Does Li Finnegan Need to Back Off of Poppy on B&B?

Li Finnegan’s worst nightmare has become a reality on The Bold and the Beautiful. Not only has her sister Poppy showed up unannounced in town, but she is now officially dating the wealthiest bachelor around, Bill Spencer. This just confirms Li’s accusation that Poppy is nothing but a no-good gold digger. We haven’t seen yet whether Poppy really is that conniving and shallow. Regardless, does Li have the right to push Poppy around or is she justified in protecting her turf?

Li Finnegan vs. Poppy

Li (Naomi Matsuda) and Poppy (Romy Park) appear to have a complex sibling relationship at best. She blames Poppy for having an affair with a married doctor at the hospital where they worked and getting her fired. Li also has projected a lot of her insecure feelings about being unable to give birth to a child onto Poppy.

In an emotional one-on-one with her sis, she lamented how Poppy effortlessly became pregnant with Luna (Lisa Yamada) while she herself couldn’t. Li’s pain was palpable, and comparing herself to Poppy only made her feel worse. When Li seems to be consumed with womb envy, it is hard to believe her assertions about Poppy. Are her judgments accurate, or is she just jealous of her sister?

For her part, Poppy has not hurled any accusations back at Li. She admitted that she felt a bit unaccomplished next to Li, but it didn’t seem to deeply wound her or negatively affect her sense of self. The portrayal of these sisters feeds female stereotypes. Li, the career woman, is a bitter empty shell of a woman who can’t bear children, while Poppy, the looker, has more fun making her way through life with a flimsy work resume and the help of wealthy men. It would be nice to see these siblings portrayed in a more nuanced and less negatively traditional way.

Sisters at War

That said, Li isn’t necessarily helping her case by waging war against Poppy. When she tried to warn Finn (Tanner Novlan) about Poppy’s past exploits, all she did was make her son uncomfortable talking about her sister’s “appetites” for rich men. If she continues to tell Poppy to leave town, Poppy’s inner circle of Luna, RJ (Joshua Hoffman), and Bill (Don Diamont) may hold a very negative view of Li. That doesn’t help her reputation as a doctor or her standing in the community.

By trying to protect herself against Poppy, Li may wind up shooting herself in the foot in the public image department. Can’t we find a better fate for such a smart, accomplished woman? Or at least find her a suitable mate so that she won’t fixate on her sister? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. For an in-depth look at the show’s history, click here.

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