Episode Discussion II: The TFGH

[YaddaYadda]

7 hours ago, LexieLily said:

I would be on board with a SORASed Wiley who has been in touch with Lucas all the years he has been away and wants Lucas to be his father, again.

Sweet summer child. 

[dubbel zout]

10 hours ago, Suicidy said:

 With Britt telling Finn he can’t treat his brother/son.

Britt is treating (and scheming with) Maxie, her sister-in-law, so Britt needs to either zip it or take her own advice.

[statsgirl]

I'm old enough to remember when doctors treated their own family members so I see no problem with Finn, the infectious disease specialist, helping with Chase's case as long as Portia remains his primary doctor.

But I find it frustrating that Anna doesn't tell him that it's a toxin so he and Portia don't keep wasting time. It's Obrecht who probably has the most experience with those.

[Laur]

Neither Sasha nor Brando are particularly compelling characters (plus the actors who portray them are mediocre at best), but they do have some solid soapy chemistry together. They're probably one of the better chemistry couples that have been paired recently.

I can't get over how much I love MC's Nik. He's one of my favorite recasts on GH in years. Since he started, he's been breathing new life into the character, plus he has this electric romance with Ava, and he's easily one of my favorite characters on the show right now.

The Sonny storyline is a complete fast-forward for me. The most boring! The only way I might've cared would've been if Brenda was the other woman in the story, but a Nina/Sonny romance does zilch to make this better. I prefer Jax/Carly to CarSon, but even that development has been moving at the speed of a tortoise so it's not very exciting.

As for Willow picking bland Michael over Chase, well, don't even get me started. So so dumb. Other than Michael always winning by defacto, there's no reason she'd ever pick him over Chase. But sure, show.

Peter needs to be dead tomorrow. He has officially reached Shiloh levels of "overstayed his welcome". 

[dubbel zout]

4 minutes ago, Laur said:

he has this electric romance with Ava

MC and MW have a lot of chemistry, but I'm still iffy on the Nik/Ava relationship. The writing has improved—they've decided what to do with them, it seems—and I hope that continues. But these characters need to do more than keep Alexis safe in Pentonville.

[Asp Burger]

12 hours ago, Laur said:

I can't get over how much I love MC's Nik. He's one of my favorite recasts on GH in years. Since he started, he's been breathing new life into the character, plus he has this electric romance with Ava, and he's easily one of my favorite characters on the show right now.

Same. It's hard to compare him to Tyler, because Tyler originated the role and played it off and on for 20 years, and sometimes Tyler was killin' it and other times he was phoning it in or possibly struggling with personal things. But I've loved what MC has done in the last year and a half. I think he brings some of his own sweetness to Nikolas, but there are also intensity and edge when needed, setting Nikolas apart from the "nice guy" types on GH of recent years: Chase, Brando, Griffin, whathisname who was in the half-assed triangle with Lulu and Brook (oh, "Dusty"). 

And everyone he has scenes with seems to wake up when he's on with them, which is a sign of a good co-star. Some of them don't need outside prodding, like Maura West and JPS, but others can use the boost. Frankly, Ingo's most recent return has been a snooze except for that run when Jax was plotting with Nikolas and Hayden.

Now I wish they'd strike while the iron is hot and do something with Lucky. 

Edited April 19, 2021 by Asp Burger

[dubbel zout]

Closing arguments in the George Floyd trial are preempting the show today.

[YaddaYadda]

29 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

Closing arguments in the George Floyd trial are preempting the show today.

It was preempted in Canada too. 

[Lugal]

On 4/18/2021 at 12:51 AM, Suicidy said:

Also, how much is ELQ worth?  Nik had the capital to take it over a few years ago, and Valentin did too, even though he had lost the Cassadine fortune.  Then there’s BL who gives up what, a 5% stake in a MULTI BILLION DOLLAR international corporation just to get out of a recording contract with some third rate music producer?  5% of even $1 billion is $50 million.  So Valentin buys a large percentage of stock plus voting proxies with what might be a $10-20 million personal fortune?  There’s no way he would have the juice to finance the difference even if he’s fairly connected.  And I suspect the intention is that ELQ is worth many billions, not just one.

 

Do they not have a show bible to consult to avoid this kind of lazy writing?  Or do they just not give a damn?

Given how they divide all 237% or whatever of ELQ stock, I don't think they understand how stocks work...or math.

Although maybe ELQ went through the floor when Michael took over.  A young kid with little business experience, a murderer and "son" of a notorious mobster.  I would think that would be enough to panic investors and prompt a selloff.

[dubbel zout]

7 minutes ago, Lugal said:

I would think that would be enough to panic investors and prompt a selloff.

Is ELQ publicly held? I've never been sure about this.

[YaddaYadda]

5 minutes ago, Lugal said:

Although maybe ELQ went through the floor when Michael took over.  A young kid with little business experience, a murderer and "son" of a notorious mobster.  I would think that would be enough to panic investors and prompt a selloff.

Do you want to crack the fabric of the universe? Investors were excited having someone who never sat behind a desk lead the company.

We are told every day that Michael is brilliant and awesome and they've added sex god to his resume now. 

[Blackie]

2 hours ago, YaddaYadda said:

It was preempted in Canada too. 

 

I thought for a second it was because of the budget, but I don't think Canadian parliament has that kind of pull. 😅

[statsgirl]

35 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

Is ELQ publicly held? I've never been sure about this.

I think for a while it was and then the family got it back. But I'm not sure, my eyes glaze over during the business news.

[mbluecpa]

52 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

Is ELQ publicly held? I've never been sure about this.

I don’t think the writers know. I recall passing mentions to checking the market price of the stock but then we know all 100% is accounted for with the extended and ex family.  And of course shares can get created or reallocated as the plot requires....

[YaddaYadda]

1 hour ago, Blackie said:

I thought for a second it was because of the budget, but I don't think Canadian parliament has that kind of pull. 😅

Me too! Then I realized that this is what news channels are for. 

[nilyank]

3 hours ago, Lugal said:

Given how they divide all 237% or whatever of ELQ stock, I don't think they understand how stocks work...or math.

Or how wills work.

3 hours ago, dubbel zout said:

Is ELQ publicly held? I've never been sure about this.

ELQ was always privately held in the family which prompted all the fun infighting between the various Qs. Eventually some outsiders were able to gain some ownership in the company (Sonny, Jax). Finally at one point, Skye wanted to lessen the impact of said outsider and convince enough of the Qs to go public thus pushing Sonny and Jax out of ELQ crazy board meetings.

Edward manage to take back control of said stock and made in privately own again with the various Qs owning. Of course, Edward's shares were split up a million pieces for every grandchild/greatchild that was alive at the time that he died. Even those that the writers have not even created yet.

[dubbel zout]

Thanks, @nilyank. I have very vague memories of some of this.

[Lobsel Vith]

5 hours ago, dubbel zout said:

Is ELQ publicly held? I've never been sure about this.

When Skye was around this was a matter of debate among the Qs since there was a vote to let the company go public (as she was the one who spurned this on), although in typical Guza fashion the matter was dropped and apparently forgotten among the writers (likely because the story didn't revolve around Jason so Guza's attention span couldn't retain it).

Edit: The gap between the public vote with Skye and Edward's will for his grandchildren (what was better explained above) was years since, between this period, there was also a storyline involving Alan's will (in which, of course, he gave his shares to Jason's children, and that will was secretly re-written). I honestly don't think the writers paid close attention to ELQ.

Edited April 20, 2021 by Lobsel Vith

[sppa125]

I don't buy Marcus Coloma as a prince. He is not imposing or charismatic enough and lacks couth. He has zero emotional depth as an actor. I didn't buy his concern when he was asking about Lulu in the hospital from Laura because of the acting. He acted like he was waiting for the director to say cut. He's more like a boyband reject. He comes across as more of Diego or Johnny than Nikolas. 

Of course, part of that is the writing. Nikolas is suddenly an impulsive hothead (like a thug), rather than a Cassadine who is suppose to approach things more strategically and methodically. A Cassadine would see that kind of impulsive behavior as a sign of weakness, and being "beneath" them. 

Say what you want about Guza, but he at least knew to write the Cassadines and mobsters as distinct from each other.  

[driver18]

I adore Marcus Coloma as Nikolas. He is my favorite Nikolas by far. TC never did much for me, and whatever about the other guy. I find him charming when needed, desperate, sweet, sexy, intimidating, a great actor, believable as Laura's son, Lulu's brother, Elizabeth's oldest friend, former lover, and definitely as a prince. On top of that, he's dynamite with Maura West's Ava. I just think he's fantastic, charismatic and all-around the best Nikolas they've ever had.

[dubbel zout]

11 hours ago, Lobsel Vith said:

I honestly don't think the writers paid close attention to ELQ.

Anything to do with the structure of ELQ is usually a plot point.

[sunnyface]

20 hours ago, dubbel zout said:

Is ELQ publicly held?

There is no legal way IRL that a publicly traded company with the son of a violent mob kingpin as CEO could pass an audit - too susceptible to fraud.

[Katy M]

20 hours ago, dubbel zout said:

Is ELQ publicly held? I've never been sure about this.

No.  That's why you always have to blackmail someone to get shares.

[statsgirl]

Why is this show making me shout "Shut up Laura!" I don't ever remember her being this stupid. If she's so sure that her talking to the warden can save Alexis, why hasn't she done it before now? She's acting like no one matters except Carly and Jason, and Cyrus isn't going to do anything. I'm Team Nik all the way here.

Does this mean that the Joss/Cam romance is off? I can't imagine how anyone would forgive Joss for preferring her mom's best friend over her supposed lifelong friend and throwing him out of her house.

I see that Anna has gone down to Pentonville to kiss Jason's ring. If Cyrus Renault can run Pentonville even though he's out, why can't Jason run it from inside? (SBu's idea of acting in the last scene makes me laugh.)

Nik and Ava were the good part of the episode.

44 minutes ago, sunnyface said:

There is no legal way IRL that a publicly traded company with the son of a violent mob kingpin as CEO could pass an audit - too susceptible to fraud.

But he's a good mobster!

[MarciNJ]

On 4/18/2021 at 8:15 PM, dubbel zout said:

But these characters need to do more than keep Alexis safe in Pentonville.

Isn't Jason also in Pentonville?  Seems to me that he should be well connected enough to keep Alexis safe. (are co-ed prisons even a real thing?  I know they'd be kept separate, but still).

[mostlylurking]

I am so fucking tired of Carly putting her hands on everyone when she’s trying to get their attention.  She did this with Valentin (and his distasteful reaction was everything) and again today with Nikolas.  Keep your harpy paws to yourself!

[perkie1968]

I love how Cyrus has been running around town for two months, asking, threatening, cajolling everyone to find his mother and Nik finds her in an afternoon, while having sex with Ava.  My boy can multi task!!

I also thought it was hilarious that when carly hears that Nik's men are going to take the building she's all, "that's my mother in there" like Nik is going to be all, 'oh hey Bobbie Spencer, well let me back off and let Alexis get beaten in jail."  Shut up Carly.

Anna thanked Jason for sending Carly to her, to help her.  What?  Shut up writers.  

[mostlylurking]

49 minutes ago, statsgirl said:

I'm Team Nik all the way here.

100%.  Suck it Carly.  And take a seat Laura.  I’m so sick of her too.

Two questions since I stopped watching for some time in the fall when I was in the midst of a cross country move:

1.  Cam and Trina shared a very awkward kiss at one point...obviously they decided to stay just friends but whatever happened with that?  Did they ever discuss it?

2.  I thought Curtis was in recovery since he has attended AA meetings with Alexis and Finn.  However, I thought I had seen him drinking in the past and today I think he was having a beer.  What gives?

Edited April 20, 2021 by mostlylurking

[lala2]

I really cannot stand Josslyn. She makes me sick. I hate how Cameron HAS to believe that Jason didn't kill Franco in order to be Josslyn's friend or for Jake to "forgive" him. Why can't Cameron believe what he wants? Why is it necessary to believe Jason's innocent to be her friend? It makes no sense. I understand Josslyn loves Jason, but she's 18 years old. She knows he's a prof'l hitman. She knows he kills ppl for a living. Why is she so shocked and angry that Cameron believes he did it? I actually think that is an issue that has nothing to do w/their ability to be friends, and they could disagree on that. She trashed Franco to her lousy parents and felt fine still being Cameron's "friend" but when Cameron openly and honestly tells her how he feels, she just can't stand being friends w/him?!?!

Josslyn is a brainwashed cult member. I wish Cameron would write her off completely. She is not worth his time. And I really don't want to see him coming back, begging for forgiveness when he learns that Jason didn't kill Franco. I know that will happen, but it's going to make me ill. At the end of the day, Josslyn is NOT Cameron's friend. I refuse to watch him ask that entitled witch for forgiveness. 

I loved Nikolas today. I loved how he handled the situation and told Carly that Bobbie and PC being overrun w/drugs was not his problem!! My favorite line was "That's a problem for law enforcement." Thank you, Nikolas!!  And I know Nikolas will be wrong and will pay for daring to make his own moves and go against the sainted Corinthos clan, but I enjoyed today immensely! And Laura can STHU and take several seats!! 

Honestly, this show is infuriating if you do not love the Corinthos clan. The biased writing has made my hate for these characters even more intense. I literally cannot stand their faces and wish they were all dead. 

[dubbel zout]

Once again, the concept of the college wait list is completely misinterpreted. Joss padding her transcript is too little, too late at this point. Trina is right: Anyone who needs to see it already has. Ugh, it's so annoying.

I can't believe (of course I can) that Nik tracked down Florence's new hiding place through a bakery. Once again, Sonny's crack security is on it!

Curtis asking Cyrus how his mother was was great. 

49 minutes ago, statsgirl said:

Cyrus isn't going to do anything

Now that his mother is out of Carly's clutches, I wouldn't be so sure. I welcome him taking action so this idiotic story has some forward progress. Nik was a moron.

Jason warning Anna about how she might have to kill Peter was absurd. Anna has been shooting people since before his head hit a tree. This writing is so wrong.

Also wrong is Joss, of course. She sucks for not agreeing to not talk about Jason with Cam. It's not a problem to disagree with someone. Ugh, she's awful.

1 minute ago, lala2 said:

I loved how he handled the situation and told Carly that Bobbie and PC being overrun w/drugs was not his problem!!

I hope Spencer becomes a huge addict. Nik should care that drugs are in PC.

[lala2]

4 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

I hope Spencer becomes a huge addict. Nik should care that drugs are in PC.

Spencer becoming a drug addict would not be Nikolas's problem. That would be Spencer's choice. If Spencer wants to do drugs, he'll do drugs. 

And Nikolas is not a cop. It's not his responsibility to keep drugs out of PC. That's Sonny's responsibility I guess, and if the Corinthos organization is failing in its job, that's on them. Jason should be ale to run things from jail like any other mobster. 

Edited April 20, 2021 by lala2

[dubbel zout]

Yes, it would be Spencer's choice to do drugs. Doesn't mean Nik shouldn't care. I'm not saying Nik should act as law enforcement, but doing business with someone he knows is a drug dealer isn't great for the community at large. But Nik has always been selfish under the guise of "helping" his family.

Edited April 20, 2021 by dubbel zout
verb tense

[mostlylurking]

23 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

Curtis asking Cyrus how his mother was was great. 

Ha!  I forgot to mention that earlier,  that was awesome!

I felt so badly for Cam.  He was the bigger person and went to apologize to Joss.  He even said he understood her perspective since she loves Jason, and could they just not talk about it.  She shut him down!!  Why can’t they have different perspectives and still be friends??  Also, how she got into illustrious PCU without even being able to grasp the concept of being waitlisted is beyond me....

[statsgirl]

15 minutes ago, mostlylurking said:

1.  Cam and Trina shared a very awkward kiss at one point...obviously they decided to stay just friends but whatever happened with that?  Did they ever discuss it?

Cameron was willing but Trina kissed him again and decided to just be friends. I think it was plotty because they wanted to tease Joss/Cameron.

8 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

Now that his mother is out of Carly's clutches, I wouldn't be so sure. I welcome him taking action so this idiotic story has some forward progress. Nik was a moron.

He should have done something while his mother was kidnapped.  Preferably kidnapping Joss and Wylie.

I don't think that Nik was a moron. Yes, it isn't a good idea to make any kind of bargain with Cyrus but he was desperate to keep Alexis safe and no one else seems to care. Certainly not Laura who has been reduced to wringing her hands when she's not yelling at Nikolas.  She didn't even bother to speak to the warden when he told her how worried he is for all her "I have a special relationship, I can keep Alexis safe".

3 minutes ago, lala2 said:

And Nikolas is not a cop. It's not his responsibility to keep drugs out of PC. That's Sonny's responsibility I guess, and if the Corinthos organization is failing in its job, that's on them. Jason should be ale to run things from jail like any other mobster. 

How do we know that Cyrus isn't bringing drugs into Port Charles right now? He had an agreement with Sonny not to but I presume that went by the wayside when Carly kidnapped Florence.

If bad drugs turn up in Port Charles, Carly isn't going to know if it came from Cyrus or one of the Five Families. She's got zero influence over them.

[Cheyanne11]

19 minutes ago, mostlylurking said:

I felt so badly for Cam.  He was the bigger person and went to apologize to Joss.  He even said he understood her perspective since she loves Jason, and could they just not talk about it.  She shut him down!!  Why can’t they have different perspectives and still be friends??

Because she's just like her mother.

[TVbitch]

FYI for west coasters, today's episode is already available for streaming at abc.com!

[GHScorpiosRule]

Was today's episode yesterday's episode that had been preempted?

[dubbel zout]

21 minutes ago, statsgirl said:

He should have done something while his mother was kidnapped.  Preferably kidnapping Joss and Wylie.

Maybe that will be his revenge move! Ha, who am I kidding? Cyrus will still do nothing. Alas. He's so lame as as a criminal. 

24 minutes ago, statsgirl said:

I don't think that Nik was a moron. Yes, it isn't a good idea to make any kind of bargain with Cyrus but he was desperate to keep Alexis safe and no one else seems to care. Certainly not Laura who has been reduced to wringing her hands when she's not yelling at Nikolas.  She didn't even bother to speak to the warden when he told her how worried he is for all her "I have a special relationship, I can keep Alexis safe".

Laura was right when she said to Nik that now all Cyrus has to do is threaten Alexis and Nik will have to do whatever Cyrus wants. Nik didn't think his plan through at all, which is  in character for him, at least.

(Side note: I'm a bit surprised Nik didn't go to Valentin for help. As much as Valentin supported Alexis pleading guilty, it doesn't mean he wants her hurt. Surely the most evil Cassadine who ever Cassadined has some pull at Pentonville.)

[Gam2]

Wow. Carly is really into being top dog in the mob isn’t she? Back off, girl. Sonny will still be in charge when he gets back home and you’ll be the silly woman you’ve always been.

[statsgirl]

41 minutes ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

Was today's episode yesterday's episode that had been preempted?

Yes, according to my listings.

41 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

Laura was right when she said to Nik that now all Cyrus has to do is threaten Alexis and Nik will have to do whatever Cyrus wants. Nik didn't think his plan through at all, which is  in character for him, at least.

But what should Nik have done? He has no power himself to keep Alexis safe, and he appears to be one of the few people who care about her.

Fortunately he's not as stupid as Julian was so maybe he will avoid going down that path. And Cyrus doesn't need him as henchman,

[dubbel zout]

14 minutes ago, statsgirl said:

But what should Nik have done? He has no power himself to keep Alexis safe, and he appears to be one of the few people who care about her.

He could have talked to Valentin. He could have talked to Anna. He could have talked to Diane. He could have called the warden at Pentonville and try to arrange something. He could have even talked to Jason.

Nik didn't try anything before making his deal with Cyrus.

I was glad to see Alexis put two and two together and realize Nik probably made a deal with Cyrus for her safety. 

[Suicidy]

1 hour ago, GHScorpiosRule said:

Was today's episode yesterday's episode that had been preempted?

About half of it on the west coast.  Then ABC news cut in for the Chauvin verdict.

 

God how I hate ABC news.

24 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

He could have talked to Valentin. He could have talked to Anna. He could have talked to Diane. He could have called the warden at Pentonville and try to arrange something. He could have even talked to Jason.

Nik didn't try anything before making his deal with Cyrus.

I was glad to see Alexis put two and two together and realize Nik probably made a deal with Cyrus for her safety. 

Given the damage he’s done, and the growing list of dangerous people he’s threatened, I’m amazed no one has killed Cyrus already.  He’s always out in the open.  So easy to eliminate  him in so many ways.

[Gigi43]

Joss is the Insufferable Little Shit. 

 

Cam deserves better. 

 

With Nik's level of connections shouldn't he be able to buy Alexis' safety? 

[GHScorpiosRule]

I know it won’t last, and it was a stupid plan, but I loved how Nik had the SheBeast over a barrel. Because that NEVER happens. And all she could do was yap and shriek. Because if Laura hadn’t opened her BIG mouth, Cujo wouldn’t have taken it on herself to kidnap Florence.

And Laura had more than enough time to call the warden, but she did nothing. And now she’s yapping about how she knows the warden and promises to talk to him.

it’s just so utterly laughable that Mooby’s minions follow the SHEBEAST’s orders as if she’s head of the “family” now.

And maybe it’s naive of me, but I saw Anna’s thanking Jason for SheBeast as sarcasm.

And Florence is as frail as I am.

Joss really is her mother’s daughter.

Edited April 21, 2021 by GHScorpiosRule

[Linny]

Oh, how I wish Nikolas and Ava weren't restrained by FCC rules so they could say what we're all thinking: shut the fuck up, Carly. She legit cannot handle herself if someone doesn't kowtow to her every demand. She has no right to judge the lengths Nikolas will go to protect Alexis when she does nothing but eat, sleep, and breathe in her worry for Jason (who will not ever need her help in ensuring his safety). And I hate, HATE that Laura is aiding and abetting Carly's bullshit. I'm so tired of her judgmentally telling him he's not "her" Nikolas if he does anything she doesn't 100% endorse. She can be disappointed all she wants but enough with the attitude that he's inferior or faulty because his actions don't conform to her vision of him.

I thought Ava struck exactly the right tone today by telling Nikolas that she understands making controversial decisions and that he doesn't have to face his problems alone. She's not afraid to voice her opinions and tell him she disagrees with him but she also can't control what he chooses to do. All she can really do is support him in dealing with whatever fallout comes his way. Their relationship has managed to be surprisingly honest and mature and I hope the show continues to let them occupy this space moving forward.

[dubbel zout]

2 hours ago, Suicidy said:

Given the damage he’s done, and the growing list of dangerous people he’s threatened, I’m amazed no one has killed Cyrus already.  He’s always out in the open.  So easy to eliminate  him in so many ways.

I know. It's such a plot point he's still around. 

[GHScorpiosRule]

16 minutes ago, Linny said:

I’m so tired of her judgmentally telling him he's not "her" Nikolas if he does anything she doesn't 100% endorse. She can be disappointed all she wants but enough with the attitude that he's inferior or faulty because his actions don't conform to her vision of him

Seriously. She already gave that speech when he returned from the dead.

 I miss my Laura.

[Artsda]

Laura is becoming just as bad as her rabid beast friend Carly. Carly kidnaps someone and yet it's Nik the bad guy for getting her back to her family? Laura keeps taking Carly's side over her own family.

Team Nikolas all the way here. The only way to keep drugs out of PC is kidnapping? Isn't Laura the Mayor? Why doesn't she do her job. Have the police do their own? It's Nikolas fault for what Cyrus does?

Like Laura could have protected Alexis when she can't keep drugs out of PC without kidnapping?

So Joss can't be friends without Cam sharing her mentality. Cam tell her good riddance.

Glad Nik did what he did to keep Alexis safe. 

 

Edited April 21, 2021 by Artsda

[Cheyanne11]

That time that Laura gave Nikolas a piece of her mind...and it was literally Carly's exact words coming out of her mouth.  The writers are really, really sacrificing so many characters at the altar of Carly (or Sonny...or Jason).

Carly came storming into a house that isn't hers and should have been immediately removed.  She's such an asshole.

As is her daughter.  Who cannot abide anyone having an opinion other than hers.  Also?  Doesn't understand what a wait list is.

 

[ffwbe]

I’m sure Nikolas’ plan will blow up in his face because this is GH but I don’t get Laura’s claims of Nik turning evil or dark. He’s trying to protect Alexis. This is probably one of, if not the most, selfless things he’s done since his return. Carly’s a hypocrite but what else is new? She’s conveniently forgetting that she was perfectly willing turning over Florence to save Jason and he refused and even now only cares because it leaves Jason vulnerable. She doesn’t care about the safety of the town.