play favorites. I am not saying that Carly/Sonny/Jason are not adored and have a fan base--I know that they do. What this regime keeps getting wrong and refuse to tweak:
*Inserting Carly/Jason into stories where they don't really belong or even if they do--they quickly become the focal point. I.E. Carly hasn't uttered Lulu's name since Rex was a puppy, now he's a full-grown down. But suddenly, Carly is all about her cousin Lulu. It's utter bull $hit.
*Carly/Jason/Sonny receiving writing slanted in their favor. Regardless of the adversary, they are shown to be smarter and often times get the last word. Exception being Ava vs Carly. Carly lost everything 2 years ago--nearly lost her house. Where was the rising from the ashes story? Bobbie giving her Kelly's for $1 didn't bother me. It is her daughter, but then Jason swoops in and buys Carly's half of the hotel back. Remember how her pride wouldn't allow Sonny, Michael or even Olivia to do it? But Jason, suddenly it's not charity.
*More unexpected friendships. I feel like Stella and Tracy are the first unorthodox friendship since Trina and Ava linked up. It would be refreshing to have Molly and Dex develop a friendship vs a romance. Neither has a friend--so it could work.
*Tie up loose ends. Who killed Franco? Who bought Windemere? Why the delay with Spencer, Cam, and Monica recast? Kill off Monica or stop mentioning her name.
*Anchor new characters to existing characters immediately. Dex has been here 2 years and has no ties to the canvas. Fold them in slowly.
*Show build up and motivation for characters' decisions. Willow has given me whiplash. Sasha went from model to cook for the Quartermaines! Why not hostess or head chef at the MetroCourt? Why not have her work for Nina at Crimson?
*Don't assume the audience will swallow anything you serve up. Agent Cate's murder should have been self defense or a murder mystery. Showing Sonny murder an unarmed man in cold blood and then not have any of his loved ones take a beat--is crazy. Yes. He was harassing Krustina, but Sonny's bravado and pride following the deed is vomit-inducing.
*Give characters their comeuppance. Let them fail, fall, suffer, learn, grow, lick their wounds, and pick themselves back up.
*PLEASE add some pay off to the climax of the story. There are so many times where they limp across the finish line.
*These words should be written on a dry erase board in permanent marker:
Smart characters
Snappy dialogue
Creativity
Suspense
Romance
Mystery
Payoff
