It’s Only My Opinion: From GH to Y&R, Soaps Need to Actually Make Characters Pay
Drew is targeting Willow on General Hospital while Steffy refused Sheila’s pleas on The Bold and the Beautiful and Beyond the Gates‘s Leslie struck out. But there’s no retribution on The Young and the Restless or Days of Our Lives.
Payback’s a Britch
It’s hard to watch characters say things that contradict what we have watched. There was GH’s Britt chastising Jason for not contacting her when he returned, which would have been impossible.
Britt: “When did you get back from Jakarta?”
Jason: “About two weeks ago.”
Britt: “And you couldn’t text me? How long does it take to send a text?”
Britt could make up for all her shady dealings (while being blackmailed by Cullum and Sidwell) by testifying against Sidwell that he killed Dalton in front of her. It’s important that villains pay for their crimes, if only for a while.
Marshall: “Actions have consequences.”
Curtis: “I was provoked.”
Good luck with that argument in court. Will Willow use that defense if she’s prosecuted for drugging Drew? She’s gotten away with a lot (so far…), but Drew’s paralysis certainly led to some delightfully unhinged behavior from both Willow and her mother. Nina stuck a syringe in Brennan’s neck, helped him recover, slept with him, and then begged him for help after she impulsively pushed Drew and his wheelchair into the lake.
Brennan: “I found the evidence we need to neutralize Drew.”
Nina: “It’s too late. I just killed him.”
That’s gold, Jerry. Cut to Gio saving Drew and the next phase of the story: Consequences.
Drew: “I’m not going to kill you, but you’re going to wish I did.”
Willow (dropping her wedding rings on the floor): “Ah, the sound of freedom.”
Drew: “Enjoy it while it lasts, you treacherous bitch.”
Bring it! Yes, it was silly that Drew came out of his wheelchair looking like The Hulk with no bullet holes in his smooth, tan back, but that whole story was pure soapy goodness. And kudos to GH for poking fun at themselves with this well-timed phone call:
Willow (to her nanny): “I had to make an unexpected visit to the PCPD. If they questioned someone else, they might actually solve a crime.”
Three’s Allowed
EJ’s actions rarely result in any fallout on DAYS, which is not soapy. Kristen is no saint, but good for her for calling him out on their mutual attacks, which have now spread to the next generation.
Kristen: “How did things get so bad between us that we’re going after each other’s children?”
EJ: “I wish I knew.”
He knows. EJ gave the order to kidnap Kristen in the same episode — so much for introspection.
Could the unlikely trio of Brady, Sarah and Holly finally bring him down? They’ve sussed out that DiMera Pharmaceuticals could be behind the toxins that made Holly sick, and rightly suspect EJ planted drugs in Holly’s bag to cover it up.
Brady: “I’m gonna keep digging until I find the proof EJ is responsible.”
Xander: “I can’t wait till the bastard is brought to his knees.”
Sarah: “Look at us, working as a team.”
Xander: “As Victor always said, never underestimate the power of a common enemy.”
And never underestimate the power of invoking a much-missed patriarch when going after his enemy’s son. That is soapy.
Get Real
Leslie’s actions on BTG have had huge repercussions, but she refuses to accept them. She blew up Ted’s marriage to Nicole with the news that Ted had fathered her daughter Eva, which damaged her relationship with Eva. Bizarrely, she still thought she had a chance with Ted.
Leslie (busting into Ted’s office): “You’re ruining our last chance to get this right!”
She was referring to the news that Ted and Shanice had exchanged “I love yous” (but curiously no kisses…) which put her over the edge. Ted patiently reminded Leslie they were ancient history, but her insistence that they could “be a family” with Eva made him realize his ex needed tougher love.
Ted: “I don’t want to hurt you, but the story you’re telling yourself about us being a family isn’t real.”
Leslie: “How dare you say what we had wasn’t real?”
She stormed out, resurfacing at the country club where she ordered a double bourbon and got in Vanessa’s face. Vanessa, a fellow fool for love, actually tried to console the viper who blew up her best friend’s marriage.
Vanessa: “You could be fighting for a life that would have made you miserable.”
What good advice! But as usual, Leslie didn’t take it.
Truth Nor Consequences
There are almost no repercussions for anyone’s actions on Y&R. Murderers Matt Clark and Patty Williams roamed free all year, while Mariah — who kidnapped a young child — is on her way home after a few months at a psych hospital.
Businesses trade back and forth between owners like baseball cards, with no impact on offices or productivity from those revolving doors. It made no difference when Phyllis took over Newman Enterprises and the entire staff quit and/or was fired; Victor regained the company, and it was like the whole escapade was a bad fever dream.
Speaking of which, Nikki’s solo episode stumbling around the Newman mansion while she was blind undid months of abominable behavior on Victor’s part with zero fallout.
Victor: “You had a bad dream.”
Nikki: “It seemed so real… [gets her sight back] I can see!”
Nikki reasoned that since Victor saved her in her nightmare, it had to mean something. They went out to eat and she outlined that the only way forward was for Victor to stop resenting Jack for helping Nikki get sober. He agreed.
Victor: “I guess my love for you is stronger than my hatred for Jack Abbott.”
Nikki: “Thank you.”
Victor: “Let’s go home.”
So despite Victor literally throwing Nikki out of the house that he gave her, the whole chapter ended with no real apology or accountability. One discussion at the GCAC, and poof! Nikki was back in the Newman mansion.
No.
Crass Action
B&B’s Sheila refuses to accept “no” for an answer from the daughter-in-law she tried to kill.
Sheila (to Steffy): “Why won’t you open your heart and let me in?”
Because you shot her! It’s actually shocking how many times B&B has replayed this scene since that crime was committed in 2022. They recently added the wrinkle of Sheila’s husband falling for Steffy’s mother, which does add a layer. Sheila says Taylor’s involvement ended her marriage to Deacon, but viewers know Deacon had already grown tired of his needy wife and her repeated pleas to his children to accept her. (No chance, responded Hope and Deke.) We don’t know where Sheila is living or how she’s supporting herself, but we do know she can enter Finn’s office at the hospital without an ID whenever she likes. That’s how she was able to plead her case to Steffy for the 900th time.
Sheila (complaining): “I’ve never been able to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Finn or Hayes.”
Steffy: “Whose fault is that?”
Sheila’s. And considering that she voluntarily gave Finn up for adoption, missing his birthday is a pretty big self-own. Sheila admitted that if she had chosen to live her life differently, i.e., not shot Finn and Steffy, she might have been invited to events with her bio son. Steffy still wasn’t having it.
Steffy: “You are not welcome in our lives, not ever!”
Action, meet consequence.
Conversation
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