[Episode Discussion: TFGH]

On August 1, 2016 at 8:07 PM, mybabyaidan said:

Best part of the episode, besides Dante tacking Sam, is whatever the hell Ava was doing in the background when Sam was out cold on the beach.   I think she was playing with a piece of grass.  But it's hilarious what little fucks she gives about her niece (and vice versa)

I completely and utterly forgot that they were related! How ridiculous is that? I really wish these damn writers would put some life into the peripheral family relationships on this show. It would give everything so much more context.

[Current Plots Discussion: Actually Today's Episode]

Just caught up with yesterday's show; can I please have Chad/Belle? Pretty pretty please? Just lots of scenes with them, just being brutally honest and sharp and dynamic with one another? That would be AWESOME. I really liked the whole show; honorable mention to Hope/Jennifer scenes. And Jen/Aidan.

Belle/Chad is my new ice-cream ;D

[Episode Discussion: TFGH]

41 minutes ago, NutmegsDad said:

Let me get this straight.... Spinelli, who can launder all of the mobster's money clean electronically, can break into any and all firewalls and can hack into any computer even without needing a commercial, can crack any code and delve any information to convict enemies of the Moobster...... was outsmarted technically by Vince Gilligan at his IT side job?

This would work if Spinelli, automatically assuming Vince Gilligan would never be able to come close to the thoroughly established genius of the Jackal, half-assed the work and left himself open to discovery. One line, Claudette calling her geek to thank him, and telling him she had been right about them being underestimated, and we have Claudette outmaneuvering Maxie at her own game, and thereby becoming a more interesting foe. In my head, this all adds layers and complexity to the plot ;)

[B&B: What's Up Today at Forrester Creations? - Daily Chat]

I don't know; I thought it was kind of a classy way to end a relationship. They can always come back around and restart whenever its convenient for plot. For now, though, I buy them as two adults looking at the situation responsibly and acknowledging that they've reached an irreconcilable difference; 'they lost that feeling', or whatever the script was. 

[B&B: What's Up Today at Forrester Creations? - Daily Chat]

On July 13, 2016 at 2:40 PM, Cupid Stunt said:

I don't know ... Scandal is a relative term on B&B, mostly a matter of expediency and convenience ... Gotta' dig yourself out of badly re-written SL somehow. Blow everything up, scrum for leadership at FC, and shuffle the couples ... Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

In this particular case, Doug's paternity was used as a Forrester Creation PR event for an Eye on Fashion interview with Ridge, Caroline and newborn Doug. TIIC write Show as if the daily goings-on at FC are a regular thing covered by the media, so we can only speculate how far and wide that interview went in the imaginary media portrayed on B&B (Kim Kardashian Adjusting Underwire Bra big? No, but perhaps Kirsten Dunst Grocery Shopping At Whole Foods notable, and that day-in-the-life photo goes everywhere on the wire services).

Ridge and Caroline lied to the press, their families, FC employees, vendors and buyers -- And that becomes the issue for the company. Because of the deception, some people may feel the leadership of FC is untrustworthy and want certain monetary guarantees to continue doing business. Vendors could demand full payment with an order, the bank could refuse to loan money or change the payment rate, buyers could drop or reduce the FC line from their stores, and FC store lease negotiations could be declined. There could be a backlash with long-time customers, cutting deeper into the bottom line of the company, while fixed expenses continue to bleed out cash, and unsold stock is shuttled into expensive storage looking for a secondary marketer. Future season production would have to be cut back, employees laid off, and the almighty stockholders will have to tighten their belts.

Ridge is an idiot to suggest he can control the media from turning this into a sideshow; he's been a failure at keeping Doug's paternity a secret in a labyrinth of convoluted lies and emotional missteps, and he won't be able to stop the media from finding out every salacious detail of Doug's conception. Depending how FC handles Doug's paternity issue (calmly staging a leadership change to focus on design, or puff up your sagging chest and dare the gossip mill to throw back-handed insults at my family or FC -- Challenge Accepted!) the damage can be Kim Kardashian big or Kirsten Dunst notable.

Much of this rests on Ridge nursing his wounded privilege and pride, and taking his lumps for being a egotistical bore without evidence to support Doug's presumed paternity. Rick has his ambition and family to keep him warm; he has business acumen, but has demonstrated his difficulties with directing family members prejudicially at FC; I could see him burning Ridge because he doesn't get back the CEO position. Steffy isn't a business force to be reckoned with if Spencer Publications is selling her as a vacuous Wear All The Trends! Instagram/Twitter/FB/armparty-wearing Celebutard (And with her Remember Us seashell and Liam on a tirade, Steffy's taking the long walk to filing divorce papers on Wyatt by September) -- Get serious! Brooke rarely darkens the door of FC, and she's at the beginning of her own Scandal! with Katie and $Bill.

Eric should return as CEO and redefine the job to his liking, as Quinn suggested today. Delegate, redefine and redistribute work to the other executive positions, hire from within or from outside, and sweep the joint out with a new broom.

Wow. Awesome post. They have the bones for a great storyline there; I liked how you flushed it out!

[Episode Discussion: TFGH]

1 hour ago, Oracle42 said:

I think if they were determined to do Franco/Liz, they'd have been better off with something that looked more like early Jason/Liz. I always thought part of the appeal for her in that relationship was that she got to save him. Instead of having the kidnapper/rapist/serial killer menacing his love interest in an elevator while constantly overstepping bounds with her mentally disturbed son, it would've been nice if they'd opted for something that placed Liz in a position of power

I think thats a great point to make. Unfortunately, at least for me, the tail end of the Liaison/Jakeson mess repulsed me to the point of associating Liz-trying-to-save-a-man with just more of her desperate attempts to hold onto something, to feel safe and secure and wanted. I think BH gave an awesome side-eye in today's show, when Franco was first hanging his shirt on the camera. I think Liz realizes that his behaviors and motivations are off; she's just doing her usual push and pull thing anyways. But I can kinda dig the fact that she's being pursued this time. Its a nice change, and Franco has the same type of intensity that drew her to Nikolas (just wrapped in much, much weirder packaging, SL-wise).

I feel like Liz could have that position of power with Franco, if they let her have some agency again. I wouldn't believe that in any scene with Jason. I'd believe that with Nik, but we're not even done with the ridiculousness of Liz fighting with Hayden while Nik is off galavanting with Ava; no need to insert Liz into any more girl-fights. 

[Episode Discussion: TFGH]

I'm catching up on last week's show, finally, and I really wanted to say how pleasantly surprised I was by some of the storylines. I really enjoyed MB's acting choices as Maxie, I enjoyed the tight-smiles and hidden-teeth tension between Maxie, Nathan and CJ, and I think NG put in a terrific soapy performance. I believed the scene when Alexis is on her knees and Sonny is throwing down the gun and putting his hand on the handle; its classic story telling, and I dug it. I buy that the story is he wants to protect her from having to go through the investigation and possible trial, even if its in self-defense. They all have a history; how many times has Alexis been on trial for murdering dudes? That moment when she thanks him quietly in the hospital, that was great. I can actually watch Sonny when he's in scenes like that. 

I also like the couple shake-ups that are happening, its bringing in new energy. I just wish that the storylines could be more connected: Sam should have been there with her sisters to hug their mom. Jason facing off against the Nik-and-Ava team would have been more interesting, character development wise, but whatevs, can't have everything. 

Cheers!