Joey gaslighting the son of the man he had murdered is just so gross. At the end of the day though when it’s revealed it’ll really only be Deanna and Donnell that actually care. I imagine Vanessa tries to squeeze out some tears for an episode before she remembers Joey AWAKENED her and they’re banging in that awful back room.

Similar to how I've felt about Keith and Daphnée with it being a shame we never really got to see the romantic, sexy side of their pairing, Jason and Lauren seem a lot more fun than what we ever got to see of their characters on camera. In Season 1 posts, I mentioned that it was a real shame that we never got to see Doug as a dad or the happy times he and Vanessa had as a couple, not even in flashbacks. Even though the show spoiled it themselves by listing him in the previous episode's closing credits, Jason Graham popping up onscreen (expected, though it may be) did add a good cliffhanger, unless you were spoiled ahead of time, like some of us were) was otherwise a decent cliffhanger.

I do suspect that Deanna may be headed for some sort of nervous breakdown, or people will believe she is losing a grasp on her mental health. The writing, the way Vanessa has talked about her always suggested some emotional fragility since Doug's death. Now, the young woman who showed up on the canvas has appeared to be the opposite, more of a force and maybe a bit of a loose cannon, but perhaps the writing will not revert to the characterization of Deanna that Vanessa and Donnell made of her.

And Jason Graham looks great! The skin is glowing and moisturized!

Forgot about the rest of the show to be honest, but Ted suggesting Nicole as chief of staff...sigh, okay, that man clearly wants his ex-wife back and he probably wants to prove that he will ride for her but this is not the way to do it. (Question: are they just teasing a board meeting that we will never see? Or will be actually see a board meeting onscreen? I loved when As The World Turns had hospital board meetings with Dr. Bob, Dr. John, Lucinda and Rex Whitmore. When hospital malfeasance is an issue, a board meeting should definitely be done onscreen and a full on crime ring running through the hospital is good reason to dramatize a board room scene) I would much prefer Ted see a life coach or better yet a therapist who can help him learn how to set boundaries with Leslie , that SA encounter that nobody seems to want to acknowledge (speaking of matters of mental health), and also help Ted to realize that he doesn't need to interact with Leslie (like, at all) in order to forge a relationship w/Eva (by the way, did anyone think Ted giving Eva all those milestone Birthday gifts could be a foreshadowing of some sad split in that dynamic, leaving only the memories of those gifts to cling to? Just me? Okay).

It will be weird to see Grayson work his way back into Ashley's good graces after living a double-life and putting Ashley in jeopardy, especially since she was so hard on Derek for keeping his improving health a secret from her for like, what, six weeks? Grayson told multiple lies, committed a felony, put patient care at risk and likely violated several oaths or at least duty of care principles, but oh well, he does a brief desk interview at the police station, so that takes care of that!

Having said that, the blood plasma storyline was unfortunately, as poorly plotted as observed from the beginning and nothing that happened has changed my mind. The intercutting of the cotillion and the warehouse action added an 11th hour dose of interest to what had been a lifeless, bloodless (pardon the pun) story with zero human interest. I'm glad it's over and I hope they do not try to bring back any threads from the storyline. Let the Impaler disappear in the wind, never to be seen or heard from, it's not worth revisiting.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by DramatistDreamer

35 minutes ago, Antoyne said:

Joey gaslighting the son of the man he had murdered is just so gross. At the end of the day though when it’s revealed it’ll really only be Deanna and Donnell that actually care. I imagine Vanessa tries to squeeze out some tears for an episode before she remembers Joey AWAKENED her and they’re banging in that awful back room.

I saw a guy on a YouTube video who doesn't even refer to Vanessa by her name, he just calls her "Trash". When I heard him say it, I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. Thankfully I wasn't drinking water at the time. But the list of people who actually believe Vanessa is still mourning Doug is could probably fit on a Post-Its sticky tab, not a note, a tab!

Maybe if the series had opened with scenes, any scenes of Doug and Vanessa as a happy couple, I might have believed that she ever cared. Now, it just looks like a woman who wanted to get a foothold in a majority Black enclave, possibly to tap an untapped market and add some business to her real estate firm.🤷🏾‍♀️

6 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

I saw a guy on a YouTube video who doesn't even refer to Vanessa by her name, he just calls her "Trash". When I heard him say it, I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. Thankfully I wasn't drinking water at the time. But the list of people who actually believe Vanessa is still mourning Doug is could probably fit on a Post-Its sticky tab, not a note, a tab!

Maybe if the series had opened with scenes, any scenes of Doug and Vanessa as a happy couple, I might have believed that she ever cared. Now, it just looks like a woman who wanted to get a foothold in a majority Black enclave, possibly to tap an untapped market and add some business to her real estate firm.🤷🏾‍♀️

They reeeeally messed up by giving us what, one love scene between Doug and Vanessa? They’ve spent more time on her grieving and then also talking about how much better Joey is, than we got of them ever being remotely approaching happy. We got no scenes until today of Deanna with Doug, and I buy her grief ten times more than I’ve ever believed Vanessa scrunching up her face trying to get a tear out.

1 hour ago, soapfan770 said:

Same here. Anytime she gets stuck in one of his tics or fits she becomes extremely obnoxious. I’ve always tolerated her but sometimes I just can’t, and Thursday and today’s eps were just another reason why.

So much so. Making it all about her and I was like...you dropped him like a bad habit cuz you wanted Andre. I love you, but please shut up.

39 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

So much so. Making it all about her and I was like...you dropped him like a bad habit cuz you wanted Andre. I love you, but please shut up.

Exactly!!

Btw I’m glad we have a soap giving us May sweeps while Y&R is giving May sleeps 🤣

59 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

So much so. Making it all about her and I was like...you dropped him like a bad habit cuz you wanted Andre. I love you, but please shut up.

Like girl please save your grief. You decided you wanted Andre and hated Derek because he wanted to surprise you with his progress. All this grief over a man you barely tolerated borders on as absurd as Vanessa’s “grief” about Doug.

-- Sorry we were spoiled, but it was great to see Doug at the end, even if it's just Deanna's vision. Jason Graham looks great, and I do hope they're bringing him back alive at some point.

-- Ashley is working my nerves with her tears. As I said, she's making Derek's death all about her. Yes, Grayson was a problem, but it is not all his fault Derek is dead.

-- Grayson returning to the hospital to work is laughable. I like Jordi V, but this character isn't exactly a ball of fire in any regard.

-- Tomas appeared today to show us they killed off the wrong person. My God, he's terrible.

-- Vanessa continues to be trash, and an even worse mother. The stuff she said about Deanna was really uncalled for, and storming away from her isn't winning her any Mother of the Year awards. She's been garbage since day one.

-- Joey's lines to Donnell are all lies and gaslighting and cliches.

-- I thought Anita and Vernon went at Ted way too hard when Ted recommended Nicole as chief of staff. Was Ted selfless? No, but so what? He defended his reasoning really well. Anita and Vernon should treat Ted at least as well as they treat Bill.

-- Kind of hilarious that the Duprees ending up running the cotillion and now are running the hospital. 😂

-- I liked Ashley for a few weeks over a month ago. That's over. All this crying over a guy she threw away is obnoxious.

This seems like an attempt to possibly get Jen Jacob a supporting actress nomination for next year. Also, I think they are definitely preparing Ernestine Johnson for stronger material in the future, because that scene where Shanice told off Lia was a chance for Ernestine to show what she can do.

1 hour ago, soapfan770 said:

Exactly!!

Btw I’m glad we have a soap giving us May sweeps while Y&R is giving May sleeps 🤣

The eyerolls and 'get her off my screen' vibes that I was giving last night.

Yeah...it's been so good that I'm side-eying my other soaps today for fumbling a little bit after strong starts to May. And Y&R...since Malcolm is off-screen so is the show. Sorry, Joshua Morrow.

1 hour ago, Antoyne said:

Like girl please save your grief. You decided you wanted Andre and hated Derek because he wanted to surprise you with his progress. All this grief over a man you barely tolerated borders on as absurd as Vanessa’s “grief” about Doug.

HAhahahahaha! Not Vanessa and 'grief.' When you say it like that, I get why people stay hating on her. Because that's how I was with Ashley last night.

Meanwhile...watching today's now and Andre is keeping it real. I love the self-awareness. I would respect Ashley if she did the same.

3 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

Meanwhile...watching today's now and Andre is keeping it real. I love the self-awareness. I would respect Ashley if she did the same.

I forgot to mention Andrew in my post. I agree with you -- he was really good in those scenes talking about Derek.

I found that much more worthy of Emmy submission than anything Jen Jacob did as Ashley.

Sorry for being so critical, but these grief scenes have just made it clear how mediocre she is as an actor.

That scene when Shanice looked at Ashley in the hospital to let her know Derek died? Shanice carried that scene -- completely.

Vanessa talking crap about Deanna and then blaming it on Deanna not wanting to talk to her when she’s STILL lying to her and trying to make her feel crazy for not believing her. I often wonder how much more I can dislike the characters of Vanessa and Joey but the show continues to find ways.

2 minutes ago, ranger1rg said:

I forgot to mention Andrew in my post. I agree with you -- he was really good in those scenes talking about Derek.

I found that much more worthy of Emmy submission than anything Jen Jacob did as Ashley.

Sorry for being so critical, but these grief scenes have just made it clear how mediocre she is as an actor.

That scene when Shanice looked at Ashley in the hospital to let her know Derek died? Shanice carried that scene -- completely.

Andrew? Creepy. Not you. :) Just...weird couple of days.

Ersentine tore it up then and she is tearing it on today's episode, too. She looks and acts like someone who lost a close friend. And I felt her when she said her and Derek were all about their work. Because THEY ARE/WERE. It was part of the appeal of the two of them almost being a couple that I liked. They...fit. It's really and truly like she is speaking for the audience. Moreso than Ashley who feels like a...well...heroine on a soap opera. I wouldn't mind her getting a Emmy nom just off of today alone for that scene.

5 minutes ago, Antoyne said:

Vanessa talking crap about Deanna and then blaming it on Deanna not wanting to talk to her when she’s STILL lying to her and trying to make her feel crazy for not believing her. I often wonder how much more I can dislike the characters of Vanessa and Joey but the show continues to find ways.

Hahaha!!! Just saw it. Ugh. Vanessa shooting herself in the foot. She is going to feel stupid once she finds out about Joey.

Just now, Taoboi said:

Andrew? Creepy. Not you. :) Just...weird couple of days.

Ersentine tore it up then and she is tearing it on today's episode, too. She looks and acts like someone who lost a close friend. And I felt her when she said her and Derek were all about their work. Because THEY ARE/WERE. It was part of the appeal of the two of them almost being a couple that I liked. They...fit. It's really and truly like she is speaking for the audience. Moreso than Ashley who feels like a...well...heroine on a soap opera. I wouldn't mind her getting a Emmy nom just off of today alone for that scene.

😂 😆 😂 Andrew showed up instead of Andre when I was swyping.

Agree with you about Earnestine. (Please note that you called her Ersentine 😂) She's been really, really good.

And you know, name of us complained like crazy about Ben Gavin, but he turned the corner with Derek in recent months, and I really think he found a place on the canvas.

I guess in one way it's good that we care who died. I'll miss him a lot more than I thought I would.