dubbel zout

To be clear, I agree with everyone who says it's ridiculous that Elizabeth is written as being financially insecure. She has a solid family network (even excluding Jason) who would help her out if asked.

Elizabeth lost a big chunk of money when she stupidly took Steven Lars's advice to invest in something that tanked. And remember when GV's Lucky got shot and addicted to pills and they had no health insurance? A cop and a nurse? For some reason, Elizabeth is always thisclose to going broke, when as head nurse at GH she should be pulling down a low six-figure salary. That doesn't make her rich—or able to shoulder three college tuitions on her own—but they write her as barely able to keep food on the table. Elizabeth is the financially struggling single mother, for some reason.

Wasn't Laura the one who encouraged Nik to take responsibility for his actions and turn himself in? We don't know if she visits him, but from what she's said to Ava, it sounds like he doesn't want contact with her at the moment. Laura is getting her news about Nik from Ava, and she doesn't seem to have much to share.

I'm shocked a world-class educational institution like PCU doesn't have an equally renowned art program, so Jake is obviously having to settle with the school in Barcelona.

Why is Laura wearing long sleeves and tucked into a blanket up to her chin in the middle of summer? If the apartment is that cold, turn down the a/c. If Jake turns down Jason's offer to pay for everything, he's being a jerk to Elizabeth. He's old enough to know the basics of her financial situation. My older brother went to an expensive private college, and even as a supremely self-involved teenager, I knew if I wanted to go somewhere similar, there would be some belt-tightening on my parents' part, even with them telling me not to be concerned. (Luckily for everyone, I didn't want to go anywhere but the flagship of my state university.) I laughed so hard when Trina asked Laura if Portia had said anything about Heather. Just a few words here and there. Well, if Curtis is confident that Heather will stay in her cell at Pentonville for the rest of her days, Heather is gonna get sprung sooner rather than later. This was so obnoxious. And also manipulative—don't use stupid Ace to make me feel bad for Heather being in jail. Heather has been trouble since the day she rolled into Port Charles. Pepperidge Farm isn't the only one who remembers, Show.

Leo is also Olivia's son, who isn't in the doghouse (yet). Also, Sonny is a lot of things, but he doesn't pick on little kids.

I thought it was Sonny trying to stir Wagger up, too, but it was kind of pointless because a) Wagger's son is alive, and b) he's living an independent life. Mocking that is so stupid, but that's our Sonny. ETA: Given Stone is on the spectrum, Sonny's comment was tasteless. He sure wouldn't let anyone say anything about Leo. Ugh.

Eat BLTs at Bobbie's, I guess. I wonder if Ava would give her another show for a new batch of paintings featuring Heather's love for BLTs.

I feel like today's show was written expressly to make me stroke out. So much wrong and stupid dialogue. I cannot listen to people blame Ava for releasing the tape anymore than I could listen to people blame Nina for Carly and Drew's insider trading. FFS. This show is so aggravating. I can't feel all that sorry for Ava regarding Avery's custody because she had plenty of chances to change things. Kristina and BLQ, you know who else expects people to forget his bad deeds? Sonny. Felicia, being nice and good with kids isn't a genetic trait. Does Cody also use a fork to pick up his food? So does Mac—they must be related! Why are the most basic, stupidest things used as some sort of indicator people are related? It's so forced. Just say you're looking forward to getting to know each other. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and calm down for a minute. Approaching things "head on" means talking about Natalia's comments. Am I being too optimistic that Heather not wanting Laura to pursue a medical review means we'll never have to see or hear Heather again? And Portia will finally stop screaming about to anyone unlucky enough to be in front of her? (I probably am being to optimistic, sigh.) And news flash, Portia: You daughter is alive, so asking Jordan how she'd feel if Heather killed TJ is a strawman argument.

Sonny still drinks even though he's on (messed up) meds. The show uses alcohol as a plot point when necessary, so I never try to find any logic in it. I guess because Ava is the Devil/Madame Mao/Myra Hindley, Sonny is the only decent parent Avery has. But Jason had no problems leaving kids with only their mothers to care for them, so I fail to see what the problem is for Donna, especially since Jason used that exact point to justify his caving to the FBI. Shut up, Jason.

Her only child was gravely threatened. That's going to override her doctor instincts, and that's reasonable, IMO. Maybe she'll eventually calm down, but for now, I'm okay with her feelings. Just not how she's expressing them at the moment.

Wiley is a spoiled brat. He's given everything he asks for, and everyone thinks he hung the moon. UGH.

Do we constantly have to hear about stupid Wiley? I don't find him cute or amusing. "I don't think Sonny will have a public breakdown during a custody battle. He's not that stupid." Oh, Scott. Sonny is definitely that stupid, messed-with meds or not. When it comes to his kids, Sonny flies off the handle pretty quickly. Sonny is such a baby toward Jason. And threatening Ava isn't exactly stable behavior. And he taped it! He's so dumb.

Olivia could have either a pizza oven or a bocce court, not both. ;-)

Portia's feelings aren't wrong, but she's expressing them in such an obnoxious way that you want to disagree with her on principle. She's not doing herself any favors by continuing to yell at Laura about Heather.

They were a part of the group that had been with Drew at his candidacy announcement, and I think Drew just invited everyone back. Curtis seems to be acting as some sort of informal advisor to Drew. I'm loving Drew and Willow trying to justify their big smooch—they were really going at it. The Michael/Willow marriage desperately needs some drama. Finally we get a soapy story, or it can be if the writers commit to it.

That's a nice conclusion to the first part; thanks for posting it, @DanaK.

We got previews in NYC.

Michael's words say he wants to make things less awkward with Nina, but his face still looks as if he's sucking lemons. I like how sheepish Cody was when he told Mac he was his son. I also thought Mac's anger was well done. Elizabeth's "WTF did I walk into?" face was great. It's been a while since BH has been able to bust that out. And Portia needs a refresher course in the law: There's nothing Drew as a Congressman can do to keep Heather in prison. Prepare to lose that vote, dude! (I would die laughing if Drew lost the election by one vote. Too bad that won't happen.) Portia also needs to realize that she's not going to change Laura's mind about Heather by screaming at her every time they cross paths. I found "we don't ever take American citizenship for granted" to be really patronizing. that's better teeheee My thoughts exactly!

Being convicted for insider trading is hardly "above reproach." I haven't forgotten, Show, even if Drew has paid his debt (heh) to society by stupidly going to jail for that idiot Carly. I wonder the same thing, especially since they made a retrospective change to her recent history, from attributing her absence to her attendance at medical conferences to, as per Tracy, saying she's not been well for a long time. Revisionist history usually leads to a new plot point. The medical conferences were some years ago; LC was onscreen at some point after that absence and even joked about it, saying something along the lines of Monica having been to every medical conference in the world. LC's last appearance was clearly difficult for her, even though the show obviously tried to make it as easy on her as possible, so Monica not being well does track. I would not be surprised if they decide to kill off Monica, as I doubt LC has the stamina for filming. Monica's death would open up a LOT of stories, if the writers wanted to use them. Talk about an umbrella story.

I loved that. It was goofy old-school soap. I just hope Cody doesn't walk it back. There's no reason to drag out the secret any longer.

Is anyone besides Frank thirsting for this Heather story? I wish they'd just drop it once and for all. Leave Heather in Pentonville never to be heard from again. LOL at Portia's "I treated Heather with the utmost professionalism." Keep telling yourself that, lady.

Same. This is my biggest objection to this story. Michael is a turd at the best of times. He doesn't need more reasons to get on his high horse, warranted or not. What was Scout's last name? Cain? Willow is her daughter. Cheating runs in the family.

They put recurring characters in the lineup on the days they're featured. Jophielle Love (Violet) has been in the credits when she's on.

Same! I thought that was so naive, and Alphy seems savvier than that. I don't think Esme has been that out of line, but Cathy is making things so much worse than they have to be by screaming all the time. And Geordie is useless. I get he hates confrontation at home, but good grief. Noping out of the house isn't going to help anyone. Sam gives me the creeps. i can totally see him starting a cult.