In today’s world of instant gratification, soap operas are challenged with giving audiences the payoffs to storylines they insist upon having while also staying true to the scribes of yesterday who believed that the three secrets to storytelling were 1) make ‘em wait, 2) make ‘em wait, and 3) make ‘em wait!
The Best Of Soap Operas: Story Gratification
So, it’s possible these four big story payoffs from 2019 might have been delayed – or not. Either way, fans were happy these moments finally took place because they were the Best Payoffs of 2019!
The Bold and the Beautiful
After months of hearing various characters in the know say they were going to tell Hope (Annika Noelle) the truth – that Dr. Reese Buckingham (Wayne Brady) had stolen her baby and she was living with Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) as baby Phoebe, it appeared as if the truth would never come out!
Enter little Douglas (Henry Joseph Samiri). He knew from his late mother, Caroline (Linsey Godfrey), that it was important to tell the truth. So, he did. At first, nobody believed him, but Douglas persisted. He finally said the words: “Baby Beth is alive!” And things have never been the same since!
Days of Our Lives
We didn’t think DAYS would really kill beloved cardiac patient Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) – well, at least not where she’d stay dead – but it sure looked like she was going to that great soap in the sky when a heart donor wasn’t coming through.
Across town, Vivian Alamain (Robin Strasser) set into motion events that led to the tragic death of her son Stefan (Brandon Barash). But would Julie get his heart or would it go to Kate (Lauren Koslow), who was also near death’s door?
Kate recovered on her own. And, after weeks of her family preparing for the worst, Julie’s life was saved thanks to Stefan’s untimely death. Julie was rewarded with a heart. Fans were rewarded with sensational performances and the assurance that Doug (Bill Hayes) and Julie’s love story continues.
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General Hospital
Sasha (Sofia Mattsson) didn’t know how to tell Nina that she wasn’t really her daughter. That problem was solved after Lulu (Emme Rylan) overheard the truth just before Nina (Cynthia) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) were about to tie the knot.
Folks may have shown up for a wedding, but what they got instead was a tour-de-force with Nina blasting Sasha for her duplicity. Initially, Nina allowed herself to believe that Valentin was innocent in the charade. Now that she knows the truth, another showdown is in the offing. But Nina tearing into her faux daughter was the Port Charles payoff of 2019!
The Young and the Restless
Soaps are about suspending belief, so we’re going to have to accept that Traci (Beth Maitland) and Jack (Peter Bergman) could put a whole book together in a few weeks. Forget about fact-checking, calling other sources, editing, having other people you know and trust read the book, Traci and Jack turned out to each be the Evelyn Wood of memoir-writing.
Of course, the payoff was all worth this. Viewers were given a special Jack-centric episode honoring Peter Bergman’s 30th anniversary at YR. The character-based flashbacks shown should serve as a reminder to today’s storytellers how great this genre can be.
The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless air weekdays on CBS. Days of Our Lives airs weekdays on NBC. General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. Check local listings for air times for your favorite soap operas.
Video Credit: Days Of Our Lives Fan Clips
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