State of Genoa City 9/23-9/27/13

Main Events

-With the help of Paul, Nikki finds out that her son died when he was seven.

-Avery and Sharon had it out over Nick. 

-Faith continued to hate Avery.

-Nick and Victor talked about his relationship problems.

-Dylan had an unsuccessful meeting with the therapist and attempted to deal with what happened in Afghanistan and recently. 

-Avery let Chelsea have it over her deception with Dylan.

-Adam and Chelsea found out the Connor was going to go blind and it wasn't Adam's fault.

-Summer pondered leaving town.

-Summer let Avery have it over leaving Nick at the alter.

-Abby and Traci had rat problems.

-Tyler got into a situation with Traci.

-Noah decided to work for Victor.

-Victor leaves Newman and ruins for Jack and Adam to pick up.

-Victor revealed that Katherine left Chancellor to him.

-Billy got Delia a dog, making Kevin jealous.

-Neil refused to allow Cane and Lily to press charges against Hillary/Ann.

-Neil apologized to Hillary and explained how her mother died.

-Hillary had an interview with a journalist that wrote a story putting Neil in a bad light.

-Fen seemed to be getting better.

-Michael and Lauren are upset that Carmine escaped from prison.

Paul/Nikki

We started off this week with Nikki's continued quest to find her son. It started off with them having to share a room at a hotel. I think it's more of a motel because it was considered crappy. I thought it was alright. For someone like Nikki who has been rich for pretty much all of her adult life in one form or another it would be considered a crappy room. I liked the interaction between the two of them. I like that they can be friends after all of these years. I feel that there is the hint of a romance between them. Christine is barely there which is nothing knew. That's been her thing since the 90s. Who remembers that thing with his mother Mary where she wanted a grandchild. 

You know it's a bad motel when you have plaid curtains.

This week we got the sad news that her child died at age seven when he drowned in a creek. It seemed legit but then this is a soap opera. I remember hearing something similar back in 2005-2006 when Alexis was looking for her long lost daughter. She was told that she was hit by a car when she was three. Then it was revealed that Sam was that kid. So of course this means that her son is alive and living in Genoa City. 

Nikki is devastated.

At first I thought about Kevin. It would be cool to have him actually be Nikki's son. I think he would lose something too. Being Michael's brother is a core part of Kevin. I would love to see Victor have to deal with Kevin as his step son. haha I think that the show is going for either Dylan or Stitch. For me it's Dylan if just for last scene of the week where he goes to the park to drink and Nick does the same. Both Dylan and Nick looked a lot alike and were drinking. They say that there are some genetic factors involved in alcoholism. So I'm betting on Dylan with Stitch as a red herring.

Dylan and Nick do the same exact thing at the same time.

Avery/Dylan/Chelsea/Adam

Avery had a busy week. She was in three arguments, two in which she had to defend herself in some way. This was the one where she had no guilt coming into it. She let Chelsea have it for her deception. As someone who doesn't have much sympathy for Chelsea right now I was happy to see that. Avery was right for what she said. It was truly unfair for her to use Dylan like that. He was pretty much used and abused because he was the opposite of Adam. 

Avery lets Chelsea have it!

Chelsea's reasons were generally based on speculation. She THOUGHT that Adam would go after the child if he found out he was the father back in March. She THOUGHT that because the first word he said when he came out of the coma was Sharon that he loved her more. It ended up that because she kept the secret for months and snowed another man into raising the child that he did just that. It didn't have to be like that. It was due to her own deception that this happened. So portraying Adam as the villain is laughable. She pretty much did the worse thing she could do and justified it by believing the worse in Adam. It didn't have to be like this Chelsea! You reap what you sow!

Chelsea attempts to explain herself.

Avery/Nick/Sharon

Avery's second fight was with the mentally ill Sharon. As we all know Sharon hasn't been going to her therapist or taking her medication for months. She has been seeing a vision of her late daughter that died eight years ago. This vision has been egging on Sharon to get back with Nick. It seems that Sharon's plan to switch the paternity test and make everyone believe that Jack is the father is working. Avery left Nick at the alter last week and they decided to do the mature thing and end their relationship. 

Sharon gets her temporary win.

It's not working the way Sharon wants. Even though she got to tell Avery where to go Nick didn't want a relationship with her and told her to politely back off. I actually liked Nick this week which is rare. I generally don't like the character. He's too self righteous and judgemental for me. He's also a spoiled brat that falls in love with a woman after a couple of dates. He goes from woman to woman without much thought. Generally this isn't spoken about but this week he had a good conversation with his father where he spoke about not only this relationship but his general relationship problems. I love when soap characters do this. I know it might be entertaining to have a character make the same mistakes over and over but I like growth in my characters. That is especially true when they have been on this show for twenty years. I think that Joshua Morrow qualifies as a vet now! 

Avery and a creepy Sharon.

Nick tries to explain what the word boundary means to Sharon.

Faith is a character I can do without. I know that her actions are due to several factors, some out of her control but I don't think her being a child makes her competely innocent of her actions. One of Nick's redeeming qualities is that he's mostly a great father. I don't count Summer in that because of her past actions. I think he did good with Noah and is trying with Faith. I can only assume the damage that being taken from your mother at 6-8 months old can do. That was discussed back when the baby switch from 2009 with Ashley and Sharon was revealed in 2010. She would have attachment issues. Then there is Sharon and her repeated absences since then. No wonder the kid has issues. Nick has been trying to help the kid.

Avery deserves some prize for being subjected to this "child".

I know that I should feel sorry for her because of that. I know that Sharon is a horrible mother too using Faith in order to ruin Avery and Nick's relationship. I don't because she's still acting like a demon child after the break up. You would think that the kid would see that Avery is no longer a threat and not hate her. You would think that but you are wrong. Maybe she thinks that if Avery is around it means that Nick could get back together with her. Either way I am not happy with this storyline. I know I should feel sorry for the kid but I just can't. Why write a storyline like that? Why is it entertaining to hate a child? Why would I watch a show for that?

Summer

I have such a horrible and traumatic life.

I made a specific topic for Summer because of my dislike of her. There are several reasons why I don't like the character that are worth discussing. I don't find Hunter King to be a bad actor. Some might say that my general annoyance and hatred for the character should give her a few points. She just isn't making her likable. The writing is one thing but there are no hints of vulnerability there. Michael Muhney has shown how a very unlikable and despicable character can be a fan favorite and even liked over the supposed heroes. So I feel that Hunter King hasn't done what I wish she could do. She's a young actress and she has potential. 

I feel bad for her in a way and that's do to the writing. American soaps have this common theme of thinking that we all want to see pretty faces and shirtless men. That's not true! I want to see acting and organic character driven storylines. This theme means more airtime for young actors that are still trying to learn the ropes. Just imagine that a bridge has to be built. Would you hire an engineer that has twenty years of experience or an engineering student who still has two years until he graduates from college? That's what's going on here in a way. They are creating storylines that center around young and inexperienced actors. They might be under 25 and good looking but there is no way they can carry major storylines. 

The paternity thing has failed partly because of that. I also feel that it has failed because the character is generally horrible in many different ways. There is the vandalizing of Ronan's car for starters. Her reasoning was that Phyllis had "destroyed" her family by sleeping with Ronan. That's laughable being that Nick and Phyllis have been on and off for years. Sure she didn't know about her conception and how Nick and Phyllis were married to other people but come on! Are you telling me that she wouldn't know that? I am only assume what a simple Google search would do for either of them. We are supposed to believe that Victor Newman is the Warren Buffet of Genoa City and really the world. So how are we to believe that no one would have stories written about Victor's family? 

Then there is the bullying. As someone who was bullied in school I can tell you that it's not alright. I still suffer the consequences to this day. So I find it hard to forgive her for what she did especially since she wasn't even punished for it and no one even knows. There was no public shaming though it would have happened if Fen's attack on Jaime had gone to trial. Instead she had gotten away with it. Jaime was pretty much bullied out of town and Summer has moved on as if nothing had happened. I don't believe the underlining theme that she is paying for her bullying with the paternity situation. 

That comes to another reason I do not like this character. This is being treated as if it's a horrible life altering trauma. I just don't see it that way. Having a bigger family? Having more people to love you? Where do I sign up? I know that they are trying to play this out as Summer is a toy or a catalyst for Victor versus Jack part 23489530948 but I just don't see it that way. It's as simple as Summer having another father to love her and telling those that have a problem with it to pound salt. That would pretty much be Victor. I think that Jack wouldn't like it if Victor was in Summer's life but wouldn't stop her. Jack is so awesome and to think that somehow it's horrible to have a kind and understanding man like him as your father is laughable. 

She didn't have a horrible upbringing where she was abused mentally, physically or sexually. She did not have a Terrible Tom in her life. She was giving every advantage and opportunity. So this story falls flat for me. She doesn't really deserve Jack at her father. Well it's good that he isn't her biologically father. It would have been more believable if it ended up that Phyllis had twins (Yes I know!) that night and gave birth to another child that night without Phyllis knowing. That child would grow up poor and abused. Therefore this kid would understand how lucky they are to have someone like Jack in their life and not take it for granted like Summer seems to do. 

Jack/Adam/Victor

Adam was also involved in a business storyline this week. That was the news that Katherine had given Chancellor to Victor. He took most of his suppliers and assorted contacts with him to Chancellor. So in Victor's mind Newman Enterprises is not Newman Enterprises anymore. It's now a part of Chancellor. Adam and Jack are left with a weakened company. I liked this twist especially since Victor doesn't have this huge victory that he thinks he has. I guess he is assuming that he was have Newman back when Jack and Adam decide to sell the weakened company for pennies. I don't think that is going to happen. At least not for a while. I hope that Adam can turn the company around and make it his own legacy apart from Victor. I know that he has a long road ahead of him for that to happen. At least he is thinking positively!

I would be scared if I was Noah right now.

Hilary/Neil/Lily/Cane

This week was a complete bust! After the awesomeness that was last week with Cane getting evidence that proves who Hilary is, Neil's guilt ended any celebration against this horrible character. This is another one of those characters that doesn't have any redeeming values. I did miss the beginning of August so maybe she had some vulnerability. Nope she wins because Neil thinks he can kill her with kindness. I think what makes this character so grating is that she is acting as if her mother was some saint. She wasn't and to blame Neil for her death doesn't work with me. I want this character gone. I know that it gives Kristoff St. John a story but there has to be something better than this! 

Hilary being horrible.

Michael/Lauren/Carmine/Fen

Carmine or Sheila Carter's obviously long lost son made an appearance. I know I'm supposed to hate him but I don't. This story is just too sensationalist and suffered from the same issue as the Hilary crap. It gives Christian LeBlanc and Tracey E. Bregman a storylines. Someone all storylines with Lauren have to be about her being attacked by some psychopath. Usually it has to do with Sheila in some way. So maybe that's what they are going for. Either way I think that Carmine could have been worth keeping and not ruining. 

Carmine is reading the Sheila Carter Times.

I just have to show this next pic. It's from a search I did to make sure I spelled Tracey's name right. I think it's worth a couple of laughs!

Sharon's a grandama!

Fen has been a constant annoyance since the bullying storyline. I will say that I'm at least glad to see that he did have some payback for what he did. Not only with Jaime saying that Fen pushed him off the roof but also with him being bullied. Doesn't feel so good does it? He's actually becoming likable. I can watch a scene and not want to vomit. It's good to see that Fen has been shown the error of his ways. It will be good to have him back full time possibly with a likable love interest. Lets hope that he can been one of those fan favorites that we enjoy in the next year. 

A likable Fen in 2013? Who knew!

Abby/Tyler/Traci

This was a minor but funny storyline this week. I loved it because we get to see the always awesome and gorgeous Beth Maitland have her own scenes and doing something fun. We got the phone call where she argued with her husband. We also got the humor of the rats at Abby and Traci's place. How they explained it was pretty funny. I love these humor scenes and wished that American soaps had more of them. 

Traci and Abby hope their not being followed!

Then we got Tyler coming in and finding a woman being massaged and thinking it was Abby but it was Traci. I found that funny and awesome at the same time. Traci never got her massage in the end which I'm not happy about! She deserves one!

I bet Traci liked that massage!

The last thing I will say about this is the hoopla that came from Abby telling Tyler she loved him. This was spoiled and was emphasized since both don't want a serious relationship right now. It was assumed that Abby was saying this is a serious way. It wasn't played like that. Her supposed declaration of love was something that someone say when someone does something they like but isn't meant to be serious. I might love the mailman because he brought a package but it doesn't mean that I want to marry him. Tyler seems to be taking it seriously from the look on his face.

Tyler would rather have Abby say she's going to kill him.

Billy/Delia/Kevin

Delia got a dog! Dash is pretty adorable. I love dogs anyway even Chesney's dog from Coronation Street! Delia stole these scenes as she usually does. She quite adorable and awesome unlike Faith. Chloe got to play bad parent which she wasn't pleased about in the least. She had literally just told Delia that she doesn't get her own little Toto when Billy walked in with the pup. I felt bad for Kevin. He left with little fanfare in order to scowl at the station with his bromance Alex. Alex did give him some advice when Kevin was going to buy a kitten. I love that Alex hasn't been written out and that he has a friendship with Kevin. I am pretty much rooting for a Kevlex pairing. It would be great to have a gay relationship on this show. It's been a while since Rafe has been around. Lets bring him back!

Cute picture contest nominee.

I'm thinking Kevlex, Kex, Alvin or Alekev as couple names.

Because they deserve another picture.

Billy was also awesome. There was only about a 2 minute Victoria scene and she was on the phone which is a big yay for me. I'm not a big fan of Victoria. She's a worse version of Nick. Self righteous, hypocritical, spoiled and arrogant. She also has a messed up incestish thing with her father. She's quite possessive of her father. So the little I see of her the better.

At least Victoria is in another state.

Coming Up

So apparently someone is going to die which means no one is going to die. There looks to be some fights and arguments. November sweeps is coming up so the next couple of weeks might actually be interesting. Dylan and Nick look to be fighting. So it's obvious that Nick isn't over Avery no matter what Sharon wants. Victor is mad at Chelsea. Hilary now is stopping the destroying of Neil's family and actually wants him dead. An eye for an eye I guess. I still don't care about him. It looks like an interesting week coming up but not anything that is awesome times a billion. We know that no one is going to die, that Dylan and Nick might punch each other once, Victor and Chelsea will trade barbs and Hilary needs to just go away. I think that the only interesting thing here is the Victor and Chelsea exchange since Chelsea and Victor haven't been in each other's orbits for awhile. I will certainly watch that. 

This is going to be a great showdown!