The End of Summer Blues

Usually towards the end of August and into early September there seems to be a lull with the soaps. For some reason, this year it doesn’t seem that way. I don’t know what it is, and I wanted to write about this as I feel a “lull”, but the shows didn’t lull. Warning: this post will include some spoilers.

Years ago what aired on daytime television, at the end of summer, felt like it was partly based on vacations. Characters would disappear in August, and stories would stall. I don’t know if it was due to how soap operas were typically only two to four weeks ahead in taping. Ratings were counted more heavily in July than in August. Getting back to now, in some cases, I may not really like what is going on, but I appreciate that something is. Watching people sit around a pool isn’t that interesting even if the people there are attractive.

All My Children began a murder mystery story this week. David Hayward is dead, and it is unknown who did it. Kendall, Ryan and Greenlee want to free Greenlee from her marriage to David that was now continuing solely based on blackmail. David has proof that Greenlee caused a plane crash that nearly killed Erica. The murder takes place at a fancy dress party that was one of Palmer’s last wishes. Of course, this may not mean that David won’t return in the future, as this is Pine Valley.

With As the World Turns ending in less than a month, and typing that is depressing, the series is in the process of wrapping up stories. They had a wedding last week, the return of John Dixon, and the tribute to Nancy with other items still on the agenda. They can’t afford to be spinning their wheels any longer. I’m recording the last episodes though I have yet to get to them.

Granted with The Bold and The Beautiful, I haven’t seen much at all. I did appreciate that what I saw seemed to be setting up story for the future. Steffy and Ridge are feuding. Spoilers indicate that Thomas will be back, so who will he side with his sister or his father. The new character of Liam is adding to the Spencer family.

Days of Our Lives had a shooting this week. Before Sami and EJ were pronounced husband and wife Rafe arrived with horrid news. Sami found out that EJ paid Anna to look after a kidnapped Sydney and allowed her to believe that their baby was dead. Sami found EJ drunk and with a gun. Then Sami shot him in the head. The DNA on Chloe’s pregnancy test was swapped, and it is being developed as to who did it. Chloe believes Daniel is the baby’s father, but now it seems that this is a lie.

In Port Charles, we’ve had yet another shooting. Sonny was finally successful in hurting Johnny, as he shot the other man. While Johnny lays in General Hospital, Sonny made bail and skipped town. He went to Rome. Brenda is back, and finally will interact with Sonny in Europe. Patrick told Robin, he slept with Lisa, who is becoming unhinged. She took baby Emma for ice cream without permission and later ran in front of Robin’s car to get intentionally hit.

These days in Llanview, we’ve had wedding gowns and potential deaths on One Life to Live. All three couples that planned nuptials in August seem to not be getting much happiness. Tea and Todd wed, but now she’s supposedly dead. Blair found out that Eli was evil, shot him while fighting over a gun, and then accidentally started a fire. Getting information that both Florencia Lozano and Matt Walton were seen outside the OLTL studio in August seems like a giveaway that neither character has perished. Dorian was heartbroken when David left her at the altar again, though it wasn’t his fault as Clint kidnapped him.

The Young and the Restless had sex and some trials. In one episode three sex scenes took place: Tucker broke down a door to get to Ashley, Deacon and Phyllis did it on a dumpster and Michael and Lauren were together at an office. Cane was nearly deported, but is now able to stay in the USA, have his home base in Genoa City with his wife Lily and their recently christened newborns. Chloe and Chance are through, and she’s sleeping with his half-brother Ronan, while he’s doing it with Heather. Adam got away with his criminal acts, and now he is perusing legal action against the Abbott family. Abby is suing her father Victor. Chance had a hearing and lost his police badge.

So that’s just some of the things that have been going on in daytime in the last few weeks. Hopefully there will be some good surprises mixed in with the expected. I also want the programs keep the momentum up into autumn and not to stall out again until November sweeps.