The Teen Scene

Poirot

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When the teens were aged, it was because of a different headwriter, one who was co-head with Higley, but they evidently had a big difference of opinion, and she took a well publicized "leave of absence" from the show.

So, the kids all were suddenly 16.........but within a few weeks were 17-18. That was not the worst. Every one was thrown into some heavy duty , front burner story, for which NONE were ready. Corday has admitted this (and could have put a stop to it right away if he had been paying attention). Ciara had to deal with the death of her father, while her mother was about to marry another man, and bring the boy was was her good friend thru much of school years in as her "brother". Alas, the new husband tried to kill her mother, and was killed, her mom took in the young teen, who thanked them by raping her. Ciara also was doing nanny duty at DiMansion, with no experience taking care of a baby, crushing on her boss, and getting a job at a sanitarium where Chase had been admitted. Just over the top. and of course, Chase then got shipped out to Oregon.

That was wayyy too much for someone so new, with no acting experience to handle. The teens were all put front and center, into major story. Joey & Jade ran off to some commune, where they were supposed to stead and rob to support the group. They get back home courtesy of his parents, run into the Ava junk, and now Joey is a killer, in addtion to nearly becoming a father.

Claire, who was nice enough when she started, and could sing, etc. became a selfish, self-absorbed brat, with not a care for her parents, grandparents, only for whoever followed and praised her singling on Facebook. She really doesn't even want to go to college, since she is going to have this big "singing career".

Poor Theo was decent enough, but his love for Ciara was rejected and Claire jumped in to take advantage and have herself a boyfriend...just to one up Ciara. What is interesting is that autistic Theo is the more sensible and grounded of the group.

Yes, the show realized it's mistake, and pushed the teen set out of the limelight, and more or less had them interacting only with adults/family and not all that often.

With Higley back in the driver's seat, the teen set has not fared much better, in my opinion.

Wish there was a way to de age them all. LOL
 
Totally agree, Poirot. This was nothing like the teen/young adult set when I started watching back in 2010 (Will, Gabi, Chad, Melanie, Dario, Abigail, T). They largely dealt with more realistic stuff that young people nowadays go through, like sexual orientation or just plain relationship drama.

The autism and bullying storyline Theo dealt with since childhood or in the earliest days of the SORAS of this new cast had potential. Heck, even Claire being a brat on social media all the time, or Jade's miscarriage, would've sufficed. Instead, we had the awful rape storyline, and endless love triangle between niece and aunt, and Joey killing Ava. Just plain awful.
 
These teens should still be 15-16 and living at home in my opinion. The 2nd round of SORAS was unnecessary and also writes them all into a corner. It's also bad because the show doesn't have an active kid set to SORAS into the next round of teens. They just have babies and toddlers that need to be older kids first.

The rape should have never happened and Joey killing Ava should have never happened. As much as I hate Ava, Dena Higley seems to love the actress who plays her so if they could do a brief cameo showing her as alive, I might go for that. I don't want Ava back for any longer than that though.

I like the idea of the Claire/Theo/Ciara triangle but the execution is wrong. It's also hard to root for either girl right now. Ciara gave up Theo for Chad and Claire is immature though she does show self awareness at times. They also should have written this with Shawn in the middle of the 2 girls--being torn, giving them both advice, maybe even battling with Belle about it, then with Hope, etc. Yet another story where all the pieces were there but the show just didn't execute. If Shawn were in the middle, a lot more viewers would care too.

I think Jade has overstayed her welcome. I don't care about her or her father or her Aunt's teen hostel in LA. I also don't like how isolated she and Joey are. They only have scenes with each or other or Steve and Kayla and vice versa. Claire didn't even acknowledge them living at the loft last week when she talking about sex with Theo. I'd like to see a teen Joy Wesley come to town for Joey. Although I suppose she should be closer to JJ's age since she was similar age to Zack.

Also, Joey needs a haircut. It's very distracting in his scenes.

I know they are related but they should bring Allie and Johnny back as teens too. Fix Johnny's paternity so that he is Lucas' kid and have both of them live with Lucas and cause issues for him. Sami can pop in from time to time. Have Joy in a triangle with Joey and Johnny. Allie can battle with her cousins Claire and Ciara. This can extend to Sami and Belle too. And Tripp can be an additional romantic option for the teen girls. I would also buy the idea of Eduardo having a teen kid out there too.
 
I also don't like how isolated she and Joey are. They only have scenes with each or other or Steve and Kayla and vice versa.
Agreed. Remember how nice Jade was during the jail scenes, before this isolation? This is a huge problem not just with the teens, but ALL the stories seem to happen in a bubble. The closest thing we got to an umbrella story was Orwell, which might join those un-nameable stories in the annals of Salem's trash bin.
 
It has bugged me that these young teens wanted an apt. of their own to begin with. Why? Claire was living at Gramma Marlena's, Grampa John, Mom & Dad all out of town, Gramma usually at work or off somewhere.

Ciara had her home to herself, with Mom in jail....why did they have to go rent an apt. Joey was perfectly fine at home, yes, Jade had a problem, but the Johnsons took her in. Theo was perfectly fine, Dad really did not bug him, he could come and go as he pleased. None of them have a job, all expect parents to pay for everything. College, rent, spending money, food, etc.

Yes, as Jason noted, it puts them into their own little bubbles, doesn't it?

Hope only interacts with Rafe, unless she and/or Rafe get scolded by Raines.

Adrienne is only seen with Justin, or maybe Adrienne, Nicole with Brady, Jen with Eric. Everyone is isolated. I guess that may be why we appreciate when Kate goes around sticking her nose in here and there, offering advice & opinions, while Julie has become the wise advice giver.....well, maybe splitting that with Maggie. LOL

We don't even see Julie & Doug at the Horton house, are they still there?
 
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