Opinion: From GH to Y&R, Soaps Are Serving Up Big Life Changes — and Major Logic Gaps
Raucous weddings, shocking pregnancies, sudden births — even an “innocent” mobster — are upending General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, Beyond the Gates and Days of our Lives. Our critic says bring it on… just don’t make it too far-fetched.
Mob Lies
Sonny quitting the mob on GH would have been surprising if anyone had actually believed it. He was later accused of ordering the beating at Pentonville and the residents of Port Charles just nodded their heads, like “We knew his upstanding act was a ruse.” That included his secret paramour, Justine Turner, who turned on Sonny and now wants to prosecute him.
Sonny (to Jason): “It’s ironic that the first time I’m actually innocent ADA Turner has convinced herself I’m behind what happened to Curtis and Sidwell.”
Ironic and dangerous, since there are a slew of crimes Sonny did commit which could easily be unearthed (cough, Jagger Cates, cough). Jason suggested going after Turner to stop her from prosecuting Sonny, but Sonny shut him down. That made Jason suspicious, so Sonny had to fess up.
Jason: “You went legit for Turner?”
Yup. Making Sonny an innocent victim is a choice, but it dramatically upends Port Charles with only Jason, Carly and Anna standing by him. Dante turned his back, Gio moved out, Alexis went radio silent, and a vengeful Turner turned to Drew for dirt on her ex-lover — which is even more ironic since Drew is the one who actually did order the Pentonville hit. ADA Turner might need to work on her spidey senses.
Does a one-night stand with a stranger count as a big life change? It did for Britt when she met an Australian stranger at The Brown Dog, had a sex romp with him, and showed up for work the next morning full of donuts and apologies for everyone at G.H.
Felicia and Elizabeth debated calling security while Stella developed a theory.
Stella: “We’ve got ourselves a pod situation. That person is not Britt Westbourne.”
Ha! Britt later admitted to Lucas she had been “a five-star Britch” and explained the reason for her sudden good mood.
Lucas: “Did Crocodile Fundee have a name?”
He did, but she didn’t get it. Smart money is on the Aussie being a Jacks, which means he’s related to criminal mastermind Jerry Jacks. Britt will feel right at home.
Wedding Zinger
How many life-altering events can you fit into one episode? Y&R’s Billy Abbott learned his mom Jill might be dying on the same day he got married to Sally and their baby girl, Ruby, was delivered by his arch-enemy Adam Newman during the reception.
Billy: “Sally just gave birth.”
Cane: “What? Where?”
Billy: “Upstairs.”
Yes it was silly that Adam couldn’t call someone downstairs during the reception to find Billy and tell him his child was coming, but Sally going into full labor before the wedding cake was cut was fantastically soapy.
Shirley: “What a way to upstage your own wedding!”
Adam delivering little Ruby was a full-circle moment for him and Sally since the duo lost a daughter, Ava, in 2023 when they were together. Y&R is clearly using the event to draw Adam closer to Sally, which will cause problems with their current partners and propel the Newman and Abbott feud forward. Carry on.
The Bold Ones
Pregnancy is a big life change, especially when you get accidentally knocked up by your employee and then lie to your husband that you offered to be a surrogate for him and his wife. Shout-out to B&B’s Steffy, whose husband isn’t buying it.
Finn: “While I was away at a medical conference, Steffy went ahead and became Carter and Daphne’s surrogate, a decision she made without a word to me.”
Li: “There has to be some mistake. She did the procedure behind your back?”
Finn: “I need answers.”
Finn called Carter, Daphne and Steffy to his office and there was a lot of hemming and hawing. An exasperated Li suggested they try to hear a heartbeat and was shocked that it was strong for being “so early.” Perhaps one of those doctors can figure out why?!
Over at Logan, Katie is going scorched earth on Brooke.
Katie: “I am going to bring Forrester to its knees so they have nothing — like I had nothing when Brooke stole my husband.”
Excellent callback to 2013! Concerned about her sister’s behavior, Brooke asked Bill over to her house to share a theory.
Brooke: “I think this is Katie’s revenge for what happened between us in Aspen.”
Cue the flashbacks of Bill and Brooke cheating, which even Dollar Bill feels bad about now. He’s trying to get his wife to ease up but it’s not going well.
Bill: “Logan can be incredibly successful but it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your other family, Brooke and Donna. That’s what will happen if you try to bury Forrester.”
Fine by me, spit Katie. Ouch!
The Son Also Rises
Discovering a grown child you never knew you had definitely qualifies as a life change, right, Marlena? The DAYS heroine has been suspicious for a while that Dominic Marino might be a son she birthed when she was brainwashed by Stefano, so when Dante asked Roman and Marlena for Sami’s hand (after he had already put a ring on it, as Sydney pointed out) the three of them discussed Dominic.
Dante said he was coming to Salem and pretended to suddenly remember he had a picture of Dominic on his phone.
Dante: “It’s funny, Marlena. Dominic kind of resembles you.”
What a set-up. EJ thought the same thing and asked Dante if he had ever met Dominic’s mom and dad.
Dante: “Afraid not.”
EJ: “Liar.”
Dante insisted Dominic’s parents never showed when they were in boarding school together; they always sent an employee to check him in and her name was Rita. Dun dun dun. EJ was not happy to hear the DiMera henchwoman might be involved and started putting the pieces together that Dominic could be his half brother.
It’s all too far-fetched, but if this story brings Sami Brady back to Salem, it might be worth it.
Baby Looms
Bill’s latest marriage imploded in spectacular fashion on BTG after his first wife Dani discovered his second wife Hayley had been poisoning him. That showed Bill what he lost when he cheated on Dani so he thought doing a TV interview about Dani’s career might win him some points. Dani’s former agent had other ideas.
Kalista (to interviewer): “I still had a few things I could have taught Dani, like how to hold on to your man. I still get the shivers when I think about Bill.”
Another conquest heard from… Dani stormed out, and the Duprees had reason #900 to ostracize Bill. He’s back to square one if he thinks he’s winning Dani back now.
Especially because, like so many other soap men before him, a pregnancy is about to rock Bill Hamilton’s world. The black widow who tried to end him just found out she’s carrying his baby and wants no part of it. Enter Hayley’s partner-in-crime to point out the advantages of her failed birth control.
Randy: “Huge paydays come in small packages.”
Hayley: “I can barely tolerate adults. I’m not going to raise Bill’s spawn.”
Randy: “That baby makes you bulletproof.”
Indeed. Hayley has now decided to turn Bill’s life upside down with what she calls her “inconvenient stowaway.” Her news will also shock the residents of Fairmont Crest who won’t believe it — and that is very believable.
Hey. It’s only my opinion.
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