Credit: Howard Wise/JPI (2); CBS Screenshot
This week’s buzzwords were “artificial intelligence” and “deep fake” as we finally found out what brought Bold & Beautiful‘s Electra to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, there was also a lot of talk about betrayal as Brooke threw Hope and Carter under the bus, and Ridge called in… Justin? Before we head off to cook the biggest turkey we can find, let’s chew over what happened during this shortened week.
No Rest — or Turkey — For the Wicked
For years, Bold & Beautiful had a Thanksgiving tradition that was as ridiculous as it was sweet: Family and friends, enemies and rivals, would all gather around Eric Forrester’s dining room table. People who couldn’t stand one another wound up seated side by side and, before being permitted to eat, had to say nice things about one another. Who can forget the year Katie was seated between Bill and Brooke, who’d broken her heart? Or Ridge basically forcing Hope to congratulate Liam and Steffy on their new marriage?
This year, we didn’t get so much as an acknowledgement of the holiday, let alone that traditional gathering. I can’t help but think that would have been an amazing setting for Ridge to expose Hope and Carter’s relationship and attempted coup. Talk about a missed opportunity!
A Tale of Two Betrayals
While much of this week centered on Ridge’s reaction to what Carter and Hope did, Wednesday saw things shift to the other, previously kinda unmentioned betrayal: Brooke running straight to Ridge with what she’d overheard. This was a stunning move on a few levels. For one thing, it violated this show’s Golden Rule, which reads “Never take action until you have talked something to death.”
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Not only did Brooke spill the beans instantly, she didn’t even flash back to the conversation she’d overheard before doing so! Of course, we did get two solid days of Ridge and Brooke discussing the matter, but still… baby steps. It seemed odd that Ridge then reached out to Justin, of all people. Sure, they had that brief team-up a while back during Justin and Bill’s falling out, but it still felt weird. (Then again, Justin knows a thing or two about coups, having attempted one during Bill and Liam’s incarceration following the demise of Poor Dead Vinny.)
But Wednesday’s true highlight was the moment when Hope realized what her mom had done. Not since Brooke “accidentally” bedded (or should I say “walled”… IYKYK) Oliver have these two dealt with so consequential a betrayal. I actually think the fallout from this could, if played right, have a bigger impact than the attempted coup itself.
Meanwhile, the (short) week ended with a pretty great cliffhanger, as Ridge basically drew a line in the sand by insisting that Carter’s one chance at redemption would be to dump Hope. There are actually a few different ways this could play out, and all have the potential for strong drama. Frankly, it seems very unlikely that Carter will break things off with Hope… although the lovers could decide to fake a split while they plot their next move. What I really want, and this will come as a surprise to no one, is for Carter to say “Screw you, Ridge” and, with Hope by his side, start a whole new company.
Electra’s Secret
We finally got more information about what it was that drove Electra to pack up her things and move to Beverly. (Hills, that is. Swimming pools… movie stars!) Anybody else find it odd that Electra would keep the AI-altered photo on her phone? I have to think that the last thing I’d want to accidentally stumble across every time I went looking for a pic is that!
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I was also left wondering exactly how the photo was altered. Ivy’s reaction indicated it was a whole lot more than a simple naked shot, fake or not. I’m also a little confused on the timeline. We know that the last time Ivy swung through town to liplock Liam, she was living in Australia. For the life of me, I have no idea where it is that Electra relocated from… did I miss it? In any case, when did Ivy and her niece reconnect to the point that Electra became an invaluable asset to her aunt’s jewelry line?
Questions, I have questions.
Random Thoughts
• I get that it was a short week, but couldn’t we have maybe replaced one of the scenes in which Hope and Carter endlessly discussed what they’d done with a mention of Luna and the letters she’s been sending Bill? Or heck, since we spent time with Ivy, why not have her pay Liam a much-needed visit? Despite making her feelings for him clear earlier this year, she’s hardly mentioned him since returning on a (hopefully) more permanent basis!
• It bothered me that when Ridge declared he, Steffy and Eric had built Forrester Creations, Brooke didn’t feel compelled to mention her own contributions. That’s been a major plot point for months and at one point gave her total control. (Jog your memory here.)
• Shouldn’t Ridge have called Steffy, his co-CEO, upon finding out what Carter and Hope were attempting to do? Meanwhile, I kinda wanted to smack Ridge for suggesting that everything Carter did was “because Steffy was mean to your little girlfriend.” I mean, how smug, sanctimonious, dismissive… and yet, at least on some level, kinda accurate.
