Lack of Build-Up, Details and History Weakens a Great Story Idea
This week, was a solid and surprising week of story on B&B. Sure, the Douglas custody story fell out of the sky but has great potential for drama and heartache.
Ridge being torn between what Brooke wants for her family and what Taylor wants for hers could put a new spin on their love triangle.
Thomas wants his son back
The custody story could end up being a great umbrella story involving most of the characters. Lovers disagreeing. Family members at odds. Loyalties questioned. Battle lines drawn. DRAMA!
But doesn’t it feel like we missed a month of episodes leading up to this story? There was no build-up or mention that the Forresters even cared about where Douglas was. Now we’re just days into the story and Steffy is already declaring war against the blondes.
It’d be preferable if they slow down the plot and let us savor all the moments. Remind us of who did what to make this adoption happen and let us take sides based on that.
As I remember, Thomas and Hope both did a bit of manipulating to get what they wanted. Revisit that and let things blow up organically.
Brooke is talking sense, not Taylor
Whether you like her or not, Brooke is talking sense about this custody story. Last week I talked about there being a pod person in my “What’s wrong with Brooke and how to fix it” B&B column but this week, she’s showing concern for Douglas’s well-being and Thomas’s mental health while also backing her daughter Hope.
That’s logical to the story, character, and their mother-daughter relationship.
Taylor, the world-renowned psychiatrist, should be the referee reminding everyone that the child’s welfare is what’s important and that this kind of adjustment could be detrimental to Douglas, while also wondering if Thomas is really up for this.
I would fully be into Thomas raising his son if we had seen Thomas working on his mental health issues and taking responsibility for the terrible things he did before giving Douglas away.
Then I could root for Thomas.
Forrester family ties strengthened
Do you share my fear that this custody story might be another one of B&B’s trademark “We’re not really a family unless mommy and daddy are married” stories? We’ve been here before and the concept is beyond stale.
So far, the Forrester family argument for custody seems to be mostly about the blood relation between child and parent.
The writing is really pushing the false idea that a blood-related family is somehow more legitimate and stronger than a mixed or chosen family.
Not only is that wrong, it’s offensive to a lot of viewers who happily live in families without genetic ties– myself included.
Ridge isn’t blood-related to Eric, but everyone is rightly fine with that. Beth (formerly known as Phoebe) wasn’t blood-related to Steffy, but she still wanted to keep the baby she had bonded with.
In a genre that thrives on multiple marriages, mental health issues and paternity surprises, why is this false and outdated idea about what makes a family being presented as factual and right when it’s just wrong?
Am I alone in thinking this?
One thing I’m totally in favor of is all of the Forrester men living together in the mansion. Generations of family circling the wagons and presenting a united front has great dramatic and comedic possibilities.
It makes great soap opera storytelling sense.
Quote of the week
Hope: “What does it matter who is a Forrester and who isn’t?”
AMEN to that!
What should happen next?
Are we absolutely sure without a doubt that Thomas is really Douglas’s father?
This story could be pumped up with a paternity twist. DNA tests could reveal that Thomas is not the father, or that Ridge isn’t actually Thomas’s father or that Ridge is really a Forrester after all.
Throw us for a loop! It might take a bit of retconning, but B&B is no stranger to that.
What about Bill?
Bill Spencer could be the surprise spoiler in all of this. Douglas’s mother was Bill’s niece, so my favorite billionaire could have a valid claim on the boy.
Bill could get Justin out there collecting proof that Thomas is unfit to be a full-time father and that the Logans are raising Douglas in a less than moral environment.
Sounds like an easy job!
With the right evidence, Bill could end up with custody of his nephew and make both the Logans and the Forresters his bitter enemies. His motivation: raising the boy as a Spencer and getting his hands on Douglas’s substantial inheritance and stock holdings.
Maybe there’s a bit of familial love, but it’s mostly for the money. Let Bill be Bill!
One last thing…
It boggles my mind that in the fandom of soap operas, a genre that caters to women, there are so many fans that don’t seem to know how to treat a lady.
You know what I’m talking about because you probably see it every time you go online– fans that seem to specialize in insulting not only female characters but actresses with derogatory and mean-spirited language that I won’t repeat here.
There are plenty of words in the dictionary to use when describing how you feel about a soap opera plot or character.
But insulting women– real or fictional– should be unacceptable in our little corner of the social media landscape.
I encourage all of our readers to reconsider what you’re willing to put up with online.
Hatred and misogyny do not have be part of soap opera fandom. Let’s do better!
What do you think? Will the united Forresters stand the test?
Where will Douglas call home now?
Will Ridge ever make up his mind?
Leave a comment and feel free to read more of my opinions on B&B on SoapsSpoilers, which includes some fun alternative storytelling ideas!