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The Best and Worst of 2020: From Outrageous Twists and Predictable Plots to Missed Opportunities and, Obviously, the Mannequin
Monday, December 28th, 2020
We couldn’t let 2020 exit without offering our thoughts on what worked — and what really, really didn’t — where the year in soaps was concerned.
There’s a certain irony to the fact that when we needed an escape more than we’d ever needed one before, three of the four soaps were taken off the airwaves thanks to production shutdowns. At first, watching classic episodes from the past kept us entertained, but eventually, we just wanted to dive back into our favorite dramas.
More: The soap year in review [PHOTOS]
When finally they returned, we cheered — even if some shows struggled to regain their footing. Having seemingly lost its way before the forced break, The Young and the Restless returned a muddled mess with few actual stories in which to invest. On the other hand, General Hospital spent much of the year daring viewers to look away from the screen long enough for it to sneak in an unexpected return or twist the plot in some surprising fashion.
We watched as The Bold and the Beautiful took the mannequins which had become central to its socially-distanced love scenes and placed one front and center in the most buzzed-about story of the year. And despite having labeled it folly in the past, we were thankful for the advanced shooting schedule which allowed Days of Our Lives to keep new episodes coming without missing a beat.
More: ‘We did it,’ star exclaims
So now, as we count down the final days of 2020 and speculate about the stories which will keep us tuning in next year, it’s time for one final check of the previous 12 months. Which character was the most maligned and which story the most daring? Whose wedding were we most thrilled to attend, and what story were we anxious to see come to an end?
Click the gallery below to find out which plots, stars and stories earned our favor or wrath, then make sure to visit the comment section to weigh in with your own thoughts regarding the best and worst of the year, not to mention which plots you’re looking forward to in 2021.
Image: ABC screenshot
1/44
<p>On one hand, we’re relieved that <em>General Hospital</em> put Lulu in a coma rather than a grave; when she inevitably returns, she won’t have to join the ranks of Port Charles’ walking dead. On the other hand, we’re annoyed that the show undercut the dramatic impact of its own November-sweeps blowup by stopping short of making a casualty of the legacy character.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
2/44
<p>Honestly, we could have done without the pyrotechnics. The emotions on display between <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Ben and Ciara — so beautifully played by Robert Scott Wilson and Victoria Konefal — were, if you’ll pardon the pun, da bomb.</p>
Image: CBS
3/44
<p>For years, we waited for <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> to give Carter a storyline, and when finally the soap did, it was a romance with Zoe… in which we couldn’t invest — like, at <em>all</em> — because she had the same reaction to bachelor No. 2 Zende’s smoldering gaze as we did. And honey, that charisma machine turned <em>us</em> into <em>puddles</em>.</p>
Image: CBS screenshot
4/44
<p>Even though it took a wrecking ball to arguably <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ cutest couple (Elevon), we still can’t be sorry that Elena let her insecurity lead her into Nate’s arms. For a while there, we had been afraid that the show would never again work itself, much less us, into a lather.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
5/44
<p>Owing to the timing of Kristian Alfonso’s decision to quit <em>Days of Our Lives</em> and the role that she’d played for nearly 40 years, <em>this</em> was how we said goodbye to Hope: with her crying at a photo of Ciara while doing crunches.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
6/44
<p>We didn’t buy for a second that <em>General Hospital</em> had actually killed legacy character Holly Sutton off screen. What we didn’t expect was that single truth-revealing scene which clued us in to the fact that she’s out there, somewhere, being held by… someone. Talk about a cliffhanger! </p>
Image: CBS screenshot
7/44
<p>Given as a scene partner the stiffest “actor” in Hollywood — a mannequin — <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> hunk Matthew Atkinson rose to the occasion, making Thomas’ confusion and anguish as painfully real as his storyline was <em>sur</em>real.</p>
Image: CBS screenshot
8/44
<p>Don’t give us that “Who, <em>me</em>?” look! We don’t know what to make of <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ Adam anymore, what with the bomb-planting and flip-flopping between Sharon and Chelsea and, for heaven’s sake, the nonsensical vendetta against his father for letting him forget that he’d gotten blood on his hands at a time when most kids were still washing off finger paint. Mark Grossman and his legacy character deserve better, and frankly, so do viewers.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
9/44
<p>Yes, <em>General Hospital</em> fans, of <em>course</em> we know that Franco isn’t Cameron’s biodad. Doesn’t matter. Nope. Not in the least. Because the bond that Liz’s husband and son have formed — thanks to a combo platter of sensitive writing and beautiful performances by Roger Howarth and William Lipton — is as sweet, as intense and as real as that of any sperm donor and his offspring.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
10/44
<p>What <em>General Hospital</em> has tapped into with the tag team of Michael Easton and Jophielle Love as Finn and Violet is as rare and precious as the mythical animal on the little girl’s sweater.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
11/44
<p>Evil twins? Been there, done that. Doppelgangers? Yawn. But <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> proved wrong those who say there are no new stories for daytime to tell when Thomas began spending time — let alone making out — with a mannequin which happened to look exactly like the ex with whom he was obsessed! </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
12/44
<p>Yes, your makeup is perfect, you can put away the compact. Also, we love what Emmy winner Cady McClain has done with the role of <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Jennifer. She still accessorizes with her heart on her sleeve but also demonstrates the kind of spunk that one needs to last a week, never mind a lifetime, in Salem.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
13/44
<p>After <em>General Hospital</em> tapped <em>All My Children</em>’s former Jenny, Kim Delaney, to take over the long-vacant role of Jackie Templeton, any cries of “Moore” that you heard weren’t for previous portrayer Demi but simply for “More! More! More!” of the star who immediately made the character her own.</p>
Image: CBS screenshot
14/44
<p>Jacqueline MacInnes Wood could sell salt to a slug, so it’s no surprise whatsoever that the <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> Emmy winner reeled us right the heck in with the story of Steffy’s addiction. Trouble was, even as we were trying to overlook the fact that the soap had overnight made the character a switchblade-wielding junkie, the show itself was… wait, <em>whaaat</em>? It was wrapping up the plot by sending Steffy <em>off screen</em> to undergo the world’s fastest detox and recovery. No, <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>. Just no.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
15/44
<p>It would have been all well and good if <em>The Young and the Restless</em> had taken its sweet time revealing that Amanda was Hilary’s heretofore-unknown twin sister if it had had good story for Mishael Morgan in the meantime. But… well… you know… it didn’t.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
16/44
<p>Even if it hadn’t been for their stint as would-be nuns, <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Kristen and Lani, arguably daytime’s oddest couple of gal pals, would have had a lock on this category. The former even gave up Brady, their daughter and her freedom to ensure that her confidante wouldn’t have to give birth behind bars. Now <em>that’s</em> what friends are for.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
17/44
<p>Only one actor currently working in daytime can make us feel at once like we’re watching a great soap <em>and</em> a classic movie, and that’s Maura West, aka <em>General Hospital</em> femme fatale Ava. Had the Emmy winner been born to another era, her star would be on the Walk of Fame right next to those of Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
18/44
<p>Despite what the picture suggests, <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ Jack has no reason to be smilin’ these days, so neither do his fans. Here’s hoping Cupid takes aim at the former playboy — and soon.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
19/44
<p>There wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the time <em>General Hospital</em> beamed down Courtney to usher dad Mike into the light and bring to an end the heartbreaking Alzheimer’s-disease storyline that had won both his portrayer, Max Gail, and Maurice Benard (Sonny) Emmys.</p>
Image: CBS screenshot
20/44
<p>Though if you ask us too many of the last days of <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ Dina were played off screen, the conclusion of <em>her</em> battle with Alzheimer’s — and the wrap of Marla Adams’ long on-again/off-again run in the role — still reduced us to rubble. “You know who you are,” she told daughter Ashley, trying desperately to settle her affairs. “An Abbott.” In that moment, so in a way were we all.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
21/44
<p>OK, so we didn’t love how desperate and pathetic it made Sally. We can’t deny that everything else about <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> vixen’s kidnapping of Flo — right down to the way the blonde managed to get an SOS message to beau Wyatt — was a hoot and a half.</p>
Image: Todd Wawrychuk/ABC
22/44
<p>Our hat’s off to Ashton Arbab, whose potential, sadly, <em>General Hospital</em> had scarcely begun to tap before Dev was killed off, bringing to a premature end not only the teen’s life but his love quadrangle with Josslyn, Cameron and Trina.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
23/44
<p>With Sarah and Xander, <em>Days of Our Lives</em> reminded us — and hopefully all of the other soaps, too — that it <em>is</em> possible to keep on the frontburner a happy couple that pulls together against an obstacle rather than fall apart. Helping every step of the way, the chemistry between Linsey Godfrey and Paul Telfer is the stuff of daydreams.</p>
Image: CBS
24/44
<p><em>The Young and the Restless</em> introduced Tyler Johnson’s Theo with a head-scratcher of a grudge against buddy Kyle, proceeded to make all of us hate him, revealed that he was sorta an Abbott, kinda redeemed him, kinda made us love him, then unmade all of that progress — <em>and</em> trashed his new family — in order to show him the door.</p>
Image: CBS screenshot
25/44
<p>The photo doesn’t even do it justice. No photo could. The expressions that crossed the face of <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> MVP Scott Clifton when Liam realized that Thomas had been kissing Fauxpe, not Hope, were… in a word, priceless. And so funny that the actor’s own mom <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-bold-and-the-beautiful/news/585969/bold-beautiful-liam-scott-clifton-haters-liam/" target="_blank">left him a voicemail</a> in which she couldn’t stop laughing.</p>
Image: CBS screenshot
26/44
<p>We had so hoped that <em>The Young and the Restless</em> would learn from the mistakes that <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> had made with the character of Sally — in other words, telling us that she was a smart, talented, independent woman while her behavior indicated that she was anything but. So, um, maybe if she crosses over next to <em>Days of Our Lives</em>?</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
27/44
<p>Since Jake and Gwen moved in <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ DiMera mansion has been <em>the</em> place to be. At times, it’s even so crowded that nobody bothers to converse with Stefano’s portrait, aka the best listener around.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
28/44
<p><em>General Hospital</em> really caught us off guard with Réal Andrews’ return as Taggert after nearly 20 years. That is, it <em>would’ve</em> caught us off guard it hadn’t given away his imminent return in a day-ahead promo. D’oh!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
29/44
<p>It was a scene we won’t soon forget. After Brooke slapped Shauna on <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em>, Quinn returned the favor… but twice as hard. “Stephanie taught you to slap?” Quinn spat derisively. “Bitch, you shoulda learned that from me!” </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
30/44
<p>To keep <em>Days of Our Lives</em> mom-to-be Lani from going to prison for protecting Kristen, Eli convinced Kristen to get sent up the river herself. Which seemed highly unnecessary, seeing as she was about to get away with stabbing Victor for letting her believe that her daughter had died. We know — it was a <em>lot</em>. But it sorta paid off when it resulted in oddly believable conflict between the expectant newlyweds.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
31/44
<p>We know that all things in daytime are cyclic, but we saw so little of Don Diamont and Heather Tom as Bill and Katie on <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> this year that the characters practically qualified as missing persons. (We can only imagine that in this photo they are looking hither and yon, wondering where their storyline went.)</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
32/44
<p>We’ll never understand the decision to not only axe William deVry but, even as alter ego Julian was exiting, remind us of all the reasons it was a mistake. During the actor’s final episodes, we learned that Kim had secretly given birth to Julian’s child and got one last glimpse of what coulda, woulda and most definitely shoulda been between the dying man and his true love, Alexis. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
33/44
<p>Whatever <em>Days of Our Lives</em> was going for with the story in which Allie accused Tripp of rape — when it was pretty obvious from the beginning that he was <em>not</em> going to be the culprit — it missed the mark. By, like, a mile. A largely female audience — hell, <em>any</em> audience — was never going to enjoy watching the young woman be villified by half of Salem for doing what so many victims are reluctant to do — come forward — for fear of being disbelieved.</p>
Image: CBS
34/44
<p>You know how we know Tanner Novlan is fitting in nicely as Finn on <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em>? We no longer wait for him to flub his lines like he does as “the bad actor” in his legendarily hilarious Liberty Mutual commercial.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
35/44
<p>Somebody cue Carly Simon, ’cause the <em>anticipaaaation</em> of Peter’s downfall on <em>General Hospital</em> has been so delicious, we’ve been half afraid to ask if it counted as dessert.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
36/44
<p>Emily O’Brien has been a blast as <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ new pot-stirrer, Gwen. But we wouldn’t mind having any freaking idea why she’s so hell-bent on making trouble for Abigail’s family. What did they do to her? For that matter, what did those <em>poinsettias</em> do to her?</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
37/44
<p>In all seriousness, help. Can someone please tell us how we or any viewers of <em>The Young and the Restless</em> are supposed to invest in the show’s couples when they get married and divorced with a shrug (like Kyle did with Lola) or toss away hard-won reunions as if they were losing lottery tickets (like Summer did with Kyle)?</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
38/44
<p>Alcoholism is serious business; we get it. But we’d still be remiss if we didn’t mention what an unpredictable thrill ride it is whenever <em>General Hospital</em> decides to send Alexis tumbling off the wagon and give Nancy Lee Grahn carte blanche to go for broke as a truth teller with zero [bleeps] to give.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
39/44
<p>WTH was <em>that</em>? <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> made us fall for Shauna and Ridge as a couple, only to undermine them by having her trick him into a drunken Vegas marriage, then botch the reveal of her scheming with Quinn by having him react to the news with, in essence, “Whatevs,” as he toddled right back to his “destiny.”</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
40/44
<p>As if it wasn’t bad enough that <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> unspooled a “climax” to the Brooke/Ridge/Shauna story that was anything <em>but</em> climactic, it then went and robbed of any payoff the follow-up Quinn/Eric/Shauna plot. It was like opening a present, only to find the box empty. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: WTH was <em>that</em>?!?</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
41/44
<p><em>General Hospital</em> viewers’ fascination with the moss in Carly and Sonny’s kitchen grew faster than the plant itself. Departing star William deVry (ex-Julian) even joked on Twitter this fall that the greenery was the reason he was leaving. “There just <a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamdeVry1/status/1324793406212759553" target="_blank">wasn’t enough room in the budget</a> for both of us,” he cracked.</p>
Image: NBC screenshot
42/44
<p>We still giggle like seventh-graders every time we flash back to <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Ivan explaining Jake’s origin story to Stefan’s twin and Gabi. “Stefano DiMera seduced Madame,” said Vivian’s former manservant, “and then he abandoned her once he took her ruby.” Jake’s perfect response: “Please tell me that’s not a euphemism.” Gabi’s perfect response to Jake’s perfect response: “Gross.” And then it was back to Ivan to deadpan the kicker: “It was an actual ruby.” And also an absolute gem of a scene.</p>
Image: CBS screenshot
43/44
