Daytime Couples, Storylines and More

Credit: Howard Wise/JPI (2); ABC Screenshot

Best Wedding
The nuptials of General Hospital‘s Chase and Brook Lynn felt like an old-school soap wedding, complete with romance, drama and a sense of an entire community coming together to celebrate a joyous occasion.
Most Conflicted Heroine
Does Bold & Beautiful‘s Hope love Thomas? Yes! Is she fantasizing about Finn? Definitely. Could she still have lingering feelings for Liam? At this point, who knows! We’re not sure what the heck’s going on with Brooke’s daughter, but we’re loving the drama her romantic confusion is stirring up!
Best Punishment
As far as we’re concerned, Days of Our Lives‘ Xander gave Konstantin exactly what he deserved. Nobody plays our beloved Maggie for a fool and walks away with a pulse!
Longest Unnecessary Guilt Trip
We’re all for revisiting history… but for ages now, Young & Restless has gotten its own wrong where Cassie’s death is concerned. Newer fans could be forgiven for thinking Daniel was driving drunk the night of the accident which killed Nick and Sharon’s daughter. But in reality, he was so blotto, he was passed out when the besotted girl slid behind the wheel to (try to) take her crush home.
Worst Case of Dumbing Down
General Hospital’s Ava is many things, but stupid ain’t one of ’em. So it made zero sense that she’d work to drive a wedge between BFF Nina and Sonny, withhold from the don the information that his bipolar meds had been messed with (especially after what happened to Morgan) and leak Natalia’s homophobic rant (as if Blaze’s mother wouldn’t recall to whom she’d been speaking). This is not the Ava we have adored all these years!
Most Pointless Return
Like Bold & Beautiful‘s Liam, we were thrilled when Ivy swept into town like a breath of fresh air and planted a kiss on her ex. Sadly, we were left wondering what the point was, given that she just as quickly exited!
Best Reveal
While we’re still not 100 percent convinced that Days of Our Lives‘ Li is a goner, revealing that the person who supposedly did him in was guy-crazy Connie was a killer twist… pun intended.
Biggest Brat
Seriously, what is Kyle’s damage? The Young & Restless hunk is so self-righteous in his every acton that he’s become downright untolerable. That said, major props to Michael Mealor, who plays every beat with absolute conviction.
Most Inexplicable Absence
Given everything Taylor’s children are going through, shouldn’t Bold & Beautiful‘s resident shrink be at least mentioned on occasion? If the show is having trouble recasting, we have a few actresses in mind who might be great in the role. (Check ’em out here.)
Least Relatable Story
Fun fact: We don’t give two hoots who runs Chancellor-Winters, nor do we care who’s been named CEO of [insert any Genoa City business here]. While Young & Restless once told the best business-centric stories this side of Succession, that was many moons ago. Now, the endless business talk is about as captivating as a live reading of the yellow pages.
Worst Mystery
What’s the point of creating a whodunit if you’re never going to answer the question? Yet that’s exactly what General Hospital did by doing away with Todd Franco Austin and never bothering to tell us who killed him or why!
Best Self-Deprecation
The whole “radioactive Paulina” story was so ludicrous that when Days of Our Lives headwriter Ron Carlivati and his crew returned after the writers’ strike, they crafted scenes of the mayor checking out memes mocking her plight.
Least Sensible Story
As longtime fans of tales involving multiple personalities, we were excited to see where Young & Restless would go with Ashley’s alters. Unfortunately, where it went was to hell in a handbasket before exiling Ashley to an off-camera treatment center! That said, the story did lead to one of our favorite recent developments…
Most Overdue Romance
If there’s one good thing that came out of the Ashley debacle, it’s seeing Young & Restless‘ Traci get a little lovin’ from her sister’s former shrink, Alan.
Best Gender-Bending Twist
For weeks, When Calls the Heart characters fretted about dangerous bad guy Casmir Shaw… who turned out to be working for bad girl Jeanette Aucoin!
Best Slow Burn
We fell in love with General Hospital‘s Sasha and Cody long before they began to realize just how good they might be together.
Best Rationalization
At this point, Bold & Beautiful viewers just assume that every wedding will happen in Eric’s living room. So kudos to the writers for saying that Paris and Thomas’ plans to do so were in keeping with tradition. (That sounds a lot better than, “Hey, it’s cheaper than going on location or building a church set!”)
Best Newbie
As of right now, Aaron’s basically a supporting player in Days of Our Lives‘s Tate/Holly story. But here’s hoping the goofy, charming teen — and portrayer Louis Tomeo — make their way into major story, because they light up the screen whenever they appear.
Biggest Waste
It’s a testament to just how badly the return of Young & Restless‘ Tucker was handled that when Trevor St. John exited, we were less sorry to see him lose a role than hopeful that his next one would be better written. The actor, the character and we deserved better.
Most Confusing Soap
Valentin is a bad guy (again)? Drew is making out with Willow and sexing up her mom? Kristina somehow forgot that her dad’s not a humble coffee importer? While General Hospital has a top-notch cast that delivers on a daily basis, we can only assume it’s the backstage shake-ups which have made it darn near impossible to keep track of why anyone’s doing anything in Port Charles.
Lamest Breakup
In what universe is it good soap opera to have Bold & Beautiful‘s Katie and Carter friend-zone one another off camera? Then again, that’s where most of their relationship played out.
Most Missed
While Days of Our Lives has gotten great milesage out of the truth about Jude’s paternity, we hate that Jessica Serfaty’s Sloan wasn’t around to crank the drama up to an even higher level.
Best New Attitude
Sure, Bold & Beautiful‘s Paris has about as much chance of holding on to Thomas as we have of losing 45 pounds on our new French fry diet. But we’re totally into this new, feistier-than-ever version of Diamond White’s characrer and can’t wait to see how she reacts if — fine, when — Thomas breaks her heart.
Least Worthy
Sorry, but we just don’t get how soap-hopping killer Sheila suddenly became Bold & Beautiful‘s romantic leading lady. Yet here she is, part of the only stress-free couple on the show!
Best Evolution
Whether Tracy is hanging in the stables with Cody or developing a friendship with fellow straight-shooter Stella, we’ve loved watching General Hospital treat the estimable Jane Elliot like the badass legend that she is.
Best Soap
Hands down, it’s the UK import EastEnders. With a truly diverse cast, actual have-nots as well as haves, plots that fly with the repercussions of the everyday and, most importantly, a fearlessness that American soaps have altogether lost about addressing real-life social issues, it is the definition of compulsory viewing.
Best Cliffhanger
Even the most devoted “hearties” were stunned by When Calls the Heart‘s season finale, which left them wondering if Elizabeth’s “late” husband, Jack, might actually be alive!
Biggest Bummer
We’re still not over ABC cancelling Station 19, especially given that it’s shortened final season was far superior to the one put forth by the show from which it sprang, Grey’s Anatomy. Heck, we’re still holding out hope that someone — Netflix, maybe? — will breathe new life into the supposedly-dead series.
Worst Soap
It pains us to say it, because heaven knows we love Young & Restless. But its aversion to playing out drama on screen is beyond frustrating. The cast is brilliant; the characters, fascinating. For Pete’s sake, give them something to do besides change jobs and throw themselves at partners about whom they (and we!) are at best mildly interested. (Oh, and don’t look too pleased with yourself, Bold & Beautiful; you only barely dodged this bullet!
Best News
Was any soap fan not left jumping for joy when CBS announced that it was developing what will be the first daytime drama to premiere since Passions! As if that wasn’t amazing enough, The Gates will be the genre’s first Black-centric serial since Generations! (Review our dream cast here.)
Most Disturbing Backstage Upset
After sounding the alarm about sexual harassment at Days of Our Lives, Arianne Zucker found herself out as Nicole. But the actress, an MVP since her debut in 1998, didn’t take her exit lying down. She filed a lawsuit that hopefully will help bring about lasting change.
Biggest Mystery
If Bold & Beautiful hadn’t made an appointment for Xander with Forrester-adjacent Dr. Finn, would Emma’s ex-boyfriend never have made such a fuss about Thomas’ involvement in her years-ago death? And why, once he left the canvas, did Emma’s death go back to being a non-issue?
The Krista Allen’s Taylor Wig Memorial Award
Somebody at CBS must not have minded the wrong kind of attention that Bold & Beautiful got for its hair-raising introduction of Hunter Tylo’s recast, ’cause what did it do with the legendary Colleen Zenk on Young & Restless? It slapped one Party City costume after another on her! We thought that it couldn’t get any sillier until we were forced to hand out…
The ‘OK, We Admit It, We Were Wrong’ Award
We don’t even know what to say about Young & Restless’ Jordan in male drag. So we’ll let this photo say it for us.
Worst Date Spot
Despite being a gazillionaire, Bold & Beautiful‘s Bill repeatedly took Poppy to Il Giardino. And while we’re sure the pizza is top-notch, the waitress happens to be both a woman he slept with as part of an ill-conceived sting and responsible for the near deaths of Poppy’s sister and nephew!
Least Inventive Wardrobe
Quick! Which one of these photos is of Steve Burton playing Days of Our Lives‘ Harris… and which is the actor as General Hospital‘s Jason? Burton played both characters simultaneously, and honestly, who could tell?
Least Surprising Surprise
When Station 19‘s Season 6 finale introduced Nanette, the waitress who intended to give up her baby for adoption, did anyone not expect Maya and Carina to become his moms? We’re not mad at the twist, mind you. But it was pretty obvious that the stork was gonna have to redeliver the kid to the marrieds’ house.
Best Fireworks (Non-Fourth of July Edition)
The explosions that General Hospital began setting off one right after the other in the wake of Nina’s S-E-C-R-E-T coming out were so blindingly bright, the show should’ve warned its viewers to put on sunglasses.
Most Addictive Drama
Holly’s overdose on Days of Our Lives reminded us of just how gripping the Peacock soap can be when it isn’t playing musical roles with its cast and breaking up couples too quickly for us to even get attached to them.
Weirdest Episode
Gotta give Young & Restless points for creativity. The whackadoo dream that convinced Sharon to cut Chance loose was Twilight Zone-level bizarre.
Ickiest Twist
We were already upset about Bold & Beautiful turning Zende into such a jerk that he’d mack on cousin R.J.’s disinterested girlfriend, Luna. But then the show went so far as to have him sleep with her when she was so high, she hallucinated that he was R.J., never stopping to question why she might suddenly be crawling into his bed!
Best-Kept Secret
General Hospital managed to keep Steve Burton’s return as Jason under wraps until the moment his comeback was revealed during the final seconds of the soap’s 60th anniversary special.
Worst Reunion
Young & Restless finally gave exes Nick and Phyllis a scene together during February sweeps — only to reveal that we’d missed all of the drama which supposedly took place between them after he found out she’d faked her death. Folks, it doesn’t count as him not speaking to her if we don’t know that he isn’t!
Scariest Scenes
Bold & Beautiful gave us chills aplenty as it ended February sweeps with Sheila Sugar stalking Steffy, only to find herself on the wrong end of her intended victim’s kitchen knife.
Saddest Real-Life Story
To explain leading man Adan Canto’s absence at the beginning of The Cleaning Lady‘s third season, the show had his alter ego, Arman, go missing. When Canto sadly lost his battle with cancer, it became downright difficult to watch the storyline continue to unfold on screen.
Worst Listeners
Days of Our Lives‘ Nicole and E.J. spent several days having essentially this conversation with Holly…
HOLLY: Tate didn’t give me the drugs!
E.J.: But he could have, so we’re going to destroy his life.
HOLLY: But he didn’t!
NICOLE: Maybe he did? Let’s go after him without any actual evidence, just in case!
HOLLY: But…
NICOLE: Shh, shh… You’re too weak to talk!
Worst Businessman
General Hospital’s Drew retaliated against Nina, the editor who’d made Crimson a hit in an age when magazines are dying faster than soap characters are coming back from the dead, by replacing her with then-girlfriend Carly, who has a total of zero experience in the field. D’oh!
Worse-Than-Worst Businessman
Yep, that would be Drew again. Upon deciding that Jason coming back to life was the death of his relationship with Carly, the General Hospital power player dumped her and fired her, thus opening himself up to the mother of all retaliation lawsuits. Not that she — or the show — went there.
The ‘Oh No They Did Not’ Award
Days of Our Lives‘ Tom and Alice had to have been rolling over in their graves when the powers that be burned down the iconic Horton home. At least the Christmas ornaments (and Alice’s beloved chair) made it out unscathed.
Dirtiest Dog
Maybe we were too invested in Young & Restless’ Daniel and Lily to give a hoot about him and Heather. Or, just throwing it out there, maybe the show bungled any chance of having us root for Lucy’s parents to reunite by having Daniel cheat on his girlfriend and trash a relationship that we apparently liked more than he did.
The ‘Party On, Dude!’ Award
Now that Bold & Beautiful let Eric get that whole “my last collection” thing outta the way, his role is apparently that of social director. Dying? Throw a shindig. Living? Throw another one. Tuesday? You know the drill.
Least Effective Slay
That General Hospital might be done with Olivia Jerome, we get. When that one flew over the cuckoo’s nest, she didn’t come back. But that the show would kill the bat-guano-crazy character off screen was… Well, c’mon. Truly insane.
The Keeping-It-Real Award
Days of Our Lives turned Paulina’s cancer into an altogether resonant, relatable and important storyline. Just kidding. The show made a mockery of it by having the patient be cured instantaneously by an angel and Abe’s love.
Worst Tease
Excitement was high for This Is Us’ Susan Kelechi Watson to join Will Trent as a potential love interest. But her alter ego, Cricket, literally blew up in the first episode of the season. Sure, this gave Will lots of angst, but it was disappointing for her fans!
Most Senseless Storyline
Once Young & Restless abandoned Phyllis’ feuds with Sally and Diane, it picked old enemy Christine’s name out of a hat and made aggravating her the redhead’s top priority. If that meant chasing after Danny like a groupie who hadn’t been over the singer for decades, so be it.
The Noah Newman Man Pain Memorial Award
We already knew that Bold & Beautiful doc Finn was barely smart enough to play a game of Operation. But his angst over Sheila’s supposed demise — after she shot him and Steffy, and drove mom Li to her “death” — takes his idiocy to staggering new heights.
Best Thing to Happen to Fall Since Pumpkin Spice
In March, Netflix revealed that Season 3 of Heartstopper — aka the loveliest, sweetest, most romantic dramedy on television — would premiere in October. (Our daytime soaps could learn a thing or two from this show!)
Best Workaround
Rather than increase its makeup budget to cover up the massive tattoo that Steve Burton got after being let go, General Hospital just wrote the ink into Jason’s comeback.
Best Intentions
Young & Restless episodes dealing with Connor’s OCD diagnosis were written with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball. But we still give the show credit for taking a shot at the kind of social-issues story that the late Bill Bell always managed to incorporate.
Best Dream Sequence
When Young & Restless‘ Claire imagined what life in Genoa City would have been like had she grown up a Newman, it was a good time for all. Cassie was alive, Nick and Sharon had never parted, and Adam… well, OK, he’d become a waiter at the GCAC, so he might not have been as into it as we were!
Best Recast
Natasha Hall did such a good job of stepping in when Days of Our Lives needed someone to temporarily play Jessica Serfaty’s Sloan that we found ourselves hoping she might land a part on another show.
Best Rebranding
General Hospital found a lovely way to keep the memory of both Jacklyn Zeman and her much-loved alter ego alive when Carly decided to rename Kelly’s Bobbie’s.
Most Misunderstood
Many fans wrongly assumed that Young & Restless‘ Seth was working with Nikki’s tormentor, Jordan. Instead, he wound up being the baddie’s victim when she pushed him in front of a car!
Worst Security
When General Hospital‘s Michael handed his phone over to Danny, he revealed that the code needed to unlock it was 123412. ELQ might want to have a training session advising against such hackable codes!
Least Contentious Rivalry
When Young & Restless‘ Mamie first arrived in Genoa City, she was spitting fire in Jill’s general direction. Unfortunately, their feud proved about as exciting as… well, every other business-centric story on the soap.
Best Kidnapper
Not only is Days of Our Lives‘ Xander sexy, but he’s also considerate… even to his abductees! “One thing that’s been consistent through all of my kidnappings,” Paul Telfer told co-star Ashley Puzemis, “is that my victims always become my friends later… One of them even married me!” (That would be you, Nicole!)
Best Long-Delayed Resolution
Truth be told, we stopped caring about Marshall’s misdiagnosis ages ago. But new General Hospital scribes Patrick Mulcahey and Elizabeth Korte managed to tie up this dangling thread and deliver a powerful message at the same time.
Worst Rewrite
As if hoping to somehow “fix” the awful story already in progress, Bold & Beautiful‘s writers suddenly had Zende claiming to be in love with Luna, the young woman he’d “accidentally” raped.
Oddest Reaction
We applaud Bold & Beautiful‘s Hope for admitting that while she’s in love with Thomas, she didn’t necessarily want to dash down the aisle. Yet half the people around her acted as if somehow, the notion of waiting to commit was akin to using polyester on the runway!
Most Disturbing Twist
Midway through its final season, The Good Doctor brutally murdered Noah Galvin’s Dr. Asher Wolke — and just when his boyfriend was ready to propose, too!
Worst Continuity
Not only have Days of Our Lives viewers been trapped in limbo when it comes to Xander finding out he’s actually Victor’s heir, we haven’t even gotten to see Alex play the role as he’s been relegated to little more than support for Theresa and Tate… when he’s on at all!