Season ten begins where nine left off- Squad is trapped inside a sinking boat in the middle of Lake Michigan with no air and no way out. As the boat sank to the bottom of the lake with our boys inside of it, it gave the heart-pounding television that Chicago Fire is known for. Thank God, they didn’t drag it out. I don’t know if my heart could have taken it. Just the audacity of the thought of them taking away Joe Cruz (played by Joe Minoso) was enough to make me scream. Thankfully it all worked out, but I have thoughts about the first ten minutes, especially:

Let me start here: Severide and Casey must share one brain cell between them, and it shows. Severide blows up the boat to make an escape route while Casey thinks he is going to attempt a rescue with a life preserver and a tank of air with no mask. Neither of these sounds like good ideas. Both are decisions made in desperation, Severide’s especially, but I have questions, especially for you Matt Casey. Dumb, stupid men who only want to save the people they love is the brand of Matt Casey and Kelly Severide. I would not have them any other way.

Now that I have that off my chest, let’s move on to the rest of the episode.

Big changes look to be coming to Firehouse 51

Boden got a promotion, and it looks like he will have to move firehouses because of it. Everyone in 51 seemed happy for him except Stella, who was the only one to point out that his new position comes with a move. When he confronted her later at Molly’s about her feelings, she let it all come out. She didn’t want him to leave but she didn’t want him to turn down the promotion. Family is family and 51 wouldn’t be the same without Boden. While I agree with her, no one can stay forever. Boden deserves to shine and be the mentor he has been at 51 to the department.

The same can be said for Stella, who admitted that she would be leaving as soon as there was a Lieutenant’s position for her, regardless of house. As Boden said, they must have faith that the foundation of what they have built can last.

I have no doubt that it will.

The people at 51 are a family.

The New Guys

Gallo, Violet, and Ritter are the trio I need in my life. Gallo and Violet cannot seem to get along for more than 24 hours and poor Ritter ends up being the referee. I have two things to say about this:

Ritter, you need new friends

Gallo and Violet, you need to smash it out again.

I am not sorry, I said what I said.

This new side hustle with a microbrewery is going to be hilarious because you know it will be fraught with tension from the main three and I am pretty sure they are going to butt heads with Herrmann at some point as well. Family will persevere and all will be well.

I am begging you, Gallo and Violet. Begging you, please smash again soon. I don’t know if I can take years of this. 

Which brings me to:

Stellaride:

Stella Kidd (played by Miranda Rae Mayo) had to watch from the sidelines while her future was in jeopardy and Miranda played those moments with such panic and desperation. You could feel her just crawling out of her own skin wanting to do something that could help Squad (and Severide) and the look of betrayal on her face when Casey ordered her to stay and the softening in her eyes when he told her that he would bring Severide back was brilliant. The relief once Severide was topside and the way she wouldn’t let him go in the hospital and once they got home was so relatable and human.  

“Imagine how lame our wedding would have been if you died.”

Then she proceeded to seduce him.

Stella, please do not ever change.

The only thing that I can see standing in the way of a Stellaride happily ever after is Kelly Severide himself. You saw the look on his face after he called his mother. He has his own doubts and fears when it comes to marriage and his mother did not help matters. Not to mention that Stella will eventually leave 51 for a promotion.

I predict some rough waters coming this season. Hopefully with a happy ending.

Joe and Chloe:

Joe and Chloe nearly brought me to tears at the hospital when he caressed her baby bump and apologized for “ruining” the baby shower.

The fact Chloe knows her man well enough to ask everyone else if he is going to be okay rather than take his word for it, which is such a real thing for a wife to do.

The real things they have Chloe and Joe go through as a newly married couple who are expecting their first child together is something I really love. How his mother-in-law wants to “help” but always ends up making things more stressful for them is relatable to a lot of people.

Their love is so real and so pure and I am begging this show not to screw this up. Let my babies be happy!

Brettsey:

Matt Casey and Sylvie Brett are finally together after three long years of “will they, or won’t they?” and I couldn’t be happier. I wasn’t quite sure why they were keeping everything on the down low, though. Maybe they just wanted to keep it private for a little bit, or maybe they just didn’t want to hear the ribbing from their fellow co-workers. Either way, it cracked me up when Mouch and Herrmann basically called them soft, dumb idiots:

“Do they not realize that we all know they are together?”

“How could we not?”

“We knew a year before they did.”

That’s what they get for sneaking out of Molly’s for sexy times at Brett’s apartment.

I did like that Brett confessed that seeing Matt going into dangerous situations is different for her now that they are together. This, too, is relatable and real. Also, the way Matt put his arm around Sylvie after they were outed by Capp and Tony melted by heart.

This episode gives me the feeling that they have a strong foundation for whatever is going to come their way this season.

In summary, these people live dangerous lives and they try not to think about what could happen if something goes wrong. To be reminded of it is something that brings the best couples together and these three are the best.

The Gripes:

Are you telling me that you couldn’t have moved the ladder to get that kid off the roof? Casey really had to swing like Spiderman. I know that this moment will lead into other things this season, but really? At least give me a reason as to why you couldn’t do it.

How is it that no one questions where Casey is for two weeks? Not one joke from Severide? Nothing from Stella to Brett? We see him leaving with Brett all the time and there wasn’t one joke about it until Molly’s? Now that they are outed, please give it to me. I need it. Badly.

While this episode ended on a highly optimistic note, I highly doubt the rest of the season will be. There are issues that need to be addressed and goodbyes that will have to be made, at least for the time being.

All and all, it was a good episode.

What did you think of the season premiere of Chicago Fire?

The post ‘Chicago Fire’ Season 10 Premiere Recap: “Mayday” appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

The Pawn in Peril

Whooo boy, Drake Hogestyn and Alison Sweeney did not miss with that confrontation between John and Sami. They knocked it out of the park and then some!

You know, some tend to forget (either deliberately or innocently) that John (as Roman) raised Sami and Eric from 1986-1991ish (not accounting for SORASing time). John considers Sami, Eric and Carrie to be his children, and there should be nothing wrong with that. He loves them like they are his own, and that makes their families, his family too. Blended families are a part of society, and I’m not sure why there seems to be an asterisk when it comes to John status with Marlena and Roman’s children.

John was right when he told Sami that this situation with Allie will hurt his family — everyone he cares about and loves — Allie and that baby included. John and Sami are no strangers to a good old-fashioned fight, but it has been a little bit since they had one. Once John collapsed, Sami was surprisingly self away. “You know I just say things. I don’t mean them.” Yeah, Sami. We know. We also know that once Marlena finds out what really happened, you may need to run far away for a really long time.

The relationship between John and Sami is so rich with angst and subtext. So much of Sami’s life has been defined by that moment, and it’s driven so much of her animosity towards so many for so long. But it’s that complicated past that makes the confrontation with Sami and John so good. Every line of dialogue is layered with a pointed meaning. It’s the kind of thing that only comes with the soap genre. What other medium can pull from 30-plus years of emotions between characters? This is good stuff.

Can we talk about the living legend that is Deidre Hall for a moment? She is my gold-star performer of the week. Marlena and John are the romance of the ages for this show. They have been in love for almost 40 years and have not lost one ounce of chemistry. Through thick and thin, their love has been battle-tested and has blossomed into one of the most enduring love stories in all of soaps. It shows and shines on the screen when one of them is in peril. You can look at a scene from 30 years ago that has a similar parallel and you see the exact same love and devotion. It is not an easy thing to do. I have every confidence that John will be okay, but that cliffhanger on Friday gave me 2008 flashbacks and I DID NOT LIKE IT.

DiMera Mansion Nonsense

What the hell is going on, Chad? You seriously just told your (new) brother Jake that you are cheating on your wife with his girlfriend? For what? So, Jake won’t go get BBQ sauce with the client you want to schmooze? I really, really hope you called your wife the moment you left the room.

And for those of you spamming my mentions last week, it’s behavior like this that is why I CANNOT stand Chad when he’s not with Abigail. Not that I am a huge fan of her either, but together they can cancel each other’s worst traits out for me. Furthermore, I will reiterate how unnecessary this entire affair is. Chad loves Abigail. He will always love Abigail. I don’t buy any of his attraction for this lady because she’s simply not the woman he loves, the woman he is willing to risk it all for. So can we fast forward to the inevitable reunion for Chabby and save us all from this tasteless affair?

I do not understand why someone doesn’t kick Gwen out of that house. She doesn’t NEED to be there. Or in Salem. Or on the show. Nothing against the actress (who is doing a fine job), but the character is really starting to grate on me. I know I wrote last week that I like that she knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it, but perhaps she can go after what she wants in another town, off my screen.

End of the Rope

I honestly don’t know how I feel about them trying to get Rope back together. Obviously, we know that Kristian isn’t sticking round and that Galen will be leaving the canvas for a little bit soon. Maybe that’s why.

That whole washing machine debacle didn’t help much either. What was the point of it? I just sat on my couch and blinked at my television.

What was the point? Was it really necessary to have on my screen? Was there was nothing that could have taken its place?

I know most people have a problem with Rope, but I don’t. Not really. Aiden and Bo are never coming back. Rafe really isn’t a bad guy. Is it okay to say I don’t really know? Because I honestly don’t.

The Prince of Titan

My dimpled Prince Philip is back, and I could not be happier. I have waited far too long for this moment and I will relish it for as long as humanly possible.

Philip needling Xander is my new favorite thing. Between Philip telling him the hedges looked like they needed pruning to calling him “Xandy”, I am hooked on this new dynamic. Xander had better watch out, too. If Xander thinks those DiMera’s are bad when it comes to business, Philip might be worse. He wants Titan and he may stop at nothing to get it.

I cannot wait to see what happens with Philip and with the “Last Blast” crew. Shawn has already face to face with his enemy uncle. I want scenes with Belle, Chloe and Claire. I can’t wait until he sees Kate and Lucas.

Welcome back, Jay Kenneth Johnson! You have been missed!

Eve of the Damned

Eve is disgusting me right now with her love for revenge against Ben. To have him kill his wife on the anniversary of the murder of her daughter? The symbolism is cringy. A ton of yikes there for me. Seeing her salivating with glee at the prospect of intentionally inflicting the pain she went through on another mother is gross.

And another thing – how can Ciara look at Ben and think that he’s doing alright? As much as it would hurt her, she should be pushing for Ben to be put back in Bayview. I do really love that Ciara is sticking by his side. She loves him so much, probably more than he loves himself.

“If their pain goes on forever, maybe mine should too.” You see? That’s growth. He knows he cannot be forgiven by the families of those that he has hurt. It doesn’t matter that he was sick. Next week looks like it is going to be a wild ride. Buckle up, Cinners!

The Wrap

I have to say that I am #TeamGabi when it comes to Will and Sonny wanting to take Arianna to Phoenix. That is not how you ask the mother of your children to let you take her child. Gabi was making valid points and while I understand Will and Sonny wanting to take Arianna with them, the way they went at it was all wrong for me.

Ben and Marlena… chef’s kiss, honestly.  “How are you doing?” Ben knows she’s lying. “You sat on the groom’s side, remember?” “Let me be there for you.” the crying and the hug? CHEFS KISS, motherfucker.

I really enjoyed the scenes between Kayla, Hope and Jennifer. Honestly, it made me smile. It has honestly been too long since we have had a moment between female friends on this show. “Wrong. Absolutely wrong.” LMAO Only family can tell you to get over yourself and it ends up feeling like a pep talk instead of a dressing down.

I do appreciate that Ciara is okay with her mother moving on and being happy. Too many children on soaps (and real life) want their parents to be alone forever after their other parent passes away. It is a nice change of pace. Feel how you want about Rafe, he and Ciara are really cute in their scenes together.

I know HIPPA isn’t a thing on soaps, but good lord.

Days of our Lives airs weekdays on NBC. Episodes are available on NBC.com and Peacock.

The post ‘Days of our Lives’ Week in Review: The Past and the Present appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Unnecessary Roughness

Why are we being subjected to Chad and Gwen? Why? We all know that he’s heads over heels in love with Abby. While I enjoy Gabi and Jake, I don’t know why we are being led down the road with those two. Jake and Gabi don’t need Gwen or Chad in their sphere. I do appreciate how “sweetening her end of the deal” was “having sex” with Chad. It’s kind of nice to see a female character that knows what she wants and isn’t afraid of using someone to get what she wants.

I did love it when Gabi walked in and saw Chad and Gwen kissing. As much as I do not want Chad and Gabi to be a couple, they have some great chemistry. “You two play nice!” I was rolling. I really hope Gwen was right and we’ll see more Jake vs. Chad. I’m sick of Chad being on his high horse all the time. Someone needs to take him down a few pegs.

I love that Jake closed the deal. “He’s a breath of fresh air,” yes, he is. Especially the way he fills out those shirts. Speaking of DiMera, can we have Shin on the show more often? He’s beautiful and we need people on this show who are not related to anyone on the canvas.  Just a thought.

One more thought. I’m sick of this battle over DiMera. Just give it to Abe and let him run it using Lexie’s proxy or something. I am sick of it.  Let it go.

Crazy in Love

Robert Scott Wilson is hitting this storyline out of the park. He’s doing a great job conveying exactly what’s going through Ben’s mind with his intense expressions. Ben’s insistence that he will never hurt Ciara is simultaneously heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. “I will get as far away from her as I can. I will never see her again, if I have to.”

Damn. RSW got me with that. Ben loves Ciara more than anything else in this world, and Robert Scott Wilson’s consistent, rich portrayal makes that obvious.

Can we talk about that HUGE tie they had Ciara wear on Friday? What was that, a transparent anvil? The obviousness of it all was funny and kind of cringe.

Claire vs. Eve

Did Eve think that people would be weeping in the streets if Ben killed Ciara? Was she waiting for the wailing to come across the square? Don’t get me started on Eve. Please.

I love that Claire didn’t work with Eve. She should beat the ever loving shit out of her while she was at it. The conversation between the two of them was great. It just showed everyone how much Claire has grown and how far Eve has sunk. Claire did for Eve what Eve should have done for Claire. She begged her to get help.

I get how much Eve hates Ben, of course I do. Ben killed her child. There is no getting over that. I do, however, have major problems with the way she’s set out to get revenge. I hate this storyline and need it to be over sooner rather than later. It has nothing to do with the performances of the actors involved, Kassie DePaiva is doing a good job, but I am not feeling the storyline at all. The Eve I knew and loved would never subject another mother to the pain she feels.

Back on the Beat

Hope is back on the force and it looked as if Rafe and Hope were headed down the road to reconciliation, but what is it all for? Rafe was already going to leave at this point, so why? Anyway, Ciara called them out for their little moment, and I was laughing the entire time she ran for the door. “Ciara Alice Brady Weston!”

Either way just let Rope kiss or get it over with. Give Rafe something good and pull the rug from under him like you always do.

The Other Things

• I am so sick hearing about Allie’s baby I could scream. I guess I am going to be screaming for a while.
• When does Abby get back? I don’t like Chad right now. He’s bearable for me when he’s with Abby.
• I was so sad to see Olivia Rose Keegan go. She’s on to bigger and better things, but I will miss her!! NuClaire is a good replacement, though. She hides her accent well.
• Where is Abe?? GIVE ME ABE.

Days of our Lives airs weekdays on NBC. Episodes are also available on Demand, NBC.com and Peacock.

The post ‘Days of our Lives’ Week in Review: Sands of Momentum appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Allie’s Baby

What exactly is up with everyone going absolutely ape-shit about Allie’s baby? Sami’s freaking out and meddling in who can adopt her grandchild. Sonny is acting like this is the only child in the dang world that they can ever get. Will is stuck between his mother and his sister. Rafe is doing the right thing for himself and Allie is acting like he’s betrayed her on a molecular level. Nicole is acting like she knows everything, and Eric is not saying anything, which is even worse. Lucas is really the only one who is not taking sides or judging.

That’s a lot for one storyline. Let me unpack my feelings.

I have to say that everyone in Salem is in the wrong when it comes to not telling Sami that her daughter was in Salem.  I’m going to break it down for you really simply. If that was my daughter, grown or not, and I didn’t know where she was, and you knew and didn’t tell me? Hell would be paid to me.

Now that I have made that known, Allie was stupid as hell for coming to Salem in the first place if she didn’t want Sami to know where she was. The child literally has family all over the world and she chose to come to Salem? Make it make sense. So, everyone is conspiring to keep this secret and it’s dumb. I’m sorry, but it’s dumb as hell.

Now she has asked Rafe to adopt her baby and he has said no. Partly because of Sami and partly because he knows he would be using her baby to replace David. His feelings are completely valid, but it feels like Allie just isn’t listening. He did admit that he probably would have said yes if Sami hadn’t made her feelings known, but it really just gave him the time to think about what he really wanted. While Sami was completely wrong for “forbidding” her ex-husband to adopt her grandchild, she had her reasons (I will get to that in a little bit) and Rafe is allowed to have his own as well. Allie needs to grow up a little bit and realize that things don’t always go the way you plan.

Then Allie said Will and Sonny could adopt her baby, only to renege once she found out that Will knew that Sami had talked to Rafe about the baby. What exactly was Will supposed to do? If he had told Allie, what would that have accomplished? Rafe probably still would have said no. Then what? Now Allie is upset, and Sonny is having a hissy fit because Will “lied” to him again. I just –

You know what? Nevermind.

The point is that everyone in Salem is being stupid about this baby. I’m over it.

Next week doesn’t look to be much better. Eric will still be on the sidelines watching his wife and his sister shriek at each other like the harpies on She-Ra. He will do nothing except get mad at Sami or Nicole and I am not here for it. Sami needs to grow up. Eric needs to grow a pair. Nicole needs to just say that she does half of this just to needle Sami.

Just move on. Give the baby to Sarah and leave it alone. That’s probably where they are going to end up anyway.

I’m tired.

Two of a Kind

My babies are having twins!!! Say it with me!!! Double the Elani tacos! To say I was excited when I found out about the twins, is putting it mildly. These are going to be the first set of twins since (ironically enough considering what we are seeing on the show) Allie and Johnny.

The reaction to the news was the best part of it all for me. Eli was just trying to wrap his mind around it, while Lani was trying to figure out the logistics of breastfeeding twins. It ended with them two of them having goofy smiles and hugging.

I really need them to have a good and healthy pregnancy, Days. I’m serious. No premature, one baby is in a health crisis delivery. They should be happy and healthy. Please do not harm another Elani baby. 

This is a couple that deserves a bit of peace before you throw something else at them.

Bringing Sexy Back

Xander and Sarah are back together, and we received one of the hottest love scenes I have seen in a while. I was honestly surprised that it got past the sensors. Before I get all horny on main, I will say that it makes me really happy that these two found their way back to each other. Linsey and Paul have tons of organic chemistry that shines beautifully through the screen.

The one thing that I have always loved about Xander is the fact that he is an awful person who loves with his whole heart. Soaps are full of these flawed characters and Days is no exception. Sarah sees the good in him, despite the awful things he has done to her and others. It’s a tacky troupe that works in this situation. Is it real life? No. Would we really root for a guy like Xander in real life? Lord no.

He and Ben are the two most polarizing characters on Days at the moment. People either love them or hate them. Does it help that they are played by beautiful men? Yes, I suppose it does. Does that really matter to me? Not so much. I love that they know they are flawed men. There is no excuse for their behavior, and they know it. They are candid about the awful things they have done and in Xander’s case, he would probably do most of it again if it meant he would get what he wanted.

The thing Xander wants the most right now is Sarah and man did he get her.

Now it’s time for horny thoughts and things and holy shit. Days hasn’t had a love scene like that since EJ banged Abby in the Showers. Paul and Linsey were unafraid to go there. If this is one of the last love scenes we get in the next couple of months/years, Days went out with a literal bang.

All About Eve

I’m going to take this moment to say that I have no idea why Days has decided to go this route with Eve.  She will hate Ben forever and has every right to begrudge him any happiness, but why make him a serial killer again? What will she gain? Is it Ben back in jail? Ben in pain for killing Ciara? Okay, I’ll bite at that. But she’s okay with putting another mother through what she went through after Paige died? That’s where I’m calling bullshit on this.

The Eve I know would have tried to cut his dick off and let him bleed out on the floor. Instead, she has put herself back into the position of going back to jail for absolutely nothing. Attempted murder of half of Salem and then the false imprisonment of Ben. Again, for what?

Wendy’s father should have come to Salem to stalk and attempt to kill Ben. Have a good old fashion show down with someone we don’t know directly but can empathize with over the death of a good woman who was just trying to help. The acting for all of this has been great, but I’m just not feeling it.

Extra Bits

When are they going to put Roman and Kate back together? Just do it!

Kayla and Patch are boring me. Why are they back together again?

Chad/Gwen/Jake/Gabi story needs to move the hell along already. I am sick to death of the four of them in general.

Where is Abe?? Isn’t he the mayor or the chief of police or the senator or something?? FIND A REASON FOR HIM TO BE ON MY SCREEN.

Days of our Lives airs weekdays on NBC. Episodes are also available on NBC.com and Peacock.

The post ‘Days of our Lives’ Week in Review: Give Me Everything You Got For This WAP appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Stacy Haiduk confirmed her exit from Days of our Lives earlier today on her instagram. Haiduk has played Kristen DiMera on the NBC soap since 2018, replacing popular soap vet Eileen Davidson. 

There’s no denying that since taking on the role of Kristen Dimera, Stacy has taken the meat of the character and made it her very own. Quickly becoming a fan favorite, she captured the vulnerable yet mildly unhinged seamlessly.

The question is, how will she leave? Will she run away taking Rachel with her? Will she die in a scheme of her own making? Or will she take the high road and leave town? 

Either way, Brady is in for more heartbreak.

I will let you know that I am devastated. I have loved Stacy from the moment she came onto my screen. I hope the Lady Phoenix will rise again. Stacy,you will no doubt be missed.

What do you think of Stacy’s exit? Are you as heart-broken as we are? Let us know in the comments below or you can always find us on Twitter @TVSource

The post Stacy Haiduk To Exit Days of Our Lives appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

Was it something shocking? Exciting? Or was it something tender and romantic?

My first soap memory was John (Drake Hogestyn) and Marlena (Deidre Hall) from NBC’s Days of our Lives. I remember sitting on the floor next to my mother’s chair as we watched Marlena and John (then thought to be Roman, as he was not yet revealed to be John Black) reunite on the pier in 1991. Roman had just asked Isabella Toscano (Staci Greason) to marry him, having believed for years that his beloved Marlena had died in a plane crash. It was dark. The fog was thick. He looked over, saw a woman in the mist, and went to turn away as Marlena shouted, “Roman!” The iconic shaking hand, the gasp, and finally the embrace. I was so happy that Roman finally knew his “Doc” was alive, and as much as I adored “IzzyB,” she had to exit stage left.

A few months later, I remember seeing the real Roman in a cell and hearing my mother gasp. I had no idea who Wayne Northrop was. I wasn’t old enough to remember his Roman. To me, Drake was Roman. I remember asking my mother why she had that reaction and she said, “Because that’s Roman!” It was my first experience with the original portrayer returning to play a character they originated. I had no idea what the show would do. My Roman had just had the love of his life come back into his life. My Roman had just broken Isabella’s heart. Who was this person coming back and claiming to be Roman? Needless to say, I was confused. (I was 6 or 7; give me a break!)

I have often wondered why that memory sticks out to me so much. Was it the electric chemistry between Deidre and Drake? The chemistry that never died between Deidre and Wayne? Remember, Roman was initially brought to town as a love interest for Marlena and we owe her for the Brady clan being in Salem to this day. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the story. The attempt to replicate this story has happened many times yielding success and disappointing results (sorry, General Hospital!).

There were no bad guys in this triangle. Roman was presumed dead and held captive. Marlena was made to think that John was her presumed dead husband. Poor John had no memories. Roman went through hell only to find out everyone he held near and dear thought an imposter was him. His parents loved John, his children, his wife. How do you move on?

Marlena had brought John back to town and told everyone he was her husband. How do you live with that kind of guilt? She brought him into her children’s lives, telling them he was their father. She told his siblings Bo, Kayla and Kim, and their parents Shawn and Caroline, that he was their blood. She took another man into her bed without hesitation or doubt. How do you explain that to your husband?

John’s situation was probably the worst of all. For years, he thought he had a place. He thought he had people who loved him, a wife, children. His entire identity, his sense of being and self was ripped away from him. How do you cope? Where does the love you held for these people go? Do you leave? Do you stay? What kind of life do you make for yourself?

This story had far-reaching consequences that set off a chain of events that are still felt on the canvas to this day. John and Marlena eventually had an affair and conceived Belle. Sami switched the paternity test and then kidnapped Belle and tried to sell her on the black market. John rescued Belle, only to have Stefano shame Marlena into admitting to her affair during the baby’s christening! The paternity truth was later revealed and Marlena and Roman broke up! Sami hated her mother and John for decades it seemed. John and Marlena eventually got back together after dealing with a crazy Kristen (who is now in love with John’s son, Brady!), only for John to be brainwashed by Hope (who thought she was Princess Gina) who shagged him on his honeymoon in Hawaii!

Oh, throw in a possession by the devil and an exorcism by Father Black somewhere in the middle of all that.

And as if all that wasn’t enough, you had Bo with Hope, Carly, Billie and then Hope again. Peter Reckell left the show, Robert Kelker-Kelly replaced him… Only to be axed for Peter to come back (Sound familiar?). Carly was buried alive by a crazy Vivian Alamain. Isabella died in John’s arms of the same cancer that took my father about six months after she died.

This show was the drumbeat of my childhood. No matter how bad my life got, I could tell myself I had never been buried alive, or about to marry the man I love only to find out that his presumed dead wife was back from the dead. I don’t know about you, but I don’t watch soaps for a moral compass or for tips on how to live a better life. I watch for triangles like John/Marlena/Roman and Hope/Bo/Billie. I watch for the drama, the passion, the evil twins and the villains that make me secretly root for them.

So, how have soaps shaped my life?I still can’t hear “The Muffin Man” without cringing, but that’s another soap, another life, Another World.

What is your first soap memory? Tell us in the comments!! #MyFirstSoapMemory

The post Soap ReACTION: My First Soap Opera Memory appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

What I Liked

I really liked Katie being there for Sally. I appreciate that Sally has someone in her corner that wants nothing but her well-being and happiness. Katie doesn’t have to be there for her, there are no emotional ties that make Katie feel obligated. Katie is just genuinely worried for Sally. Katie knows that Sally is unreasonably stubborn right now, much like how Katie was when she was suffering with postpartum depression. She even used that to get Sally to understand that maybe this wasn’t the best course of action.

Of course, Sally has no idea that Katie has already told anyone with two ears that Sally is dying. Wyatt was lamenting to Flo about poor Sally’s condition and how he wants to be there for her. Flo goes on to tell Wyatt that he needs to be there for Sally and how they have the rest of their lives to spend time together. Did anyone else hear that anvil? 

One thing I really loved this week was while Liam and Hope were having the same argument for the six hundredth time, she hit him with a truth bomb. “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t walk in on him kissing another woman. At least Thomas could be fully committed to me.”

Shots fired, Ms. Logan. Shots fired.

It seemed to even take Liam back a little bit. This is Hope’s whole point as to why they aren’t together. It honestly has nothing to do with Thomas and Douglas right now. She can’t trust him. Yes, Steffy kissed him at Thomas’s behest, but they don’t know that. Liam didn’t pull away. He kissed her back. He didn’t even realize Hope was there until Steffy turned her head and saw her. Liam even admitted to Steffy that he didn’t regret the kiss, he just regretted that Hope saw it. 

This is why I can never be on Liam’s side and why I will forever wish that Hope and Steffy could be out of this ridiculous storyline.

What I Could Do Without

As much as it pains me to say this, I could really do without Douglas right now. Anyone who knows me knows that I love that kid. He’s adorable and I adore him. But right now, with the they are writing him? I want less. Much less.

I am over the whole “I want my parents together” trope they write for children. I know that most of that is because he is being manipulated by Thomas, I get that, but that doesn’t stop it from getting under my skin. If the only lines you are writing for that kid are “Why is Zoe here? I want you to marry Mommy. Daddy loves you. Please marry Daddy.” then why is he there at all? You could have Thomas or Hope say something about Douglas being upset and troubled over Thomas’s relationship with Zoe without having five days of Douglas saying the same thing repeatedly. 

The Rest of It

I am finding myself increasingly annoyed every time I see #Bridge on my screen. I almost want to give up all together. They have the same fight over and over all the while professing about how much they love one another. Guys, either get back together or just move the hell on.

Shauna is waiting in the wings to pick up Ridge’s broken feelings and I’m sure someone could come and make Brooke feel better in the interim. Bring back Whip. As much as I love them, it might be time to let this ship sail into the night. Maybe revisit Ridge and Quinn and give Eric and Brooke another shot? Just one reviewers thought.

Thomas is a villain with no stakes. His motivations are ridiculous at best and he’s not really fooling anyone other than his father and Hope. Where is the progress that he is supposedly making? What will happen when everyone finds out that he’s been using his son to get to Hope yet again? The answer will more than likely be nothing. No one will take Thomas away from him, though Hope may try. People may scream at him, rant and rave about how horrible he is, but what does that achieve? Will he ever have remorse for using his son? His father? His sister? Zoe? Pretty much every person who has ever cared for him? I highly doubt it but hey.

Maybe next week.

The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS. Episodes are available on CBS.com.

The post ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ Week In Review: 2/17/20-2/21/20 appeared first on TV Source Magazine. TV Source Magazine - TV News, Spoilers, Recaps, Interviews

If you aren’t a fan of watching something where you already know the ending (spoiler alert: he won’t be removed), TV Source has better options for you to get your entertainment fix. Whether it’s OnDemand or streaming services Netflix, Amazon or Hulu, peak TV was just the thing needed to escape the madness of the US political system.

The Good Fight

Presently Airs: CBS All-Access (2017 – Present)
Where to Stream: CBS All-Access
Stars: Christine Baranski, Cush Jumbo, Rose Leslie, Audra McDonald, Sarah Steele, Michael Boatman, Nyambi Nyambi, Zach Grenier, John Larroquette, Delroy Lindo

The Good Fight picks up one year after the events of the final broadcast episode of The Good Wife. In the new series, an enormous financial scam has destroyed the reputation of a young lawyer, Maia, while simultaneously wiping out her mentor Diane Lockhart’s savings. Forced out of Lockhart & Lee, they join Lucca Quinn at one of Chicago’s pre-eminent black law firms.

The Good Fight is more than just a sequel to the near flawless The Good Wife. The series often mirrors the absurdity of our real life politics, acknowledging just when you think it can’t get any worse, it does. If you’re a member of the resistance, it feeds your spirit to not give up and actively fight for the return of normalcy in the country — that is until you’re shown a figurative mirror that forces you to question what is normal. It also touches upon 45-derangement syndrome in later seasons, when the resistance becomes just as susceptible to fake news and echo chambers as those who wanted to make America great in 2016.

The series is smart, it’s full of heart, and it isn’t afraid to challenge your conventions. The strength of The Good Fight lies in its compelling characters and stellar cast. Christine Baranski’s performance as Diane Lockhart is always a highlight. Diane is a bleeding heart liberal married to a gun toting republican who gets a reality check in the form of the privilege she took for granted, but realizes how much work is needed to be done. Her relationship with Cush Jumbo’s Luca Quinn and Rose Leslie’s Maia (one of my favorites) us one that we all can relate to. What happens when the protege outgrows their mentor? You learn to see things for yourself, and sometimes that leads to conflict. The conflict that develops between these three women are some of the most layered, compelling parts of creative you’ll see.

Good Trouble

Presently Airs: Freeform (2018 – Present)
Where to Stream: Hulu
Stars: Maia Mitchell, Cierra Ramirez, Sherry Cola, Tommy Martinez, Zuri Adele, Emma Hunton and Josh Pence.

We pick up where “The Fosters” ended, 5 years in the future, with sisters Callie (Maia Mitchell) & Mariana Adams-Foster (Cierra Ramirez) graduating college and moving to downtown Los Angeles. Living with a group of friends in a community style living space, Callie and Mariana navigate the beginning of their careers—Callie clerking for a conservative judge and Mariana in the male-dominated tech space. The sisters and best friends will navigate love, sex, and the complicated relationships that come with living in a new city in your 20s.

Whether you’re a millennial or Gen Z, Good Trouble provides relatabaility for the ones who’ve lived it, currently living it, or on the verge of doing so. Think of Good Trouble as a modern-day Melrose Place with a topical bend. Whether it’s stories woven around unarmed shootings of minorities, body positivity or #MeToo, underneath the topical direction is a primetime soap opera ripe for viewing.

Callie falls for housemate Gael, but things get complicated when she learns he’s bisexual. She says it’s not an issue, but his attraction to men initially fuels an insecurity inside of her. Their relationship would be a rollercoaster that gets a turn when her ex-Jamie (Beau Mirchoff) resurfaces.

Davia Boheme (Emma Hunton) is a teacher and body positive model with a knack for being in everyone’s business. Pull back her layers and you’ll see a complicated soul looking for love in all the wrong places, such as her ongoing affair with a married man from her hometown. And despite her projection of confidence, she struggles with insecurity about her body brought on by a lifetime of comments by her youth chasing mother.

Davia forges a connection with womazing roommate Dennis Cooper (Josh Pence). On the surface, Dennis is a creepy older dude with a fixation for sleeping with younger women. But you soon learn all the booze and women is to cover up from the very real trauma he’s suffered in his previous life (I don’t want to give away the story but it will break your heart).

There’s Malika, who’s activism in light of a police shooting of an unarmed black man gets her into trouble she didn’t anticipate. You’ll learn why she is so passionate about these issues, and the conflict it brings with Callie, who is clerking for the judge overseeing the case.

Each character is fully formed, with a backstory you learn over time. You’re allowed to dislike the characters and for some that may not change. Each conflict is an opportunity for growth, not that it’s the responsibility of someone else to each them, but scenarios are crafted in a way where they can see things from someone else’s POV. I definitely recommend this series as a must watch.

The series also stars Tommy Martinez as Gael, Sherry Cola as Alice, Zuri Adele as Malika, Emma Hunton as Davia and Josh Pence as Dennis.

“Good Trouble” is executive produced by Joanna Johnson, Peter Paige and Bradley Bredeweg, Gregory Gugliotta, Christine Sacani, Maia Mitchell, Cierra Ramirez, Jennifer Lopez, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Benny Medina. The series is produced by Nuyorican Productions, Inc., in association with Freeform.

Suits

Originally Aired: USA Network (2011-2019)
Where to Stream: Amazon Prime Video
Stars: Gabriel Macht, Meghan Markle, Sarah Rafferty, Patrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman, Gina Torres

Recently, my timeline has been flooded by tweets of Suits gifs, mostly of a handsome blonde & gorgeous redhead. His gifs were full of charming but cocky statements, while hers were sassy and smartassy and right up my alley. Then my brother started watching it and binged watched the first couple seasons over one weekend. This is a man who often takes four days to finish one episode of his favorite show so I knew I HAD to watch it, and I am so glad I did.

Suits is a legal drama with heart. Sure, there are exciting court battles, brilliant legal maneuvers, and plenty of backstabbing fun to go around, but it’s the relationships between the characters that are at the core of this show. Led by the charismatic duo of Gabriel Macht & Patrick J Adams, and an amazing supporting cast that includes Gina Torres, Sarah Rafferty, Rick Hoffman and Meghan Markle, Suits is a thrilling peek inside the high stakes, ruthless world of corporate law.

Harvey Specter is a Senior Partner at Pearson Hardman law firm and has a reputation for being able to close any deal. Mike Ross is a brilliant, but aimless college dropout. They meet on a fluke, where Mike so impresses Harvey with his knowledge of the law, that Harvey takes a risk on Mike and hires him as his newest associate, despite the fact that Mike has never even graduated from college, let alone law school. Suits follows Harvey & Mike as they take on cases, dodge hostile takeovers, and deal with office romances all while trying to keep Mike’s secret from the world.

This show is smart and funny, with brilliantly flawed characters who you will both love and hate at times. Trust me, this is a must watch.

Gilmore Girls

Originally Aired: WB/CW 2000-2007
Where To Stream: Netflix
Stars: Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop, Edward Herrmann, Scott Patterson

There’s nothing we like more than female driven shows and Gilmore Girls is a classic. We’re going to go ahead and ignore the revival and only focus on the original run because it was the superior version.

 Gilmore Girls has comedy, drama, romance, and really tugs at your heartstrings when the moment calls for it. At first, the “girls” part of the title seems to be just about the mother/daughter relationship between Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. Lorelai had Rory at sixteen and raised her as a single-mother, running away from her privileged life in Hartford, Connecticut to the quirky small town Stars Hollow. However, when you look deeper, it also refers to matriarch of the Gilmore Clan and Lorelai’s mother, Emily. The relationship between Lorelai and Emily is strained at best. They love each other but the just don’t quite get each other and often butt heads.

The show starts with Rory getting into a prestigious private school that while will give her a leg up on her dream to attend Harvard is also not cheap. Lorelai is willing to do anything for her child even if it means swallowing her pride and asking her parents to pay for Rory’s school. Emily and Richard Gilmore agree on the condition that the girls start coming over for weekly, Friday Night Dinners, a staple in the show that offers some of the best scenes in the series.

From there the show offers love triangles, will they/won’t they, family fights, friendships made and broken, and ends on one of the happiest notes. You can’t go wrong by clicking on this title.

Good Girls

Presently Airing: NBC (2018 – Present)
Where to Stream: Netflix
Stars: Christina Hendricks, Retta, Mae Whitman

While ‘Gilmore Girls’ offers viewers a more wholesome experience, ‘Good Girls’ is a bit grittier. The humor is dirtier, the storylines darker, but the main thing the two shows have in common is a core group of powerful women.

If I had to use one word to describe ‘Good Girls’ it would have to be survival. The three leads of the show, sisters Annie and Beth, with their best friend (who might as well be their sister) Ruby go to drastic measures just to survive in a world where money is everything and it’s not cheap just to keep your family afloat.

Beth finds out that her husband of twenty years is not only having an affair but has taken out three mortgages on their house, has run up all of their credit cards, and they have little to nothing in their savings accounts. Suddenly, the affair is the least of her worries. With four children to worry about and provide for she’ll do anything to keep her family from losing it all.

Ruby works very hard for very little. A waitress in a diner at the start of the show she has two children and the worlds most perfect husband to care for as well. Her daughter Sara has a kidney disease that eats up all of the family’s money, even though the things they can afford are the bare minimum. Learning of a new medicine that can help her daughter but also costs $10,000 a month, she does makes the choice to do something a little less than legal.

Annie is the wild-child and a classic example of the youngest sibling. She had daughter Sadie (later to become son whose name will be revealed in upcoming season three!) at seventeen and never quite grew up herself. She’s irresponsible and reckless but of course has the biggest heart and loves her child more than anything. However, Sadie’s father Greg, doesn’t seem to think that Annie can offer a stable home environment for their kid and is planning on suing her with wife Nancy (whomst I love so much and so will you) for full custody. Annie isn’t going to let that happen without a fight.

The three women team up to rob the grocery store where Annie works. They think they’ll get away with $30,000 and they do….but with much much more. It would appear that the Fine and Frugal has been messing in some illegal activity.

If you’re looking for a show with hilarity, life or death situations, gangs, murder, real-life social issues, and just want to be entertained and invest in some great characters, ‘Good Girls’ is the show for you.

Hart of Dixie

Originally Aired: The CW from 2011-2015
Where to Stream: Netflix
Starring: Rachel Bilson, Jaime King, Wilson Bethel, Cress Williams and Scott Porter

Hart of Dixie remains one of my very favorite shows that every came out of the CW.  With characters named Lemon and Magnolia, you cannot help but find the same town show charming. Big city doctor, Zoe (The O.C. alum Rachel Bilson) arrives in town following the death of her father and quickly finds herself immerse in the smalls town’s major drama.  She is like a true-blue fish out of water but it does not take her long to adjust to her new surrounding and mix it up with the town’s handsome male offerings. Zoe’s object of affection is George but handsome town charmer, Wade, played by The Young and the Restless alum Wilson Bethel, quickly turns her head.  Zoe’s daily antics are often over the top but she is well intentioned as she navigates being a small town doctor looking for love in most of the wrong places and making enemies without even trying.

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