Alan’s Soap Box: Top 10 Best Things On Soaps Right Now

Soap fans have a tendency to focus on the negative. I’m certainly guilty of this. This month, I want to focus on the things I’ve been liking on soaps lately. I can return to bitchery later.

10. The End of Body & Soul, Days of Our Lives

I do think a soap taking a bad story behind a shed and putting a bullet in it is worth celebrating. I don’t know whether it was a producer mandated decision or if Ron Carlivati was trying to save his job, but I’m still grateful that Body & Soul relocated to LA. I think the show learned a lesson about how far they can go with being meta and ultimately knowing there’s a limit to it is a good thing.

9. Hope Being Allowed To Reference Actual History, The Bold and the Beautiful

I was so happy that Hope was allowed to bring up Steffy’s history when she was reading Ridge for being trash. It drove me nuts that Steffy would call Hope a slut and there would be no mention of Steffy having a known history of going after taken or married men. Steffy calling anyone a slut is just a real Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man moment.

I was surprised that Hope was also allowed to mention that she called Ridge dad around 2010. I thought that was never going to be referenced again considering Ridge has hated Hope for the last few years. It is a little sad that referencing actual history is shocking, but I’ll take it. I want more of this. Annika Noelle killed these scenes and Hope was allowed to make valid points.

8. Alexa Havins as Lulu, General Hospital

In the few months since Alexa Havins debuted as the new Lulu, she has really made the character her own. The last time Alexa was a series regular on a soap was almost 20 years ago, but you’d never know it watching her as Lulu. You really feel the frustration and heartbreak of a woman who spent four years in a coma as life went on without her.

It helps that writing and portrayal of Lulu are more in line with Julie Marie Berman’s portrayal of Lulu. Emme Rylan is a good actress, but her hiring was during the GH/Y&R casting war. Y&R had snatched Steve Burton so Frank Valentini stole Emme away from them. I don’t think much thought was put in if she fit the character. Emme didn’t have chemistry with Dominic Zamprogna. Fortunately, Alexa does have chemistry with Dominic so when Lulu and Dante do reunite it will be a welcome development.

7. Sharon Case Actually Being Utilized, The Young and the Restless

Since head writer and executive producer Josh Griffith returned in 2019, he has had a tendency of using Sharon Case for one big thing a year to get a Daytime Emmy and then she’s pouring coffee for the rest of the year. It has been one of the most consistent complaints of this tenure. Thankfully for the last six months, Sharon Case has had major stories.

Do I think the story of Sharon being drugged and getting rid of Heather’s body was perfect? No. Though it allowed for Daytime Emmy worthy performances. And the character of Sharon continues to suffer as she’s been kidnapped with Phyllis. This is a lot of kidnappings in a short period of time, but I’ll take it over listening to other characters’ problems while wearing Gucci.

6. Hayley Being Delusional And Messy, Beyond The Gates

Soaps need characters who will bounce up and down on someone else’s husband and then act like it was some event that couldn’t be stopped. Brooke Logan on B&B would justify going after a taken man by calling it destiny. Now Michele Val Jean has created Hayley who is about to marry her ex-best friend’s dad and is confused why everyone is taking it so personally.

I don’t usually enjoy Hop On Pop stories, but this is good stuff. If I have to see a woman kissing a man old enough to be her father, I want it to be messy and I want other characters to side eye it. There’s also so much you can explore with this. We know Hayley doesn’t know her father. Does she see Bill as a father figure while also being a lover? Was he the instigator of the affair or did she pursue him? Was she jealous of the lifestyle the Dupree family had and wanted it for herself? I am fascinated with Hayley and can’t wait to see more of her.

5. Gabi and JJ Reunited, Days of Our Lives

I am so happy that Days has reunited Gabi and JJ. Cherie Jimenez and Casey Moss have great chemistry. JJ and Gabi are so cute and it is nice that Gabi is with an actual good man. Her taste in men has been highly questionable. One can’t forget the time she murdered an ex-boyfriend.

I want JJ and Gabi to get married. There’s already natural drama because Gabi once put a bomb in Julie’s heart and gaslit JJ’s dead sister Abigail. The Horton family wouldn’t exactly be giddy about it so Gabi marrying into the family would be fun. Cherie Jimenez has said she wants to work with Susan Seaforth Hayes so make it happen!

4. Trina and Kai Are Adorable, General Hospital

I know there are people who don’t like Trina and Kai at all and want GH to recast Spencer right now. I’m not in that camp. I do think they need to recast Spencer within the next year and not keep him dead like they did with Morgan. However, I’m enjoying Trina and Kai. He is really wooing her and it is adorable.

Going forward with this pairing solves two problems. The first problem being the package deal problem where two characters become so intertwined they can’t exist without each other. It happened with Danny and Michelle on Guiding Light. It also happened with Ryan and Gillian on All My Children and they killed Gillian because of it.

The second problem is the Lily Winters problem. She has been dating for 20 years on Y&R and has never been with a Black man. Characters should date various races, but it is eyebrow raising the legacy child of a Black supercouple has never been with a Black man. I’m happy GH is avoiding this with Trina.

Do I think Beyond The Gates was a factor in Trina and Kai’s recent surge in screen time? Absolutely. If a new soap gives the other soaps a desire to up their game in diversity and just in general, I’ll take that as a positive thing. If someone new to soaps likes Beyond The Gates, they might check the other soaps out and see Trina and Kai. That would be a win for both shows.

3. Mike Manning Playing A Viable Character, Beyond The Gates

I’ve liked Mike Manning for years. He’s attractive and can act. It was unfortunate that he played rapist Charlie on Days. I wanted him in a viable role playing a character that isn’t destined for a murder mystery. Now that he’s playing house husband Smitty on Beyond The Gates, we can have that.

Mike is bisexual in real life and married to a man so we authenticity in the role and I don’t have to see a straight man do the weird face grab kiss when they play gay. Mike also seems to have some actual material to play coming up since it seems like Smitty isn’t satisfied just staying home and doing the laundry.

2. GH Actually Being Watchable, General Hospital

GH still has a ways to go in improving itself, but they have made strides. Stories have moved and climaxed. Fights aren’t so lopsided anymore. Last year, Carly wouldn’t have been allowed to even remotely lose a fight. This year, both Drew and Tracy were allowed to use history to tell Carly that she’s trash. Rebecca Herbst has gotten actual material and it isn’t just telling her love interest that he’s amazing.

I’m just happy I can watch an episode of GH and know it probably isn’t going to make me wish I had just cleaned the fridge instead. Last year, there were a number of episodes where household chores would have been more pleasurable. I wish I would have just given the dog a bath instead of watching that weird episode about mothers with the disjointed script. A soap being watchable is a win.

1. Karla Mosley Is Back On Daytime, Beyond The Gates

For about two years, Karla Mosley was the female lead of B&B. Then Brad Bell decided he was bored with that and the Avant family was shuffled off the canvas. Now Karla is back on daytime with the groundbreaking new soap Beyond The Gates and she is the female lead again. I’m ecstatic about it.

Dani is an interesting character. She had been with Bill for 30 years and devoted herself to him. He repaid that devotion by leaving her for their daughter’s best friend and even buying a house in their neighborhood. Dani has good reason to be furious and goes around punching Hayley and smacking Bill’s desk with a golf club. It is delicious material for Karla to play.

Since Dani married Bill so young, she never really established an adult identity of her own. She gave up modeling for him and raised kids. A betrayal like this would send anyone spiraling, but since Dani’s whole world was Bill, it is even more painful. I’m very interested to see how far Dani will go in her quest for revenge. Dani is already soap gold and the show just started airing.

Dispatches From Soap Land

*Tajh Bellow is off contract at GH. I think this is a huge mistake. Tajh is so talented and hot. Now the show only has two actors in their thirties on contract. That’s nuts!

*I love that the other soaps are supportive of Beyond The Gates. I think they know this is a good thing.

*I know Shawn and Belle will reunite eventually since Days can’t keep them apart for long, but I like Shawn and Jada.