Episode Discussion: TFGH

[Perkie]

10 hours ago, dubbel zout said:

 Some lame schemer like Nelle should not ever have the upper hand on Ava. 

Can't Ava turn it around and claim that Nelle took a photo on her phone of the lab results?  How does Nelle having the photo on her phone prove that Ava took the photo in the first place?  

[Perkie]

Why would Ava agree to bring the gift as her own without at least knowing what it is.  If some wacky crazy girl told me to claim something as my own, I guarantee you, that gift would be opened enough for me to see it's contents make sure whatever it is won't blow up in my face at the party (literally and figuretively!!)

 

I'm pretty much spoiler free, but what is Nelle's plan here?  I'm guessing she's Brucas' anonymous baby mama.  She'll give them her baby and pretend that hers died.  Likely make it look like Carly had something to do with her baby's death/disapearance, thus having everyone turn on Carl y and have Michael be there for Nelle,.  But I'm curious how Maxie fits int.  She shouldn't since she has plenty of story herself, but there's no way 3 people are getting babies at the same time and one comes out unscathed.  

[Oracle42]

17 hours ago, ulkis said:

Yeah, although I don't think Lulu would be that person, although wanting to write prize-winning articles doesn't quite seem quite like something she'd want to do either. That's why I thought the Star was a good fit for her. Either that or she should have been head-of-Crimson-Maxie's second-in-command.

Lulu never really cared about Crimson, so I was kind of glad to see her out of that space - especially since Maxi cared about it so much.

I don't think Lulu would care at all about winning awards for writing, especially this early in her career, but I could easily see her running into an injustice and deciding to expose it. That's how I thought they'd transition her into this; they could've even used the Haunted Star as the backdrop for her discovering the thread of some terrible thing and  pursuing it.

Of course, when I saw spoilers about Lulu becoming a reporter, I thought she'd be written kind of like early Jackie Templeton and less  like a high school reporter in a kids Disney show.

Edited May 10, 2018 by Oracle42

[Asp Burger]

I'm spoiler-free on the baby shower hijinks, and while I am sure Carly will come out on top eventually, I hope at least for a short-term public humiliation that will not soon be forgotten. Heck, I hope Nelle swaps Carly's anxiety medicine for The Strongest LSD There Is (®, Heather Webber Enterprises) to make this meltdown really something to see. I love how Carly is setting it up so beautifully by practically flying into a rage over Michael and Sonny talking about her behind her back. It's making me wonder how no one has set her up for a fake breakdown before.  Just her normal way of talking and interacting looks like someone right on the edge.  

Edited May 10, 2018 by Asp Burger

[BlancheDevoreaux]

3 hours ago, Perkie said:

Can't Ava turn it around and claim that Nelle took a photo on her phone of the lab results?  How does Nelle having the photo on her phone prove that Ava took the photo in the first place?  

That's what I'm wondering.  I mean, yes, that would mean lying to Griffin, but she already betrayed his trust by taking the picture and keeping it from him,  I refuse to believe that she suddenly has the moral convictions to not lie about it... especially since she is going through all of this to still keep it from him.

[Cheyanne11]

We see Lucas for our once quarterly check-in and have to waste time hearing him defend Carly?  OK, stupid show.

Also, I hate that the biggest losers in this baby mindfuck storyline are no doubt going to be Brad and Lucas.  Nelle, Carly, Michael and Sonny can all suck it, but those two have done nothing to get the brunt of the misery.  I mean, it's not like they're fat.

[dubbel zout]

2 hours ago, Asp Burger said:

while I am sure Carly will come out on top eventually, I hope at least for a short-term public humiliation that will not soon be forgotten.

I want Carly humiliated, but I'd rather it not be gaslight-related. There's too much wimmins-be-crazy on this show the way it is.

[NutmegsDad]

4 hours ago, Perkie said:

Why would Ava agree to bring the gift as her own without at least knowing what it is.  If some wacky crazy girl told me to claim something as my own, I guarantee you, that gift would be opened enough for me to see it's contents make sure whatever it is won't blow up in my face at the party (literally and figuretively!!)

Include in this that Ava is being 'blackmailed' for having a medical form which, if you do a little Google research, doesn't have any HIPAA-revealing information other than being a DNA match. If she's thinking that Griffin is going to be upset over this, remember that Ava had Sonny by the short-balls for full custody, listened to Nelle that it would upset Griffin, backed down to shared custody, and still Griffin got upset. Ava's self-esteem is so low that she's sticking with Griffin, even though he should have his toothbrush in his pocket and his stuff chucked out the window by now.

Ava threatening Nelle that she'd go Full Metal Momma if this causes her to lose Avery won't go anywhere, because Nelle will probably have some other 'blackmail' material on Ava, like she switched Morgan's pills....

Edited May 10, 2018 by NutmegsDad
*That* is Nelle, and *that* is Ava....

[ulkis]

2 hours ago, Asp Burger said:

I love how Carly is setting it up so beautifully by practically flying into a rage over Michael and Sonny talking about her behind her back.

Carly asking that cracked me up. Duh Carly, of course they talk shit about you behind your back regularly.

[dubbel zout]

42 minutes ago, NutmegsDad said:

Ava threatening Nelle that she'd go Full Metal Momma if this causes her to lose Avery won't go anywhere, because Nelle will probably have some other 'blackmail' material on Ava, like she switched Morgan's pills....

Not to mention Sonny will likely use whatever happens against Ava anyway. I can't see joint custody of Avery lasting very long, given Sonny always has to win, especially against a Jerome.

[Oracle42]

6 hours ago, Perkie said:

I'm curious how Maxie fits int.  She shouldn't since she has plenty of story herself, but there's no way 3 people are getting babies at the same time and one comes out unscathed

Maybe they use the "death" of Michael's baby to build a relationship between Michael/Maxie? That's actually kinda soapy.

[dubbel zout]

9 minutes ago, Oracle42 said:

Maybe they use the "death" of Michael's baby

I hope the quotes aren't necessary: If anyone shouldn't have a baby at the moment, it's Michael and Nelle.

[HeatLifer]

29 minutes ago, Oracle42 said:

Maybe they use the "death" of Michael's baby to build a relationship between Michael/Maxie? That's actually kinda soapy.

I love that you still have hope for Michael in a romantic pairing, and I don't know if this is a UO, but CD has been given so many more chances to make something work than any other actor that I've seen on soaps in years. The actor is clearly a fave of Mo, so we're stuck with him, but I'm kind of over waiting for the character to make a relationship stick. I kind of feel the same way about Maxie, too. Sometimes a character needs a reset or a recast or even to just be written off, because that's what soaps are supposed to do at a certain point when something doesn't work.

[Oracle42]

I like KSt and Maxie but I'd have no problem seeing a recast for Michael - because you're right, CD really doesn't spark. I just like the idea of the character pairing.

[ulkis]

11 hours ago, HeatLifer said:

I love that you still have hope for Michael in a romantic pairing, and I don't know if this is a UO, but CD has been given so many more chances to make something work than any other actor that I've seen on soaps in years. The actor is clearly a fave of Mo, so we're stuck with him, but I'm kind of over waiting for the character to make a relationship stick. I kind of feel the same way about Maxie, too. Sometimes a character needs a reset or a recast or even to just be written off, because that's what soaps are supposed to do at a certain point when something doesn't work.

I agree with you, but I have to grudgingly admit he hasn't been given the best love interests either. But on the other hand, I feel like they keep giving him these milquetoast chicks because that's the vibe he gives off.

As for Maxie, even though I tend to agree with you there as well, I think her and Nathan were decently popular. That's what I heard, but then why get rid of him so decisively I don't know. But yeah, either way Naxie ending wasn't her fault. I'm surprised they don't bring back Spinelli, but maybe BA doesn't want to come back.

Edited May 11, 2018 by ulkis

[TheMediaHo]

19 hours ago, Asp Burger said:

Then Carly had a couple of nightclubs in the Tamara Braun years, the one she co-owned with Jax until he found out she was embezzling (Club 101) and a second one, The Cellar. The Cellar was shut down when the Jennifer Bransford Carly went into Shadybrook. When the character was released, there was a scene in which she said she had lost interest in it. 

Asp Burger, was The Cellar underneath Kelly's and decorated like a speakeasy? I don't remember Club 101 at all. TIA.

[TeeVee329]

I'm sure you've all been waiting patiently for this, but I didn't watch it until just now...HEY, LUCAS (WHO?) AND BRAD (WHO?) ACTUALLY SHARED A SCENE!!!!!!!!!  Someone must have distracted Groundbreaking and Progressive Soap Scribe Shelly Altman with something shiny when that was being filmed.

I "liked" how Lucas called Joss and Michael niece and nephew to remind us how he's related to them given he hasn't shared a scene with them in years, possibly never in the case of this Joss actress.

Do not care for Brad and Nelle's friendship.  C'mon, Brad, she is no Britt.

Someone should remind Lucas that Nelle did the exact same thing to Carly that she did TO HIS PARENTS.

Also, huh, they should be getting Baby (who?) right around the time Nelle has her baby, GEE I WONDER WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

Edited May 10, 2018 by TeeVee329

[BlancheDevoreaux]

I could like Nelle and Brad... if they actually had the two of them being scheming together.  Of course, then I wouldn't want him with Lucas and they'd actually have them good schemes rather than this crap she is doing with Carly. It's amazing.  I don't like either character and find this whole storyline to vacillate be boring and stupid. How about they drive Nina to the loony bin!  Valentine gets pissed and kills Nelle and then goes to jail forever!  

[dubbel zout]

1 hour ago, ulkis said:

they keep giving him these milquetoast chicks

Probably because they don't want some lowly woman to overshadow the spawn of the great Sonny Corinthos. It doesn't help that Michael himself is pretty milquetoast, as you note. I think they should stop writing Michael as the young male romantic lead for a while. CD looks (to me, at least) so uncomfortable in love scenes, and the writing for his pairings is so lackluster anyway. Let Michael join forces with Alexis on the Charles Street thing, or go against Ned at ELQ, or something that doesn't involve a love relationship. Then in a few years, give him a relationship that isn't with a lame schemer who wants to trap him with a baby, which is gross on so many levels.

46 minutes ago, TeeVee329 said:

Also, huh, they should be getting Baby (who?) right around the time Nelle has her baby, GEE I WONDER WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

Wait, are you thinking something might go wrong?

[TeeVee329]

4 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

Wait, are you thinking something might go wrong?

I think Nelle might invite Brad to a swap meet, if you get my drift. #babyswap2018

[TeeVee329]

Just a reminder that this smug shrew is the show's primary heroine and matriarch...

[BlancheDevoreaux]

I already don't like Nelle and Carly.  Josselyn has done a great job of getting herself into that group.  I also can't stand Nina or Sam.  Not big on Olivia, either. Why can't GH just have some normal women for me to like? I guess Monica and Maxie are going to have to do for now. And Maxie is marginal.

[bannana]

Wow, penguins!  Way to lose it,Carly.  I guess the meds you take in a public place every day just aren't working for you at all.

I suspect I am alone in enjoying this gaslighting story, because...Carly.  But I don't like that Nelle dragged Ava into it.  OTOH, is anyone really going to believe that this is a horrible thing Ava did, buy a mobile that has penguins?

Edited May 10, 2018 by bannana

[Linny]

Poor Chase really can't catch a break from these assholes. He's had to take shit from Sonny over how he does his job, his brother won't give him the time of day, Lucy accosted his privacy in a totally unacceptable way, and his partner pimped him out to Lucy and the Nurses' Ball simply for his own amusement. Chase seems like an earnest sweetheart, too, it's too bad nobody recognizes that.

Oh, the field in Croton is still a thing? "Problem" still cold in the ground? Cool, cool, thanks for keeping me abreast of such an important situation.

You've got to be fucking kidding me that PENGUINS are what's setting Carly off. A grown woman is throwing a tantrum and destroying objects because the presence of penguins is tantamount to spitting on Morgan's grave. Truly, what the fuck's wrong with her that she'd make such an insane leap in logic? Even for Carly, this is over the top ridiculous behavior.

[TeeVee329]

1 minute ago, Linny said:

Oh, the field in Croton is still a thing? "Problem" still cold in the ground? Cool, cool, thanks for keeping me abreast of such an important situation.

You've got to be fucking kidding me that PENGUINS are what's setting Carly off.

So glad the show looped back around to that body Sonny buried six zillion years ago, said nobody ever.

And seriously, liking penguin is beyond basic/non-specific, Carls.  Gawd I am really hating her guts right now.

[dubbel zout]

Sonny is using Mike's illness just as much as Ava is, albeit for different purposes. But of course Sonny doesn't lose a thing. Ugh.

[Asp Burger]

2 hours ago, TheMediaHo said:

Asp Burger, was The Cellar underneath Kelly's and decorated like a speakeasy? I don't remember Club 101 at all. TIA.

Yes, that was The Cellar.  

I don't know what to say to jog any memory of Club 101. It was a fairly ordinary-looking soap opera "nightclub" set, but it lasted a pretty long time, as Skye moved into the co-head-honcho role once Jax booted Carly out. Probably people remember big confrontations that happened there more than they remember the club itself. To wit... 

 

And....

 

Edited May 10, 2018 by Asp Burger

[GHScorpiosRule]

42 minutes ago, TeeVee329 said:

Just a reminder that this smug shrew is the show's primary heroine and matriarch...

[YaddaYadda]

I don't mind Carly being brought low, but there's nothing subtle about Nelle or the acting choices or the ominous, batshit crazy music they play whenever Nelle opens her mouth, or the way she behaves and all the characters are completely oblivious to what she is doing. And the actress needs to tone down the crazy eyes. It certainly seemed like she was not expecting that Carly would accept those guardianship documents again, I even thought Monica would have a cow over it after she was just being done talking about how she thought the Qs were dwindling. Way to go, giving her great grandchild to Sonny and Carly.

I think I hate this story because I can't stand the actress who plays Nelle. 

[ulkis]

Just when I thought Morgan's posthumous personality couldn't get anymore ridiculous, HE LOVED PENGUINS. I guess it explains his instant horniness for Ava in a wig.

Carly: Morgan is the only [child who loved penguins] whose meds you tempered with!

Now now. Who knows how many penguin lovers' meds Ava could have tampered with?

lol poor Chase, everyone's just shitting all over him. Although I don't know why Dante and Lucy were getting the intense drums for background music instead of a wacky shenanigans piano plunk.

Despite my rolling my eyes at Finn now adding Dead Mom angst to his Dead Wife angst, I still like him and Alexis.

lol at Ava and Carly toasting while exchanging a "meeeeh" look.

Nelle: it feels like just yesterday I came to town.

No Nelle, it feels like fucking ages.

Joss: [Ava] can let go of my sister's hand now.

Joss: mom, how can you reject this beautiful gesture?

Shut up Joss! I hope everyone dies and she has to raise the baby.

Nelle: This is my most treasured possession and I want to give it to Carly. I hope we can all look back on this day with love and joy.

Way to keep the crazy under wraps.

Bobbie looks like the head madam of an old west saloon, but I guess that makes sense.

Edited May 11, 2018 by ulkis

[ulkis]

1 hour ago, dubbel zout said:

Probably because they don't want some lowly woman to overshadow the spawn of the great Sonny Corinthos.

I don't think that. After all, Michael had the "honor" of being paired with Starr/Kiki, and I think FV was fine with KA's characters dominating the relationship.

Then in a few years, give him a relationship

A few years?!

[dubbel zout]

2 minutes ago, ulkis said:

1 hour ago, dubbel zout said:

Probably because they don't want some lowly woman to overshadow the spawn of the great Sonny Corinthos.

I don't think that. After all, Michael had the "honor" of being paired with Starr/Kiki, and I think FV was fine with KA's characters dominating the relationship.

Pairing Michael with Lauren was a) to anchor her and b) Frank and Ron probably thought it was adorable the actors were dating IRL.

2 minutes ago, ulkis said:

Quote

Then in a few years, give him a relationship

A few years?!

LOL. It is a soap.

[Blackie]

Please stop calling them macaroons.  Macaroons are delicious and coconuty and now I am craving some, especially drizzled in dark chocolate,  Macarons taste like coloured sugar, which is basically what they are., (I know they are French and fancy and a "thing" right now but blech!)

I was hoping Olivia would pull out the "melted chocolate bar in the diaper" game!!!!

I laughed when Lucy was questioning Dante how he always gets out of performing at the nurses ball because I have been asking the same thing for years.

31 minutes ago, ulkis said:

Bobbie looks like the head madam of an old west saloon, but I guess that makes sense

haha! But why is Nelle dressed so blah in such an unattractive blouse, couldn't she come up with something nicer for her shower.

BTW I have been watching Barney Miller reruns, so funny to see young MG.

Edited May 10, 2018 by Blackie
eta

[Cheyanne11]

Quote

Joss: [Ava] can let go of my sister's hand now.

Avery isn't your sister, Shrew Jr., and Ava is her mother, not Shrew Sr.

[paisley]

What happened to that nurse Michael tried to flirt with a couple of months ago? She had dark hair and a personality. I liked the interaction between them. He smiled and seemed engaged. 

[ulkis]

24 minutes ago, dubbel zout said:

[A few years?!]

LOL. It is a soap.

[Inigo Montoya]Is too much![/Inigo Montoya]

42 minutes ago, YaddaYadda said:

I think I hate this story because I can't stand the actress who plays Nelle. 

Even just opening the gift, her hands were so slow and mannered. It's like she's moving underwater. Or mildly sedated. And why do they insist on giving her a Laura Ingalls style braid?

Edited May 10, 2018 by ulkis

[nilyank]

18 minutes ago, paisley said:

What happened to that nurse Michael tried to flirt with a couple of months ago? She had dark hair and a personality. I liked the interaction between them. He smiled and seemed engaged. 

They went on one date that Nelle interrupted and she decided that she didn't want to deal with Michael's babymama drama. She asked him to call her when he has less drama in his life. 

[Oracle42]

Carly did lose her son, she has been in a mental hospital, and she was cruel to Nelle about the same thing - so, this story should work.  Gaslighting Carly isn't a bad scheme, and it's a pretty good story idea, but the execution is so, SO terrible. It's not fun or silly in a soapy way. It's dumb. And it's dumb in a way that feels like an insult to the audience.

What age group are they writing for? Because the CW has more sophisticated storylines on shows where people wear capes & spandex for a living. There's no nuance, no sympathy for the characters in the writing, no internal consistency and there's no connection to this version of Morgan because literally ZERO of the things ascribed to him posthumously were shown on screen. Morgan was on-screen as an infant, a child and an adult - the writers couldn't find anything from any of those time periods to incorporate into this story? Penguins?! Seriously?

It feels like a clumsy satire of a soap opera.

[BlancheDevoreaux]

46 minutes ago, ulkis said:

Just when I thought Morgan's posthumous personality couldn't get anymore ridiculous, HE LOVED PENGUINS. I guess it explains his instant horniness for Ava in a wig.

Carly: Morgan is the only [child who loved penguins] whose meds you tempered with!

Now now. Who knows how many penguin lovers' Ava could have tampered with?

lol poor Chase, everyone's just shitting all over him. Although I don't know why Dante and Lucy were getting the intense drums for background music instead of a wacky shenanigans piano plunk.

Despite my rolling my eyes at Finn now adding Dead Mom angst to his Dead Wife angst, I still like him and Alexis.

lol at Ava and Carly toasting while exchanging an "meeeeh" look.

Nelle: it feels like just yesterday I came to town.

No Nelle, it feels like fucking ages.

Joss: [Ava] can let go of my sister's hand now.

Joss: mom, how can you reject this beautiful gesture?

Shut up Joss! I hope everyone dies and she has to raise the baby.

Nelle: This is my most treasures possession and I want to give it to Carly. I hope we can all look back on this day with love and joy.

Way to keep the crazy under wraps.

Bobbie looks like the head madam of an old west saloon, but I guess that makes sense.

So much this.  You know you are a family of obnoxious when Ava is the one I am rooting for.  Joss is absolutely obnoxious.  She acts like such a know-it-all but not in a teenage way but in a  "oh look how mature this girl is" kind of way.  Only she isn't mature and has no clue what she is talking about.  But I don't hope they all die and she has to raise the baby.  I hope they all die, including her, and the baby goes to live with Jax in Australia because... well I'm sure they can come up with some soapy reason that the child would go to Jax.

[Cheyanne11]

How did Nelle even know Morgan liked penguins?  WTF kind of creepy pillow talk did she and Michael used to have?

[nilyank]

19 minutes ago, Oracle42 said:

Morgan was on-screen as an infant, a child and an adult - the writers couldn't find anything from any of those time periods to incorporate into this story? Penguins?! Seriously?

I haven't watch yet but kid Morgan (and all the Corinthii) were huge Yankees fans. Use that. Thwy could even use flashbacks of that.

14 minutes ago, Cheyanne11 said:

How did Nelle even know Morgan liked penguins?  WTF kind of creepy pillow talk did she and Michael used to have?

Nelle either got it from Michael or Joss. They should remember a weird conversation with Nelle about their dead brother. 

Edited May 10, 2018 by nilyank

[ciarra]

Well, penguin love is marginally better than Prince Nicholas making Lincoln Logs out of green beans. 

[Cheyanne11]

Oh, wait, I just remembered Nelle found that creepy memorial FB-esque page for Morgan.  I'm sure "HE LOVED PENGUINS!" was noted there.

[TeeVee329]

It's just so generic.  Why not at least come with, I dunno, an in-universe cartoon penguin.  Call him Porty the Penguin or something.

[dubbel zout]

44 minutes ago, ulkis said:

[Inigo Montoya]Is too much![/Inigo Montoya]

It will take them that long to figure out how to write a decent romance for Michael.

36 minutes ago, nilyank said:

57 minutes ago, paisley said:

What happened to that nurse Michael tried to flirt with a couple of months ago? She had dark hair and a personality. I liked the interaction between them. He smiled and seemed engaged. 

They went on one date that Nelle interrupted and she decided that she didn't want to deal with Michael's babymama drama. She asked him to call her when he has less drama in his life. 

Finally, someone shows some brains. I wouldn't want to be involved in that mess either.

34 minutes ago, Oracle42 said:

And it's dumb in a way that feels like an insult to the audience.

There's also more than a whiff of misogyny, with all the men in Carly's life rolling their eyes at her. I hate that the most by far.

14 minutes ago, TeeVee329 said:

It's just so generic.  Why not at least come with, I dunno, an in-universe cartoon penguin.  Call him Porty the Penguin or something.

It should have been a character connected to Christina Comes Home for Christmas. /ducks flying objects thrown by OLTL haters

[paisley]

Why is this show so awful? On its own and in comparison with B&B, Y&R, and whatever they're doing on DOOL, GH is the pits. I am so not interested in baby switching, half assed gaslighting, attempted serial killer redemption, and unnecessary character destroying mother and child reunion. Why are a mobster family and crew supposed to be civic leaders? Why has the city's pre-eminent family been decimated down to a in-law , a nephew and disassociated twins? What is the point of all this ? Certainly not entertainment. Disney is all about entertainment and has access to outstanding creative talent but this show is being overlooked and ignored. BS like this makes me rise up out of my apathetic state and just scream WTF??? 

[paisley]

Sorry/not sorry. Penguins set me off.

[Pingaponga]

Are we sure that no one has switched Carly's anti-anxiety meds, because they sure don't seem to be doing anything to keep her calm and relaxed.

[LillyB]

Please explain this to me as if I were Sonny, even if Morgan loved  penguins, why would this cause Snarly to flip out the way she did.

[NutmegsDad]

2 hours ago, Cheyanne11 said:

Avery isn't your sister, Shrew Jr., and Ava is her mother, not Shrew Sr.

If you're going to use my fanwank, Show, it's "niece".

Edited May 10, 2018 by NutmegsDad
Not you, Cheyenne, it's Show's fault.