Soap Hub looks at the Hits and Misses for the week of September 29-October 3 in the worlds of Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, and Beyond the Gates.
Top 10 Hits and Misses
10. MISS: Kyle’s controlling ways (Y&R). Kyle (Michael Mealor) continues to be problematic during this whole breakup period with Claire (Hayley Erin). He lit into his ex-girlfriend on her choice to have Holden (Nathan Owens) show her around Los Angeles. She keeps telling Kyle what she needs and what she’s going through but all he hears is “Holden.” Kudos to Claire for this line: “I wonder if you’ll ever realize how much damage you did today.”
9. HIT: Ava and Alexis make a great team (GH). Ava (Maura West) and Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) working together against Ric (Rick Hearst) is turning out to be the best part of this story arc. We want to feel bad for Ric, but how could we when we get Ava saving Alexis from her dagger-wielding ex? After the dust settles, let’s hope these two remain allies. Stranger things have happened. Remember Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Ava?
READ THIS: Find out what happens next week on General Hospital.
8. MISS: The focus of Will’s violation (B&B). While characters do keep mentioning how Will (Crew Moror) is one of Luna’s victims, the focus is really on something else. And that’s the state of the Will/Electra (Laneya Grace) relationship. At this point, Will should be trying to deal with what Luna (Lisa Yamada) did to him and the subsequent pregnancy. Not how much what happened hurts his girlfriend.
7. HIT: Theo and JJ in Horton Town Square (DOOL). The fallout of the blackout was a bit lackluster. However, the most unexpected and riveting moments happened when JJ (Casey Moss) encountered Theo in Horton Town Square. A triggered Theo finally got to say his piece to the man who shot him a few years ago. He told his former friend how he should have talked to him before rejoining the force. The emotions and the intensity of the conversation were palpable. And even though Tyler Joseph Andrews wasn’t playing Theo back then (Kyler Pettis was), he made us feel every bit of his character’s emotions and fear. And JJ got some serious food for thought.
6. MISS: Jacinda meets Kristina and Molly (GH). In a week where only two episodes of GH aired, what was the point of Michael (Rory Gibson) inviting Kristina (Kate Mansi) and Molly (Kristen Vaganos) over while Jacinda (Paige Herschell) visited at the Q mansion? It was all about trying to shore up his alibi, but it didn’t feel like it accomplished anything. It left us confused and the move ultimately backfired.
5. HIT: A refreshing mix of storylines (B&B). We’re just going to say that we much prefer the weeks where multiple storylines coexist than a week where the action focuses on one storyline. This week on B&B, there was Deacon (Sean Kanan) baring his soul to Taylor (Rebecca Budig), Sheila (Kimberlin Brown) fretting about her marriage and getting support from Li (Naomi Matsuda). At Forrester, they actually did a little bit of work utilizing their in-house runway. Of course, Luna was a big part of the week as were Will and Electra. But also, Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Hope (Annika Noelle) broke up and Daphne (Murielle Hilaire) sang at LA’s only restaurant, Il Giardino. More of these kinds of weeks, please.
4. MISS: Kat, Tomas, and Eva (BTG). Don’t get us wrong, Colby Muhammad and Ambyr Michelle gave powerhouse performances as Kat walked in on Eva and Tomas (Alex Alegria) post-sex. He was fresh out of the shower clad only in tattoos and a towel. The drama was high quality but the miss came in when it was clear Kat wasn’t ready to kick Tomas to the curb. And Eva was devastated by some man she knew was into her hated half-sister. He’s not worth it, girls! Hope Kat and Eva realize that someday.
3. HIT: Audra show’s sincere vulnerability (Y&R). Audra was clearly moved that Amy (Valarie Pettiford) didn’t write her off after what she did to Nate (Sean Dominic). And then she sincerely admitted her misdeeds to Sally (Courtney Hope) in a particularly vulnerable moment which continued when she and Nate had that talk. The one where she asked if he would ever give her another chance. The problem is that this day of vulnerability will undoubtedly be fleeting. But Zuleyka Silver impressed us nevertheless. As much of an incessant liar and an opportunist Audra is, we can’t help but feel for her…sometimes.
READ THIS: Find out what happens next week on The Young and the Restless.
2. MISS: One Stormy Night (DOOL). So was this Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) romance novelist story just an elaborate way to get Jeremy Horton (Michael Roark) back to town? We’ve been trying to figure out the purpose of this story since it started and that is our best guess. We’re excited to see where things go now that Jeremy is in town, but it feels like there could have been an easier way to get him back. Like the Dr. Tom Horton Free Clinic gala that’s coming up. Also, how is being a racy romance writer supposed to kill a publicist’s career? Just wondering…
1. HIT: Dani and her men (BTG). Dani (Karla Mosley) and her newly married self had a busy week. She and Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) had a spicy confrontation at his law office where he pulled her in for a kiss. And then she and Andre (Sean Freeman) set some rules for their unconventional marriage. It all added up to fun, flirting, and Hayley (Marquita Goings) going out of her mind with jealousy since her husband now had trouble…performing…if you know what we mean.
READ THIS: Find out what happens next week Beyond the Gates.
Honorable Mentions
B&B
HIT and MISS: Hope and Carter break up (B&B). The writing was on the wall for the end of this relationship. It’s clear the show wanted to reunite Liam (Scott Clifton) and Hope. Having said that, the breakup was emotional in a good way and Saint-Victor especially did a great job with something that was difficult to pull off. But he landed the dismount. The MISS part of this equation is the show not letting Hope step up and make the choice for herself. Instead, Carter let her off the hook and let her go. So Hope got her line back and the go ahead to get back with her ex. Just like that.
READ THIS: The latest Bold and the Beautiful Comings & Goings.
BTG
HIT: Jon Lindstrom as Joey Armstrong. First of all, Vanessa’s (Lauren Buglioli) son returning to grieve his dad and support his mom was wonderful. It was only tainted by the fact that his sister didn’t return with her. But Donnell’s scenes with Joey at his casino were pretty wonderful and it showed just how amazing of an actor Lindstrom is. His Joey masterminded Doug’s (Jason Graham) death but there he was feigning empathy as he was forced to hear Donnell (Alex Cheeks) emote over the unfairness of what happened. He also set it up to fire the dealer that enabled Doug’s drinking and downfall that night, complete with wearing Doug’s precious watch. Joey was diabolical in those scenes but also delicious.
DOOL
MISS: Johnny and Chanel. As much as we do adore this couple, we’ve been disappointed in Johnny (Carson Boatman) for a while now. Here’s yet another situation where Chanel (Raven Bowen) has to dig deep and believe her husband. Yes, he is completely and 100% innocent. This is just Sophia messing with their lives. But this feels like a rinse and repeat situation. Sigh.
READ THIS: Find out what happens next week on Days of Our Lives.
GH
HIT: Tracy versus Veronica. Tracy had to be Tracy when she stumbled upon Monica’s sister in the Quartermaine Crypt. She had every right to question Veronica’s presence. But she did it in the Tracy way with pure, unadulterated sarcasm and vitriol. These scenes had us sitting back and enjoying the powerful presence of two soap legends, Jane Elliot and Erika Slezak. Their first meeting did not disappoint. And Veronica did not back down in the wake of Hurricane Tracy Quartermaine.
Y&R
HIT and MISS: Billy and Cane’s train conversation (Y&R). During Billy (Jason Thompson) and Cane’s conversation on the train (before Jill arrived on the scene), the two had a long conversation. HIT: Billy asked the perfect question: “I knew what I was doing, was to get back at Jill (Jess Walton) and Victor (Eric Braeden). That was my justification. What the hell is yours?” That’s what we’ve been wondering since Dumas/Cane (Billy Flynn) returned. MISS: Billy said insightful things to Cane. He accused Cane of pissing everybody off with his anger and revenge tactics. Everything he said is what people have told him over the years and are still continuing to tell him. It was all very hypocritical, however right on the money he was. On top of that, who knows if Billy’s sudden turnaround is sincere or lasting.
