The Best And Worst On BTG, B&B, DAYS, GH And Y&R The Week Of Sept. 8-12
From the poignant bond of widowhood between Marlena (Deidre Hall), Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) and Maggie (Suzanne Rogers) on Days of Our Lives to Jason (Steve Burton) coming to the rescue on General Hospital and the insta-nuptials of Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) and Ridge (Thorsten Kaye) on Bold and Beautiful, here are our critics’ picks for the best and worst on soaps last week.
The Best
Beyond The Gates: Ted Smokes Leslie
The character of Ted has gotten short shrift on BTG. He suffered a clunky recast at a pivotal moment in his story and then nonstop scorn for his long-ago affair with Leslie. But Ted got the chance to shine after he heard that Leslie was trying to buy the house across the street from the Duprees; he offered to give Leslie his house to prevent her from doing that. There was just one problem…
“Ted doesn’t own this house,” scoffed Ted’s estranged wife, Nicole. “I do.” She gloated to Leslie that Ted played her by pretending to give her “his” house so she’d drop her bid for the fancy digs. Humiliated, Leslie retreated to Eva’s hotel room where she found Ted with her daughter. She went off, but Ted wasn’t having it. As far as he’s concerned, he saved the Duprees from Leslie, and Leslie from herself.
Eva didn’t see it that way. She excoriated her (newfound) dad for hurting her mom and kicked him out. Ted’s machinations didn’t score him the points he wanted with Nicole and the Duprees, either, but at least they let him in the house to plead his case. Progress!
General Hospital: Jason Rescues the Five Poppies Gang
Undercover spies! Presumed-dead exes! Ticking time bombs!
It was a solid callback to GH’s WSB/DVX days when Jason turned up at The Five Poppies resort — and not just because the t-shirt loving mobster was sporting a (pastel!) business suit while posing as exec-in-need-of-a-vacation “John Moore.” Jason’s trip to Croatia led to him unlocking a bomb strapped to Britt Westbourne’s ankle (even thought she was already “dead”) and rescuing his goddaughter/spy Josslyn from a hostage situation with her new beau/fellow spy Vaughn.
“Where’d you learn that, WSB training?” Jason accused Joss after she conked a bad guy on the head during their escape. Joss hedged. No time for pleasantries because Jason had to hustle back to Britt’s lab and detach the explosive device. With the bomb about to go off, they staved off the baddies with help from Joss and Vaughn and then… Ka-boom!
“You’re very brave,” eye rolled Britt as Jason lay protectively on top of her in the rubble. “Can you get off me now?”
They all headed back to Port Charles where the money scene awaits: Jason’s bestie Carly has no idea her boyfriend Brennan has lured her daughter into the WSB. “We have a lot to talk about later,” Jason warned Joss.
Days of Our Lives: Julie, Maggie and Marlena Face Their Grief
Soaps often treat the death of an older character as the end of their story, but DAYS is using the loss of Victor Kiriakis, Doug Williams and John Black to propel their widows into new and surprisingly tender territory.
“I’m in no rush to get home to an empty house,” Maggie admitted to Julie after they attended a grief support group together. They discussed how they’ve been family through the years (Maggie’s late husband, Mickey, was Julie’s uncle), and Maggie was touched when Julie remembered the upcoming anniversary of Victor’s death. Maggie shared that she felt guilty being happy with Victor after Mickey died, like she was betraying him. Julie sympathized, but said that won’t be her path: She will carry Doug in her heart forever and spend her golden years alone (like Alice did), comforted by family and friends. Julie added that part of her wants to crawl under the covers rather than face the holidays without Doug.
Marlena’s loss of John is more recent, so she’s still in the denial phase. She told Kayla she couldn’t join the ladies at the meeting out of fear her grief would overcome her. “You’ll go when you’re ready,” counseled Kayla.
The episode ended with Marlena seeking solace with Belle, Maggie gazing lovingly at Victor and Mickey’s portraits, and Julie dancing with Doug’s picture to a lilting song that featured the words “beautiful yesterday.”
Indeed.
Young and Restless: The Abbott Launch Implodes
After months of planning the launch of Abbott Communications, Billy and Sally walked into Society for the bash and found only one person: Cane Ashby.
“Where is everybody?” asked a confused Sally. Cane explained he had canceled the party by somehow getting a hold of the guest list and canceling the decorations, food, wait staff, etc. Phyllis entered, and the two outlined that Cane has created an AI program that can destroy companies. Victor got wind of it and wants to use it to destroy their fledgling new venture — along with Jabot. Cane prefers to give the program to Billy and Sally to use on Victor instead (which keeps his own hands clean), thereby “saving” Abbott Communications.
The Worst
Bold and Beautiful: Brooke and Ridge Wed in the Office
“I didn’t think I’d wake up this morning and end up marrying you this afternoon,” marveled Brooke to Ridge after what was quite possibly the most underwhelming ceremony B&B has ever showcased.
Ridge had just dumped Taylor for the umpteenth time and run back to Brooke for the umpteenth time. He picked a ring off a desk tray at Forrester Creations and said “Let’s get married right here in the office!” They briefly discussed how Taylor and the kids would respond; Ridge said maybe they’ll get a break if they see him happy. “How about we make it official?” chimed in Forrester family officiant Carter Walton.
They said impromptu vows near the conference table and Carter pronounced them husband and wife (“Ridge, you may kiss your Logan”). No discussion of a legal marriage license, but why split hairs? B&B avoided the usual folding chairs in the living room and, more likely, the trouble of explaining where Ridge and Brooke’s son RJ was when his parents finally remarried. But for “Bridge” fans it was grim: No splashy location like Italy, Dubai or Malibu, no wedding dress, drama or romance. The bride didn’t even ask her sister Katie to come down the hall and be a witness!
“I think that’s a first for this office,” pronounced Eric. And hopefully a last.
DAYS: What’s with Dropping Stories?
DAYS is breaking a cardinal soap rule by not continuing the drama from day to day, and it really hurts the storytelling.
There were Jack and Jennifer on Monday, back in Salem for JJ’s birthday, when they found out Chad was spending time with Cat, the woman who had impersonated their murdered daughter Abigail. Jenn vowed she won’t let anybody hurt Abby’s children and told Jack, “We need to be here in Salem to keep an eye on Cat Greene!” We didn’t see Jack and Jenn again for the rest of the week.
EJ and Gwen schemed to build a “free clinic” as a cover for something else. We heard EJ say, “They have no idea what we’re really up to,” cover to Chad and Stephanie about what he’s really up to, then nothing.
Tony was on the phone about when someone’s plane would land, then welcomed a recast Theo from Johannesburg. “It’s good to be back, Uncle Tony,” greeted Theo. “You sent the DiMera jet half way around the world. What was so important?” No clue. Two days later Theo ran into JJ and nervously eyed his police badge, then told Abe and Paulina his return was sudden because he wanted to surprise them.
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