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Episode 7 of Sweet Magnolias ended with Helen rushing to Maddie and Dana Sue to let them know that their kids were possibly getting arrested, but episode 8 emphasizes the power of sticking up for what’s right and being willing to show vulnerability while doing so.  The episode titled “Walls and Doors,” started with Helen, Dana Sue, and Maddie walking up to all the commotion of the kids protesting to save the library. Kyle tells Maddie that he and his classmates talked about how awful it would be if something happened, so they organized a protest. Kyle is then encouraged to give a speech.  In Peggy’s office, she and Helen discuss how the town reporter, Alana, may spin the protest to make it seem like even kids dislike Peggy. Helen reassures Peggy that she’ll be there and that she’s her forever friend.  Annie shows Dana Sue the family portrait they took, and Dana Sue says she’s honored that Annie would consider submitting it, but that it’s also a reminder that Annie is all grown up, leaving soon, and so close to a great future. Cal, Isaac, Ronnie, Erik, and Harlan are playing poker, but the conversation leads into a discussion about fatherly love. They all concur that no relationship is perfect, you just have to keep trying and be vulnerable.  Cal apologizes to Maddie for what he might have said to influence Kyle to start a protest. He tells her that he’s still trying to balance parenting. She understands and says they’ll keep working through it together, sealing their night with a kiss.  Romance ensues for Helen and Erik when he shows her his secret talent. He opens a locked room filled with beautiful and creative pieces of pottery. She’s in awe and even asks him to teach her. It’s a very intimate moment between them, but they’re interrupted.  Later, Peggy calls a meeting with all the community leaders. They come up with a great solution all together for the library, with everyone willing to pitch in. Maddie tells Beatriz the good news. She’s incredibly happy and lets Maddie know that she didn’t mean to be so cold to everyone, and that all she’s ever wanted is to protect the library.  During their version of margarita night, with milkshakes, Annie, CeCe, and Lily finally come up with a name for their trio. They decide on the Mini Magnolias, a fitting name to usher in the next generation of powerful women.  At the OG’s margarita night, Maddie tells her best friends that she misunderstood Beatriz’s passion for anger. Dana Sue gets emotional and tells Maddie that she’s proud of her. That pride also extends to Helen for how she handled the meeting with Peggy. Helen says that vulnerability is needed to help fix the town, and that she sees a light at the end of the tunnel.  The big rivalry game between Serenity High and Castlewood has arrived with everyone tailgating. In a gasp-worthy moment, Katie calls Cal “Dad” after he promises to fix her lunch. It made Cal, Ronnie, Isaac, and Erik all smile.  After an amazing Serenity win, the gang celebrates with brownies and ice cream at Sullivans and Friends. Annie also gets a great idea to do for her self-portrait.  At the end of the episode, a conversation between Isaac and someone he reconnected with from school, Michael, is interrupted by Lily snapping at Dev, with Kyle caught in the middle. Both Dev and Lily end up walking out on Kyle, leaving him confused and hurt.   What could have possibly happened? Viewers will have to keep watching to see. The full season 4 of Sweet Magnolias is now streaming on Netflix.

If you have come this far with Suits L.A. and still find yourself a little apprehensive about NBC’s new law series, it may be time to release that urge to compare the west coast reboot to its OG New York counterpart.  While the two shows share similar elements, like scene pacing, sharp-tongued, quick-witted characters moving with purpose from plush office to plush office in their tailored Tom Ford suits, reciting their take on the law, it is important to allow this new iteration the chance to find its own footing and chart its own course for being something new in this space, however, possible that can be with such a crowded field of television legal dramas — past and present.  But, I know what you are thinking — we are six episodes in, and, at times, the new show has yet to fully embrace that directive, itself. While I do not disagree, I will say, there is considerable effort being made, at times. And, other times, the show still seems to struggle with giving us a fresh take on the law and all those who live in its world. Which brings us to where we are today — more than halfway to finish line on its first season, Suits L.A., for all intents and purposes, has unfortunately collapsed into a singular storyline —Ted Black’s (Stephen Amell) murder trial in defense of movie producer Lester Thompson, played by Kevin Weisman. Singular in the sense that every character’s time on canvas in this go-round feeds into that narrative in some way. The trial dominates the action and dialogue, whether characters are present in the courtroom or not. Unfortunate, because there is so much other story, surrounding the law and the unique positioning of the entertainment industry as a player in it, that could be told from the supporting roles.  While the show does its best work in the courtroom, what it should not do is move away from those B-plots featuring real-life celebrities playing themselves. What could be mistaken for filler scenes when the series started in late February actually gave us a more nuanced look backstage at the entertainment industry and offered viewers another cinematic take on the law. To move away from those particular sub-stories to having all characters focus on one plotline leaves the show lost in the crowd of been there, seen that. In doing so, we have fallen back, once again, into the chasm of only Ted Black, the character, getting the full circle emotional depth, growth, and backstory, for who he is and why he does what he does. It seems Ted is the only one allowed on the field to wrestle with his own personal conflict; the other characters are left on the sidelines as cheerleaders to ensure he stays winning. No shade to the character or the actor, but this showcases a significant missed opportunity to create interest in the other bodies in the room. The myopic world the series has found itself in leaves a lot of great story on the table to be told from this arena, inviting the critical comparisons to its predecessor. But, I am not giving up on what could still be. I, for one, am hopeful that the dance around Rick Dodsen (Bryan Greenberg) and Erica Rollins’(Lex Scott Davis) previous situationship gets a chance to come centerstage, or the expansion of Maggie Grace’s Amanda and her time onscreen becoming more and more challenged by the morality of her pro bono work juxtaposed against that of her office mates’, whose work centers on the super rich and famous; or even that we get to delve into Stuart’s seemingly quirky life outside of the office that has been hinted at with his penchant for cosplay — episode 1, if you’re curious.  Perhaps, when Lester’s trial concludes, we will get such opportunities to see these other characters step into the light, and allow us space to care about them when they are away from Ted. But, that may be a conversation for another time, or, at least, a different review. For now, we will stay focused on where life is today for our fav L.A. lawyers. So, in speaking of Lester’s trial, the episode wastes no time thrusting us back into the action of the legal proceedings of the movie producer accused of murdering his business partner on the back lawn of his Hollywood home.  At the start of the episode, we get a recap of the information that Kevin (Troy Winbush) has learned from Lester that could seriously impact the case and his defense attorney, Ted. Though we have come to the moment of closing summations for the defense, getting to this point in the trial has not been without its hurdles. While Ted is a charismatic and rather shrewd attorney, admittedly, this is his first criminal defense case and one for which he may not have had a healthy enough respect for, underestimating how charm and being the coolest guy in the room will not go far in winning his client an acquittal.  On the other side of the legal table in this case is an equally shrewd, if not more adept, prosecutor in Assistant DA Elizabeth Smith. So much so that Ted is forced to call on Amanda to help him infuse the question of ADA’s likability into the conversation with the jury. Ted convinces his second chair to take the stand to recount her previous case with a young client who was wrongfully convicted, in which ADA Smith used similar tactics to win a conviction as she was employing now in Lester’s trial. Unfortunately, though steeped in emotion, particularly for an attorney, Amanda’s time on the stand did not yield the immediate results needed. Nevertheless, she and Ted still allowed themselves to hope it succeeded in creating a measure of reasonable doubt for the jurors. While the trial proceeds, Ted’s former partner, Stuart, still bitter from Ted stealing his client, makes a play to do the same. Only this time, Stuart makes a move to pilfer more of Ted’s legal talent by approaching Erica with a covert job proposition. Under the guise that it would be best to jump ship from Ted Black & Associates now, before her boss takes the whole ship down with the loss of the Thompson trial, he invites her to join the team at Railsback & Lane. Whether it was loyalty or pride, or a healthy dose of both, Erica digs her heels in and recommits to staying with Ted. Personally, I doubt Erica appreciated being Stuart’s second choice, yet again. This week’s flashback opens another important door into Ted’s past in New York City. Only this time, we get answers to some nagging questions — specifically, why did Ted and Samantha (Rachelle Goulding) go their separate ways and how did they both end up in California? We come by these more intimate details when a key piece of information about the organized crime case Ted had been working on there is given to him at the most inopportune moment. The impact of which can still be felt in the present day with challenges continually rearing their ugly head during Lester’s trial. And, for the first time since the series began, the flashbacks finally serve their purpose — revealing some of the critically important lessons Ted continues to learn from his past. Nevertheless, to pour gasoline on the case that could quickly become a dumpster fire, Ted also learns new facts about Lester’s testimony that could put the case in a no-win situation when a rebuttal witness for the prosecution threatens to implode the defense. As a result, Ted is forced once again to confront Stuart and grovel for his legal assistance. In a surprise turn, Stuart agrees and the two former partners work through the night to find a potential way out for Ted’s client. If it works, Lester will have to go back on the stand in his own defense. But, will it be enough to prove his innocence? And, now with just four episodes left in the series’ debut year, we are left to wonder what happens next. You’ve come this far with Suits L.A., so why stop now on finding out for yourself how Ted and friends close out the season. Who’s hanging in with me to the end? Come on …you did give Harvey and Mike a chance, after all.  Suits L.A. airs Sundays each week on NBC. Can’t watch it live? Each episode is also available for streaming the following Monday on Peacock.

We pick up where Hope has just been informed that she is fired and her fashion line is suspended. Devastated, she calls for Carter to walk out with her. However, Carter is warned that if he leaves, there will be no turning back—his career at Forrester Creations will be over. After a moment of hesitation, Carter chooses to stay. Brooke also agrees that the division should end. Feeling betrayed by both her mother and Carter, Hope leaves, heartbroken. Meanwhile, Daphne and Zende discuss the recent takeover, the Forresters regaining control, and Daphne’s growing feelings for Carter. Will and Electra also talk about the company’s recovery, along with Bill housing Luna for a while. Electra shares how the takeover affected her family and expresses her excitement about working together again. The group gathers to speculate on whether Steffy will allow Hope to stay, but they doubt it. They also agree that Carter needs to move on from Hope. Carter later visits Hope’s cabin, desperate to explain himself. He tries to make her understand his reasoning and guilt, but Hope refuses to listen. She tells him she is done. Carter, unwilling to give up on their relationship, insists that they all need to take responsibility, but Hope doesn’t see it that way. She stands firm, reiterating that they are over. Carter professes his love, but Hope has had enough. She says goodbye, leaving him devastated. In the CEO office, Brooke acknowledges that Hope was wrong, but she also believes Steffy handled things poorly. Eric advises Brooke that Steffy just needs time. Once alone with Ridge, Brooke confesses how much she misses him and makes an emotional plea to win him back, even after everything that has happened. She continues to beg for another chance—until Taylor walks in. Taylor, exasperated, asks Ridge once again to make a choice. She also tells Brooke to have some self-respect, reminding her that Ridge has moved on. Elsewhere, Steffy and Daphne celebrate their victory, believing Hope manipulated Carter. Steffy thanks Daphne for helping keep Carter on their side. Taylor soon joins them, thrilled about Steffy’s success. When Taylor asks about Ridge, Steffy and Daphne update her on the latest events. After Taylor leaves, Daphne makes one request—Carter must never find out she played a role in the plan. Steffy realizes Daphne has feelings for Carter. They discuss how Hope manipulated Carter and how blind he was to it. Later, Finn arrives, and the conversation shifts back to Hope and her refusal to take accountability. Carter confides in Daphne about his painful breakup with Hope. She comforts him, and they share an emotional embrace. At the Cliffhouse, Steffy vents about Brooke, assuming she will try to defend Hope and beg Ridge for another chance. She hopes her father won’t take the bait. Ultimately, Ridge chooses Taylor. While he admits he will always love Brooke, he declares that his future is with Taylor. Heartbroken, Brooke leaves in tears. Elsewhere, Donna and Katie reflect on recent events. While Hope is out, both Carter and Brooke remain at Forrester Creations. Steffy and Taylor share a heartfelt moment, celebrating Ridge’s decision. Taylor tells Steffy how proud she is of her, how much she reminds her of her grandmother, and how deeply she is loved. They make root beer floats and dance together, enjoying their bond. However, things are far from joyful for Hope and Brooke. The two have a heated confrontation, with Brooke blaming Hope for her losing Ridge. She accuses Hope of making reckless decisions and refusing to take accountability for her role in the coup. Hope fires back, calling out her mother’s history of prioritizing her so-called destiny with Ridge over everyone else—including her own children—and questions whether that has ever truly worked out for her. The argument escalates until Katie enters, attempting to mediate. Brooke, fed up, orders Katie out of her house. In the heat of the moment, Hope nearly slaps Brooke but stops herself. As she turns to leave, she suddenly breaks down in tears. Brooke softens and pulls her daughter into a comforting embrace. As the week comes to a close, Sheila and Luna are relieved to finally know the truth and begin building a relationship. Sheila, spotting Deacon, quickly distracts him so Luna can slip away. Once alone, she reveals to Deacon that Luna is her granddaughter. However, Deacon refuses to accept it. He tells Sheila that she will have to make a choice—because he will not accept Luna as part of their lives. Meanwhile, Electra and Will spend time together. Will expresses his desire to take their relationship to the next level, but before they can continue the conversation, Electra has to leave. As soon as she is gone, Luna seizes the opportunity—she has her eye on Will and boldly makes a move!

Beyond The Gates Weekly Recap - 03/24-03/28/25   Monday   Naomi confides in Jacob about taking on the case. Kat and Chelsea continue working on their exciting new purse line while Chelsea grapples with whether to come clean with Dani about her true feelings. Eva turns up the charm at the hospital, openly flirting with Tomas, who seems more than receptive. He casually remarks that he and Kat are keeping things loose. Meanwhile, Joey meets Vanessa under the guise of house-hunting for his mother—but his true motive is gathering leverage against Doug. Chief (formerly Elon—because really, that name?), has sizzling chemistry with Anita. While my heart belongs to VerNita, a little messiness never hurts. Is there history between them? He visits Anita and sparks subtly fly.   Naomi seeks Anita's wise counsel. Their interaction, complete with singing and Anita’s delightful rapping, was a standout moment. Anita proves once again why she's the gold standard of matriarchs. Later, Kat and Tomas cross paths at Orphy Jean’s. Tomas boldly shoots his shot, and they share a kiss. I know TomKat fans were invested even before the show premiered, but personally, Kat deserves someone who challenges her—a rich jerk or a bad boy from outside her world. Tomas has player energy, and his flirtation with Eva confirms my suspicions.   Tuesday   Chelsea visits Anita, seeking advice. Anita, impeccably dressed as always, warmly supports her granddaughter. At the country club, Dani orders "orange juice with a splash of vodka" during brunch. Vernon joins her briefly. Later, when Dani leaves, Vernon tastes her drink, noting the vodka. Although concerned, he says nothing when Dani returns for it. When Anita asks about Dani later, Vernon downplays it, simply noting her improved spirits.   Mike’s crude joke at Bill’s office underscores Naomi's critical meeting with the women filing a harassment suit. They are hesitant to pit her against her father but reconsider after Naomi demonstrates commitment and strategic confidence. Anita and Vernon discuss Martin’s presidential ambitions, concerned about his family's potential exposure to public scrutiny. When Martin joins, they attempt to dissuade him, highlighting the threat of his secret being leaked. Martin, typically arrogant, reacts poorly, unaware that Smitty overhears the conversation. Chelsea and Dani reconnect, with Chelsea nearly coming clean. Dani, however, shares her ironclad deal for Chelsea’s fashion show with excitement.   Naomi confronts Bill, revealing she’s representing the women suing him.   Wednesday   Chelsea finally tells Dani she's finished with modeling. Dani initially can't believe it but soon breaks down, leaning into alcohol for comfort. Hayley, living in delusion, corners Jacob at Orphy Jean’s, attempting to mend fences between Bill and Naomi. Jacob swiftly shuts her down, but reality checks are wasted on Hayley.   Naomi lays out her lawsuit to Bill, perhaps sharing too much, but Bill perversely admires her assertiveness. He shamelessly defends Mike, viewing the challenge as a twisted bonding opportunity with his daughter.   Smitty confronts Martin over his secrecy. Martin tries manipulating the conversation, but Smitty calmly and correctly calls him out. Smitty is far too understanding. Martin tried to block an opportunity from coming his way, and Smitty forgives him. Martin has been a horrible husband.   Thursday   Kat sets up dinner with her parents at The Uptown and secretly plants a camera in Nicole’s office. Leslie approaches Kat in disguise, oddly attempting peace between Kat and Eva, but Kat is having none of it. Nicole tries to help Dani mend her "broken and jagged" life. Nicole bluntly calls out Dani’s addiction to Bill. She lists the symptoms, and Dani is forced to admit that she is addicted. She, unfortunately, remains trapped in love and denial. Over ice cream, Leslie disparages Ted to Eva, quickly apologizing when it seems like she is calling Eva a mistake. Leslie eagerly anticipates publicly shaming Ted at the anniversary party, while Eva proposes a more private revelation. Leslie dismisses Eva’s suggestion outright. We can see the struggle on Eva’s face. Eva, predictably caught snooping again by Ted, discusses Kat with him. Ted gently explains Kat's cautious nature with newcomers. Marcel attempts a friendly act towards Jacob at the precinct, but Jacob sees through his insincerity and firmly shuts him down. Smitty confronts Martin again about his secretiveness. Martin apologizes, but Smitty remains remarkably patient and understanding. Hayley audaciously tries mending fences with Naomi, claiming sisterhood. Naomi firmly puts her in her place. Hayley’s total lack of accountability and shameless entitlement makes her difficult to root for. Friday  Eva calls Leslie, and Nicole comes in to ask why she is there so late. Meanwhile, Ted and Leslie/Dana have a confrontation. Oh, Turtleneck Ted, I so tried to believe in the man you portray. Looks like Ted knew about the baby. Dana/Leslie said that she was getting an abortion and assured him that she had gone through with it. Ted wants her out of his life. He asks how much it will take. He offers her cash, and she says she wants 50K. He agrees to get the money but warns that he still has the same lawyer on speed dial, the one who made her leave the last time. OH MY!! Ted? Who are YOU?   Nicole needs to check on a patient. She invites Eva to the dinner that Kat has planned. Eva reminds her about how Kat feels about her, so it isn’t the best idea that she join them.  Kat watches the live camera footage of the camera she set up in her mother’s office. Ted joins Kat; he tries to persuade her to be lenient with Eva. He doesn’t understand her vendetta; she tells him that he will soon. She calls him perfect; he tries to say that he isn’t, but she calls him the goat.   Nicole joins and asks the reason for the impromptu dinner. Kat keeps watching for Eva’s slip-up, but Ted questions why she is always on her phone.   Tyrell comes in with a black eye. Martin and Smitty want to know what happened, but Tyrell lies and says he fell off his bike. Martin is quick to call out that it looks like more than falling off the bike. They asked Samantha why she lied for Tyrell before saying he was in his room. Tyrell wants to be left alone. Smitty tells him they need to clean the wound, while Martin says that he and Samantha need to talk.   I love Smitty as a parent. He is so good; it's just Smitty. I love him as a character. I want to love him and Martin as a couple. However, Martin is a jerk. He makes it difficult to root for them. I rooted for Smitty to cheat. I do like the dynamics that have been laid out, though. Martin is a controlling spouse who wants his husband’s life to revolve solely around him and their family. It is something often depicted as happening between a married couple, typically involving a man and a woman. It is not often demonstrated among gay couples. I do love that aspect, but Martin, that guy needs some humility and compassion for his better half.   Martin challenges Samantha’s lie. Samantha is more like Martin and challenges him right back. She assures him that she will tell him anything that he needs to know. Okay, I like Martin better as a father than I do as a husband. Martin and Smitty regroup to talk about the kids. They are concerned but need a plan .   Vanessa joins Doug for dinner. Nicole approaches them and mentions that she rarely sees Doug at the hospital. Doug smoothly lies about them being in different fields of medicine. Joey approaches.   Hayley goes into the office. She sees Bill embracing another woman, and she hides, spying on them. Isn’t this hilarious? Little Miss Homewrecker must not have heard the old adage, “The way you got them is the way you lose them.”  Of course, it is premature, and the woman is a client.     Hulu steps out of her hiding place, arms crossed and pouting. She uses the lawsuit of sexual harassment as an excuse to question him, but she doesn’t come out directly to ask about the embrace. They talk about Naomi; Bill is not stressed at all. He says he is stimulated.  Hayley doesn’t want to get close, the optics; she brings up all the late nights they shared, reviewing briefs - her red, lacy ones were his favorite. Hold on while I make sure my lunch stays down. Hayley says she noticed the client making motions of her own. Bill likes this, playfully saying that she is jealous.   Bill laughs at Hayley’s jealousy. Hayley mentions that she was there after hours and how she was replenished from their interaction. Bill defends himself smoothly, and they role-play in court. The client threw his children in his face. Saying that they hate them. She reminds him that they do not hate him. He tells her to give Naomi time.     Weekly Highlights: Anita’s iconic rapping and stellar matriarchal presence. Chelsea’s courageous honesty with Dani. Eva and Kat’s rivalry is escalating, with Eva currently ahead. Leslie reveals Ted’s shocking past and demands hush money. Naomi bravely sues Bill on behalf of his former employees Final Thoughts:  The Kat-Eva rivalry heats up beautifully—Ambyr's portrayal is superb. I adore Kat’s entrepreneurial ambitions. Jacob has developed impressively but needs to play smarter against Marcel. While I'm thoroughly invested each week, the show should balance character exposure better. Bill, Hayley, Dani, and Martin dominate the airtime, leaving younger characters like Chelsea and Kat underdeveloped. Tomas is intriguing, but his rushed romance with Kat lacks depth—I lean towards Eva for him. Kat deserves a compelling, slower-burning storyline.   Nicole has stars in her eyes when it comes to Ted. Even feeling that he stuck beside her when he could have abandoned her because she was consumed with becoming pregnant. She doesn’t know that during that time, he was cheating and had gotten someone else pregnant. That will be devastating. Sidenote: Dani, you can still stop a man in his tracks. Look in the mirror; you are stunning.

After Avery’s declaration to Max that she’s going to keep the baby, this week’s Odyssey cruise theme is “Sophisticated Ladies.” Shania Twain makes another appearance as Heather, and the COVID 19 pandemic is heavily highlighted.  Episode 12 titled “Sophisticated Ladies Week,” began with the Odyssey crew playing poker. During the game, Max brings out the latest COVID boosters, and nobody volunteers except for Avery and Spencer.  Max and Tristan joke around about the Cougar ice sculpture being built to kick off the festivities. Tristan says Cougar is a term of respect, and that Cougars are elegant and powerful creatures.   Tristan claims that he usually attracts multiple cougars on the cruise, but not this year, as things have changed and it’s no longer “fatherly behavior.” There’s underlying tension between Max and Tristan that you could cut with a knife.  In the ballroom, Max is dancing with Donna Mills’ character, Olivia, who admits that this is her first cruise. Olivia says she’s simply there to laugh, drink martinis, and do yoga. In the middle of their charming conversation, Olivia starts coughing, which she claims is only allergies.  At the top dining area, a couple, Sam and Delia, who are on the Odyssey to celebrate Delia being one year cancer free, talk about Sam letting go of his caregiver mentality and having fun.  Tristan finds Avery and tells her that he feels she’s decided to keep the baby, and that she told Max. She doesn’t admit to it, but doesn’t deny it either, and she asks Tristan if he’s even ready to be a father. Without hesitation, he says yes, and that he’ll prove that he is.  Olivia wakes up in the middle of the night when she can’t stop coughing. In the infirmary, Max swabs her nose for her COVID test, where she indeed tests positive. Max tells her that she will need to quarantine in her room, but she refuses.  Max expresses his frustration to Captain Massey about it, but he tells Max that he has to handle this with tact and grace, and that he’s not a big city ER doctor anymore. Honestly, this take is very insensitive, especially considering Max’s history, but Max agrees anyway.  In a shocking twist, Heather reveals that she and Captain Massey are expecting a baby. Massey’s jaw is on the floor, and he’s not the only one. Another big moment, Delia’s case of cancer has come back, and Sam doesn’t know. She tells Tristan that she wanted this trip to be one more good memory so she can say goodbye, and she doesn’t want him to be her caregiver again.  In the infirmary, Avery lets Heather know that she understands what she’s going through with the pregnancy. Heather catches on, hugs Avery, and says that the both of them are going to be okay.  Fear radiates from Max after a conversation with Olivia. He apologizes for not being considerate, but then coughs. After testing himself, he discovers that he has COVID now too.  While in quarantine, Max helps Tristan figure out what Delia is having an allergic reaction to. She gives Tristan permission to tell Sam what’s going on. He doesn’t take the news well at all and walks out. Tristan tells her that they’d both be fools to not cherish every moment they have together, which Avery hears.  Max and Olivia play cards, and they make a bet. Olivia wins, so they take a walk on the deck and sit, where Max confides in her about his history with COVID and that he’s going to be a father, which he doesn’t know for sure by the way but moving on.  Olivia gets a sharp pain and can’t catch her breath. Max rushes her to the infirmary, where he and Tristan work on her, with Tristan silently urging Avery to stay back. They get her stabilized, but she’s not out of the woods yet. Tristan assures Max that he did everything he could, and now it’s up to her.  More medical emergencies ensue when Heather starts bleeding. With the help of Avery, they learn that everything is okay with Heather and the baby, and that she was experiencing cervical irritation.  Sam reassures Delia that he will wait with her and cherish the time they have, and Max and Olivia confirm that they are negative. Olivia comically thanks Max for saving her life and for the slippers.  At the end of the episode, Max senses some energy between Tristan and Avery. This triangle is starting to feel like a circle with the way it goes round and round. Viewers will have to keep watching to see how it unfolds.  Next week is Spring Break where three beautiful college women set their sights on Max, and it looks like danger is ahead for all four of them. Episode 13 will air on ABC April 3, 2025. It will also stream on Hulu the next day.

At the beginning of the week, Tate and Holly spend time together. Meanwhile, Leo and Doug try to convince Melinda to return the necklace, but their pleas fall on deaf ears. Doug reaches out to Holly while she is with Tate, informing her about the necklace situation and Melinda’s involvement. He asks to meet, and she agrees to leave, much to Tate’s displeasure, leading to an argument. Despite this, Holly departs to meet Doug. Upset, Tate decides to tell Julie that Doug stole and pawned the necklace. Gabi receives a message from JJ inviting her to dinner. When she arrives home, she finds a candlelit dinner set up. Javi enters, and they reconcile, realizing the dinner was meant for him—Leo had arranged a surprise. Seeing how happy Javi is, Gabi agrees to give Leo a chance. Later, JJ calls Gabi again, and she meets him for dinner, where they have a heartfelt conversation about their feelings. JJ, meanwhile, is still dealing with Julie, who insists something must be done about Melinda possessing her grandmother’s diamond necklace. JJ, however, insists they need solid proof. He summons Melinda to the station, but as a lawyer, she knows her rights and refuses to hand over the necklace before leaving. Elsewhere, Cat and Chad share a near-kiss while making arrangements for a fundraiser. Doug confesses to Holly that he plans to tell Julie the truth about stealing the necklace. Initially hesitant, Holly ultimately supports his decision. However, before Doug can confess, Tate has already revealed the truth to Julie. Holly, unaware of Tate’s betrayal, returns to tell him that Doug is coming clean—unaware that Julie already knows. Julie, suspecting Doug, sets him up to confirm the truth. Once she does, she is heartbroken and ultimately kicks Doug out of the Horton house. He attempts to speak with her one last time before leaving, but she remains unresponsive. With his bags in hand, Doug walks away. Meanwhile, Marlena and Steve continue their search for John, keeping the family updated. Outside the Brady Pub, EJ thanks Rita for assisting him with Rachel Blake just as Ava arrives. She makes snide remarks, but EJ smugly reminds her that she can’t expose his involvement with Rachel without jeopardizing Brady’s custody. As EJ leaves, Brady arrives, and Ava, feeling uneasy about their situation, ends things with him, believing it won’t end well. Later, when EJ arrives home, Kristen attempts to negotiate an exchange for their mother, but he refuses. Determined to make him pay, Kristen sets her plan into motion. Tate begins feeling guilty about exposing Doug when Sophia stops by. She shares news that her mother is allowing Chanel and Johnny to adopt her baby. Conflicted, Tate confides in Sophia about Doug and Holly, fearing that Holly will soon discover his betrayal. Meanwhile, Doug spends the night on a park bench. Holly finds him the next morning, and he tells her that Julie already knew before he could confess—believing Melinda tipped her off. Holly invites him to stay at her place, offering him a shower and to wash his clothes. She also offers to talk to Julie on his behalf, but Doug, knowing how close Maggie and Julie are, doubts he will be welcomed. Julie later tells Maggie the truth about Doug stealing the necklace. Though deeply hurt, she still cares about his well-being. After comforting Julie, Maggie confronts Holly, demanding to know how long she has known the truth. Holly confesses everything, including Doug’s intention to confess before Melinda intervened. It is then that Maggie reveals the real informant—Tate. Furious, Holly confronts Doug and tells him that Tate betrayed them. She assures Doug he can stay with her for now, but she intends to deal with Tate. Doug, however, urges her to give Tate another chance, but Holly is too angry to listen. Meanwhile, Doug heads to Horton Town Square, where he encounters Sophia. Upon realizing who she is, he questions her true motives regarding Tate, but she denies having any malicious intent. Elsewhere, EJ once again attempts to reconcile with Johnny, but his efforts fall on deaf ears. Even invoking Sami’s forgiveness fails to sway him. Amy meets with Chanel and Paulina, initially believing they are the perfect couple to adopt her child. However, after reading a Spectator exposé on EJ DiMera and his family, she panics. Convinced that she cannot allow her child to be associated with EJ in any way, she withdraws her consent for the adoption, believing it to be a sign from God. When Johnny learns of Amy’s decision, he is devastated. Paulina, enraged, storms off to confront EJ, while Johnny stays behind with Chanel, determined not to let his father get away with this. Meanwhile, Tate tries to reach Johnny when JJ arrives, informing him that he is now part of the investigation and will be in touch. Shortly after, Holly arrives, livid at Tate for betraying her trust. She blames him, while he shifts the blame onto Doug. Their argument ends with Holly declaring that they are over. Melinda warns Gabi that DiMera Enterprises is in jeopardy after the article on EJ. Stocks are plummeting, and other issues are arising. She instructs Gabi to say “no comment” if questioned. Soon, JJ arrives, demanding the necklace back, but Melinda shocks him by revealing that she has already sold it. Elsewhere, Sarah visits Stephanie after Alex leaves, asking her to pretend she is having an affair with Philip. Stephanie refuses, not wanting to hurt Alex, but Sarah pressures her, using her family and Victoria as leverage, knowing the truth about Philip could destroy them. Philip, thrilled about the hit piece on the DiMeras, is confronted by Xander, who accuses him of having an affair with Stephanie. Alex enters just in time to overhear. Though Alex threatens Philip, he later tells Xander he will stay away from Stephanie. When Sarah returns home, Philip informs her about Xander’s suspicions, and she is furious, fearing Alex will soon uncover the truth. Despite her frustration, she allows Xander to continue pressuring Philip and Stephanie. Xander later visits Alex, with Sarah accompanying him. Meanwhile, Philip visits his mother, who warns him to be cautious since EJ has now threatened her children. Philip then tells her about Xander’s accusations regarding Stephanie. Concerned, she urges him to clear the air with Stephanie, prompting him to go find her. Alex confronts Stephanie, demanding the truth. She admits to keeping a secret, but it isn’t about an affair—she reveals that Philip’s letter from Victor was forged and that she has been hiding the truth. Alex, uncomfortable with deception due to his past experience with Theresa, struggles with whether to keep the secret. When Philip arrives, Alex berates him. Soon after, Xander and Sarah arrive, and Alex chooses to cover for them, falsely claiming they are moving past the affair. Meanwhile, Steve meets with Andrew, hoping for updates on John’s mission. Initially, it seems hopeless, but Andrew eventually provides crucial information. Paul and Marlena meet and discuss John, reflecting on their deep bond with him. Paul notes that they are approaching the tenth anniversary of his reunion with John as father and son. Their conversation is interrupted when Steve and Andrew arrive with news about John’s mission, revealing that they have lost contact with him. A rescue plan is formed, but Marlena is convinced to stay behind. As the mission unfolds, a shocking revelation emerges—Orpheus is behind it all.

This week’s Performer of the Week should come at no surprise. Hands down, we are giving it to Noah Wyle also known as Dr. Michael Robinavitch also known as Dr. Robby on Max’s The Pitt . Since this series started streaming, we have been showing them so much love with Performer of the Week, but it has been well earned. The cast (and crew) are doing a phenomenal job over there. This week’s episode "7:00 P.M."    was emotionally draining. We mentioned in our recap of the episode that the scene where Robby tells Jake that she died was so heartbreaking. The tension between Robby and Langdon is so full and it is going to be explosive when it comes to a head. But what really sealed the deal was that emotional breakdown that Robby had at the end of the episode. Everything over the entire season, which was one shift for the characters, just collapsed over him and he felt the weight of all the patients he had lost so far and the loss of his mentor during the COVID-19 pandemic. I do not think it is talked about enough what healthcare workers went through during that time as well. Bless them, truly. Noah Wyle is one of the most underrated actors out there. He just makes you feel what his character is going through and you get goosebumps as a viewer and fan of his work. I shed a little tear when he started spouting off all the patients he lost to Jake and Jake was just there confused and hurt. Such a raw and brutal scene. Some of the patients I forgot about until he mentioned him because this show moves very fast with the patients. The show has already been renewed for a second season, and I do not know how they will top themselves but I am sure Noah and the cast will continue to impress. Enjoy Performer of the Week Mr. Wyle!

A Different World  is a staple in black culture. In an era of remakes and reboots, many wanted a continuation of the series and Netflix has granted our wish. Variety reports that Netflix has ordered a sequel pilot to the beloved series. This means that the story should continue with the same characters while adding some new ones to give it a fresh 2025-2026 update. Think of Netflix’s Fuller House  but hopefully a million times better (no shade). Fans will recall the original A Different World  was a spin-off of The Cosby Show and followed Cosby daughter Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet) through her freshman year of college at Historical Black University (HBCU) Hillman College. Through her character, audiences were introduced to the supercouple Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison) and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy). The series also starred Cree Summer (animated voice legend and icon), Darryl M. Bell, Charnele Brown, Glynn Turman, Dawnn Lewis, Lou Myers, Marisa Tomei, Sinbad and Jada Pinkett Smith. The series also had a series of famous guest appearances like Tupac, Diahann Carroll, Loretta Devine, Patti LaBelle, Joe Morton and Whoopi Goldberg to name a few. The storylines touched on racism and classism as well with social topics and personal relationships. Romantic relationships like the famous scene where Dwayne stops Whitley’s wedding which is now iconic and shared weekly it seems on social media. In the later seasons there was an episode that highlighted a young woman that was being beaten by her boyfriend. It was not all drama of course, there were plenty of laughs like the beef between Patti LaBelle (Dwayne’s mother) and Diahann Carroll (Whitley’s mother). As far as this sequel series is concerned, no cast announcements have been made but the series will follow Dwayne and Whitley’s daughter as she enrolls in Hillman College.  Former executive producer Debbie Allen will be back so fans can rest assured this new series will be handled with care. What do you think? Drop a comment!

Blackmail and Medical Records. Portia feels trapped by Drew's blackmail, while Ava warns her against rash decisions involving Drew's medical records. Portia grapples with her blackmail situation, fearing consequences like prison or destroying her marriage to Curtis. Ava advises her to confide in Curtis, and arranges a Nina-Portia Team Up to bring Drew down. Brad’s blackmails Portia, leads Lucas and Liz to investigate. Nina clashes with Willow and Drew over family issues and concerns about children. Nina tries to protect her daughter, Willow, and discourages her moving in with Drew, stirring conflicts. Nina is caught snooping in Drew’s safe and claims she's protecting her daughter, but Drew believes she’s acting on personal motives. Drew lies to Willow convincing her that Michael won’t take her kids away from her. He promises to protect her.  Valentin requests Alexis to care for his daughter, but she refuses. He bids farewell to his daughter, Charlotte, before facing imprisonment in Steinmauer Maximum Security Prison, Geneva, Switzerland. Carly and Jason vehemently disagree. Jason warns Carly about her risky relationship with Jack Brennan, which leads to conflicts with Jason, who warns her of danger. He vows to kill Jack Brennan if Carly is hurt again, or dies. Jack is not afraid. Sonny's Health Scare Happens. Sonny suffers a heart-related collapse following an argument with Ava, raising concerns about his condition. Sonny tells Laura about his health and upcoming surgery. Ric is also concerned about his brother’s health. Alexis and Ric reach a truce and make peace for their daughter, Molly. Ava is still broke and goes around town begging for money from friends. Valentin caused her financial problems. Ava confronts Sonny for financial support but also manipulates his health issues during an argument. Brook Lynn and Lulu's tensions arise from Lulu's discoveries about Dante and Brook Lynn's past relationship. Brook Lynn’s secret affects Chase as he threatens to arrest Lulu if she doesn’t keep his wife’s secret. Dante remains clueless about having another child. Quartermaine Crypt Dispute continues: Drew battles the Quartermaine family over demolishing their family crypt, causing friction with Curtis and Tracy.  Gio and Emma have a solution that would appease both Tracy and Drew. They pitch their idea to both Ned and Brook Lynn but it is not accepted. Stella arranges a coalition between Tracy and Curtis to oppose Drew over tea. Tracy and Stella's Friendship is Awesome! They are very much alike after all. Both will do anything to protect their Families. Political Intrigue when Laura and Jordan face off against Councilman Boyle over the city's esplanade project. Laura’s efficiency excellence shows as she exhibits her skilled knowledge of the environmental impact that has a snail slowing project progress. Laura skillfully and dominantly combats Boyle with documented facts and leaves him babbling unintelligibly. Jordan makes things perfectly clear to Boyle that smearing Laura’s integrity is never an option. Boyle pivots and suggests a possible mayoral run for Jordan. Jordan and Isaiah start secretly dating. Brick stops by to see Jordan and sees they are a couple. Jordan asks him to keep it quiet. Brick tells Isaiah he knows about his family and they’re not good. He hopes Isaiah is not like them. Isaiah’s backstory hint. Kristina still fixates on Ava, and doesn't understand why no one holds her accountable for the harm she does. Kristina grows wary of Ava's actions and suspects her intentions. She sees her as a threat, and believes she has to stop Ava. This leads to her cutting the brakes on a car she thought was Ava’s. It was Ric’s. He loses brake control while driving Liz home, and they have an accident. Cody and Lulu bond by sharing past relationship experiences and challenges. Joss continues WSB Training and undergoes lie detector tests. She’s resilient and resists Vaughn’s taunts to get her to quit. Jack Brennan visits with news on her Mom. Lucas seeks Liz's help about Brad's blackmailing at the hospital. They uncover that Portia might be in trouble and blackmailed by Brad, leading them to investigate further. Molly and Kristina start to repair their sisterly relationship. Family Crypt Controversy: Drew and Ezra Boyle discuss demolishing the Quartermaine Family crypt, causing heated interactions with Tracy and Curtis. The crypt controversy heats up as Boyle takes a demolition crew and the Sheriff to serve the Quartermaines with a demolition order. Emma chains herself to the crypt door preventing the demolition. Tracy sits and chains herself to Emma. Emma gets Gio to call her Grandmother, Anna. Anna arrives, reads the order and directs the Sheriff to cut the chains and start the demolition. Trina streams everything. Sonny and Jason find the Hitman in Ontario. Sonny demands Solesky give him the name of the person who paid him to kill him. Solesky says he can't or he will be killed. Sonny says he could give him a chance to disappear. Kai’s Decision. Drew offers Kai hope of accomplishing his NFL Dream. He tells him he has information on a new doctor and surgery that could fix his vertebrae injury. Drew has the resources to pay for the surgery, and wants nothing in exchange except to help Kai with his future. Stella's Health Awareness: Stella and Lucas emphasizes the importance of early detection for kidney disease during a conversation with Tracy, highlighting proactive health measures. Lucas applauds Stella’s proactive health care actions, and has also been tested being diabetic.  This week General Hospital depicts intertwining dramas, including family betrayals, blackmail, health crises, and political disputes.

I was quite surprised by my own pick for Performer of the Week and this actress, this week, showed so much emotion, sadness, guilt, shame and griping pain that it had to go to none other than Katherine Kelly Lang. Ms. Lang is one of the original cast members of Bold and the Beautiful and the show is celebrating their 38th year anniversary in daytime television. Katherine has been overlooked in her Emmy category, but her work could not be overlooked this time. This week, her character Brooke was in a heated confrontation with her daughter, Hope. Brooke was absolutely stunned at the things that Hope was saying until she could no longer keep it inside and she had to speak up for herself. She realized that Hope needed to take accountability and see the error in her ways which she was not willing to do and how Katherine played the scene was amazing. You felt every emotion. It was an astonishing performance as you were roped into the confrontation and the raw passion that she displayed as she yelled at her daughter to get out. I can only hope that Miss Lang gets her recognition because that had to be one of the greatest performances I have seen from her. I literally stopped in my tracks to watch the scene and the words that she had for her daughter gave me goosebumps. I have to give it up to Miss Lang for the hard work that she did; it was riveting television and her acting was extremely top notch here. Congratulations to Katherine Kelly Lang for being the Performer of the Week here at Soap Wire.

Now streaming on Amazon Prime, I had the chance to check out Mimi Cave’s second feature, Holland, starring Nicole Kidman. I have thoughts, so let's jump right in. Cave’s follow-up to Fresh showcases more of her distinct style, and visually, Holland makes it mark. The cinematography is impressive, with some beautifully composed shots that gives the aesthetic a fresh look. The production design does a great job of immersing the viewer, and I especially appreciated that the film was shot in the real-life Holland, Michigan. When a production shoots in the actual location that the project is based on, the authenticity is raised to a new level. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite buy into the mystery that drove the narrative. It didn’t feel at all thrilling or suspenseful, and as a viewer, I struggled to connect with any of the characters. They didn’t have much to set them apart, making it difficult to focus in on their journey. Which comes as a surprise because the opposite can be said of Fresh, which was able to keep you engaged with its intriguing characters, no matter your feelings toward them. You can tell the screenplay is written by someone still finding their footing. While the cast, which includes Nicole Kidman, Matthew McFayden, Jude Hill, and Gael García Bernal, sound like the film will be a hit on paper, the writing for their characters prevents them from truly bringing them to life. They perform fine with the material they’re given, but if their roles had more substance, I think they could have delivered mor believable performances. It’s disappointing that a film with such a talented crew and cast is ultimately let down by weak writing. A couple of rewrites could have gone a long way in improving the story. Additionally, the editing feels choppy and at times clunky, making the narrative difficult to follow and, frankly, a bit boring. In the end, Holland is visually appealing, but as a whole, it’s another forgettable straight-to-streaming thriller that lacks depth and fails to deliver a compelling story. It squanders the talents of its cast and crew. I give it a 3 out of 5 stars and a 6 out of 10. Thanks for reading! Be sure to check out Holland and form your own opinion. I’ll see you in the next one.

I’m tired of The Pitt, I am just so tired. I cannot keep up with this. These last two episodes have just been emotionally draining. I cannot imagine what it was like for the actors to film this. The one continuous shot for this episode continued to work well. Jake (Robby’s kind of stepson) came in from the mass shooting with a leg wound but his girlfriend did not make it unfortunately. It brings back all kinds of memories for Robby when his mentor died during COVID-19. The scene where Robby tells Jake that she died was so heartbreaking. Equally heartbreaking was seeing Jake going in to see her. Even though we barely saw these two, their impact was enough to be emotionally invested (mostly through their connection to Robby). Jake went a little too hard on Robby for my liking. Now Jake you know Robby and everyone at the hospital did their best. The tension between Robby and Langdon is so full and it is going to be explosive when it comes to a head. Which bring me to Santos. Santos, Santos, Santos! She is really testing my patience. She wants to be a rock star so bad, and she has not even graduated medical school. Can someone please reign this little girl in? I am not sure I would even want her as my doctor. She is just too cocky for me. Langdon was the only one that would call her out and she got him sort of fired (for good reason). I almost wanted the patient to not make it because now Santos will be even more insufferable. Dr. McKay destroying her ankle monitor probably won't end well for her and how is she going to get her son out the hospital? The young man that threatened the girls at his school finally showed up but I am not convinced he is the shooter. Whittaker has stepped up and has not lost a patient yet. I like that we are getting to see more of the night shift as well. I also appreciate the show highlighting the social workers and their job duties when there is an active shooter. I have a sneaky suspicion that the woman that Melissa is following around may be the shooter. Let us hope Heather comes back next week. Robby having that breakdown over all the patients he lost this shift was a gut punch and puts Noah in the running for performer of the week this week. I really hope they give us a break next week. Two episodes to go before the season finale. What did you think? Drop a comment and vote in our poll.