Soap Hub looks at the Hits and Misses for the week of January 12-16 in the worlds of Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, and Beyond the Gates.
Key Takeaways
- Major reveals, risky twists, and long-game plotting dominated across DAYS, GH, B&B, Y&R, and BTG.
- Unexpected friendships, comedic turns, and bold character choices stood out among the week’s hits.
- A cast shake-up, a questionable decision, and a dangerous corporate weapon landed among the misses.
Top 5 Hits
5. Potential Xander and Leo friendship (DAYS). Leo (Greg Rikaart) and Xander’s lives have spiraled out of control. Xander (Paul Telfer) and Sarah (Linsey Godfrey) are officially divorced. Dimitri’s (Peter Porte) arrival ruined Leo and Javi’s (Al Calderon) wedding. The poor souls ran into each other and decided to commiserate at The Brady Pub. As always, they were fun together. Let’s hope that this time around, DAYS goes through with an actual Leo and Xander friendship. We are always here for unexpected soap friendships.
4. Roger Howarth’s comedic skills (Y&R). While the Matt Clark / Los Angeles story hasn’t always made sense, we’re glad it happened. Because ever since he returned to Genoa City, Matt has been on fire…with his comedic skills. He says hilarious things to our favorite Y&R characters. It feels like he is the audience. We’re here for it. He is the levity the show needs. Howarth is so good.
3. Eric ends his retirement (B&B). It crushed us when Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) essentially forced his father to retire, even though it was clear Eric (John McCook) wasn’t ready. Not everybody is built to retire to a life of leisure. The fact that he kept designing while at home was proof positive. Eric and Katie (Heather Tom) teaming up at Logan was an inspired move. Just wait until Ridge and Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) find out the news. It’s understandable why Eric wants to keep this under wraps, though.
2. Dani has the BRCA gene (BTG). The beats BTG has played ever since Anita (Tamara Tunie) was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer have been emotional and educational. And when Dani (Karla Mosley) learned she carried the BRCA gene, the same thing happened. The characters were careful to say that this didn’t mean the end of the world. She didn’t have cancer yet. But it meant she would have to be careful and diligent about her care going forward. And her family and friends were there for her. It’s beautiful the way the Duprees are supporting each other. Of course, there’s conflict, too. And that’s just as important to show.
1. Willow really did shoot Drew (GH). While we weren’t thrilled with the “not guilty” verdict, we did love the reveal that Willow was actually the one who shot Drew (Cameron Mathison). So many times, the first person accused isn’t the one who actually committed the crime. But it made sense for Willow to be the shooter. The best part? The knowledge that Willow is truly only using Drew to get that not guilty verdict and to get her kids back. Other than that, she has no use for him. Seeing her secretly showing her disgust for Drew warmed our hearts. Kudos to Katelyn MacMullen for the job she’s been doing as Willow fools everyone… well, almost everyone.
Top 5 Misses
5. Steffy has to tell Taylor to refer Deacon to another therapist (B&B). Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) overheard Taylor (Rebecca Budig) and Deacon (Sean Kanan) in the midst of their emotional affair while they were supposed to be in session. She knew that the two had crossed a line, and she called her mother on it, who should know better. Steffy had to be the one to tell a renowned psychiatrist like Taylor to refer Deacon to someone else. Taylor should have done that on her own a long time ago.
4. Laura mediates a truce between Martin and Tracy (GH). We get why Martin (Michael E. Knight) hates Tracy (Jane Elliot) and is hell bent on getting his revenge any which way he can. Because of Tracy, he ended up in jail. But what he did to Tracy (the fraud with the will and the Quartermaine mansion) was illegal, and he didn’t stop there. He anonymously gave Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) the ammunition she needed to get Tracy to help her case against Michael. He’s gone too far twice. So why did Laura (Genie Francis) have to broker a truce? She should let Tracy do her worst. It’s her turn!
3. Naomi’s test results (BTG). What is going on with Naomi (Arielle Prepetit)? Her reactions to extreme situations are always a little off. We get how someone could get scared about receiving test results that could change their lives. However, she first let Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) believe her test was positive, even though she hadn’t even looked at it yet. And then there’s a very good chance she lied about her results after she looked them over. What did that accomplish? It’s the one beat in this breast cancer story (so far) that has us perplexed. We even understood Kat (Colby Muhammad) not wanting to take the test at all.
2. The AI superweapon backfires on Victor (Y&R). This isn’t about who wins and who loses. This is about the sudden revelation that this AI superweapon is so powerful that it has a gotcha component that can be triggered. Once the AI program is unleashed and decimates an enemy company, it can then turn on its host company. It’s too convenient a development.
1. Major Casting Shake-Up (DAYS). This week, four DAYS exits were announced, and we were shook. The shake-up involved four cast members: Leo Howard (Tate), Ashley Puzemis (Holly), Raven Bowens (Chanel), and Carson Boatman (Johnny). Obviously, we’re aware of how hard it is to produce a soap, especially with extreme budget restraints. Tough decisions have to be made. But Johnny and Chanel, especially, were always a couple with the potential to be great. They have amazing chemistry, and while their storylines haven’t always done them justice, they are a couple that fans rooted for no matter how many times the show tried to break them up. We’re not sure if the decision-makers know how much Johnny and Chanel mean to us.
Honorable Mentions
B&B
MISS: Carter and Daphne are already engaged. As much as we like Carter (Lawrence Saint-Victor) and Daphne (Murielle Hilaire), we don’t get why they had to get engaged already. It hasn’t been that long since Carter was engaged to Hope (Annika Noelle). There is no harm in taking the time to get to know the person.
MORE: The latest Comings & Goings on The Bold and the Beautiful.
BTG
MISS: Kat’s attendance problem. This week, Kat didn’t go to the country club to celebrate the fact that her cousin and business partner isn’t carrying the BRCA gene. She said she had work, which made no sense. Kat and Chelsea are besties. But it’s like Kat is disconnecting herself from her family. She didn’t show up to her grandmother’s impromptu Mardi Gras-like party before her first chemotherapy session either. She has barely attended any family events for the last few months. Why? And don’t say Eva (Ambyr Michelle) because she wasn’t at the club or at Anita’s.
MORE: Here’s what’s coming up next week on Beyond the Gates.
DAYS
MISS: Peter Blake’s return. Apparently, Peter has died. Since Dr. Rolf (Richard Wharton) injected Peter with one of his concoctions, one never knows if Peter is truly dead. We’re hoping not. Because Dan Gauthier barely got to do anything before Peter flatlined.
MORE: Here’s what’s coming up next week on Days of Our Lives.
GH
HIT: There was romance. Gio (Giovanni Mazza) and Emma (Braedyn Bruner). Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud). Cody (Josh Kelly) and Molly (Kristen Vaganos). Thank you, GH, for remembering that love in the afternoon is an essential part of soap operas. This week, Cody and Molly figured things out and decided to move forward with their relationship. Jason and Britt went out on a date. And Gio and Emma took their relationship to the next level when they made love. It was nice that the show decided to break up all that dark drama of Anna (Finola Hughes) being tortured and Willow’s trial with romance.
MORE: Here’s what’s coming up next week on General Hospital.
Y&R
HIT: Phyllis and Nick on the train. Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) stood strong during her conversation with Nick (Joshua Morrow), but in the end, she felt some of that sting. She also felt fear. She said it. She chose winning, defeating Victor (Eric Braeden), and having power over everything else. And Nick told her he would grind her into dust and take pleasure in it. Unhinged Nick is kind of fun.
MORE: Here’s what’s coming up next week on The Young and the Restless.
