A Critic’s Review: Soap Notes from the Week of March 11 – March 15

When it comes to soaps, every fan has their own opinion — and Soap Hub is no different. For five days, we sat and watched the good, the bad, and everything in between. Here, we lead with optimism. Unfortunately, we don’t always get what we want. So here’s a review of all four soap operas — Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless.

The week of March 11 – 15: All heaven and hell broke loose in soaps this week as Paulina and Abe received an angelic visit; a wounded Jason tried to elude law enforcement on GH; Y&R’s Lily received the worst welcome home ever; and on B&B, Finn’s birth mom may be haunting him.

Days of Our Lives Notes

-It was a two-miracle week for Paulina (Jackée Harry) and Abe (James Reynolds — Reynolds and Harry talk DAYS here). At this point, I’m simply glad Abe’s memories are back. I’m unsure why the show chose this way to bring them back. There were a million zillion ways it could have happened in the last year. If DAYS had to pile this heart failure crisis onto Paulina’s throat cancer, then wouldn’t it have been more dramatic if Abe remembered losing one wife and feeling the heartbreak of being thisclose to losing another one? Maybe that’s just me.

-Meanwhile, give me more of Tate (Jamie Martin Mann) and Holly (Ashley Puzemis) against the world. At the very least, against EJ DiMera (Daniel Feuerriegel). EJ can miss me with his hypocritical thinking that Tate should face consequences for breaking the law when he almost never does.

-Also, please provide more of John Black (Drake Hogestyn) and his struggles. I felt for him so much as he found out that he may have (I don’t believe it for a second) killed Konstantin’s (John Kapelos) daughter, Catherina. And to know that his current bestie, Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols), knew it all along? Wow. I’m looking forward to seeing all of John’s reactions.

-Finally, I know they’re basically gone, but someone please convince Lani (Sal Stowers) and Eli (Lamon Archey) to come back, pretty please? Their presence is needed in Salem!

General Hospital Notes

-This week was pretty much the Jason (Steve Burton — who inked a long-term contract) is back show. If we didn’t see Jason, we heard the name Jason — everybody talked about him. That was to be expected though. What was or wasn’t to be expected depending on how expert your deductive reasoning skills are is John “Jagger” Cates (Adam Harrington) holding all the leverage over Jason. Many fans on social media asked if this means Jagger’s a bad guy or a good guy. This makes him a “shades of gray” guy in my book. I’m not ready to write him off just yet.

-What I thought was interesting about Jason was his interaction with Danny (Asher Antonyzyn). I know Danny’s happy his dad’s home and he got to help him. Asking him to keep their meeting a secret from his mom bothered me so much. There, I said it. I’m very anxious to learn how Sam (Kelly Monaco) will react when she learns about Danny and Jason’s rendezvous on the Quartermaine grounds. Speaking of Sam, I simply adore the attitude she showed this week. She’s hella protective of Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and wary of anybody who could potentially hurt him and I’m here for it.

-I mean, I knew Drew (Cameron Mathison) and Carly (Laura Wright) wouldn’t last. But I have to say I didn’t see them ending so quickly. It was almost too quickly? But, ultimately, I was okay with it. I don’t know. It was a bit of a whiplash moment for me. And then next thing I know, Drew’s taking his frustration out on a boxing bag and kinda sorta flirting with Jordan (Tanisha Harper). I don’t know if that’s leading anywhere, but if GH wanted to mix up their current crop of couples they won’t get an argument out of me. Not all, but some.

-Finally, I originally had high hopes of Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) and Nina (Cynthia Watros) getting along (eventually) and winning every journalism prize in the known universe. But that was naive of me. If Alexis is about to return to the legal profession, I approve big time.

The Bold and The Beautiful Notes

-Is it me or does Sheila (Kimberlin Brown — who recently found heaven on Earth here) seem like she’s haunting Finn (Tanner Novlan)? It’s either that or Finn is experiencing some sort of PTSD. Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on with him. I’m glad he and Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) are supporting each other, however. They can be as messed up as they want to be as long as they do so together. Don’t leave a sliver of an opening for Liam (Scott Clifton), who’s always waiting in the wings. #sorrynotsorry

-I almost had to rewind and replay Brooke’s (Katherine Kelly Lang) scenes on Friday saying she’s coming around on Hope (Annika Noelle) and Thomas (Matthew Atkinson). I couldn’t believe my ears. Sure, she qualified it by saying she hopes they go “slow.” And we all know they’re not going to slow, right?

-Finally, Luna’s (Lisa Yamada) and Bill’s (Don Diamont) scenes were wonderful. I really enjoyed them even though I’m glad they’re not bio dad and daughter (at least I don’t think they are). They would make a good stepdad and daughter, though. Meanwhile, I’m super curious about where this conversation between Poppy (Romy Park) and Finn is going. It better lead to Jack (Ted King) being Luna’s father.

The Young and the Restless Notes

-I think Lily (Christel Khalil) let Daniel (Michael Graziadei) and Devon (Bryton James) off easy with her reaction (find out the fans’ reaction here). I hope this isn’t it and that, at least with Daniel and Heather (Vail Bloom), we will get some sort of delayed reaction. And she will go off someday. I don’t want her to hold back. Stop being so reasonable, Lily! Go off! That fake concern Heather’s playing in front of Daniel is maddening.

-I like relationship building on soaps; seeing the building blocks unfold before my very eyes. We’re seeing Summer (Allison Lanier) and Chance (Conner Floyd) from the beginning, but that’s not who I want to talk about, although I will say that a waterless shower session really does produce quite the glow! What I loved seeing was Audra (Zuleyka Silver) and Sally (Courtney Hope) bond over coffee.

They shared a refreshing conversation where they talked about their complicated men in a non-judgey fashion (even though I’m so very judgey when it comes to Trevor St. John’s Tucker McCall). How great was it not hearing Chloe (Elizabeth Hendrickson) insult Adam (Mark Grossman) all over the place? I don’t think Adam is Audra’s favorite person, but she simply listened to Sally talk about him and vice-versa. I want more. If Tucker and Audra ever get this Glissade stuff going, maybe they can hire Sally to do her thing. Yes, I’m already thinking ahead.

-I keep thinking about Ashley (Eileen Davidson). How is Tucker the only one who’s sensing anything really wrong with her — healthwise? I don’t care what he says. I know that’s why he didn’t go to Paris, which upset Audra in the process. He knows Ashley’s acting differently. He doesn’t know if it’s something more than her messing with him, testing him, trying to catch him doing something wrong, but he knows, right? So why isn’t he telling someone else? I mean I get why he wouldn’t go straight to Jack (Peter Bergman), but he’s got to swallow whatever pride he does have. Ashley needs help with whatever’s ailing her whether she’s suffering from DID or late-onset schizophrenia or a brain tumor.

Burning Questions and Random Comments

B&B
-If they’re not eating at Il Giardino, they’re ordering takeout from Il Giardino. Is that the only Italian restaurant in Los Angeles?
-The dress Thomas made for Hope was gorgeous.
-I really feel like the relationship that Bill describes that he has with Poppy is more exciting than what we’re actually seeing. Hopefully, the show will rectify that.

Y&R
-I actually liked most of Billy’s (Jason Thompson) and a hungover Phyllis’s (Michelle Stafford) conversation. That doesn’t sound like me.
-For now, I’m good with Adam being skeptical of Claire. As much as I want to be all-in on her like Victoria (Amelia Heinle) and Cole (J. Eddie Peck), I’m forcing myself to hold back. I blame Hayley Erin for doing such a good job.
–Nick (Joshua Morrow) tasering Jordan (Colleen Zenk). Nobody ever learns that Victor (Eric Braeden) always comes out on top until it’s too late, right?

GH
-Oh wow. Did Nina just mess things up for Joss (Eden McCoy)? She knows nothing about Dex (Evan Hofer) almost killing Cyrus (Jeff Kober) for Sonny (Maurice Benard).
-Jordan and TJ (Tajh Bellow) talked about him being afraid to be forever connected to Sonny since Kristina (Kate Mansi) is the surrogate and the egg donor. I think that was an interesting conversation and a hot take.
-This week had a lot of good stuff but there were some things I felt could have waited or pushed until another week because so much time needed to be devoted to Jason’s return understandably.

DAYS
-Wendy (Victoria Grace) doesn’t blame Ava (Tamara Braun) at all for being kidnapped?
-Why is Maggie (Suzanne Rogers) so accepting of Konstantin? I don’t get it.
-I am beyond happy Julie and Eli got to share scenes and that she showed how proud she is of him.

What are your thoughts on the week in soaps? Leave comments below.

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