KerleyQ

I will always believe that, if Michael didn't exist, Carly would never be nearly as important to Jason as she is.

Steffy keeps going on and on about how happy she is that Finn stood up for her, Kelly, and Hayes. What in the ever-loving blue-dilly fuck do Tom and Hollis have to do with Steffy, Kelly, and Hayes? She was really just taking some gross victory lap about her complete control over Finn. Yes, Ridge, Li is Finn's mother who raised him. Now, let's see you have that same energy for Hope as Douglas's mother. Brooke, Finn is happily married, but also, innocent moments can just catch fire and become something more? is that just some kind of bullshit you and Taylor used to have to tell yourselves to handwave your Waffle's behavior over the years? We've had multiple scenes, over the past couple weeks, of Finn vowing his devotion to Steffy above all else. That marriage is definitely not long for this world.

I think I started right before that announcement. I had to go back and look, and it appears it was how freaking ridiculous the whole "Sam and Spinelli pick pocket an FBI agent" thing was that got me. JJ coming back is definitely going to keep me around, though.

That was some revisionist history there by Li and Steffy. Sitting around waiting for Sheila to attack is how Steffy and Finn got shot? No, bitches, they got shot because Steffy went off half-cocked to confront Sheila, just like she does every time she gets a bug up her ass about her. Just like she wants to do right now. And then Steffy ordering Li and Finn "and you're both coming with me!" I so wanted Deacon to tell Chief Hot Dog that Steffy and Li were not welcome in his home, and he'd like them escorted out or arrested for trespassing. That whole scene in the restaurant played out like some fantasy of Steffy's, not any real legit police investigation. She probably orgasmed when Finn told Baker to take Sheila away. I hate Sheila. And now I hate Steffy and Li even more for making me root for Sheila. So this had all better lead to Finn being pissed off at Steffy when it turns out that Sheila had nothing to do with the murders.

And it's not like Valentin hasn't left her living with Dante or Laura for long stretches of time before.

From the spoilers I saw for this week, when Liam finds out that Steffy thinks Sheila killed Tom and Hollis, he starts inserting himself into her marriage again. Finn then tells him to stay away from his wife. Raise your hand if you think Steffy will even make a minimal attempt to reduce how much time she spends with Liam in deference to her husband's justified concerns about Liam wanting to break up their marriage. Anyone? Bueller?

I think that Li thinks Poppy did it, and Poppy thinks Li did it. It seemed like the two of them were having an entirely different conversation beneath the actual conversation. All that "you know who did this," stuff? Poppy doesn't know shit about Sheila. It makes no sense that Li would assume Poppy knows Sheila did it. It felt like Li was giving her a warning that she knows she did it, but Poppy was taking it to mean Li did it. I'm working on a theory that there is something bad in Li and Poppy's history, where someone ended up dead. And that's why Li was pissed off for Poppy to be in town, because she didn't want that part of her past to come up. So I think they're going to be working to push the blame on Sheila, because they each think the other one did it. But, it's really going to be Luna who did it. Oh my God, JMW's acting is so bad in this episode. And Steffy is just ridiculous. Part of me wants it to be Sheila who killed Tom and Hollis, because that would hopefully end Deacon's attachment to her. But the rest of me doesn't want it to be Sheila just because it will piss Steffy off that it isn't her. Poor Finn is trying to be the voice of reason, like "yeah, I know she's a psycho with a past, but we can't just decide she murdered these two, and that's that, and also, we're not the police," but Steffy and Li aren't going to listen to a word he says.

From what I could tell, they went back because they live there now, and they'll come back for the wedding (whenever that is). It makes sense, I guess, if they both have jobs to do back there that they needed to get back to. But the show didn't do a great job of explaining that on screen.

There definitely has to be more to it than just the paternity. Since I'm kind of on the "Luna is the killer" train right now, I'm going to speculate that Poppy and Luna are a mother/daughter con team, and they're worried about it all blowing up in their faces. (Or it could just be Poppy who's the con artist, and Luna isn't involved or the killer). Maybe Bill is their biggest score, and they're worried that whatever Tom knew would ruin it? I suspect this is what is going to lead to him giving in to temptation with Hope. He's going to be pissed that it's not enough that he's broken off contact with Sheila and pledged his loyalty to Steffy above all others, but she still had to go send the police after Sheila. It's finally going to hit him that he's the one who has to always make compromises and sacrifices to keep her happy, but she never has to respond in kind. She doesn't limit her time with Liam, even knowing that he wants to break up her marriage. She won't even attempt to see his side of things when it comes to her psycho brother. She won't just leave Sheila alone. She doesn't listen to his pleas to get along with Hope.

Only after he counts all their toes.

I'm pretty sure Audrey is still alive, although we haven't heard her honk in who knows how long. I started laughing when Trina seemed like she was going to talk Laura into taking up Heather's case again. Just imagining Portia hearing "well, I was going to drop it, Heather even asked me to, but Trina made a compelling argument that made me reconsider and keep working on it," was some of the best entertainment I've gotten out of this show in years.

I'm going with Luna. They made a point of telling us that Hollis hangs out with her and RJ, so she's someone he'd be comfortable with and happy to see. I think we're supposed to suspect Poppy, because she left by herself to run errands, but that also left Luna alone, so she could have come and gone from the house while Bill and Poppy were both out. Poor Steffy was all ready to gloat and rub it in Hope's face that Thomas and Douglas were gone, and Hope had to go and be all fine with it. I'm impressed that Hope didn't smack her when she came out with that condescending "I'm proud of you." And then she tried to do girl talk with her to find out who else she might be interested in. Even if it wasn't Finn, Hope would be crazy to let her guard down and discuss even one tiny detail of her personal life with her.

Portia, please, stop. Laura, also, please, stop. Heather herself has asked you to let this go and let her serve her time. So, stop. Let it go. Do literally anything else with your time. Did Sonny fix his mumbling mouth to throw a vague threat at Jagger's son? Because it sounded to me like a vague threat towards Jagger's son. I'll be stunned if, after the interview is done, TJ doesn't throw a shit fit because "Kristina took our baby on an interview and didn't even ask our approval first!"

Thomas wanted so badly for Hope to beg him not to go, and she was like "yeah, well, I know you guys have made a home there." He even put in one last hurrah at using Douglas to manipulate her. "I know you wanted to spend more time with our son," like "come on, give me some tears, beg me to stay." No matter what he says, he was getting off on the idea that his engagement was hurting her, because he's still pissed at her for saying "no." I really hope this is the end of Thope. And, being gone for a while would probably do the character of Thomas some good. Give him some time to become a different person. Maybe give him and Paris a kid he can bring home with him when he does come back. A kid who's only related to one of the Forrester/Logan/Spencer families would be a good idea. I have a feeling where this Poppy/Luna/Bill story is going. I think Poppy is going to be ruined somehow by the Tom story. Either she actually killed him, or whatever he knew about her comes out, and that effectively ends Bill/Poppy as a couple. But, he'll have already adopted Luna, and the two of them will be so bonded that, even if it comes out that she's not his biological daughter, they'll maintain that relationship, and she'll choose him over Poppy. That will clear Poppy out of the way and help Katie retain her position as the alpha baby mama in Bill's life. Then we'll be stuck with Bill and Katie back together, which stopped being interesting or enjoyable quite a while ago.

Is Ava forgetting that her daughter lives with Sonny? She wants him to be completely unmedicated while he's the only parent living with Avery? Knowing this show, the judge will end up deciding both Ava and Sonny are unfit, so custody will be awarded to Carly.

All through the Steffy/Finn scenes, I was thinking "this marriage definitely isn't lasting much longer now," because the schmoopy "I love you so much, I'll never let anything come between us," type scenes with a couple almost always mean the end is near. And then I saw Finn's face when they were hugging. That was not a blissfully in love face. Their split is definitely on the clock. So, Hollis went from trying to date Brooke to hanging out with her youngest child now? I was laughing at Deacon marveling over Bill being nice. Brooke: "You don't want to get involved in that, right?" Hope: "No, of course not." (Internally: "Well, maybe a little bit...") Brooke, you should know, after all of these years, how much shit gets overheard in that office. You and Hope literally live on the same property. Have these little heart to heart chats about Hope's feelings for Steffy's husband at home. She does look like she has new fillers, or something. I'm assuming the hair is just another bad wig.

Drew was not at all into that kiss with Nina, was he? Hands remained down at his side, and she seemed to be doing all of the work there. I'm guessing, given the conversation he and Willow had, that they're both going to do their best to just put this out of their mind. Willow will try to redirect her feelings to her marriage, and Drew will probably get involved with Nina to distract himself. But, since Michael and Nina have called a truce, and Willow seems to want to spend time with Nina, that will end up throwing Drew and Willow together even more, which will lead to something else happening. I love this because it's soapy (and because I called it months ago, thinking, as soon as Nina and Drew hooked up the first time, that they were going to go with a Liza/Tad/Marian type story), but I do wish they'd built up to it just a little better. Willow's feelings for Drew were kind of obvious, I think, but they could have done a little better at showing Drew's for her (there were little bits of it, but not a lot). They also could have been showing Willow becoming irritated here and there by how controlling Michael is. I completely understand Portia's point of view about Heather, but she has become so obnoxious. Liz walks in and doesn't say a single word about it, or even know what they were talking about, and Portia lashes out at her, accusing her of being there to backup Laura? And then she aggressively tells Drew she'll only vote for him if he vows to keep Heather in prison? Like that's even something a member of Congress can do? With all the lashing out Portia is doing, she and Curtis aren't going to have any friends left. Again, I get it. If someone who had made it their mission to try to murder my child was potentially going to get off easier, I'd be pissed, too. But she's just being so over the top that I can't deal with her. I hate that this is what they're doing with Laura, too. I hope they give her better stuff to do when Lucky gets back.

Did I hear right? Did Douglas say "I miss my mom and my sister, but I am so happy about my new life?" The fuck? Did Thomas and Paris basically tell this child that his mother and sister are not going to be a part of his life going forward? Because fuck that noise. I know that Hope was shaken up by Thomas's insta-engagement and all, but she needs to get over being hurt romantically and start fighting for her son. It's maddening that she hasn't had any time with him beyond that greeting at the office. She needs to stop talking to Thomas about their relationship and his engagement and start talking to him about Douglas spending some time with her. I love that, while Steffy is at home patting herself on the back over Thomas being with someone who isn't Hope, her husband is over spending time with and praising Hope. I seriously cannot wait for those two to happen, both because I find I really enjoy them together, and because I am going to love every second of Steffy's karmic pain. When Ridge was lecturing Donna and Brooke and then told Brooke that Hope will eventually find a new man, I swear the look on Brooke's face was basically "yes, she will, and I think I'll stop giving her a hard time about crushing on your daughter's husband now."

This. He was old enough during the Beth storyline that he should remember his father not only gaslighting, but also abusing him. And he should definitely remember the fake CPS call where he also gaslighted him and tried to intimidate him into lying for him. Using Douglas to manipulate Hope? Paris and Thomas really are perfect for each other.

Oh, I agree with you. I find James annoying most of the time, and it's largely because they have him on prop duty 95% of the time, and the other 5% of the time is him just being a whiny kid. This show used to be good at writing (and casting) kid roles, but these days, it's like every kid who isn't a teen yet is stuck in some weirdly precocious but stunted little kid phase. Ditto. I like JK, and while I think the show was trying a little too hard to make him happen early on, I think he and the writing have settled into a nice little groove. My only complaint is that they seem like they're intent on making the Cody/Sasha romance move even slower than they moved Chase/BLQ. I'm not a big Cody/Sasha shipper, or anything, but the glacial pace they want to move some couples is annoying. And Olivia's whole "no hooking up if you both work here, because think of the children," or whatever the hell, is such a stupid roadblock. I would freaking love if they would recast Michael with DG, but I think they love Chad, for some reason. Well, you know, Michael may be available for Sasha again soon. Not that I'd wish him on anyone, but if it got me a good soapy Cody/Tracy story, well, sacrifices must be made.

You know, if Thomas wasn't such a dick, I'd maybe even say he had a bit of a point today. If what he wants is to be married, and it's not what Hope wants, then him moving on is the right call. And I think Finn was probably right that, as much as Hope says she's gotten past all of his past misdeeds, there may be some lingering trauma from it (and who could blame her) that also contributes to her saying "no." I remember a time when Li was a bit wary of Steffy. Now, though, she's lecturing Finn about daring to have a friend who isn't Steffy-approved? She wants her son to be controlled by his wife so fully that he can't decide who his friends are? I get that she hates Sheila most of all, but she should still be concerned about Steffy being so controlling. It's like someone at the show caught word that I wasn't hating Ridge for the last week or so, and decided to remind me why I do hate him. "Hope needs to get on board." No, ass, Hope doesn't need to do shit for your psycho son. This show is better without Liam and Steffy. Go ahead and happily pair them up and backburner the living fuck out of them, show.

This was exactly what I have been thinking. James wants a father figure. His real father is dead, and he's clearly smart enough to look at Spinelli and think "that ain't it." I know he has Mac, and Mac is the best, but he's grandpa. From James's point of view, Cody is the younger (not grandpa aged) cool guy who has a cool job. And he's been paying attention to him.

I'm legitimately excited about this. I didn't think the show had the balls to go there. (Plus, I actually think the two of them have chemistry). Now let's see how the show fucks this up to kill my enthusiasm.

For me, I acknowledge he can act, but I just can't get past the combination of his resting villain face and the fact that Thomas has been a deeply bad dude for the entire length of his portrayal of him. So I can't see him as a romantic lead. Maybe if they brought in someone new who he has insane chemistry with and doesn't have the horrible history Thomas has with Hope, I could buy into it.

Ugh, I forgot about them for a moment. I expect TJ to be a complete dick and act like this is all something Kristina is at fault for.