It’s Only My Opinion For The Soap Week Ending January 10

(From l.) DAYS’s Chanel (Raven Bowens, l.) lashed out at Johnny, B&B’s Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) had harsh words for Ridge (Thorsten Kaye), and Willow’s (Katelyn MacMullen) ill-timed GH getaway with Drew (Cameron Mathison) created controversy.

Some of our faves are in need of a smack.

Let’s start with B&B’s Ridge. Soon after Carter and Hope orchestrated a coup against Forrester Creations, Brooke accepted the CEO job to figure out a way to give the company back to Ridge and Steffy. Except Ridge is now such a Grade A mansplainer he wouldn’t let Brooke tell him that.

Ridge: “Nothing makes any sense.”

Brooke: “Then let me talk! Let me explain!”

By the time he let her get a word in, Ridge had already 1) decided Brooke had betrayed him and 2) slept with Taylor.

Brooke: “I couldn’t get to you to explain because you had already turned to Taylor. That’s okay. We’ll work through it.”

No! What a pathetic excuse for a supposed life partner (never mind Brooke’s “destiny”) that in the time it took her to get to the Forrester mansion, Ridge had already bedded his ex-wife. In the course of their conversation, however, Brooke started to see the light.

Brooke: “You always do the same thing. You get angry and go straight to Taylor. I deserve a man who loves me completely, and that isn’t you.”

Bingo. Ridge’s contempt for her daughter, Hope, also played into Brooke’s sudden backbone, but it was his insistence on calling Forrester Creations his family business that put her over the top.

Brooke: “Your family? I am your family! The fact that you don’t see that, that Taylor and Steffy see me as a Logan, as being inferior… How can you see me like that?”

And then: Thwack! Has there ever been a more overdue slap in soap history? Ridge has no faith in Brooke and assumes the worst of her every time. He ran off to Aspen with Taylor when he thought Brooke had called Child Protective Services on Thomas, and boffed Taylor after one social media post from Brooke saying she was going to helm Forrester. What kind of “destiny” is it when you don’t even ask your partner for their side?

Brooke: “I’m done.”

About time!

Like Ridge Forrester, DAYS’s Johnny DiMera assumed the worst of Chanel (that she had slept with Alex) and got a slap across the face. Worse, his decision to cheat on his wife lead to the director losing one of his biggest stars.

Chanel: “I quit.”

Johnny: “You don’t mean that. You love working on Body and Soul.”

Chanel: “I did, until my husband cheated on me with my co-star who I thought was my friend. So, I’m done with the show and I’m done with you.”

Johnny: “What are you going to do?”

Chanel: “Go back to my first love. At least at Sweet Bits I won’t have to look at your lying face every day.”

I’m not aware of any real soap stars who quit their jobs to bake cupcakes, but hey, it’s Salem. Johnny begged his wife to reconsider; enter Abe to remind Chanel she has a contract. He’s sympathetic to her situation but she’s one half of the most popular couple on the show, so…

Johnny: “I’ll quit.”

Abe: “Are you trying to kill me?”

Johnny: “There are other directors but there’s only one Faith.”

Still no — Chanel doesn’t want to work with Joy, and they’re all afraid of what Lady Whistleblower will write about the drama at this small-town soap opera. (Don’t get me started on how an anonymous gossip columnist at the Salem Spectator has everyone quaking in their stilettos… but suffice it to say, that story needs a smack.)

Y&R’s Phyllis is heading for a wallop and it’s all her own doing. She practically begged Christine to slap her on New Year’s Eve by taunting her about Danny’s absence (until Danny showed up) and has been getting in Sharon’s face for months despite her friends and family telling her there was more to the story of Heather’s murder.

Phyllis: “Why do people still assume the worst about me?”

Because you’re selfish and don’t listen to anybody and think you’re right all the time? Even her own kids are like give it a rest — so when Summer showed up with news that Sharon was missing, she wasn’t surprised by her mother’s response.

Phyllis: “If something dire has happened to Sharon, it’s on karma, not me. People who don’t remember what Sharon does when pushed into a corner are doomed.”

Summer: “Dad is really worried. And Faith, my sister… ”

Phyllis: “ …your half sister”

Summer: “ …is terrified.”

That snarky comment right there is why people assume the worst of Phylis — and Ian Ward knows it too.

How did GH’s Lulu wake up from a four-year coma such a belligerent shrew? Where’s the gratitude, the desire to make up for lost time, the love for her family? She left her son, Rocco, alone on Christmas to traipse halfway around the world to find her daughter, Charlotte, who is on the run with her fugitive father, Valentin. Not surprisingly, amateur sleuth Lulu lead a WSB henchwoman right to their location in Prague. Dante showed up, a shot was fired, and Charlotte was outta there. Lulu blamed Dante.

Lulu: “This is my life.”

Dante: “So you said. It doesn’t matter who sacrificed theirs so you could have it. Sam died so you could live. My fiancée, a mother of two kids, the woman who helped me raise Rocco, is dead. And you’re about to risk everything — her sacrifice, the love of your family, a son who needs you — to throw it all you away like you don’t care.”

Lulu: “I’m grateful, but I will make my choices and fight for my children.”

Me, me, my, my. Who cared for your children when you were in a coma for four years, Lulu? She needs to take several seats, especially after throwing a vase across the room like a toddler having a tantrum.

Which brings us to Willow, who accompanied her lover, Drew, to D.C. despite being in the middle of a custody battle with Michael — and she brought Wiley with her.

Curtis: “Drew took Willow to his congressional swearing-in? That is a bold move, taking Michael’s wife and son to a high-profile event.”

Nina: “Did Drew fool us both? Or did he change?”

Curtis: “He changed. I will deal with him the way he is now.”

That’s how you deal with a jerk when you can’t punch them… although Carly wanted Jason to do both.

Carly: “I thought you would be way more upset about the D.C. trip.”

Jason: “I already beat Drew up. What do you want me to do, fly to D.C. and beat him up again?”

It’s a start — especially after this exchange which almost had me calling Child Protective Services.

Willow (climbing out of Drew’s bed): “I should get back to my room. I don’t want Wiley to wake up and wonder where I am.”

Drew: “No judge in their right mind would take your kids away from you.”

Every judge would if they knew she left a 6-year-old alone for hours in a strange hotel room. Between Willow’s bad judgment and Michael’s life-threatening injuries, could we be in for a custody battle between their mothers?

Nina vs. Carly… now that’s a smackdown.

Hey. It’s only my opinion.