First off, I was interested in watching these three series, but didn’t have the time yet to check them out.

I Have a Crush at Work

I don’t think any streamers picked up this office romance series, which is pretty surprising. I thought the genre was relatively popular. I haven’t really watched an office romance anime since The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague and was hoping to watch this one, but it wasn’t meant to be!

The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 (Crunchyroll)

I never watched the first season, but as this season was airing, I kept hearing great things about it from friends. It’s apparently really well done and I appreciate series with longer episode orders so you get lots of story. Maybe I’ll get to it another time!

Sorairo Utility (HIDIVE)

After enjoying Rising Impact and Tonbo I was looking forward to watching another golf themed series. This one sounded like a fun initial twist on how the character finds golf. Next time I’m craving a sports anime I’ll try to check this one out! 

These twelve anime series from Winter 2025 caught my attention for many reasons and I was (mostly) very glad I watched them!

12) Anyway, I’m Falling In Love With You (Crunchyroll)

Honestly, this is one of the most boring anime series I have ever watched. The story follows a girl and her looking back on her younger life, bouncing between the present and past. The past is a time when a “virus” disrupted life, but they still found ways to be kids and fall in love. The show really wanted to ignore the “virus” aspect yet kept bringing it up? The show was so forgettable, I’d forget what happened by the time the episodes ended. Everyone was in love, but no one was making moves? It was just vibes. Really strange. It also will be back for a second season. Not sure if I will though!

11) Honey Lemon Soda (Crunchyroll)

This romance series had potential and moments where I was really pulled in, but it just lacked a cohesive thread as a whole. The main characters were flawed and it’s the point that they can grow and become better people. I just didn’t buy the romance aspect. The guy was cold often, which helped the main girl grow, but it was just strange at times. The way the adults were portrayed as well was odd. They also flew through storylines when they could have used more time to really flesh out the stories.

10) The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World (Crunchyroll)

When I read the description of this series, I knew I had to check it out. A power ranger essentially ends up in another world in possession of his power ranger technology, giving him the abilities he had in the real world in the new one. It was funny, had some fun fight scenes, and I appreciated the “magic” lore that began to grow as the series went on. I found myself wondering how the physics of the power ranger magic worked in the new world and if it still existed in the real world. Tonally it bounced all over, but it was still funny and charming.

9) My Happy Marriage Season Two (Netflix)

Season two of this romance started off with a great evil stepmother storyline. It was juicy and helped our main heroine Miyo grow even stronger as a person. She was so bashful and soft spoken in the first season, this arc allowed her to become more confident and want to become stronger. The second half focused on a bigger threat, and less on her personal growth, and even the main romance aspect of the series. It was all still there, but the bigger threat took the main time of the storyline. Seeing Miyo tap into her true potential all season long was the main draw. Beautiful, poignant and a delight.

8) Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms (Crunchyroll)

The romantic comedy series could have easily been a one joke story that they drove into the ground quickly, instead, it became more complex and the humor helped keep it fresh all season long. I loved seeing Medaka try to resist his obvious attraction to Mona. She still tried to get his attention all season long, and eventually was able to make small chips in his armor. It was charming and I loved the way the characters’ inner thoughts were portrayed. The series will return for a second season.

7) Sakamoto Days (Netflix) 

Part one of this series was full of great fights and funny moments. A former assassin has taken a quiet life as a family man running a business. When a bounty is put on his head, he successfully and often comically avoids the attempts on his life. He’s smooth, quick and always at attention, despite his new plumper body size. The characters around him are just as deadly, and are unintentionally funny. I enjoyed the first half of the story and look forward to when it returns this summer.

6) Link Click: Bridon Arc (Crunchyroll)

This new story is pretty much a prequel series, though its placement in the main storyline is later. There’s also some hints that we’ve been on an all encompassing time traveling plot even longer than we knew. We go to the past again, this time for an extended period of time. We see younger versions of the main characters and get to know them even more. Things begin to change in the timeline that are unexpected. In the end, it left me with even more questions. I miss the case of the week way the first season told its story, but it’s another compelling season of Link Click that I want to live in for a long time.

5) Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective (Crunchyroll)

If you take a medical show and mash it up with a detective series, you have Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective. A young gifted doctor helps solve unique medical cases by looking at the full pictures. She’s got her quirks and even though she is brilliant, she still questions her abilities, making her feel even more human. Some cases took multiple episodes to solve. Some stories were stronger than others, but I really enjoyed the vibes of this series. A few production issues led to delays, but I still looked forward to the next episode.

4) The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You Season Two (Crunchyroll)

This comedy series is seriously bonkers in the best way. Season two dials up the wacky even more, leading to even funnier episodes and jokes. We meet even more girlfriends this season, and each is quirkier than the last. It’s such a wild premise that it could easily fall flat and repetitive. My favorite arc was the baseball one. It was full of so much humor, great character development, and so many meta moments made me crack up. I’m so glad I kept up with this one! I can’t wait to see the Rentaro family grow even more.

3) Zenshu (Crunchyroll)

I almost didn’t watch this one going into the winter season. As an original story, it always runs the risk of losing its hold midway. Somehow, Zenshu gets even better as it quickly becomes self assured in the tone and story it wants to tell. It’s part isekai, part fantasy, part comedy and part drama. It is such a unique story story. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, because it’s a lot of fun seeing how it all goes down. I’m glad I went in blind. It made me appreciate the story more. The animation is on point, as it is MAPPA, and it is so confident in itself in every aspect. I hope we see more bold unique stories to come.

2) Medalist (hulu)

This one wasn’t even on my radar going into the Winter season. As I’ve said before, sports anime are some of my favorite series for a reason. I don’t think I’d normally watch a series about figure skating, yet, it is compelling and must see. The characters are precious, hopeful, and full of so much life. You can’t help but root for everyone. Inori and Tsukasa are such great characters. They’re adorable, funny and great at what they do. They also don’t shy away from their insecurities and past difficulties. Major performances are CGI animation and the transition might be a little jarring, but I grew to love it. They’re well choreographed, and the are a sight to see. I am so happy the series will be back for a second season!

1) Solo Leveling Season Two (Crunchyroll)

The first season was enjoyable, but season two takes the series to a new level. Jinwoo is exponentially growing in power, strength and ability. Episodes fly by with tons of action, sure a few slower episodes every now and then, but it is telling a lot of story in a short time. I almost wish some arcs could have been an episode or two longer just so I could have lived in the moments longer, but they were so good! The battles are intense and beautifully animated. I’m not sure how much more there is to adapt, but I hope we get more real soon! It is so intense, shocking and confident in itself. I need more!!

With the Spring 2025 season about to begin, I’m looking forward to checking out these new and returning series: Lazarus (adult swim/Toonami), Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (season two, hulu), Wind Breaker (season two, Crunchyroll), Witch Watch (Netflix/hulu/Crunchyroll), Mono (Crunchyroll), Yaiba: Samurai Legend (Netflix/hulu), To Be Hero X (Crunchyroll), Moonrise (Netflix), and Lycoris Recoil Short Movie. Hopefully I will be able to watch them all and I’m sure I’ll find even more unexpected ones to watch!

What were your favorite series of the Winter 2025 season? It’s never too late to start a new series! Here’s to more great anime in 2025!

These series and more can be streamed with English subtitles and some English dubs on various streamers including Crunchyroll, Netflix, hulu, Prime Video, Max, HIDIVE, and more.

The post Winter 2025 Anime Season Highlights appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Escapism is awesome. However, it loses its charm when the thing you’re escaping from follows you into the place you’re escaping to. Black women who seek refuge from real-world misogynoir in soap operas can find themselves enduring it in the very spaces they sought solace.

Misogynoir, a term defined by Dr. Moya Bailey and expanded on by Trudy, aka TheTrudz, and the Crunk Feminist Collective, refers to the specific combination of misogyny, sexism, and anti-Black racism experienced by and directed towards Black women in pop culture, institutional environments, and social settings.

Some of you may feel uncomfortable now. But if merely acknowledging the existence of misogynoir elicits discomfort, imagine how it feels to experience it.

Imagine how it feels for a Black actress to learn her character will be begging for the life of a character who routinely made racist comments and committed microaggressions. Imagine how it feels for a Black actress to log onto her Twitter account, check her notifications, and discover she’s been sent monkey and banana emojis, compared to a gorilla, and called slurs by fans of her show. Imagine how it feels to be a Black woman and consistently encounter posts on a popular message board that freely and frequently employ coded language and dog whistles such as “aggressive,” “loud,” and “argumentative” when discussing Black female characters. Imagine how it feels to be a Black woman and go into the hashtag of your favorite soap and see accounts donning digital blackface for no other reason than to degrade a Black actress, the character she portrays, and antagonize her Black fans.

With that in mind, I hope those of you who feel uneasy understand why I am not catering to your comfort.

Western media and its associated fandoms tend to prioritize and elevate whiteness. Whiteness is considered the default norm and the perspective used to depict both “universal” experiences like coming of age, as well as unique experiences like coming out. The assumption is that the audience, including people of color (POC), will effortlessly relate to white characters and find them worthy of support, deserving of protection, or otherwise rootable. In contrast, characters of color in general, Black characters particularly, and Black female characters specifically often receive less care and consideration both onscreen and from audiences. Even if they are the main character or play a central role in the story, they are viewed as less sympathetic, relatable, or deserving of support and protection, even if they experience injury, trauma, terror, or death.

I understand accepting this might be challenging, and some of you may instinctively disagree. However, I will provide specific examples to illustrate how this occurs in respect to soaps, both onscreen and in fandom spaces:

1. Fully exploring the point of view and centering the feelings, motivations, and desires of white characters while disregarding or diminishing the role of a Black woman in the same story or their own story (e.g., Days of Our Lives making Jada Hunter’s decision to have an abortion all about Eric Brady’s disappointment, Nicole Walker’s feelings, and the implosion of their relationship while giving Jada minimal focus and dramatically reducing her airtime but keeping ‘Ericole’ front and center or General Hospital consistently sidelining Trina Robinson in her storylines and prioritizing the feelings, character development, and POV of others, including the racist who tormented her, over hers).

2. Minimizing the actions of or making allowances for the misdeeds or “mistakes” made by white characters while refusing to grant the same grace and understanding to Black women (e.g., General Hospital’s Curtis Ashford having no issues with walking out on both Jordan and Portia over their dishonesty, while being a staunch defender of Hayden and Nina, despite their numerous lies and manipulations).

3. Advocating for or easily accepting the redemption of white villains or allowing them to escape severe punishment while simultaneously having Black female characters harshly punished or made to suffer for their wrongdoings, whether their character is villainous or not (e.g., Days of our Lives crafting a storyline where every white villain on the canvas, including a murderer, a rapist, and a domestic terrorist, were granted pardons and released from prison but Lani Price-Grant was left behind bars to serve her sentence or The Bold and the Beautiful having both Zoe and Flo initially suffer consequences for their parts in keeping Hope Logan separated from her daughter but Zoe’s story ending with her leaving town heartbroken and humiliated, while Flo’s has seemingly ended with her engagement to the love of her life, forgiveness from her newfound family, and a cushy position in the family business).

4. A show’s fandom singling out and treating a Black female character as if she is the sole reason their white favorite isn’t getting ___ or audiences uncritically accepting stereotypical tropes that paint Black women in a negative light for the benefit of white characters (e.g., General Hospital fans advocating for more airtime for Kristina or Elizabeth by specifically asking that Portia or Jordan be written out as opposed to one of the MANY white characters on the show, or The Young and the Restless fans having no issues with Elena being characterized as a nagging, unsupportive, constantly critical bore who only wanted to take a nap to facilitate Nate and Victoria’s affair).

5. Understanding that love, romance, and passion are a huge part of what viewers tune in to see…until it’s time for a Black woman to experience those things. Then suddenly it’s, “Why can’t people just be friends” or “Not everyone needs to be in a relationship” or the pointedly specific non-specific complaints regarding “a lack of chemistry” from fans or the show putting a Black woman in a relationship but having it take part largely offscreen or rarely be featured (e.g., Days of our Lives putting Allie and Chanel together and then writing absolutely nothing for them until it was time for them to break up, General Hospital managing to find a love interest for everyone from a newly divorced Carly to the diabolical Dr. Obrecht while being unwilling to so much as chemistry test Jordan Ashford with a new man or The Bold and the Beautiful deciding to derail Paris and Zende’s relationship to reduce her to nothing more than an obstacle for Quinn and Carter).

I know that despite the examples I just gave, some of you are still in pushback mode. I can hear all the various reasons why I’m wrong. Let’s address these hypothetical points one by one.

It must be understood that misogynoir does not depend on whether a character is beloved or if an actress is talented. Jackée Harry is a cultural icon. From her roles on ‘227’, ‘The Women of Brewster Place’, and ‘Sister, Sister’, to her guest appearances on ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ and ‘Pose’, she has demonstrated talent that has kept her consistently employed and has resulted in multiple NAACP awards and an Emmy award. Despite the active and vocal fanbase for Paulina Price, the character she portrays on ‘Days of Our Lives’, and the evident talent and love for Jackée, microaggressions and misogynoir persist when Paulina becomes a topic of discussion.

As a dedicated fan of Elizabeth Webber since day one, I empathize and agree with these sentiments. However, it’s crucial to note that Elizabeth’s lack of focus in her stories isn’t related to her race. Conversely, Trina’s lack of centralization in her stories is directly linked to her being Black. While both characters are underserved, the underlying reasons for their treatment are distinct. Thus, while the outcomes may seem similar, it’s crucial to recognize that these situations are not equivalent.

Your ship preference is irrelevant because, interestingly, they didn’t write for Janel either. Both ships had vocal, passionate, supportive fanbases, and both ships were abruptly discontinued. Ultimately, Chanel remains alone.

Indeed, stating the obvious – water is wet. Returning to the discussion, it is essential to emphasize that we are addressing the targeted harassment of an actress because she is Black, with no other justification. It is crucial to acknowledge that these situations are fundamentally distinct and cannot be equated.

Like all media, soaps are both a mirror that reflects our current cultural attitudes and values and a tool that helps shape them. They do not exist in a vacuum, and, like all art, there is a political element to them. Respectfully, the issue is that profound.

No one insists that you must be a fan of anyone or support any ship. Nobody is saying you’re not allowed to dislike any Black female characters or not be a fan of a specific Black actress. However, I am declaring emphatically that it reflects poorly on you if you hold Black actresses and their characters to standards that you never impose on your non-Black favorites, or if the common denominator in every ship you disapprove of includes a Black woman.

This is not just my opinion. I asked other Black soap opera fans for their opinion on the prevalence of misogynoir in the genre and received permission to share their responses. The responses I received were insightful and brutally honest.

*Names have been changed to prevent harassment and answers have been edited for clarity.*

I feel like Black actresses/characters are not always given the opportunity to fully display their talent. They are not showcased as frequently and have to make do with the limited airtime they receive. On Y&R, Hilary was killed off (along with her unborn baby), and the former head writer, Mal Young, referred to it as a gift. While the misogynoir in the stories may not always be overt, there have been instances that have made me take a second look.

A notable example is how General Hospital’s Dr. Portia Robinson has been grappling with the consequences of her mistake/secret for over three months, which is a significant portion of a year. She has come close to losing her husband (who cheated on her), and her daughter, who holds great importance in her life, refuses to speak to her.

Non-Black characters have kept secrets and, when exposed, have barely faced any consequences. Black female characters sometimes lack meaningful character development unless it revolves around trauma, and even then, it may not be depicted on screen. Y&R introduced Naya’s cancer storyline for Amanda and Imani’s mother, which predominantly played out off-screen. Many fans remain dissatisfied with B&B completely eliminating its only Black family, The Avants.

I feel like Black actresses/characters are caught in a lose-lose situation. If the character is morally upright, they cannot make even minor mistakes, and when they do, it often triggers an unnecessary backlash from the fandom. And when they are portrayed as flawless (making little to no mistakes), they are labeled as ‘boring’ or ‘annoying.’ Every action they take is scrutinized, often with negative judgment. If a Black female character is paired with a desirable male character, it is frequently dismissed as ‘more like a brother and sister’ or suggested that they should remain friends.

I have called out misogynoir in fandom spaces, not limited to soap opera fandom, and have faced resistance. People have accused me of ‘playing the race card’ because they refuse to acknowledge why their comments are offensive. My concerns have been trivialized and disregarded. Whenever I observe it, I will always speak up. I have yet to witness internalized misogynoir within soap fandom, but it is prevalent in other communities. Some individuals allow themselves to be used as props for others’ racist beliefs.

Kendra

Without much thought, it’s evident that Black female characters lack complete development. Their stories often serve only to advance the plot of a white or white-adjacent character. The narratives surrounding Black female characters rarely receive thorough exploration. I began watching soaps when I was around 14 or 15, starting with General Hospital. I was drawn to Gia, but she never received the investment and development she deserved. Black female characters were treated as temporary fixtures, and their relationships were never taken seriously. If they were in an interracial pairing and got married, their relationship wasn’t portrayed with the same depth as their white counterparts. If they were married to another Black person, they received minimal focus in storylines or were abruptly written off.

I have witnessed racism from white fans directed towards Black female characters. I wouldn’t say it’s more prevalent now, but rather more visible. Days of our Lives’ Lani Price and GH’s Trina Robinson face the harshest criticisms. I believe Amanda Sinclair/Hilary Curtis on Y&R also encountered some. Trina and Lani are deemed “not good enough” for Eli and Spencer, with no valid justification given. And when those making these claims are pressed to name who they would prefer to see these men with, it’s usually someone white or non-Black who has committed similar or even worse actions than Trina or Lani. Yet, the treatment is different for non-Black characters.

Suddenly, it’s argued that “not all characters have to be good; they can be morally ambiguous, or they’ve faced consequences for their actions.” This leniency is not extended to Black female characters. The show completely disregarded the troubling optics of Lani having to kneel before another woman of color for the sake of a racist storyline, and when we voiced our concerns, we were told to accept it if we wanted Lani to have a story.

I do notice that more fans came forward to defend Trina when she debuted, which is encouraging, but there is still an abundance of poor writing and characterization for Black female characters. It’s like taking one-quarter step forward and then stumbling eighty steps back.

Latoya

I have witnessed misogynoir within fandom spaces, and I believe it reflects the attitudes presented in the show itself. When a show fails to create room for a diverse range of experiences for Black women and girls, it sets a particular tone. Let’s take General Hospital as an example. The two most prominent Black women characters on the show were introduced through paternity drama. While Trina receives significant attention for her popular pairing, her character development has been halted in favor of prioritizing the growth of her white male love interest.

In my personal experience within fandom, I have seen the voices of Black women silenced or ridiculed if they deviate from the mainstream opinion. It seems that “mainstream” GH Twitter only cares about protecting Trina, while the same level of nuance isn’t extended to Jordan, Portia, Stella, and others. Black women viewers have made a deliberate effort to uplift the Black women we see on our screens, but this responsibility should not rest solely on our shoulders.

Shows need to address race, emphasize the necessity of these stories, and stop catering to those who resist the idea of Black women being fully developed characters. To avoid being targeted and gaslit, I decided to distance myself from soap Twitter. Additionally, since my Twitter is also connected to my professional work, I can’t afford to have people look me up and see me involved in fandom conflicts, so I chose to stop tweeting about the show altogether.

Tiana

I have been watching soaps since I was a little girl. I took a break during college around 2005 or 2006 and then returned in 2019. While I have always been involved in social media, I am sometimes taken aback by the fact that people say things online that they wouldn’t say to your face. However, I have become adept at muting and blocking individuals who exhibit hateful behavior.

It is disheartening when negative comments are made about an actress’s hair or appearance. Black women are often expected to conform to certain standards of beauty and behavior, and if they deviate from those expectations, they are called out for it. Black actresses have to fight for meaningful storylines, particularly lead roles. And if they appear on-screen for 2 or 3 days a week, there are often complaints online about their character being overexposed, even if they hadn’t been seen for weeks prior. Personally, I love seeing women who look like me represented on my screen. Our stories deserve to be told too.

Alicia

My experience in the Sprina fandom has been a mix of positive and negative. I am grateful for everything we have achieved, but it is frustrating to think about why fans have to fight so hard to have this particular story told. All we want is for Trina and Spencer’s love story to be given attention. Trina is not afforded the same opportunities as others, especially her white female co-stars. I want Trina to have the same freedom of expression that Joss has and be allowed to assert herself against others, just like her best friend does. I don’t want her to be relegated to a mere talking character.

Carmen

My journey in the soap world has been enlightening. In the Days fandom, whenever we discussed Black characters facing hate due to their Blackness, there was always someone who would bring up a white character receiving hate to dismiss our concerns. When Chanel was introduced, she often seemed like an afterthought in conversations. Tweets would mention Ciara, Allie, and Chanel, with Chanel being mentioned last, as if she was added to make it appear that they cared about her as much as her white peers. I’ve also noticed that fans of white characters are less bothered when a white character they love is paired with a Black man, but if it’s a white male character they adore paired with a Black woman, it becomes a big problem. They find ways to criticize her.

Being part of the soap fandom made me reconsider how I approach tweeting about Black characters, especially when the fandom is predominantly non-Black. I observed how some Black fans would support white characters involved in rivalries with Black characters, even when their non-Black mutuals spoke about them disrespectfully. It was a major turn-off. Microaggressions were already enough to warrant a response, but seeing mutuals being racist as well? After witnessing that, there are Black characters and certain topics I avoid tweeting about because it only adds to the pile of hate that they already receive, and it opens the door for ignorant white fans to feel entitled to comment on her and make remarks about her hair or appearance.

Hillary

I believe soap Twitter is on par with reality Twitter when it comes to their disdain for Black women. Soap Twitter doesn’t hide it, and I doubt it will improve. I also think that the writers and those in charge contribute to the perpetuation of misogynoir, particularly by white women. They don’t consistently write for Black women, and when they do, they often rely on negative tropes. When that happens, these white women can defend themselves by saying, “I’m not being misogynistic or racist towards Black women because this is what we saw, it was written, and it wasn’t overtly racist (to me).”

I also think those in charge enable the mistreatment of Black actresses by fandoms because they don’t step up to defend them. Even some of their co-stars seem to endorse the harassment and abuse by not supporting them. In my experience, the fandom where I have seen the most internalized misogynoir and misogyny in general within the soap world is DAYS. Just look at the aftermath of Lani shooting TR and how it was handled. Look at Jada and the way her abortion story was portrayed.

With Trina on GH, I believe it’s more subtle due to her age. Discussions about her are often filled with comments like, “They should try Spencer and Joss,” as if Trina doesn’t deserve a love interest who genuinely wants her. Racist individuals respond to Trina and Spencer’s relationship by saying, “Oh, he can’t possibly like her,” which is also prevalent in reality TV, which can be considered a form of soap opera. I have faced pushback when I’ve spoken up, with people telling me, “Don’t make it about race.” However, I have mostly stayed silent to avoid harassment and also because I don’t want to argue with people who refuse to acknowledge what is clearly present.

Serena

I have witnessed misogynoir, although I haven’t always used that term to describe it. I can recognize the behavior, though. The disparity in how fans treat Black women and their characters is as blatant as a brick to the face.

For instance, Hilary Curtis was deemed the worst person on Earth, while a character like Mariah Copeland, who had a similar introduction, was quickly forgiven because of the actress who portrayed her and her connections. Lani Price has been accused of things that directly contradict the show’s narrative, like her “lying” to Eli about what she witnessed when she caught Gabi and JJ together, as if it was normal for Gabi to put on JJ’s t-shirt and get into bed with him. Recently, some viewers were convinced that Jada Hunter lied about terminating her pregnancy on Days, despite no evidence within the storyline pointing in that direction. On the other hand, Nicole, who has conspired to commit murder and engaged in various crimes, even manipulating Jada into having an abortion, is perceived as “misguided” or “misunderstood” and given the benefit of the doubt.

I believe misogynoir limits the types of stories writers are willing to tell with Black characters. And even when a story is told, there is often little to no consideration given to the character being Black. The narratives are frequently cut short because the writers cannot envision going beyond the original plot and exploring the depth of the character. A Black woman can’t be the focal point of any story, so they don’t bother treating her as a fully developed person.

It also affects casting decisions, with some characters becoming more ethnically ambiguous or lighter in complexion when recast, like Destiny Evans on OLTL or Simone Russell on Passions. Misogynoir literally dictates the types of Black women we are even allowed to see on screen. Tabyana Ali as Trina Robinson is significant for multiple reasons, including her appearance and how the show has positioned her to potentially drive the story. By the time I speak up about something, I have reached the point of not caring who agrees or disagrees. And I think people just block me right away, but that could be because I’m a man.

Trey

Misogynoir is not just my opinion or an exaggeration; it exists in both real life and reel life and causes real harm. Misogynoir is evident in General Hospital when Portia’s character transitions from being a protective mother to a meddlesome mom by engaging with a racist character who jeopardized her daughter’s life and freedom. Moreover, it is reflected in the way their interactions are written, which protects Esme while leaving Portia vulnerable and unsupported.

Misogynoir is seen in Bold and Beautiful fans’ responses, such as using derogatory comments like “slut alert” and perpetuating harmful stereotypes when discussing Paris and speculating about a potential RJ/Paris pairing. These comments diminish Paris’s character, despite her having had only two relationships on the show, one of which she intended to pursue marriage.

Misogynoir is witnessed in The Young and The Restless, where Mishael Morgan is treated as an afterthought, disregarding her significant, historic Emmy win.

Misogynoir is when Black women are silenced, harassed, gaslit, or accused of being “the real racists” by fellow fans when we speak out against the anti-Black harassment, abuse, and racism faced by our favorite actresses and the characters they portray.

Misogynoir is observing fans, soap press, and co-stars uniting to protect and defend white actresses from online hate or inappropriate comments, while not providing the same level of support when it’s Black actresses in need of protection.

If you are active in any soap fandom and witness misogynoir, push back against it as strongly as you challenge the denial of its existence. When Black women critique a story for perpetuating misogynoir, don’t be too quick to dismiss their valid concerns or condescendingly remind everyone that “it’s just a soap.”

If you are a moderator on a message board and notice dog whistles (such as loud, uppity, aggressive) being used when discussing Black women, issue warnings, enforce bans, or shut down problematic threads.

If you come across a racist meme or post targeting a Black actress or her character while scrolling social media, report it. If you see your Facebook friends or Twitter mutuals being disrespectful towards a Black actress’s appearance or abilities, call them out or engage in a constructive conversation, but don’t simply let it slide.

Escapism is a pleasure that everyone should be able to enjoy. The fandom communities we have created around the soaps we love should be spaces where Black women, both real and fictional, are celebrated and appreciated rather than denigrated and put on the defensive. Black women are not asking for special treatment; we are simply asking for equal and fair treatment. We are asking for the opportunity to escape too.

The post Misogynoir In Daytime: “Might I Suggest You Don’t F**k With My Sis” appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

So, when he was angrily possessive over Brenda dancing with Miguel at the Quartermaine mansion, we reasoned that he wasn’t given the tools to handle his anger. And when he shook Brenda violently, nearly throwing her to the floor, screaming in her face that she was making him turn into Deke, we grimaced but shrugged it off as a heat of the moment loss of control. And we did the same when he gaslit Brenda about his mob activities, dragged her from her chair at Luke’s, repeatedly called her a whore, and degraded her while shrouding himself in a cloud of pain to cover the awfulness of his actions. 

In 2000 when he told Alexis about his childhood abuse, we felt his fear at the thought it could be used against him when it came to his own child’s welfare. We saw his desperation to not be held accountable for what had been done to him, for Deke to not be able to hurt him yet again and we applauded his determination to break the cycle of abuse and protect his child after his mother was unable to protect him. We rooted for him to be a father and for it to be part of what healed him.

Through all of our early feelings for Sonny and his trauma and his pain, something got lost, and that something was the women he was victimizing even as he relayed the story of his abusive childhood.

As the years have passed Sonny has related the tale of Deke Woods to many women…Brenda…Carly…Alexis…Emily…the list goes on and on. Long time General Hospital viewers know very well how Sonny was beaten and locked in a closet repeatedly by his stepfather. Just like we know that he has also told every woman he opened up to that he vowed to never be like Deke, to never abuse a woman, and while he may have never physically smacked or punched a woman, Sonny Corinthos IS physically, verbally, and emotionally abusive to women and has been for 30 years.

Sonny violently grabs women and shakes them and pushes them around. He throws things at them and in their directions and yells and breaks glass. Most of the women Sonny has had intimate relationships with have at one time or another, sometimes many times, cowered from him during one of his violent outbursts. They jump when he yells and close their eyes when the glass starts to shatter in their direction, and they cry and beg and plead with him to calm down and let them help him. He yells terrible things at them, calls them whores and tells them they are worthless. He beats them down verbally in more damaging ways than his fists ever could. He is frightening and they are scared of him.

He screamed and threw things at Carly before they were even a couple. Called her horrible names and treated her like dirt just because he could. Told her she was worthless and just like him. He put his hands on her violently and had to be pushed away by Jason. When they paired them, it not only continued but got worse.

In 2006 Sonny was diagnosed as bi-polar and supposedly began medication and therapy to treat it but his mistreatment of women continued.

When he was married to Claudia Zacharra in 2008, she received some of the worst venom he ever spewed toward a woman, and it was shrugged off because of her part in the attempted hit on him that resulted in his son being shot but her actions did not make the abuse she received from her husband any less real especially considering he didn’t even know about her involvement in the shooting until well after his abuse of her began. He was eventually called out for it by her son and his daughter, but he blew it off because he felt she deserved everything she got. As always, Sonny could justify his abuse of a woman and he was allowed to do so.

When his daughter, Kristina, was abused by her boyfriend in 2010, Sonny’s abusive nature was given the brightest spotlight it had ever received and the fact that he was abusive was said to his face by multiple people he loved and the therapist his daughter was seeing to deal with her own trauma. What could have been and should have been a moment of real growth and healing for Sonny was wasted and resulted, yet again, in no change. He continued to insist he was not abusive because he did not actually hit and continued to be abusive in all the ways he always had been before. Even Carly asking him if there was anything Kristina could do to deserve to be treated by a man the way Carly had been treated by Sonny had no effect on how Sonny saw his own behavior. He just ignored the question, maybe because he didn’t like the actual answer.

He asked Carly if she thought he had abused her, and she was painfully honest with him in as gentle a way as she could be. He repaid her honesty by turning it around on her and placing the blame for his actions on her “pushing his buttons” and making him do the things he did which is classic abuser behavior. Abusers always blame their victims for making them act the way they do. Sonny blamed Brenda, he blamed Claudia, he blamed Carly. He seems to have blame for everyone but himself.

Now, here we are almost 30 years later and recently on General Hospital, Sonny Corinthos had another violent outburst that terrified another woman he is romantically involved with, and he relayed to her, almost by rote, the tale of his stepfather’s abuse of him and his mother and repeated his fears of being like him, even saying he saw him reflected in her eyes, only to be reassured, once again, that he was nothing like that and none of it was his fault, but this time one thing was very different and that was the reaction of a fair amount of the online fanbase.

This time we didn’t feel his pain, our hearts didn’t break, and we certainly didn’t cry for him. His cracking voice and eyes filled with tears about to spill did not move us. This time many of us rolled our eyes and shook our heads in disgust at him. Some even asked if this story was some sort of pickup line for Sonny. It just didn’t hit the same. Which begs the question: What has changed?

Have we become so jaded or cold-hearted that the plight of an abused child left us completely unaffected… or are we just sick of seeing a grown man who has supposedly been in therapy for almost a decade and a half, still refusing to see the abusiveness in his behaviors and even more importantly, refusing to do anything to correct it… all while still expecting some sort of pass because he too had once been the abused?

When he has told women about Deke, he has said he hit him and his mother but also that he would grab his mother and shake her and pushed her and call her nasty names. Did he not see that as part of the abuse she endured or is it only abuse when Deke did it?

Abuse is ultimately about power and control, the two things that Sonny craves the most. He has found a way to exert that power and control over the women in his life without actually hitting them which he uses to convince himself that he is not like Deke. By his own repeated retelling the only difference in their behaviors is that actual act of hitting. Sonny clings to this singular difference like a lifeline and perhaps it is.

He insists on claiming that the only type of abuse is the type of abuse he endured and nothing else qualifies, which furthers his goal of painting himself as the ultimate victim, another classic abuser trait. To Sonny no one has suffered the way he has suffered, no one’s pain matters but his own and the pain he inflicts could never compare to the pain that has been inflicted upon him and therefore doesn’t matter to him. Very rarely has Sonny even expressed feigned remorse for what he has done to a woman he abuses and when he does it is usually framed in a way that ultimately benefits only him or is really him just blaming them for ‘making him’ do it.

What Sonny continues to fail to understand is that no one is any more to blame for the abuse he inflicts on them than he was to blame for abuse Deke inflicted on him. As a child he did nothing to deserve being locked in a closet or beaten. In the same vein Brenda did nothing to deserve being grabbed and dragged around by him. Carly did nothing to deserve to have glass thrown at her while she was pregnant with his child. Claudia did nothing to deserve being called a faithless bitch, a lying whore, or a psychotic piece of trash in a roomful of people on her birthday. Not one of these women made Sonny say or do these things. Not one of these women could have ever done anything to deserve him saying or doing these things to them. If he did not want to be with them, then he always had the option to leave them. The fact that they remained in these relationships with him does not give him a pass.

Knowing what we know now, one has to wonder… when we watched all those years ago, did we feel so deeply for Sonny because he actually deserved it back then or did we just not know any better because we were younger and the world was a different place? Much more is known and spoken about when it comes to intimate partner abuse than was known or spoken about 30 years ago so there is that. General Hospital did a Public Service Announcement about the issue in 2010 when Kristina was abused by her boyfriend, Kieffer. Yet even after their PSA, Sonny’s abuse of women has continued. He continues to grab them and shake them. He continues to break glass and terrify them. He continues to degrade and demean them. His continued abusive behavior after all these years has even tainted how we view the old scenes we once felt so much empathy while watching.

Sonny Corinthos is the undisputed lead character of General Hospital. The fact that he can continue to act this way after almost 3 decades and still be considered a viable romantic leading man is an embarrassment to the entire genre. It is way past time for him to either actually address his abusiveness of women honestly or to be treated and called out as the abuser he chooses to continue to be onscreen by other characters. Soap operas have a reputation for being dramatic and over the top and there are many things that are ok on soaps that would never be ok in real life, intimate partner abuse is not one of them. Soaps may be campy and fun escapism, but they have also always been on the forefront in representing real life issues in a way that can make a difference and with women being the overwhelming majority of their viewership this should be an issue they always strive to get right, to make sure that not one viewer thinks that how Sonny treats so many of the women he is involved with is admirable, desirable or even acceptable. Maya Angelou told us “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” General Hospital, you have known better for a long time now, the time has come for you to do better.

If you or anyone you know either are, or think you are, involved in a situation that involves intimate partner abuse, please know that help and resources are available. The National Domestic Violence hotline is confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just call 800-799-7233 or text “START” to 88788.

The post General Hospital: After Almost 30 Years, Sonny’s Abuse-Excuse No Longer Lands appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

With all the negativity surrounding the sport, and the constant attempt to regard women’s wrestling as less than compared to the men, the assumption would be that women in the industry would band together, but this is not always the case. Letting the insecurities you have for yourself be used as satire for your character is one thing, but taking the insecurities someone has for themselves and weaponizing it to assert dominance is something that has been used far too many times. And in the passing years, there has been one particular wrestler with her own crosses to bear, using the body image of others as a negative way to respond to Kayfabe insults.

“I just feel like I appreciate my body more. I go ‘well, you know what? I’ve created a life. This is great, this is great.’ I don’t really care how it looks any more, you know what I mean? If that makes sense? I’ve always had body issues, and I was always self-conscious about showing my stomach off. And now, I’m just real proud of the function of it, of everything it can do. So I don’t know if it’s a mental thing that just turns into a physical thing. If that makes any sense?” – Becky Lynch, (Muscle and Fitness 2021)

Becky Lynch, a self-proclaimed locker room hero, has been known for many things over the years. Her inclusion as being one of the WWE’s own versions of the Four Horsewomen, being the inaugural Smackdown Women’s Champion, her rise to the top as the Man, and no one could ever forget her being one of the first women to main event WrestleMania. Her resume has been impressive thus far, no one can deny that, but with great power comes great responsibility.

As a role model to children, to women, and to some men, there are certain standards that need to be maintained even when the cameras are no longer rolling. Especially when the cameras are no longer rolling. Insults in Kayfabe that attack the opponents’ abilities, their character, and dismantle them mentally and sometimes even physically if things escalate are exciting, they’re expected, but what you do when you log into your social media sometimes leaves more of a lasting impression. And when you use social media as a form of negative reinforcement, it takes on a life of its own.

From body shaming, to injury, and slut shaming, Becky Lynch has taken social media beyond the guise of Kayfabe and feud promotion into bullying and organized targeting of her peers. What’s more disturbing than taking social media feuds too far, it the fact that a woman who has admitted body issues of her own would subject others to the scrutiny she herself was plagued with.

“I post pictures when I think my abs look good and whatever, and I’m standing in a way to where the lighting is whatever— I mean if I move that thing is going to jiggle. That’s why I don’t have my stomach on show. You know what I mean? It doesn’t matter how lean I am, I’m predisposed to being a little doughier.” – Becky Lynch, (Making Their Way to The Ring 2017)

So how does one go from victim to victimizer? It is very unclear where the shift in attitude came from. Possibly the weight of trying to maintain a position on top. It could also be the constant need to outlast her predecessors, but there has clearly been a shift. Or was it already there and because of her lack of popularity it was buried under more important headlines. The lineage of body shaming exhibited by Becky Lynch dates back as far as 2016. This is strange, considering her own interview about body issues only came out in 2017.

While this is one of the first tweets unearthed detailing the particularly unscrupulous behavior of Becky Lynch on social media, it certainly is not the last. In each feud, and sometimes just out of the blue, she hurls below the belt insults that are apparently intended to be satirical but come off as rude and insensitive.

While it is unclear what the motivation is behind the vicious cyber-attacks on her coworkers, one thing became apparent after her latest questionable twitter moment: The fans are not amused. Unlike most of her other “moments of glory” legions of fans were very vocal about Becky’s comments.

While Charlotte Flair is the latest on Becky’s list of people to personally attack on social media, many fans don’t expect her to be the last. If history has shown us anything it is that Becky’s main go to in a feud is a personal comment that has nothing to do with Kayfabe. I find it very intriguing that with all the comments and negativity surrounding the way she conducts feuds that she’s “seen” as a hero.

“… I never use cheap insults to discredit someone, make fun of someone’s appearance, or body-shame. That’s a huge, no, no to me. Even though I am the bad guy, it’s more of, I’m better than you. I never use other things to put others down.” —Charlotte Flair

While there may be more than one definition of what a hero is, there are many examples of how to create a positive Social Media environment, even in the face of a feud. Bianca Belair and Sasha Banks exchanged many blows during their feud and managed to stay on track, as did Rhea/Charlotte/Nikki A.S.H. While it is understood that tensions could run high in feuds and hurtful things could be said, it’s a common occurrence in Becky Lynch feuds. And that is something worth addressing.

“So all I’ll say is the locker room needs a hero sometimes. And sometimes somebody’s gotta be a hero. I’m all right being that hero. That’s what I’ll say on that matter.” —Becky Lynch (Sports Illustrated 2021)

The post WWE: Real vs. Reel, How Far is Too Far? appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

If people are not soap fans, if they aren’t one of us, they don’t get it. They won’t understand what it’s like to immerse yourself so completely into other people’s lives five days a week. They won’t understand what it’s like to rush home for a wedding or a funeral or a first love scene.

They won’t understand not responding to text messages or yelling at someone for daring to call during the most sacred time of all. They won’t understand why you curse blue blazes when your DVR malfunctions and your show doesn’t record.

They won’t understand soap events. They won’t understand the money you spend on airfare and hotel rooms. They won’t understand the drive that took hours and waking up at the butt crack of dawn. They won’t understand all the memorabilia you bought or all the shirts, pictures, mugs that you had signed. They won’t understand wrap-around lines that stretch forever in malls or hotel ballrooms or standing in long lines in the hot sun. They won’t understand that it was worth it for that picture, for that autograph, for that smile, for that hug, for being greeted like a long-lost friend.

They don’t understand the investment of being a soap fan. They don’t understand the payout. They won’t understand how you waited months, sometimes YEARS, for a couple to get together. They won’t understand how you hung in there with characters through baby switches, mind-altering chips, betrayals, character assassinations, writing regime changes and demonic possession. They won’t understand how you set yourself up for heartbreak. They won’t understand every missed signal, every misinterpreted action, every botched apology. They won’t understand how you cheered when a hated character finally got busted or why you cried as hard as you did when your favorite got their heart broken or died.

They won’t understand who the “Slut of Springfield” is. They won’t understand the struggle that led to a Victorious New Man. They won’t know how symbolic that eye patch is, or how hearing the expression “He always leaves me standing in the rain” will reduce you to tears. They won’t understand that fashion showdowns meant the Forresters vs.The Spectras. They won’t understand that Pine Valley and Llanview mean Pennsylvania.

As hard as they might try, they won’t understand that Timmy wasn’t just a doll, that Top of the Tower wasn’t just a restaurant, that the Haunted Star isn’t just a ship. They won’t understand how powerful the love between Victor and Nikki is, how to appreciate the fidelity of Tom and Margo, how we mourned when Mona died, or why your aunt arranged her college schedule around the wedding of Luke and Laura. They won’t understand Ryan’s or Brady’s. They won’t understand how groundbreaking Katherine Chancellor’s facelift was on live TV or how edgy and controversial Erica’s abortion was.

BJ’s heart and the Ice Princess mean nothing to them. They don’t know who the Salem Strangler was or why Bo and Hope went on the run. They won’t understand why no one slaps people like Stephanie Forrester or why BeLieF is spelled the way it is. They don’t understand the sibling rivalry that led Janet to push Natalie down that well. They won’t understand how Adam and Stuart Chandler can be identical yet polar opposites. They won’t be able to tell you the difference between Viki Buchannan and Nikki Smith. They don’t know who Marley and Vicky are. They have no clue who Stefano or Roger Thorpe or Alan Spaulding or Mitch Lawrence are. They don’t understand the Search for Tomorrow. They don’t understand how we can get swept away into Another World or live on the Edge of the Night. They won’t get how Santa Barbara wasn’t just a city in California.

They don’t understand the power of Dru and Neil, Lily and Holden, Reva and Josh, Angie and Jesse, Mac and Rachel, Frisco and Felicia, Sonny and Brenda. They don’t know who lives in Harmony or Sunset Beach or Salem. They couldn’t possibly understand why a town in upstate New York has such a high crime rate. They have no clue what kind of arguments Shick vs.

Phick, Liason vs. JaSam, or Steam vs. Lope will bring. They don’t understand how you were Tridge or Bridge and there was no in between. They won’t understand Stayla or Hevon or Zendall.

You can’t hold it against them for not understanding. It’s like a foreign language to them. They watch their primetime shows, but they won’t understand their origin. They won’t understand their roots. But you do.

I salute you, the viewers of Daytime Television. You, who have sat through amnesia storylines, stable sex, back from the dead storylines, bar hookups, countless breakups, fresh-out-of-a-coma-and-on-my- way-to-go-stop-a-wedding storylines. You, that have gone to hundreds of weddings, christenings, and funerals. I salute you for rolling with the punches and staying loyal through ratings declines, lazy storytelling, and departures of favorite characters. I salute you for your steadfast devotion. I salute you for your tenacity and for keeping the genre that I love above all others afloat.

Use #SoapFanLoveLetter when discussing on social media.

The post A Love Letter to the Soap Opera Fan appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Jack and Eve

After waiting or almost a year for Jack to see the light, we have been blessed with some amazing performances from Matthew Ashford and Kassie DePaiva. The fallout is far from over, but the scenes when Jack realized that Eve had been using him from the beginning were some of the best of the week. When Jack went after Eve, saying that she uses her daughter’s death to gain sympathy and it sounded rehearsed? Wow. Was it a low blow? Maybe. But don’t tell me Eve didn’t have it coming. When Eve said she was going to destroy the real serum so Jack would never remember? Yikes! No one does petty bitch like DePaiva.

Eve keeps saying that she loves Jack. Does she? Maybe. I don’t think Eve has ever had a healthy relationship in her whole life. I think the only way she knows how to love is to honestly burn it all down until there is nothing left. She did it with Brady, with Paige, and now with Jack. I wonder what they are going to do with Eve now. Maybe have her go back to being with Brady? Is the end in sight for Eve Donovan Deveraux? I honestly hope not. Days doesn’t have enough villains on the canvas. Make her bad. All bad. No grey areas. We haven’t had a vixen on the show in a long time and she can fill that role.

Kristen/Nicole/Susan

Was I the only one who was kind of hoping Kristen would throw Susan back in the freezer? Yes? Okay. I must admit the scenes where Kristen had Susan convinced that she was Moira who had a case of The Thorn Birds had me dying. I loved the Penelope shout out as well! Who says Ron doesn’t know his history? Also, Marlena’s face when she saw Susan? I was screaming. Dee has the best facial features in daytime and she knows how to use them. Maggie sipping on her tea? Dead. Please bring me more of these kinds of interactions, Days. This is the kind of soap that can get away with it and needs it desperately.

Kristen and Xander have all types of weird “I’ll kill you, but I want to fuck you” chemistry. If you aren’t going to give me Xander and Sarah, can I have Xander and Kristen? I know, I know. But let a girl have some hope, yeah?

Arianne Zucker and Eric Martsolf still have TONS of chemistry. I know that I am supposed to not be rooting for Kristen to get her man, but the actors sure make it damn hard. Especially now that Zucker is out of Greg Vaughn’s (Eric) orbit for all intents and purposes for right now. I understand that if (when) Kristen eventually lures Brady into “Nicole’s” bed it can and should be construed as rape. I just wish that if they were going to go down that murky route, they had picked two actors who don’t shine like these two.

Kate/Ted/Lani

I really don’t enjoy much about this Kate and Ted thing, but Lani was the highlight of it this week. I adore Lani when she gets into detective mode and Sal Sowers plays it perfectly. She’s just the right amount of badass and sass that I like to see my strong female leads have. She doesn’t take any bullshit and uses her brain. Hopefully we will see more of her as a cop and not just as a daughter or fiancée (Not that we really have seen much of that in the past few months).

Kate and Ted having to get their stories straight AGAIN just irritated me. Leaving voicemails for each other that sound shady as hell and basically saying anything in the earshot of anyone. I get that it’s a soap, but it aggravates me. That and this storyline is 90% flashbacks of shit that happened two weeks ago. We get it! Kristen will kill you and your family and everyone you care about. WE KNOW!

Rex/Sarah/Eric

I must admit that I actually see the chemistry between Sarah and Eric. They’re not my first choice, but they aren’t my last choice either, but I just really want this triangle to be over with. Rex is just so fucking clueless it kills me. He might be the dumbest character on the show right now and that’s saying something. Again, how can he not see what is right in front of his face? The longing looks they give each other, the way he always walks in when they are having a close moment? The first red flag should have been the fact that she married him in the first place, not even a year after she found out he put a baby in another woman and slept with her sister.

I just wish Sarah would open her mouth. I wanted to slap Eric when he told Sarah that she needed to be a good wife to Rex. To Rex? Seriously? Xander’s shade of Rex was giving me life. “As opposed to watching women you can cheat on Sarah with?” El oh fucking el, man. Xander’s right, Sarah. Don’t say he didn’t warn you.

Roman was right when he said that ever since Daniel’s death, Eric has taken the blame for a million things he doesn’t need to be taking the blame for. For once in your life Eric, don’t fight it. Just go for what you want.

Haley

It’s not that I have a problem with this story, but I have a problem with this story.  My first thought was, “Why Haley?” Why not Ciara who had been tied to that fucking bed in that fucking cabin two different times? Who had been almost fried twice?

But then I realized this isn’t the problem.

The problem is her reasons for not getting help. She knows she has a problem. That’s usually the hardest part, the admission. But she won’t get help because it could affect her job? Her path to citizenship? It was documented that she went through a horrible situation and I’m assuming that what Claire did at the Horton cabin was also part of Claire’s confession? I just don’t see how that would affect anything. She could go speak to Marlena about a myriad of things and Marlena wouldn’t and legally couldn’t say anything unless Hayley was a threat to herself or others, which isn’t the case.

Not to mention Tripp getting prescription medication to give to Haley. Tranquilizers? Did y’all see the way she was swaying in Friday’s episode?

Yeah, this is going to end badly.

Stefan & Gabi

I am here for Mr. and Mrs. Stefan O. DiMera. Gabriella Hernandez DiMera is going to be a powerhouse against Kristen and I cannot wait! Did you guys see Stefan’s face when he realized that he had to marry Gabi? I get why it isn’t his first choice. He’s hasn’t convinced himself that he’s in love with her and the last time he got married it didn’t end well. But damn it, I’m here for Gabi to get her revenge only to realize that it’s not what she wanted all along.

I just really hope it’s not too late.

Just one thing, though. Can someone explain to me why there is this board for DiMera that makes all the decisions? For the life of me, I can’t remember. Not to mention they are going to have to change that clause that says only a DiMera can run the company because there aren’t that many to go around anymore. At least not until Sydney or Johnny get SORAS’d and sent to Salem to fuck shit up.

Jack/Jen/JJ

I really enjoyed the scenes these three had together this week.

Casey Moss and Ashford have some of the best father/son chemistry on the show. The things they can do with a look is amazing. JJ sure hasn’t forgiven Jack for what he has done, but you can tell there are feelings buried deep down. He loves his father, idolized him, so it’s hard for JJ to see his father become more Trump-like as the months have passed. It was a nice change of pace to have a nice father/son moment between them. There is hope for them to have their relationship back and I’m here for it.

Jack and Jennifer’s scenes had an old school quality to them that I really loved. Their banter back and forth was so reminiscent of their beginning, I wanted to cry. And when Jack didn’t tell Jennifer that he took the serum because she looked so happy about moving on? Ugh, yes please! Jack is still in there!

But man, oh man, that date Jennifer had with Dr. Henry Shaw was so awkward. I get that people think Jen is a catch, but why the hell would he agree to go on a date with her for the third time when the first two were so horrid? Why couldn’t Jennifer have reached out to Eric? Seriously, I would go back to JenEric at this point. They both need to move on, and they had passable chemistry, although it was better when they were both stoned out of their minds.

Hey, you can’t win them all.

See you next week!

The post Days of our Lives Week in Review: Deliver us From Eve-il appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

The Good

Stabi From the Heart: Stefan is in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, and Gabi is running around Salem telling anyone who will listen that he’s innocent, all the while saying she only wants to prove his innocence so she can be the one to take him down. Sweetie, no one is falling for that. Not even your brother believes that you don’t have feelings for him. Her little “pep-talk” to herself made me laugh. Everyone seems to be onto Gabi’s feelings for Stefan except her. Brady and Kate sure seem to think that there is more to her story than meets the eye. I would have to agree.

She needs to own up to her feelings. She needs to tell Stefan the truth. I know she won’t, but those fall out scenes will be great. Hopefully the truth comes out sooner than later. But the real question is, will Stefan forgive her? He sure knows a thing or two about doing the wrong thing for what you thought were the right reasons.

Kristen’s got a gun and two masks: Stacy Haiduk is a damn gem. Her Kristen is a borderline psycho with a soft heart. It’s amazing to me how multi-faceted she is when she gets to play Susan as well. Two characters that are iconic to Days of our Lives played by one woman who is a recast! Never thought I would see the day when I would love anyone but Eileen Davidson in the roles. I nearly busted a rib laughing when Xander stole her Nicole mask and she had to dress up like Susan Banks to try to get it back.

Those scenes at the Kiriakis mansion had me dying. This is honestly what Days is all about, people. Between Will and Sonny’s banter and poor Xander’s face before he realized it was Kristen, I was howling. Brady’s scenes with “Susan” was the cherry on the top. Eric Martsolf and Stacy Haiduk have such fantastic chemistry that even her Susan basically assaulting Brady came off funnier than cringe worthy.

Bottom line: Give that woman her Emmy.

Wilson Just Wants to Have Fun: I’m gonna be really honest here, guys. I haven’t enjoyed Will and Sonny this time around as much as I did before, but these scenes reminded me why I fell in love with them in initially. The cute banter in the bedroom was old-school WilSon. Chandler Massey and Freddie Smith still have that chemistry and I wish DAYS would use it more. If we had more of this WilSon, I would be a happy girl.

Elani Puts a Ring on It: Blink and you missed it (Side eye to you, DAYS), but Elani had the cutest moments of the week with Eli finally putting a ring on Lani’s finger.

How cute were those scenes between Lamon Archey and James Reynolds? Abe and Eli need to be on screen together more. As a matter a fact, so does Elani. These three are criminally underutilized and made to be almost like day players instead of a part of two core families of the show.

Do better when it comes to my Elani, Days. Don’t make me come for you.

The Meh

Kate and Ted’s Not So Excellent Adventure: Seriously, why put two of the most boring characters in the orbit of one of my favorite storylines? I don’t really care about Ted, and Kate hasn’t been relevant in a while (Change that for me, would you?). All Ted cares about is his own skin and “being a better man” for Hope. I honestly haven’t seen much of this “better man” he keeps talking about, but whatever.

As for Kate, I honestly don’t know what to do with her. They want her to come off as a family woman and a powerful mogul, but it just doesn’t work as they write it. The only one that she seems to spend time with is Rex. I was glad that she had that short phone call with Austin, but all she seemed to do was harp on him about his personal life. Is she the Jill Abbott of Days of our Lives? Please say no. Let us see her wheeling and dealing at Titan. Maybe seduce Victor again and put a wrench in his marriage to Maggie.

If you are going to give me more Kate, make it worth my while.

Rafe is Everyone’s Daddy: Why must Rafe be the stand-in father figure? I get that they need something for him to do now that he isn’t going to be in Hope’s orbit, but really? He’ll be de facto Daddy to little David, only to be devastated when she eventually comes back and takes him away from him. He’s a former FBI agent for goodness sake. Are you telling me he has nothing better to do than sit at home and bake cookies? I like Galen Gearing, honestly. I just wish they knew what the hell to do with him.

Two New Chapters Begin (Maybe): I really love the relationship between Hope and Jennifer. They have always been close, so it was nice to see them sitting together in the afternoon complaining about their lives and bolstering each other. Jennifer finally realized that her Jack just wasn’t going to come back to her. She decided to move on and called that poor doctor that she always leaves high and dry. Seriously man, have some self-respect and tell her to shove it.

Hope and Ted were getting busy at Doug’s Place. As much as I didn’t like Rope, I don’t know what to feel about Tope. Why does it feel like in every relationship she’s had since Bo she loses part of her brain? Ted is shady and she a part of her knows it. Why doesn’t she listen to herself?

By the way? Extra kudos to the writers for having Kate list Hope’s past mistakes with men. If Kate Roberts Kiriakis DiMera is saying you have a problem when it comes to men, you more than likely do.

The Ugly

Why So Many Flashbacks?: Good lord, why? Why show a thirty second flashback of something that literally happened one day ago? I could understand if it happened last week but come on! I honestly do not get it. It is a waste of airtime that I’m sure Ron could fill if you let him instead of cutting off his storylines.

We don’t need them. It’s annoying. Knock it off.

Dressed In The Dark: I get that Days has budget issues, but I could find better clothes at Wal-Mart. Who dresses these people? I would refuse to wear most of it. I would bring stuff from home and tell them to work with it.

Also, why is everyone running around in pantsuits and long sleeves when it is supposed to be July? I know they have an understanding of when these episodes are supposed to air. They live in Illinois!!! The Midwest gets hotter than balls in the summer! Get with the program, people!

All About Eve: Let me just say that I ADORE Kassie DePaiva. That being said, I hate Eve. I HATE HER. I can’t find one thing even remotely redeemable about her. I do feel bad for her about Paige, and yes, I understand why she would hate Ben for the rest of her life. I can understand that, but this whole “I’m the commissioner and I can’t do whatever I want” crap is getting old. Also, if you loved Jack so much, wouldn’t you want him to be whole? To be happy? He actually loves you, jackass. If you love him, you should support him.

But we all know she won’t. God only knows what she will do.

Eric/Sarah/Rex:  Can we please get all this crap off my television? I am so sick of seeing Eric cry over “Nicole” and Sarah making cow eyes at him. She’s a married woman. She married a man she didn’t love for the man she loves. Make that shit make sense. Rex is too stupid to see what is right in front of him. Since we all know Rex is going to leave town, can Sarah please just sit on Xander’s face some more? We all know that Nicole is going to come out of the woodwork alive and well with her daughter. Ericole is eventually going to be endgame.

Can my man Xander get some love???

See you next week!!!!

The post Days of our Lives Week in Review: Masks and Romance appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

A shining star on our screen, the young kid from small-town Ohio started his career on Loving and Another World before breaking into stardom as Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210. For ten years he was everyone’s favorite bad boy with a heart of gold. He played a bull rider in 8 Seconds, a teenager who killed vampires in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a devoted dad in Riverdale.

I remember Perry being on the cover of Vanity Fair in 1992 with the headline Is Luke A Fluke? He said, “It was never about escape. I felt like I belonged on a screen.. I always felt like I was one of them and in a matter of time I’d get there.”

You got there, Mr. Perry. Now there will always be a void where you should be.

What were your feelings when you found out Luke passed away?

Heather: Immediate shock. I felt like someone had just thrown cold water in to my face. I’ve, of course, seen the news over the last few days but Luke always had this youthful, healthy, vivacious energy about him. I thought for sure he’d bounce back and with some time, be back to normal. The fact that he passed hurts me in my heart and I have this horrible feeling in my stomach. If I feel like this never having met the man and only being a fan on the fringes, his friends and family must be in such an awful place and I wish them nothing but healing, love, and light.

Lacey: I cried. Right there in the middle of work. I just cried. I had read last week about him having a stroke, of course, but I really thought he was going to be ok. I work in the medical world so I knew what the odds were of him being perfect Luke again but I was blind to it because he was Luke Perry and bad things couldn’t happen to him. My heart is truly broken for his co stars, both past and present, his loved ones and his children.

Jenna: I was in complete shock. I think I kept saying “no way” over and over again. I still can’t quite believe it. We all knew he was in the hospital, but the whole “no news is good news” really had me thinking he was going to be alright. My first tweet was “2019 needs to go” and I stand by that. If this is only the beginning of the year, what is next? My heart just really hurts for all of those people who loved him and his children.

What is your favorite Dylan moment from Beverly Hills, 90210?

Heather: When after Kelly was assaulted he basically told it wasn’t her fault, men aren’t animals, and everybody has a choice over their own actions. He told her that “a guy always has a choice of not making her do something she doesn’t want to do.” Dylan was the ultimate bad boy with a heart of gold character and that message was as important then as it is now.

Lacey: I have so many favorite Dylan moments because he was my favorite character on 90210 but the one that stood out in my mind when I read this question was when Brenda was robbed while studying at The Peach Pit. That episode really showcases what a loving and supportive boyfriend bad boy Dylan McKay was capable of being.

Jenna: My favorite moment is probably the first time we see Dylan. He helps a freshman not be bullied and begins his friendship with Brandon. It cements that from the beginning he is a bad boy with a good heart who tries to do the right thing.

Brenda or Kelly?

Heather: Neither. Me, obviously. Just kidding. Brenda, it always should have been Brenda.

Lacey: Brenda! Always!!! I hated that he ever even looked at Kelly because I am a Brenda and Dylan fangirl from the very beginning.

Jenna: Neither, to be honest! They both had their charms, but I really enjoyed him with his wife Toni Marchette. I know they were never going to be endgame, but there was something really sweet about their relationship and her death scene still makes me cry to this day.

Are you surprised about how strongly you feel about his passing?

Heather: I am. Like I said before, I’m more of a fringe fan. I loved 90210 when I was younger, I binge Riverdale when it hits Netflix, and the 80s cheese fest Buffy is one of my favorite movies of all time and can do no wrong. I haven’t actively tracked Luke Perry or his career, I’ve been more aware of him on the periphery. The fact that I’m so devastated just goes to show how much of an impact on people that he actually had, even without their knowledge.

Lacey: I am surprised about my reaction because it hit me so powerfully. I have always loved him but it’s been years since I have watched 90210. I haven’t watched Riverdale since season 1. I haven’t actually seen him act in anything in years but my love for him was always there and reading the news that he had passed away just devastated me. It felt like getting the news that a close friend or family member had died.

Jenna: I really am. Maybe because we all thought he would be okay. Maybe because Luke Perry has always been in my life in one way or another. The only other death I can think of that hit me this way was Heath Ledger. Another soul who’s shocking death left me bereft. I guess I just never thought Dylan McKay would die.

Final thoughts on Luke Perry’s legacy?

Heather: You see the outpouring of love from friends and family and you can just tell what an amazing man he was. He’ll always be Dylan McKay and that’s wonderful but I also hope he continues being remembered by being a genuinely kind, generous, humble human who wanted to look back on his life and have done something with it. I hope his legacy isn’t a character he played but the character that he had.

Lacey: I am blown away by the outpouring of love that people have shown for him. People I didn’t even know knew him. There is so much love for him and it makes my heart happy that he was so loved. I am pleased that his family will have so many heartfelt messages to read about the man that they loved. He was a kind, humble amazing man with a talent that didn’t get showcased nearly as much as it should have. He will be forever remembered as Dylan McKay, the first guy I ever crushed on.

Jenna: So many people have given their love and respect for Luke. It’s not easy to get that many celebrities to agree about one thing. They all say he was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor. For better or for worse, his greatest legacy will always be 90210 and he will always be the James Dean of the 1990’s. I just know he will always be the first bad boy my 8 year old heart loved.

The post The Legacy of Luke Perry: Round Table appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews