THE SUDS
Most Dramatic Overreaction to a Minor Problem
Holding Ric Hostage in Alexis' Basement — General HospitalMost Over the Top Grandparent
Most Non-Existent Chemistry
Tracy Quartermaine and Martin Grey — General HospitalJane Elliott’s Tracy Quartermaine has chemistry with just about everyone… except Michael E. Knight’s Martin Grey. Their scenes never quite click, and the intended rivalry falls flat because the spark simply isn’t there. You can actually see and feel Knight trying too hard to sell the animosity between the characters.
Most Over‑Lathered Performance
Jen Jacob as Ashley Morgan — Beyond the GatesAshley is the most self-absorbed character on daytime soaps. She even beat Y&R's iconic Phyllis for this award, an accomplishment in itself. We've wondered at times if Ashley's melodrama is there just to make us appreciate how spectacular the other stories on BTG typically are.
Most Head-Scratching Character Move
Willow Tait (Cain) — General HospitalWhen Willow crashed her first wedding to Drew to reveal she knew about his affair with her mother, Nina, we thought she’d finally grown a backbone. Instead, she’s not only back with Drew—she married him—and continues to let him call all the shots in her life. Love him or not, this turn makes it hard to root for her—or for them as a couple. A disappointing twist for a character who once felt fiercely independent.
THE DUDS
The storylines and decisions that left us staring at the screen wondering who approved this.
Biggest Waste of a Character
Chance Chancellor — The Young and the Restless
By the end of Conner Floyd’s run as Chance this summer, the character had been reduced to little more than a glorified day-player cop. Jill Abbott’s grandson—and a Chancellor, no less—should have been a layered, compelling presence in Genoa City. Instead, Chance faded into the background, a missed opportunity if there ever was one.
RJ Forrester — The Bold and the Beautiful
RJ practically vanished and has barely been mentioned since. For the son of Brooke Logan and Ridge Forrester to disappear from the canvas so completely is baffling. This is a legacy character with built-in story potential, and the show simply didn’t seem interested in using it.
Most Boring Couple
Ashley Morgan and Derek Baldwin — Beyond the Gates
Bland, boring, and entirely forgettable. Worse, both characters showed far more chemistry with other people, making this pairing feel like a placeholder rather than a passionate romance.
Cringiest New Couple
Sienna Bacall & Noah Newman — The Young and the Restless
This one may only fully land for Days of our Lives fans, but after years of watching Tamara Braun and Lucas Adams play mother and son on Days, seeing them recast as lovers on Y&R was more than a little uncomfortable. Some casting history is hard to unsee.
Most Heartless and Least Likable Villain
Sidwell plays less like a mobster and more like a cartoon supervillain—complete with conveniently placed cameras on a dark road and the ability to manipulate judges and rival criminals with near-magical ease. Even by soap standards, the idea that Sonny Corinthos would hand over his piers so effortlessly stretches credibility. For Sidwell to work long-term, the character needs a dose of believable humanity—something to make viewers fear him and understand him.
Worst Recast Revelation
Aristotle Dumas Is Actually Cane Ashby (now played by Billy Flynn) — Tbe Young and the Restless
Dumas luring half of Genoa City to his estate in Nice was already over-the-top. Revealing that he was merely a recast Cane Ashby turned an absurd setup into a major letdown. The buildup promised fireworks; the payoff delivered a dud.
Most Confusing Recast
Billy Flynn is settling into his role on Y&R, but the transition hasn’t been seamless. At times, this version of Cane feels less like an evolution of Daniel Goddard’s character and more like an entirely new man who happens to share the same name. The most jarring change? Cane’s return without his Australian accent—a defining trait that made the recast feel confusing right out of the gate.
Worst Storyline Ending
After months of buildup following Carter and Hope’s takeover of Forrester Creations, the story collapsed under the weight of unnecessary guilt and Carter’s desperate need for Ridge’s approval. The result? Control handed back to the Forresters and Hope fired—again. All that momentum, wasted.
Worst Dual Role
Galen Gering as Rafe Hernandez and Arnold Feniger — Days of our Lives
Some dual roles are iconic. This one didn’t need to be resurrected. At all.
Most Adrift Soap
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless spent months globe-trotting between Nice and Los Angeles instead of focusing on what has always made the show work: grounded, character-driven stories rooted in Genoa City. The extended “location shoots” felt indulgent rather than essential, and centering the canvas on Cane Ashby didn’t deliver the dramatic payoff the show seemed to be aiming for. Too often, long stretches of talk-heavy scenes replaced momentum and action.
That said, Y&R has decades of history proving it knows how to course-correct. When the show leans into its core families, sharpens its conflicts, and remembers that everyday drama can be just as compelling as big spectacle, it still has the power to reclaim its footing—and remind viewers why it’s been a daytime institution for so long.
THE SUDS & DUDS WRAP-UP
Soap operas endure because they’re fearless. They take risks, chase wild ideas, and sometimes tumble headfirst into the hedges. But that’s part of the fun. Today’s duds often become tomorrow’s cult classics — or at least the moments fans debate for years.
If nothing else, these misfires prove one thing: daytime drama is still alive, still messy, and still capable of getting us riled up. And honestly? We wouldn’t have it any other way.
A Gentle (But Necessary) Disclaimer
These awards are given with love, loyalty, and decades of investment. We critique because we care — and because we know soaps shine brightest when they honor their history, trust their characters, and remember what makes them special. Think of this less as a scolding and more as a friendly nudge from fans who’ve been watching since before streaming existed.
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