 hour ago, kalbir said:

A diva hair toss?

I can't remember the last diva hair toss on BtG. Chelsea maybe in a photoshoot early in the show's run.

Lol. Yep, yep. I believe so. I did love Ashley's body turn with Grayson on yesterday's episode. there was something so soapy about it.