Credit: Howard Wise/JPI (3); CBS Screenshot; Courtesy of the Everett Collection
While much of this week was a bit of a slog, the fight between Bold & Beautiful‘s Ridge and Brooke was jaw-dropping. Throw in some wildly outdated tech, Hope doing something few characters on this show have before and Will proving he’s as smart as his dad, and… well, we’ve got quite a bit to chat about!
Did Ridge Really Just Say That?!?
Admit it: The moment Taylor and her broken heart (syndrome) arrived on the scene, we all started counting down to the inevitable “Tridge” reunion. I wish the show hadn’t opted to go down that path — or that I’d had even a tiny bit of doubt as to where things would lead — but the show’s been playing this beat for, what, three decades? We could sigh, “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it,” but… um… it kinda is broken.
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Nobody wants to see the exact same story play out over and over… especially when it makes everybody involved look bad. Brooke for standing by a man who has hurt her repeatedly. Taylor for even thinking about taking back a guy who has literally caused her to develop broken heart syndrome. And Ridge for… well, for being Ridge.
And just when I thought the dressmaker couldn’t be more of a jerk, he up and called Hope a slut. OK, technically, he phrased it as a question — “Is she just a worthless slut?” — but it was pretty clear that in his mind, the question was a rhetorical one. I mean, does the man have no sense of propriety? Did he not realize to whom he was speaking? In what world is it OK to say that about the daughter of the woman you supposedly love?
Mama’s Boy
Ridge really has become the new Stephanie, but without the always cocked-and-ready slapping hand. As for Brooke’s reaction, it was perfect. Because she was right: He of all people would know exactly how that word, of all words, resonates with her and why.
“You have the audacity to call her that?” she asked. “To call her a bitch and a slut? I don’t even… I don’t even understand you, Ridge. I can’t even look at you. Who are you?”
His response? “Who are you? You’re defending someone who broke me. You should be defending me.” And when she refused to boot her daughter out of the cabin, Ridge opted to walk away. Why? Because he “loved her too much” to continue fighting.
To quote “Defying Gravity” from Wicked — and all media outlets are currently legally required to make at least one reference to the movie per week — “Well, if that’s love, it comes at much too high a cost.”
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By week’s end, Ridge wound up exactly where we knew he would: with his “other” family. Brooke, say good riddance to bad rubbish. I want better for Taylor, but if she really wants the dumb lug, she should go for it… and up her broken heart syndrome meds, ’cause eventually, she’ll need them. If she’s not careful, the guy will be the death of her… for realsies, this time.
Corporate Takeover For Dummies
Another thing I’m pretty sure we all agree on: Carter and Hope’s takeover is as silly as it is dramatic. It’s led to great fireworks, but for Justin to stand there and say, “Yeah, sure, Carter committed fraud, but… no takesie-backsies!” is insane. I mean, no wonder our Deputy Editor, Charlie, came up with the theory that Justin is actually working with Carter. I mean, that would at least make more sense.
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In related-but-not-really news, is it too late to suggest a job title change? I mean, if Charlie gets to be Deputy Editor, can I go from Executive Editor to Sheriff Editor? That sounds way cooler.
I kinda love all the drama surrounding the takeover — sorry, “coup” — but as so often happens with Bold & Beautiful, there’s far too much repetitive dialogue as we tread water between major plot points. Let’s get to the actual fallout! Who’s getting fired? Who’ll side with whom? Let’s move this story along! Fortunately, it looks like that’s exactly what’s going to happen next week…
Remy’s Time-Tripping Revenge
The second story currently being told — and yay for two stories unfolding at once, like on a real soap opera — is actually moving faster than our main tale. In just over two weeks, Remy came to town, reconnected with Electra, landed a job at Il Giardino and proved that Will ain’t just pretty, he’s smart enough to recognize a threat when he sees one.
I now get why Remy was digitally altering the images of Electra: It’s a new twist on an age-old soap story. The more he terrifies her, the more she turns to her “friend,” unaware that he’s the person actually ruining her life. But lord love a duck, has nobody on this show seen a computer since Wonder Woman bonded with IRAC (Informational Retrieval Associative Computer)?
Random Thoughts
• I was amused that, in true Forrester Creations tradition, Carter and Hope’s first move upon taking over the main office space was to have sex there. But proving that the place is under new management, Hope — unlike anyone else that’s ever worked there — locked the door!
• Will was kind of a jerk to pizza boy Remy, but I’m glad that he basically sees right through the guy. Here’s betting Will didn’t even give him a tip. Take that, ya psycho!
• How crazy is it that two of the most iconic soap nicknames of all time both involve the word “slut”? As Brooke pointed out, Stephanie spent years calling her “the slut from the valley.” And of course, there was Guiding Light‘s Reva, who famously anointed herself “the slut of Springfield.”
• What was the point of Bill visiting Luna in prison? She said they were the same, they both looked a little misty-eyed and then… nothing. I’m baffled as to where this is going. Not particularly interested or intrigued, but baffled nonetheless.
Think you’ve know it all where Bold & Beautiful is concerned? We’re willing to bet that there are a few owners of Forrester Creations over the years that will leave your jaw on the floor. See for yourself as you scroll through the below photo gallery.
