As two legacy characters took their dives this week, we also looked around and saw quite a few remaining characters quickly falling down the rabbit hole. Let’s see where everybody on The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, and The Young and the Restless were this week.
The Bold and the Beautiful:
Seriously, do I have to wear bells around my neck and dance around with cymbals and bagpipes for someone to hear me? Get rid of this Quinn kidnapping Liam storyline immediately, it has gone too far, gotten too disturbing. Somehow I think it’s more disturbing than the Jack/Phyllis/Marco fiasco on Y&R last year, if only for the ‘ick’ factor.
Katie’s continued downward spiral however is an inspired storyline. While Brooke’s love confession did no one any good, it’s no longer what Katie’s behavior is about. People underestimate how deeply rooted a condition Depression can be. It is not something that can be solved with a few therapy sessions and it is not something that can go away like a cold with some medicine. Depression is a debilitating disorder which can carry on for years. The first time Katie was diagnosed it was easy for some to say that once she got through the postpartum it was over. Unfortunately Katie only has farther to fall.
As hard as it is to accept, it was time for Nicole and Zende to break up. They are on two different paths now. Their love and compatibility isn’t in question, nor are their future goals. The timing just isn’t right at the moment. It could be later if Sasha would stop being the entitled lost orphan and act with decency.
Performer of the Week:
Someone just put Heather Tom’s name on the 2017 Pre-Emmy nominations list. I would elaborate, but I think this clip speaks for itself.
Days of Our Lives:
The midweek Death Party revolving around Stefano while at the same time honoring Joseph Mascolo’s work was amazing. Mascolo, who retired from the show for health reasons, made what we can assume is his last appearance this week while everyone pondered on their lives with and without Stefano. It was quite a show to relive the very worst of Stefano. Many would wonder why anyone would bother to remember someone they hated. It just seemed natural though. Not to dance on his grave, maybe just a toast to it. All except Hope, and let’s face it, it would be in poor taste to celebrate the death of a man you killed with a smile on your face.
At the same time Joey was struggling with what his father had done for him. Poor Roman, so many homicides, so many false confessions. He really does have his hands full. Unfortunately it seems the worst is yet to come. Of course now that Chad is free of his father’s shadow Ben would choose to come back into the picture. If anyone besides Claire finds out that Ciara was raped that will be yet another potential for a murderous situation. However I am glad Ciara finally told someone. Jen could stand to confide in someone, or at least admit her problem to herself. She is sinking further into her addiction, and Eric seems to be the only one who sees her in trouble.
Performer of the Week:
Usually I give this to the person who gave a memorable performance, and there certainly were many this week. Sometimes there will be two outstanding performances to mention and this award is split. That will be the case this week but we’re doing it a little differently.
The rise of the villainous ghosts resulted in two devastating and breathtaking performances. As Chad confronted Stefano’s ghost after being cheated a final goodbye, you could see the pain in Billy Flynn’s eyes. So much raw emotion as Chad poured out his grief, disappointment, and lost sense of direction. Chad was lost when he found Stefano, and for better or for worse, being a Dimera gave him purpose. Without Stefano to guide him, even by his bad example, Chad is once again an orphan. So in death Stefano gives his son one final gift, freedom from the sins of his father. Alive or dead, Stefano knew that Chad could never be his father, and that’s a good thing.
I’m going to go out of the box and give the other half of this week’s prize to the actor who only made a brief appearance, but whose three decade legacy took a final bow all throughout the week. A memorial episode for a character is usually sad, but not when the deceased is Stefano Dimera. Yet he cast such a large shadow with his reign of terror that it seemed natural for those most affected by him to come together for one last final…whatever you want to call it. Here’s to Joseph Mascolo for thirty-four years of memorable performances!
General Hospital:
Anna may be unsure about what to do with this third act of her life, especially since she is convinced that she is going to prison. She has no idea that excitement is coming her way in the form of two very handsome men. The idea of Anna and Andre testing the waters might not be a terrible idea. He definitely doesn’t have that kind of chemistry with Jordan. Then there is Griffin, who apparently has some kind of connection with Anna as well, though it seems to go to a deeper level.
Poor Tracy. Those are words I hate thinking let alone writing. It just feels wrong to think of Tracy as anything but tough as nails. She’s still tough enough to lie to everyone about her condition, but it doesn’t seem that is going to work for long.
Also having a rough time is Nina, who so desperately wants a baby. She is doting over Nathan, cooing over all of Georgie’s toys, but she still can’t have a baby with Franco. We all know her real hurdle is that Franco doesn’t want a baby. Yes, he is comfortable being a surrogate father to Kiki and a friend to Jake, but that is completely different from raising a child from infancy. So I’m not sure Maxie did Nina any favors by encouraging her to get a second opinion on her fertility.
Paul is going back on the bad guy list. Just because he is on the right side of the law doesn’t mean he is a good person. He took no responsibility for his part in Kiki getting hurt. At least Morgan did that, albeit he took it a little too far with that dalliance on the roof. Unfortunately like Paul, Morgan still doesn’t understand consequences.
Bipolar Disorder is a lifelong battle. There is no quick fix, and there are no guarantees of a positive outcome. To get healthy it takes the exact dosage of medication, proper therapy, and a clear understanding of what is rational and irrational. Unfortunately, it also takes years to be able to figure it out, not months or weeks as Morgan wants. Morgan is nowhere near to being in a clear mindset. The fact that he was denied a plea deal by the district attorney may have presented Carly and Sonny with the best option possible. It was horrifying to watch as Morgan desperately realized his parents were committing him, and even Diane had trouble watching a young man she watched grow up break apart.
Performer of the Week:
It is a mother’s job to do what is best for her child. This only becomes more difficult when that child becomes of legal age yet their behavior indicates a lack of a sane mindset. Watching your child fall and get back up is different than watching your child fall to their death. Laura Wright absolutely killed it this week. She was clear and stalwart in the face of one of the most devastating decisions a mother can make. She was the epitome of a courageous and fierce mother.
The Young and the Restless:
Before we get into the heart of the drama this week, we need to talk about the sour grape of the week. Did Dr. Neville’s meds completely screw with Hilary’s sense of common decency? It’s been awhile since we’ve seen this side of her, which makes me wonder if this is the real Hilary we should all be watching out for. She’s a master manipulator at her core which she proved in the disgusting way she pushed Ashley out. Someone please slap Devon out of his lovesick stupor.
It finally happened. Victor has been a master manipulator for years, but I daresay this past year when he dropped to his lowest point. You know he has crossed the line when Victoria, his last and greatest defender, is through defending her father. The whole world now knows the truth about what Victor did to Jack and Phyllis. It was some scene to see all of the Newmans surrounding Victor in the hospital with disgust and disappointment in their eyes.
This resulted in the Topsy-Turvy envisioning that was Wednesday’s episode. Nikki was homeless, Nick was Victor Jr. trying to swindle Adam and Chelsea out of Hope’s farm, Abby was a hooker, Phyllis was still in a coma, and Victoria was the budding drunk indulging random hookups while Billy ran Jabot. As this insane turn of events played out, you could see Victor’s point. As the patriarch of the Newman family, he has kept his family together and safe no matter what. Sometimes that even meant hurting them if he thought it was for their own good.
Here’s the thing though. Victor was talking about taking a road less traveled over 30 years ago and the consequences it would have today. Yes, had Victor made a different choice back then, the consequences could have been catastrophic. Victor needs to understand that it is this particular decision that his family cannot stomach. In all of Victor’s machinations of the past, no one was every violated or killed specifically because of him. It was this final point which even Summer couldn’t argue with. The consequences of this are going to be played out tenfold over the coming weeks. This changes the very foundation of the Newman family and every decision they will make from here on end.
Performer of the Week:
A friend of mine said something very honest this week- love Victor Newman or hate him, you can’t not love portrayer Eric Braeden. He is a master at his craft. From the subtle look of betrayal in his eyes as he took in the faces of his angry family, to the screams of outrage as he was arrested, to the tears in his eyes as his last supporters turned their backs. Many would praise his performance in the “What If” episode, but there were too many outstanding moments this week to not give him Y&R’s Performer of the Week. Y&R fans would say don’t mess with Victor Newman, while I would say don’t mess with Eric Braeden.
