Y&R’s Amanda (Mishael Morgan, l.), GH’s Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and DAYS’s Sarah (Linsey Godfrey) were at the center of soapy shakeups.

The Best

General Hospital: The Nurses’ Ball Explodes (Poor Gio!)

“Disaster is gonna disaster,” predicted Olivia at the start of the 2025 Nurses’ Ball and wow did she call it. Tracy got falsely arrested for drugging Drew, Curtis confronted Portia about her lies, Alexis busted Kristina for trying to kill Ava, and Lulu cornered Lois about her cover-up re: Gio’s parentage — which Gio overheard and shockingly announced to the entire audience.

“I’m going to dedicate this performance to my parents Brook Lynn Quartermaine and Dante Falconeri,” declared the clearly pained 22 year-old, “two people who gave me away and have been lying to me my entire life.” He then smashed his violin and stormed out, leaving the Qs looking at each other like did you know? Cody did know and admitted as much to Dante, who responded that his brain was short-circuiting. Carly warned Lulu to stay out of it as she had done enough damage, while Sonny told Ned and Olivia that Lois was likely behind the bombshell that the four of them had a new grandson.

The week ended with everyone looking for answers and Lois looking for cover.

Oh, and Michael recovered from his burns and flew back from Europe to stun the crowd by picking up his son Wiley and carrying him out of the ballroom. Take that, Willow and Drew!

Beyond The Gates: Anita’s Dream Reunion Goes Sideways

Something bad happened when Anita was singing with The Articulettes that caused her to go solo and leave her singing partners behind. The past has been weighing on her, so Vernon encouraged his wife to reach out to her former “sister” Tracy for a reunion. They had a cordial lunch at the club reminiscing, so Anita convinced Tracy to stay over — and that’s when things took a turn.

“You sure as hell won the lottery, didn’t you Anita?” accused Tracy after surveying the songbird’s lavish home and wall of awards. Tracy resents how the Duprees live like “Black royalty” while she had to go it alone in dive bars after Anita quit the group to find fame and success. Anita fought back, saying she worked hard for every penny and every gold record; Tracy retorted that Anita was just more ruthless than the other girls, quitting at the worst possible time after “what happened.” An emotional Anita apologized for the timing which left Tracy and their other partner Sharon collateral damage.

“But it wasn’t just them was it?” responded Tracy cryptically. Looks like Anita will have to face the music before The Articulettes can have an encore.

Young and Restless: Amanda Shakes Up Genoa City

“It’s good thing you don’t live in town anymore,” said Abby to Amanda, struggling for something to say to the woman who used to be in love with her husband. “That’s still true, right?”

So far. Amanda is visiting Genoa City as a lawyer for the mysterious Aristotle Dumas who has been talked about now for five months without being introduced, so she’s a welcome addition to keep us interested. Snarkfest with Abby aside, Amanda is also shaking up Billy (who’s got something cooking with the secretive billionaire) and a very curious Damian. But the money scenes were with the Winters family. Amanda reminded Abby that the reason she left town was because she came back from caring for her sick mother to find Abby naked on her couch with Devon (ouch); Abby apologized. Enter Devon to question why Amanda’s “shady boss” has been asking questions about Winters — and why he would send Devon’s ex to discuss his family business with him.

“I’m not here to screw you over,” insisted Amanda. Famous last words!

Days of Our Lives: Sarah Dumps Xander

Sarah kept the secret from Xander that Philip forged his claim to Victor’s estate because she was afraid her husband would kill Philip if he knew. So what did Xander do when he found out? He tried to kill Philip.

“How could you be so vicious?” cried Sarah, who was on duty at the hospital when the battered Philip was brought in. “I can’t even look at you right now!” The feeling is mutual, spit Xander, trying to swing the argument from his own brutality to Sarah’s lies. Sarah defended keeping mum, saying Victor would want Philip to have part of the family company and she feared Xander’s response because of how he recently accosted Brady and pointed a gun at Philip. Part of her always knew he was capable of unspeakable violence which is why she kept her mouth shut.

“I admit nothing,” asserted Xander while also claiming Philip’s injuries are on Sarah because if she had trusted him no harm would have come to his brother. (That sure sounds like an admission…) Sarah threw him out and collapsed in Maggie’s arms.

Linsey Godfrey and Paul Telfer gave bravura performances during these knock-down drag-out scenes, from the horror of Sarah learning the cruel truth to Xander’s outrage at her deception, to the quiet resignation that their marriage was over. “I’ll always love you,” said Sarah at the end, “but I can’t live with you.”

The Worst

DAYS: What Now, Xander?

On the flip side, the decision to revisit Xander’s mercenary days and have him beat Philip to a pulp is counterproductive to the fun “bromance” DAYS had been building between the two brothers.

“You sealed your fate,” he charged at Philip after learning his half-brother had lied about the sepsis drug and forged the letter giving him half of Titan. “Nothing you say can save you!” Indeed, Xander punched and kicked Philip within an inch of his life, resulting in a critical diagnosis and lengthy coma (which DAYS can ill afford with Bo also in a coma).

Xander was already retconned from Victor’s nephew to his son, making him a core member of the Kiriakis family in a popular romance with core Horton daughter Sarah. Their good girl/bad boy vibe was working, they were living in the mansion with Victor’s widow Maggie which made for quality shenanigans, and he was on the path to being the kind of A-list soap villain that can still garner rooting value. But now? It will be hard for Xander to come back from that brutal rampage — and harder still to buy Sarah (or any other woman) wanting to be with him.

Bold and Beautiful: Daphne Et Trés Embarrassante

Daphne hit town in January as the famous “Nose from Paris,” brought in by Steffy to create a signature fragrance for Forrester Creations and come between Carter and Hope. She scored on the first task, but fell short of the second — perhaps because her clichéd way of talking didn’t add up to the amour she claimed to feel.

“It’s been so unexpected but I just have to let myself go and enjoy the ride,” she gushed to Carter. “How could I not take a leap of faith?” Um… because Carter told her about 1,000 times he wanted to be with Hope? Daphne poured her heart out about falling in love with him until Carter finally confided oh by the way I’m back with Hope. “I understand your confusion,” he said without irony. Daphne then went on a tear about how Hope is cheating on him, lying to him, will only hurt him again, etc.

To review: Daphne barely knows Carter. They have never been on a date. He has told her repeatedly he’s in love with someone else. Her whole arc felt contrived to manufacture drama where there was none, and her embarrassing neediness was hard to watch on a show already showcasing Brooke’s insistence on her “destiny” with Ridge while he’s with Taylor, and Luna stalking the rabidly disinterested Will as he pursues Electra.

Once Carter told Daphne “nothing and no one” was going to come between him and Hope, it was time for her to finally take nose, er, no for an answer.