Smooth Operators: Do Criminals Get Away With Too Much On Soaps?!

They cheat, they steal, they go behind others’ backs. They do just about anything to get ahead or to get what they want… but is it too much for soap fans to handle?

Often it feels like things in life are grossly unfair. People get away with so much: We like our entertainment to at least be fair and show how sometimes good guys win… but on soaps, the bad guys somehow become the heroes and always seem to win.

How else can you explain Sheila Carter (Kimberlin Brown) is still walking around free on The Bold and the Beautiful (BB)?

What about Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) on The Young and The Restless (YR)? Sure, he’s fighting for his life now but is it really a fair trade considering all the mayhem he has wreaked on Genoa City — his family included?? Vivian (Louise Sorel) has even buried people alive on Days of Our Lives (DOOL) and she’s still free!

Then, of course, there is Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) on General Hospital (GH), leader of the Gummy Bear mob. They never hurt anyone and all they do is import coffee (ahem).

Sonny leaves a trail of bodies in his wake but is always around to fight another day. So Soap Hub asked — is this really fair that soap criminals get away with so much?

Throw Away The Key
After over 4,000 votes were tallied, 94% agree that soap baddies get away with too much. You can’t believe how no one ever seems to pay for their crimes anymore and if they do, it’s a slap on the wrist or they’re released on a technicality. What’s up with that?!

Soaps used to be little morality plays where fans could feel satisfied after seeing the bad person pay. You rooted for the good guy but these days the bad guys are written so that they have the rooting value and you are to root against the cops because you don’t want them found out. Seriously?!? It’s crazy!

All Is Fair
The remaining 6% believe that criminals pay for their crimes or they just don’t care case. Some write-ins claimed it’s not just on soaps where criminals get away with too much, while others claim because it’s a soap it’s great that they get away with it.

We guess there’s no pleasing everyone at once but it sure seems like the majority feel that something’s funky in soap town.