u/No_Spirit8216

I just recently caught a Luvdisc in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond after realizing I needed a Super Rod, which I thought I had, but I only had a good Rod. I’ve tried to have this team in Pokémon Soul Silver, but catching Staryu and evolving it is time-consuming, especially when you don’t have a Water Stone. I then needed to trade to find Piplup, I think. You do at Pal Park. I can’t find my official Soul Silver game and got a crappy one online. So after I got this Brilliant Diamond game, I realized it’s probably easier to get this team in the game. Which it was, but my god, it took a while to beat the Elite Four, especially Cynthia. But yeah, does anyone else have their favorite Pokémon as plushies and officially as a team in a game?

In the spirit of Character Appreciation Month, I’ve already covered Dani, Martin, Mona, Eva, Nicole, Donnell McBride, Bill Hamilton, Shanice Johnson, and Vernon Dupree. Now it’s time to talk about Leslie Thomas.

I’ve loved Leslie since the beginning of the show, and I’ve always been on her side. She is hilarious, and I honestly wish people didn’t take her as seriously as they do. She’s kinda like a beautiful, evil Jessica Rabbit. I love the way she talks and all of her funny little nicknames for people.

This may not make sense to some people, but Leslie is written like every crazy/bad mom stereotype my mom used to joke about doing, but obviously never would because no mom would actually do those things. Leslie, however, actually has. I know people say she’s cartoony, but I think that’s the point. You can see it in a lot of her behavior.

For example, she can talk to her daughter crazy sometimes, like being genuinely evil and mean, saying she isn’t her daughter anymore, throwing her picture in the trash, or talking about bed stuff that would normally be more of a best-friend conversation.

Also, unpopular opinion, but I feel like Leslie didn’t actually try to kill Laura. I think she was just trying to scrape her a little bit. She needed Laura gone so Eva could get the job and the whole plan could work.

Because everyone already doesn’t like Leslie, they might as well reveal that Dante Green is her dad. It’s so obvious. Maybe they don’t wanna go that route, but I really think they should. I wanna see Dante, so seeing him deal with Leslie and Anita, especially with everything we’ve heard so far, sounds hilarious.

I love Eva, but I’m with Leslie. I don’t like how recently they’ve been making Eva such a pushover. I wish Leslie would somehow find out that Anita held Eva’s hands and told her they would never be family, and then got revenge for that.

I also don’t like how Eva is acting like she doesn’t really care about what Bill did to her mom when he literally threatened both of them because of Ted. Eva forgave Ted way too easily for that because of a fake dying marriage. I seriously will forever hate Anita for that hand-holding scene.

However, I’m surprised by how Leslie treats Anita now, especially with the whole “she needs to mind her business” attitude. Leslie should want to learn more about her mom, Barbra. I don’t like how the writers are making her go about it. I understand that it makes sense to y’all because y’all don’t like Leslie, but character-wise and just in general, it doesn’t make sense to me. Wouldn’t you wanna learn more about your family history and stuff?

And I actually want Leslie and Anita to have a trip together and go see the Cabrini-Green housing projects on the North Side of Chicago.

Also, I think everyone has moved on from this, but I don’t really want a switched-at-birth story with Kat. I would much rather see Kat understand Leslie’s and Eva’s side more instead of just bashing them and being hypocritical with Izaiah.

I don’t understand how Kat fans can make 1,000 excuses just because he knew her before they were dating. So what? Kat made that boundary with Eva and Tomas, and she probably doesn’t even want Eva near Tomas in general. I think she just picked her battles and was trying not to be a bitch when the two of them were simply having a normal conversation.

I hope that when it comes out that Kat likes Izaiah, Leslie finds out and goes off on her because of how hypocritical she is.

They said in next week’s spoiler, October 6, 2026:

“Jacob confronts Izaiah.”

“Kat’s bold words leave Eva shaken.”

And honestly, I don’t even remember if Kat knows that Bill threatened pregnant Leslie. I don’t think she did in the dream or anything.

As for Jacob’s conversation with Izaiah, I’m assuming he’s going to ask why Leslie would do it and try to interrogate him. I don’t know if y’all have been picking up on this lately, but Jacob has been doing that with people he’s close to, like when Izaiah gave his mom that green ChelseaKat purse.

This conversation could also lead to Jacob learning about how corrupt his dad is, or at least be the beginning of that, because I don’t think Jacob knows that Bill threatened a pregnant Leslie and paid her off either.

We don’t know if they are killing off Randy and Hayley, and I don’t think they are.

Speaking of Hayley, I think she should try to be more friendly toward Leslie. They have potential, and I understand where Hayley is coming from because Leslie can be unpredictable. However, Leslie has shown that she can be loyal to her.

Also, in the previews, we see Hayley getting her mouth covered with a black glove. That could be Leslie because, remember, she had them as well. I think they were donated, so she could’ve had an extra pair or gotten new ones.

But I seriously hope they don’t kill Hayley off. She has gotten way better as a character, and I think there’s potential with her and Leslie.

So even though Eva was being the bigger person and didn’t go support her nephew because she knew Leslie had started making things awkward again and that her being there would just be full of drama, it’s always Kat and Jacob who seem to bug Leslie and Eva and be annoying and nasty toward them, even when they aren’t doing anything.

Also, Ted in that flashback where we see how they met. Yeah, he was wrong for that. He ain’t shit. 💀😂

I actually really love Leslie and Marcel together. I hated how Shanice and Ted tried to destroy what they had just because Leslie was being petty with Shanice’s brothers. They were already mad anyway, and Ted did lie to them. And I feel like it just made Leslie more mad at Shanice and is gonna wanna get her revenge on her

But I’m curious what’s gonna happen if Leslie, Eva, Ted, Shanice, and her brothers are all in the same room.

I also love how they have Leslie wear snake print.
And she makes references you wouldn’t think she knows, but surprisingly does. I just love this character because she’s full of surprises.

So, in conclusion, I really love this character, and I hope they keep her on the show for a majority of the run. Technically, her story is part of the start of the show. Nicole is a main character, Ted was her husband, and Eva went into their house and destroyed their marriage with Leslie.

The party was one of the first iconic moments of the show because of Leslie. That’s why I don’t hate her.

She’s relatable, needed, and just amazing. Trisha Mann-Grant and the writers have truly brought this character to life.

So I made a post on here saying I knew the recent episode (S2 Episode 160 9/2/2026) was going to mention this as a possibility. But y’all didn’t care. Now that it’s happening, I’m seeing the same thing over and over and over again. It’s getting old. Leslie has been in more episodes and obviously the main villain they aren’t getting rid of anytime soon. They already investigated it. They couldn’t find anything, but y’all are harping on a story the writers clearly don’t care about. Barbra is also a part of Anita’s story, yet that makes y’all annoyed as well because y’all know Leslie will be rightfully involved. Y’all sound like Vernon when he said her voice has nothing to do with her when it actually does. She legally got the money, hence making her legally family and also by blood. So obviously, that’s still her mother, and she can try to connect with her. I don’t understand why this generation of all ages of women is being so unsympathetic towards this topic because that’s who I see say it the most. lol. But I can ask y’all the same. Y’all want Leslie to go to jail for a character they don’t even have on a bunch of times. Why do y’all care so much about Laura when the writers and show clearly don’t? I’m not trying to sound rude, but I’m just frustrated because y’all are complaining about the show when there’s nothing wrong with it, and y’all are mad they aren’t writing it how y’all would write it. Huge difference.

In the spirit of Character Appreciation Month, I have already covered Dani, Martin, Mona, Eva, Nicole, and Donnell McBride, Bill Hamilton. Now, let’s delve into Shanice Johnson.

Shanice Johnson, portrayed by Ernestine Johnson, emerged as an exceptional character upon her introduction. Her popularity stemmed from her inquisitive nature, comedic persona, and relatable personality. Many viewers found her to be a reflection of their own experiences.

It is intriguing to consider whether the writers should have maintained Shanice’s single status or avoided the demise of Derek. Their chemistry was undeniable, and her relationship with Ted presents a complex dynamic. While there are moments of interest, such as her interactions with Leslie and Eva, her insecurities and emotional outbursts, particularly when confronted with material possessions or stress, detract from her character’s strength. It is possible that the writers aimed to evoke the audience’s reactions, as I have experienced similar feelings in certain situations. However, I would prefer to witness her overcoming these challenges and embracing her potential.

The decision to kill off Derek is a subject of mixed emotions. While I appreciate the stories featuring Shanice and Leslie, and envision future narratives involving Eva and Kat, I acknowledge the potential for conflict.

Shanice’s role as a nurse allows her to interact with a diverse cast and assert control in various settings. The tornado episode stands out as a particularly memorable performance, showcasing her resilience regardless of the circumstances. It is evident that her character possesses immense strength, and there is a desire to further develop her growth and experiences.

In the future, I would welcome more outside scenes, reminiscent of classic soap operas, where Ted and Shanice embark on vacations and engage in various adventures. The recurring mention of her fear of birds suggests that a humorous scene will eventually unfold, providing an entertaining spectacle.

In conclusion, Shanice Johnson is an extraordinary character with significant potential. However, her relationship with Ted presents a dichotomy of positive aspects and potential monotony. To fully realize her character’s growth and development, the writers must address her insecurities and encourage her to embrace her desires for material possessions.

Who’s the best one and why?

For Character Appreciation Month, I’ve already covered Dani, Martin, Mona, Eva, Nicole, and Donnell McBride. Now it’s Bill Hamilton.

First, I’ve always thought this, even during the show’s first run: Timon Kyle Durrett, who plays Bill Hamilton, looks like the kind of actor Tyler Perry would cast. I don’t mean that as an insult at all. He just has that screen presence and energy. So when I found out he was actually in Tyler Perry’s The Marriage Counselor (2008), I laughed because it completely made sense. Honestly, imagining Bill as a Tyler Perry character makes some of his scenes even more entertaining.

Bill is also a funny character with a lot of potential to become one of those legendary soap characters. That’s why I’m so interested in the poison storyline. Sometimes it feels like the writers are intentionally dragging it out because they haven’t decided exactly where they want it to go, or maybe it’s just meant to be a long-term mystery. Part of me keeps wondering if Bill somehow knew Hayley was tampering with his drinks and was secretly dumping them out or avoiding them. I don’t really have evidence for that. It’s just the vibe I get from him.

When Bill is grumpy, he reminds me of a lot of dads who hate being in the hospital or having people tell them what to do. His stubbornness can actually be pretty funny and even charming. He feels like a well-rounded character with strengths and flaws. My biggest issue with him is how quickly he believed Hayley over everyone else. That storyline was frustrating. At the same time, the show has made it clear that Bill is willing to get his hands dirty and can be more similar to Mike Davis than he probably wants to admit.

I’ve also always liked lawyer characters, so Bill naturally appeals to me. I know a lot of people want to see him in an actual courtroom, and I’d like that too, but I honestly don’t mind that most of his legal scenes happen in his office. I enjoy hearing him explain the law and work through problems. He usually takes his time, but he eventually finds a solution that benefits as many people as possible. I know some viewers think he’s a terrible lawyer, but I haven’t really seen enough to agree with that yet.

The relationship with Dani is interesting too. They’ve kissed twice, cheated together in the elevator, and yet the show still feels undecided about whether they want Bill and Dani back together permanently as a power couple. That’s a classic soap storyline, but Beyond the Gates also likes to do things a little differently, so I’m curious where they’ll ultimately take it.

Overall, I think Bill is one of the show’s most well-rounded characters, and I honestly think his potential is still ahead of him. Like a lot of characters on this show, the more people he interacts with and the more storylines he’s involved in, the stronger and more interesting he becomes.

Also I hope we get more screenshots of him staring at the camera 💀😂 lol

Saw a Star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ at Pride 🏳️‍🌈🌈

Every time I saw this episode I wanted to eat the blocks because they looked like starburst. Also this is my 2nd favorite episode because of the blocks and green puppy. I love green and the blocks always looked so cool to me for some reason. Maybe the colors and how they pop?

I actually loved that they paid homage by having one of his sons look like him. I actually hope Marcello Hernández plays him. Since both were on SNL, it makes the most sense and is different than what we expect.

Thoughts?

For Character Appreciation Month, I’ve already done Dani, Martin, Mona, Eva, and Nicole. Now, it's time for Donnell McBride.

I absolutely love this character. He’s cute, attractive, and reminds me a bit of Doug and Vanessa. He’s headstrong, always looking for answers, and constantly trying to act tough. I really wish we could have gotten some on-screen scenes with him and Doug before Doug passed away.

Donnell is also just so funny. It cracked me up when he asked Joey what happened to his dad as if Joey is just going to open up and say, "Okay, yeah, I got your dad killed." He is super naive, but he's still such a likable character to root for.

I also loved the "Cinderella moment" he and Samantha shared at the cotillion. That is probably going to go down as one of his all-time best moments in the entire show.
Moving forward, I would love to see more storylines where he visits his dad’s old neighborhood and catches up with his old friends.
At the same time, he makes me so nervous because of how much he tests Joey and literally tells Joey his exact plans to take him down.

In conclusion, I just love Donnell and wish we saw more of him instead of just getting tiny hints of his life. I'd love to see some future storylines where he’s in Vernon’s class or something similar. What do you all think of him?