The Best And Worst On BTG, B&B, GH And Y&R The Week Of Sept. 15-19
From Port Charles mourning Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital and Billy’s bottoming out on The Young and the Restless to Ted sleeping with Leslie on Beyond The Gates, here are our critics’ picks for the best and worst on soaps last week.
The Best
General Hospital: Port Charles Mourns Monica
We knew it was coming, but it was still hard. Jason was the one to discover his adoptive mom had passed away, hours after she’d given her traditional “hug swap” to little Q’s Wiley and Scout on their first day of school.
“It can’t be true,” cried Tracy, as Jason outlined the details. Aunt and nephew bonded: Jason wished he had more memories of growing up with Monica as his mom; Tracy responded he can ask her because she and Monica shared everything. Flashbacks reminded us what a force Monica (and her beloved portrayer Leslie Charleson) surely was.
GH hit every note, from Ned telling Tracy he loves her (“I need you to know that, Mother” ) to Jason sharing his regret with Michael that he and Carly kept him from the Quartermaines. Michael assured his uncle/protector he and Monica were good. “We talked all the time,” he smiled. “It made her really happy having you and Danny here.” Jason retreated to the gatehouse (where he had lived as a baby) and voiced his love for the woman who truly did become his mom. Danny turned up to put his arm around his stoic, tearful dad… come on.
A dramatic week lies ahead as the news spreads through PC. First shocker? “You were her pride and joy,” Tracy said to Michael, gesturing to the house which was famously given to Monica by Alan back in their GH heyday. “Which is why it’s fitting that this should all be yours now.” Who saw that coming?!
Young and Restless: Billy Gambles — And Loses
And loses big: Sally, Jack, Victoria, Abbott Communications, his future employment, take your pick. Billy’s decision to team up with the corrupt Cane (after Cane torpedoed the Abbott Communications launch) and his controversial AI program that could bankrupt Genoa City’s businesses prompted Sally to call him out.
“The big picture for you is hatred, obsession and revenge,” accused Sally, who’s had a front row seat to Billy’s destructive behavior. Billy downplayed her concerns, saying Cane was the key to them having it all. No thanks, she retorted, turning to Jack for help saving Billy from himself. Jack informed her that Billy lied about him pulling the funding from Abbott Communications and Sally ruefully voiced her regret at blowing up her life for the Y&R gambler.
In a last-ditch effort, Jack asked Victoria to help convince her ex not to team up with Cane. Billy shut them both down, arguing he was doing this to retake Chancellor, which had been “stolen” from him.
And in the end? “You’re too much of a wild card,” decreed Cane. “The deal is off.”
Beyond The Gates: The “We Do Not Care” Club
Bill divorced Dani for Hayley, but Hayley is so insecure about her new husband reminiscing with his ex that she tried to make Bill jealous with Tomas. It did not go well.
“Last time I checked, Tomas was head over heels for my niece,” dismissed Bill. “To what do I owe this bit of theater?” Hayley admitted she was jealous and asked Bill to make it clear to Dani he was never going back to her. Bill dutifully did as his new bride asked. That did not go well, either.
“Cut the crap,” eye rolled Dani, reminding her ex she had advised him to get Hayley “something shiny” to distract her from her many insecurities. Instead, said Dani, Bill chose to humiliate himself. She took off and found Andre drinking alone at the club mourning Ashley’s engagement to Derek. The BTG lovers commiserated about the “twisted fairy tales” Bill and Ashley are living and pounded booze while agreeing they would be happier just living in the moment.
“Rule number one,” lectured Andre. “Don’t care.” Dani humorously named her drink “The Bill” (because it was irresistible but bad for her) and the two drunkenly decided to go to Vegas. Enthused Dani: “Slots, here I come!”
It’s probably not going to go well.
Bold and Beautiful: Thomas Gets Schooled
We panned Ridge and Brooke’s insta-wedding last week (their ninth “I do’s” to each other on B&B) but it sure did provoke drama when Thomas found out his dad had remarried the “slut from the valley.”
“You may think this is how this ends, but it’s not,” he threatened his stepmother. Brooke calmly explained to Thomas he has to accept that his father loves her and has chosen a future with her. Thomas stayed on the attack, accusing Brooke of “stealing” Ridge from Taylor. He added she has no dignity and uses sex as a weapon, having thrown herself at his dad — and then he angrily grabbed her.
Ridge burst in and ordered his son to grow up. “She makes me really happy,” he asserted. “That’s got to count for something.” Brooke extended her hand and Thomas hugged her… tentatively.
“I hear you,” responded Thomas. “I want you happy.”
But does he?
The Worst
Y&R: The Cane Show
Aristotle Dumas aka Cane Ashby has been talked about or on screen every day for nine months. He prattles on about wanting forgiveness from his invisible children and his “true love” Lily, but has done little to earn it. Meanwhile, the entire town is worried he will take over their businesses but all he does is sit around drinking booze on a train car and making threats. Make it make sense!
“We’re going to own this town,” Cane promised Phyllis. “Nothing and no one is going to stop us.” Except perhaps Victor, who has proof Cane built his business with his father’s ill-gotten gains. Or, just Cane’s bad judgment. He joined forces with famous Y&R loose cannon Billy Abbott and quickly regretted it after realizing Billy’s hatred of Victor made him a liability. “When people act on sheer emotion they lose sight of the prize,” he lectured Billy.
So how does Cane explain hiring Phyllis? She’s all emotion, wrapped up in a desperate need to prove herself to her many naysayers. And what is “the prize” exactly? A hostile takeover of Newman, Chancellor and Jabot which will put him on the wrong side of Lily?
Cane’s latest meeting with Phyllis and Michael — who bickered unprofessionally throughout — was upended when Billy burst in to yell, “You don’t know what the hell you’re doing, Cane!”
That’s the problem.
BTG: Ted Sleeps With Leslie
Ted has been desperate to win Nicole back ever since the exposure of his long-ago affair with Leslie (and the existence of their daughter Eva). Every time Ted made headway with his estranged wife, though, Leslie would do something nasty to block his progress. So how is it possible that all it took was some booze for Ted to jump into bed with the woman who ruined his life?
“He drank a bottle of whiskey and was wobbly and sad,” Eva reported to her scheming mother. Leslie sprang into action, donning a low-cut dress and offering to give Ted what he “really wants.” The disheveled Ted insisted what he really wants his his wife back. Leslie disrobed and kissed him — and suddenly Ted’s love for Nicole disappeared.
“Wakey, wakey Teddy Bear,” cooed Leslie the next morning in bed, thrilled they were “back together.” Ted shut her down, saying he was drunk and she was “there.” Their sex romp was a mistake and could Leslie please keep it quiet? Yeah, right. Leslie stole Ted’s tie and delivered it straight to Nicole who was horrified and hurt.
This man has learned nothing from his mistakes, which makes him completely unworthy of Nicole Dupree. He had scored points with Nicole after he tricked Leslie into not buying the house across the street from the Duprees, but that’s long gone — along with his rooting value.
He begged forgiveness from Nicole and got the only possible response: “Go to hell, Ted.”
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